Chapter One

Almost twenty years later, it was still sometimes hard to believe she was dead. The days of coming home and expecting to find her waiting for him-or worse, the nights of rolling over and not remembering why she wasn't next to him-were long past. Still, on days like today, when the rest of the world was still festive between Christmas and New Year's, it struck him as surreal that he was standing at his wife's grave holding flowers instead of standing somewhere else holding her hand.

Bobby Granger looked over at his nieces, Angie and Carter Anne Kane. They were good girls-good women, now, he corrected himself. He'd give himself a bit of credit for that. Raising them alone hadn't been easy, but, seeing them there, he had to admit he'd done something right, even if it had been simple dumb luck most of the time.

Carter Anne was working full-time as the receptionist at the elementary school and attending community college part-time. Considering her grades, Bobby figured one more year and she'd finally be off and away, the way she'd always wanted.

Angie, on the other hand, was blossoming right here in Lambert Falls with a confidence born of a successful business and the love of a good man. That man, Chris Montgomery, had moved to town, put that rock on Angie's finger and, Bobby was proud to admit, become the son he and Abby had never had the chance to have. Right now, Chris was waiting in the car. Not out of indifference, Bobby knew, but out of respect. To give the three of them a moment with Abby on her birthday, but still show his support.

He knelt down and pulled

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