“All your family is.”

The organ cranked up, and the band started to play, and from the narthex, the bloodred robed choir strode in, fifty men and women walking together, singing the processional. Behind them, the Reverend Nyce followed with his Bible to his chest, the tall, distinguished man meeting the eyes of his flock, greeting them with honest warmth. When he saw Lane, he reached out and shook hands.

“Glad to have you back, son.”

When it was time for everyone to settle back in their seats, Lane had the strangest feeling come over him. Disturbed, he reached over and took Miss Aurora’s palm.

All he could think of was that tree limb falling the night before. The sight of Lizzie slumped in her car. The electric fear he’d felt as he’d dragged himself over those branches in the storm, screaming her name.

As the band struck up his favorite gospel song, he looked at the cross above the altar and just shook his head.

Of course it would be this one, he thought.

It was as if the church itself was welcoming him home, too.

Getting up to his feet with Miss Aurora, he started moving with the crowd, back and forth, back and forth.

He found himself singing along: “I want you to know that God is keeping me …”

An hour and a half later, the service ended and the Bubba hour started, the congregation going to the lower level for punch, cookies, and conversation.

“Let’s go down,” Lane said.

Miss Aurora shook her head. “I gotta go back. Work.”

He frowned. “But we always—”

He stopped himself. There was nothing that needed tending to at Easterly. So the only explanation was one that made him want to call 911.

“Don’t look at me like that, boy,” she muttered. “This is not a medical emergency—and even if it was, I’m not dying in my church. God wouldn’t do that to this congregation.”

“Come on, take my arm again.”

They were very nonchalant as they went against the crowd—and man, he really would have preferred to throw her into a fireman’s hold and defensive lineman his way out of there. And then halfway to the door, he had to stop to talk to Qwentin and D’Shawne—along with seventeen other members of Miss Aurora’s family. Ordinarily, he would have loved the conversation … not today. He didn’t want to be rude, but he was very aware of how much Miss Aurora was leaning on his arm.

When they finally got out of the church, he said, “You wait here. I’ll bring the car around. And no, I’m not arguing about it, so just stop.”

He almost hoped she put up a fight, and when she didn’t, he fell into a jog, heading for the very far reaches of the parking lot.

Coming back with the Porsche, he nearly expected to find her passed out cold.

Nope. She was talking with a very regal, slender woman, who had a face like Nefertiti, a modest suit that was black, and a set of rim-less glasses over her sharp eyes.

Oh … wow, he thought. Talk about a blast from the past.

Lane got out. “Tanesha?”

“Lane, how are you.” Tanesha Nyce was the reverend’s oldest daughter. “It’s good to see you.”

They embraced and he nodded. “Good to see you, too. You a doctor yet?”

“In residency here at U of C.”

“What are you going into?”

“Oncology.”

“She’s doing the work of the Lord,” Miss Aurora said.

“How’s Max?” Tanesha asked.

Lane cleared his throat. “Damned if I know. I haven’t spoken to him since he went out west. You know him, always a wild card.”

“Yes, he was.”

Awkward. Moment.

“Well, I’m going to get Miss Aurora back home,” he said. “Nice to see you.”

“You, too.”

The two women spoke in hushed voices for a moment, and then Miss Aurora allowed him to escort her down the steps and to the car.

“What was that all about?” he asked as he drove them off.

“Choir practice next week.”

“You’re not in the choir.” He glanced over when she didn’t say anything. “Miss Aurora? Do you need to tell me something?”

“Yes.”

Oh, God. “What.”

She took his hand and didn’t look at him. “I want you to remember what I said to you before.”

“What’s that?”

“I got God.” She squeezed hard. “And I got you. I am rich beyond means.”

She held his hand all the way back to Easterly, and he knew … he knew … she was trying to get him ready for what was coming. Realized, too, that that was why he had insisted on Edward seeing her yesterday when his brother had been at the house.

If only there were a way to get ahold of Max.

“I don’t want you to go,” Lane said roughly. “It’s too damn much.”

Miss Aurora stayed silent until they got to the base of Easterly’s hill. “Speaking of leaving,” she said, “I heard that Chantal moved out.”

“Yes, I’m ending all that.”

“Good. Maybe you and Lizzie will finally get on track. She’s the one for you.”

“You know, Miss Aurora, I agree. Now I just have to convince her.”

“I’ll help.”

“I’ll take it.” He glanced over. “She said to tell you hello, by the way.”

Miss Aurora smiled. “Was that when you left her this morning?”