The Life That Mattered (Life #1)(89)

“You should take a few days and go through your mom’s stuff,” I suggested, playing on the floor with Anya and Franz while Evie did some bookkeeping on her laptop.

She shook her head. “I’m not ready. Dad said he’s in no hurry to put the house on the market. Besides, I want Katie to do it with me, and she has her mind on other things right now. Maybe if she gets pregnant and feels okay, we can go through everything. Maybe Dad will change his mind and decide to go through stuff with us.”

Madeline wanted her family to bury her and move on. I knew she never imagined them moving on by just abandoning her house and everything inside of it. But … it wasn’t my place to push anyone.

“Okay.” I perfected the agreeable husband role. We had survived a lot of monumental stuff, the other stuff just had to slide.

“Are you going to a meeting this afternoon?”

“Yes, dear.” I continued to do the work—followed doctor’s orders, never missed therapy, and attended group meetings once a week.

“I might take the kids to the library while you’re at your meeting. Then we can meet for dinner. How does that sound?”

“Oomph!” I grunted as Anya jumped on my stomach and squealed,“Da-eee!”

“Sounds like a plan,” I replied as I tickled my little wrestling princess. “I’m going to take a hike first. Who’s in?”

“It’s supposed to rain.” Evie gave me a narrow-eyed look over the screen of her computer.

“Is that a no?”

She laughed. “It’s a you’re crazy and we’re not. Have fun getting wet.”

“Mommy’s no fun.” I nuzzled my face into Anya’s tummy as Franz jumped onto my back, wrapping his arms around my neck. He continued to hold on as I stood. “Looks like I might have a tagalong after all.” I walked toward the bedroom to change my clothes as Franz hung from my neck like a cape, making it a bit challenging to breathe.

“Franz can’t go anywhere until he picks up the toys in his room,” Evelyn called.

“Told ya … Mommy’s no fun,” I whispered, and it made Franz giggle as I dumped his monkey body onto the bed.



After three miles on my favorite trail, I turned around just as it started to sprinkle. The trip down was always quicker, unless the terrain got too slick from the rain. I glanced at my watch, keeping an eye on the time so I didn’t miss my meeting. Then I took a quick swig from my canteen.

Spitting the water out, I coughed. But when I tried to catch my breath, it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Yet … I was breathing. I clawed at my nose and mouth as if something was suffocating me, but nothing was there. Panic set in, and I felt a sense of fear … not just physical fear, but emotional fear.

What was happening?

I rubbed my face and clawed at my neck. My head felt like it was ready to explode while my lungs caught on fire. Then it hit me as I collapsed to my knees on the verge of passing out … borrowed time. My second chance had expired. I brought back the dead when I was warned to let lost souls pass.

Hinder not the soul’s intended path unto the light…

The pain … it was excruciating, by far the worst pain I had ever experienced because I couldn’t breathe.

Evie would be at the library, reading books to the kids while I took my last breath.

And it … would … destroy her.

The very best moments of my life flashed before me—when Evie turned around at the cafe in Vancouver and first smiled at me, the snowy Christmas Day she said, “I do,” the first breath Franz took, the moment we let him hold his newborn sister.

Every smile.

Every touch.

Every breath.

Madeline’s words echoed in my ears, and they gave me peace because I felt them too. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Not a single life I tried to save.

In spite of the pain, I knew I’d do it all again.

I collapsed onto my side, clutching my neck, and gasping until I started to black out. The end. My time had come.

…lest shards of darkness shed upon thee.

Only, I was no longer alive—no more suffering.

To be continued …

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Sneak Peek of Just Jane, by Jewel E. Ann, part of the Australia: A Romance Anthology



A romance anthology with over THIRTY original, never-before-seen stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. Each piece was written for this anthology to benefit firefighters and wildlife in Australia. AUSTRALIA is only available for a limited time, so one-click your copy before it’s gone.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Penny Reid, Meredith Wild, Carly Phillips, Sierra Simone, Emma Scott, Susan Stoker, Kennedy Ryan, Willow Aster, Skye Warren, Kylie Scott, Aleatha Romig, Willow Winters, AL Jackson, Julia Kent, Rebecca Yarros, Tijan, Giana Darling, Emma Hart, Chelle Bliss, Noelle Adams, A. Zavarelli, Jenika Snow, Dylan Allen, Audrey Carlan, Robin Covington, Mary Catherine Gebhard, Melanie Moreland, Parker S. Huntington, Nana Malone, Jewel E. Ann, Annabel Joseph, Celia Aaron, Michelle Heard, Brighton Walsh, Tamsen Parker, Pam Godwin

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