“I—I’m glad you were wrong about the dream.”

“I wasn’t wrong.” He let out a wry chuckle. “I woke up the next morning in a crater, just like in my dream. I looked over the top, and there was a gun casemate, exactly where I knew it would be. And I knew—I knew it was time.”

Leah clapped one hand over her mouth.

“I volunteered.” His eyes grew serious and his chin determined. “I ran up to that casemate just like in my dream and threw in my grenade. The Germans were firing a machine gun, closer and closer.”

She cringed at the thought of the bullet piercing his chest.

Clay folded his hand over hers, clasped on the chair back, and his broad fingers softened her grip and worked inside until she was clasping his hand instead, clasping it for all she was worth.

“Leah—” His voice rasped, and he cleared his throat, his gaze delving deep into hers. “I saw the bullet, and I didn’t want it. I wanted to see you. I wanted to see Helen. The girls I love.”

Her knees threatened to give way, and her hand fell from her mouth to grip the chair.

“I twisted away, so the bullet hit here”—he took her hand and pressed it against his right chest—“instead of here.” And he pressed her hand over his heart.

Leah spread her fingers wide over the hard wall of his torso, the life in him thumping against her palm. “I—I’m glad.”

Clay lowered his chin and caressed her hand, her fingers, and her wedding band. “I finally figured out the dream. All this time I thought the dream was a premonition of my death, to help me prepare. To allow me to help you and the baby. To give me courage in the final moment.”

Leah couldn’t look in his eyes, only at the row of colorful ribbons he’d won for that courage, at the chest still breathing and beating with life. Thank goodness, with life.

“Leah, it wasn’t a premonition. It was a warning.”

“A warning?” She dragged her gaze up, but his head was still lowered, his brow not far from her lips.

“God sent the dream as a warning, so I’d recognize the moment when it came, so I could make a choice. And I chose. I chose hope and life and love. Because of you. Because I love you.” He raised his chin.

Leah saw the truth in his eyes—the gentle strength, the vulnerable confidence, the pained joy, and the love, deep and certain. “Oh, Clay.”