"You know," Dave said as he grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter, "one of these days you're going to admit I'm right."

Ally laughed without looking up from the peanut butter sandwich she was cutting into triangles.

"I've been waiting eight years for that day."

"It'll happen."

"Mmm-hmm."

He leaned over the counter and stole one of the crusts she'd cut off.

"Hey!"

"You weren't going to eat it."

"I was absolutely going to eat it."

Dave popped it into his mouth anyway and gave her that crooked grin that had talked her into a first date nine years earlier.

"Liar."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"And yet..."

He spread his arms.

"You married me."

"I have questioned that decision."

"Today?"

"This week."

He pressed a dramatic hand to his chest.

"That hurts."

"It was supposed to."

A giggle erupted from the living room.

"Dad's in trouble!" Ben shouted.

"I heard that!" Dave called back.

Their oldest daughter, Emma, wandered into the kitchen carrying a math book.

"Dad, can you help me with this before you leave?"

Dave looked at his watch.

"I've got ten minutes."

He pulled out a chair, and Emma immediately slid into the one beside him.

Ally watched them from the sink.

Dave had never claimed to be good at math, but somehow he always made homework feel less intimidating. Within minutes, Emma was laughing at one of his terrible jokes while he explained fractions using pizza slices.

Lucy toddled into the kitchen dragging her favorite stuffed rabbit behind her.

"Daddy."

Dave scooped her into his lap without interrupting his explanation.

"What can I do for my princess?"

She rested her head against his shoulder.

"Stay home."

The room grew quiet.

Dave kissed the top of her head.

"I wish I could."

"You always work."

"I know."

He looked over at Ally.

"It's just one more overnight shift."

She smiled reassuringly.

"We're okay."

He nodded, though she could tell he still hated leaving.

Being a paramedic meant birthdays got interrupted, holidays happened on different days, and family dinners sometimes ended with the sound of his pager.

But he'd never once complained.

He said helping people on their worst days reminded him not to take his best days for granted.

That was Dave.

Always seeing the good.

Always believing tomorrow would come.

His radio crackled from the entryway.

"Looks like tomorrow starts now."

He stood, lifting Lucy high into the air before setting her down.

"Family hug."

The kids rushed toward him.

Emma tried to act too old for it.

Ben tackled everyone.

Lucy squeezed so tightly she nearly knocked Dave backward.

Ally stepped into the middle of them all.

Dave wrapped one arm around her waist.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He kissed her softly.

Not a dramatic movie kiss.

Just familiar.

Comfortable.

Home.

"I'll be back before breakfast."

"I'll keep the coffee warm."

"You'd better."

He picked up his jacket and headed for the door.

Halfway outside he turned around.

"Oh."

"What?"

"I forgot."

He crossed the porch in three quick steps and kissed Ally again.

"For luck."

She laughed.

"You already kissed me."

"Can't be too careful."

He winked.

Then he was gone.

The rain started around midnight.

Not a gentle spring rain.

A pounding, wind-driven storm that rattled the windows and turned the streets into rivers.

Ally woke to thunder.

She reached across the bed automatically.

Cold sheets.

She smiled sleepily.

Right.

Dave was working.

She checked her phone.

12:37 a.m.

No messages.

Good.

No news meant he was busy.

She rolled over and drifted back to sleep.

The ringing phone jerked her awake.

For a moment she couldn't remember where she was.

Lightning flashed through the bedroom.

The digital clock read 2:18.

The phone rang again.

Her stomach tightened.

Dave never called from work.

Never.

She grabbed the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Morgan?"

The voice was unfamiliar.

"This is Memorial Hospital."

Every muscle in her body froze.

"We need you to come to the emergency department immediately."

"What happened?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. The physician will explain everything when you arrive."

"No."

The word escaped before she realized she'd spoken.

"What happened to my husband?"

Silence.

Just for a second.

There was only the sound of rain beating against the windows.

"There was an accident involving the ambulance."

The room tilted.

"He... he's okay?"

Another pause.

One that lasted just a little too long.

"Please come as soon as you can."

The line went dead.

Ally stood motionless.

The phone slipped from her fingers and swung against the side of the table.

Somewhere down the hall, Lucy stirred in her sleep.

The storm outside raged louder.

Inside the house, everything had gone impossibly, terrifyingly still.

And deep down, before anyone had spoken the words, before she'd reached the hospital, before a doctor she'd never met took her hands and changed her life forever...

Ally knew.

Somehow...

She already knew.

"He's passed on."

Just hearing the words rattled Ally's heart.

How would she explain to the kids, who right now were with their grandma who had left her house immediately after the news had reached her.

Dead.

Ally sniffed, her eyes filled with tears.

No one was there to comfort her. Dave would've, but he couldn't.

A hand on her shoulder caused her to spin around.

Ken.

Ken was Dave's brother. He was the black sheep of the family-he never showed up to reunions and never saw them-but he had come. So soon also. Ally checked her watch. 3:30 am.

"I'm so sorry."

Without saying anything, Ally wrapped her arms around his tall frame. Not in a romantic way. Just happy to have someone else there with her.

It didn't last long, and when she pulled away, she could see tears in his eyes also.

Doctors bustled in and out of the room, some carrying equipment, others with masks.

Out in the hall was peaceful though.

Something about it. Away from Dave, but also the bustle of things.

Hours passed, and eventually Ally felt the need to go home and tell the kids the bad news. They had probably already heard.

The door slammed shut as she entered the house. Everything was quiet but some hushed whispers upstairs.

Upon hearing the door, Lucy came running for her mom. Down the stairs almost tripping.

Red-rimmed eyes showed signs of lots of crying, and it started up again as soon as she was in Ally's arms.

"Why mommy? Why did he die?"

Ally didn't have a response, she just stroked back Lucy's hair and put a finger to her lips.

"Everything will work out."

Ally and Dave were both devout Christians, and always believed everything worked out for good.

Minutes later, Ben came down slowly, clutching the railing with one hand and a ratty teddy bear with the other. Sobs filled the room as grandma came down and joined them. Only Emma stayed.

"Where's Emma?"

"She went into her room. Locked her door."

Ally walked upstairs slowly, holding onto the railing.

At the top, she approached Emma's locked door.

"Honey?"

Knocks resounded on the hard oak that Dave had used to build their house.

No response came for a while.

"Dad was always so proud of you. He would tell me all the time about how we had the best kids ever. I know it's hard. Super hard. But he's in a better place right now."

The door creaked open, and slowly Emma emerged, her head hanging low, tears streaking her face.

Ally embraced her in a long hug, and they stayed that way until the phone rang.

It was the IRS.