“That so?” Luke walked away from Floyd’s grave, a little out of breath because his heart was beating so fast. “I guess that’s a compliment.”

“You’re damn right it’s a compliment.” Marty barked a wheezy laugh. Luke imagined him in his office, reclined in his seat, his grin as long as the hollywood sign. “So, you want to talk to them?”

Luke didn’t answer right away. He smiled and lifted his face to the sun, sensing—after all this time—a brighter road ahead, the closeness of his dreams.

“Luke?”

“I’m still here, Marty.”

And yes, before long he would take that road, but carefully. He would savor every step. For now, though, it was enough just to know that it was there.

At three p.m. the following day, on the other side of the country, a school bell rang.

Kitty took a deep breath. Her emotions had been tested recently, in so many ways, but she couldn’t remember feeling anything like this. It was an all-new high, a tremendous, stomach-turning excitement. Love pounded from her. It was like music, furious and loud, but full of joy.

“You okay?” Courtney asked.

“Yeah,” Kitty replied. She forced a smile. “I’m . . . oh my goodness, I’m so nervous.”

“You’ll be just fine.”

Kids began to peel out through the doors, their voices high and beautiful. It was as perfect a day as Kitty could have hoped for. Clear skies, not too hot, the sun slanting through the branches of the surrounding oak trees. Shadows danced everywhere.

“He’s usually one of the last out,” Courtney said, smiling. “All the other kids are grabbing their bags and booking it, but Levi . . . well, Levi likes to take his time.”

“It’s all good.” Kitty swallowed something roughly the size of the basketball she held in her hands.

“He’s a daydreamer,” Courtney added.

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

Other parents waited nearby, or sat behind the wheels of their cars, just another weekday for them. Kitty stood on the sidewalk a few feet from Courtney’s Lexus. She scanned each young face as it emerged into the clear afternoon light. Courtney was next to her, dressed in Diesel jeans and Vans, her blond hair cascading down the middle of her back. She was beautiful and kind and genuine—everything that Kitty wanted her to be. Kitty, meanwhile, looked ordinary, but in a strong way. She wore no makeup, her mama had fixed her hair, and the clothes she had on—including her sneakers—cost as much as it had taken for Courtney to fill her Lexus with gas.

She had photos on her phone from the Dauntless shoot, and could have shown up looking like that. But this first time, she wanted Levi to see who she truly was. No pomp. No staging. Not a star or a celebrity, but a powerful woman, scarred and standing tall.

“Here he comes,” Courtney said.