“I’m sorry I missed out on so much, Charlie, but I want you to know I’m proud of you. I’m proud of you for choosing your own way.”

Charlie took a few calming breaths before responding. “Thank you for telling me that.”

His father cleared his throat. “Now, your aunt tells me there’s a girl.”

Lane stood outside Sheriff Huggins’s office, her green eyes beckoning him.

“Lane’s more than a girl. She’s an amazing woman who inspires me to believe I have a purpose here.”

“You believe you made the right decision?”

Charlie went to Lane and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She rested her head on his shoulder. “I believe it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

THIRTY

“MOMMA!” NOAH RACED DOWN the tiled hallway of the hospital and jumped into her arms.

Lane couldn’t stop the flow of tears. Happy tears of relief. She kissed Noah’s neck and his ears and his cheeks until he squealed. She breathed him in.

“Momma, what happened?” Noah’s eyes turned serious. “You got hurt?”

“Your mommy is a hero.” Charlie ran his hand down the small of her back, sending a charge of anticipation through her chest. “She helped us catch two bad guys.”

“A hero like my daddy?”

“Yep, just like your daddy.” Charlie leaned in. “I hope you don’t mind me having your sister bring him here. I missed him.”

Lane squeezed Charlie’s hand, unable to voice the love growing for him.

“Lane!” Meagan’s voice echoed down the hall. Her eyes grew round. “Oh my goodness, are you alright?”

“Do I look like a mess?” She touched the bandage on her head. There was a tender spot on her cheek where Annika had hit her with the gun and her lip was swollen. The paramedics said nothing was broken, but there’d be bruising for a couple of weeks.

“You look beautiful.” Charlie winked at her.

“You do,” Meagan agreed.

“You’re both terrible liars.” She smiled. “But I don’t mind.”

“Can I . . . can I hug you?”

“Yes.” She’d barely put Noah down when Meagan grabbed her into a tight hug. Her ribs cried out, but she ignored it and embraced her sister . . . who was sobbing. “Meagan, what’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry.” Meagan released her before pulling a tissue from her purse and wiping her eyes. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

Lane bit her lip. “I’m sorry—”

“No, I’m sorry, Lane. I should’ve been there for you . . . when we were younger. Now. I was just caught up . . . in my own life. I was selfish.”

Charlie walked Noah to the nurse’s station to give them privacy.

“You weren’t selfish. You were a teenager. How could you know?”