"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.