And he was going to get up tomorrow …

And fight for his momma to live. And fight for his brother to get treated fairly in prison. And fight to keep the company going. And fight to keep the house and the land of his ancestors.

And fight for his family.

He was a warrior.

He had learned that the hard way.

He had earned that title the hard way.

As Lane accepted the loaf of bread and tore off a piece, he thought of Edward and had to grit his teeth not to tear up all over again. Edward, in making a final sacrifice that was too great to comprehend, too tragic to contemplate, too horrific to ignore, had actually paved the way for all this.

If William Baldwine had still been alive?

None of this would be happening.

It was hard not to be grateful. Even as this miracle had come at too high a price and with a compromise of morality that almost tarnished the love.

Almost.

At the end of the day, though, a cancer had been rid from the family, and yes, they were all better for it. But, God, the way it had happened.

Lane knew he, personally, was forever changed by all this but, ultimately, as difficult as it was, and was going to get, he was improved. No matter the ins and outs, and the drama and the pain, he knew he was better off as a man, a brother, a husband … and if God so provided, as a father to his and Lizzie’s children if they were granted that gift.

The nature of the aging process was brutal, though, and yes, he felt like he had lost parts of himself along the way.

The angels had to have their share, however, as was their right and their due.

And at least those parts of his soul would be in good hands, forevermore.

Looking at his Lizzie, he waited to catch her eye. After he mouthed “I love you” to her … he started to eat.

With the rest of his family.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are far too many people to thank, as always, and that makes me a very lucky person. But I do want to extend my gratitude to Steven Axelrod, Kara Welsh, and Kerry Donovan, and also Craig Burke and Erin Galloway along with everyone else at New American Library. Further, I need to acknowledge my wonderful Team Waud, my immediate family, and my wonderful friends. And also Nomers, my WriterAssistant. Oh, and Go Cards!