done to deserve him? Reagan would never know, but one thing was certain. She wasn’t angry anymore. Not at Tommy and certainly not at Luke. His love and care were the reason she was getting through this season at all. The season of accepting the fact that Tommy was going to be a cop.
But even with all that, Reagan’s heart still beat hard and she wasn’t the slightest bit tired. It wasn’t enough to remember how to fall asleep. She had to put the lesson into practice. “I… need to thank Him. If I want to fall asleep.” Yes, that was it. Be thankful. Look to the Lord and thank Him.
“Exactly. Every time you feel afraid, Reagan. When you think about Tommy in a uniform and your heart starts to race. When you can’t sleep.”
“Just be thankful.” Reagan felt better now. She was calming down. “For every single thing.”
“Yes.” Luke whispered to her. “Start at the top of the list. Don’t stop thanking Him.”
“Okay.” Reagan had closed her eyes then and started at the beginning. Just like Luke had asked her to do. Thank You, Lord, for my husband. Luke is everything to me, God. And thank You for my family. For Tommy and Malin and Johnny. Thank You for my Baxter sisters and brothers and their families… and thank You for…
Peace began to work through her veins. Why did she so easily forget about this?
Thank You for Ashley and Landon, and that You brought Landon into my sister-in-law’s life all those years ago and that You’re still working in their lives today.
And thank You for Elaine, and that Luke’s father would find someone to love after losing his first wife. And thank You for Kari and Ryan and…
Reagan thanked God for everything He had done, all He had given them. Every beautiful memory and wonderful truth. The list was so long that somewhere near the beginning she stopped worrying. Stopped thinking about her racing heart and her fast breathing.
The exercise worked—every time.
Her mind slowed and peace filled the air and—like the greatest gift—sleep came.
* * *
REAGAN OPENED THE oven door and pulled out the spaghetti casserole. She’d made it with zucchini noodles. Officer Garcia’s favorite. This morning he had come home from the hospital, and tonight Reagan and Luke and all three kids were bringing dinner to the Garcia house.
The officer’s parents and siblings and a dozen other officers would all be there. Everyone was bringing something to share, and Raul had already told Tommy he was most looking forward to Reagan’s spaghetti.
“I told him about it on our first ride together,” Tommy had said. “So if you could make that, he’d be through-the-roof excited.”
Through the roof. Reagan set the casserole on the counter and exhaled. As if this were any other ordinary day. And the officer hadn’t just cheated death in a way even his doctors said could only have been a miracle.
Raul had come off life support a few days after the shooting. Then he’d come down with a terrible case of pneumonia. Surgeons had put his abdomen back together, but infection spread through his entire body.
It was mid-November, a month since the shooting, and in that time there had been entire weeks where it didn’t seem like Raul would survive.
Never once during that time did they stop praying, stop believing. And now Raul was completely healed. Yes, he would need a month at home to recover, to rebuild his energy and strength. But after that he planned to get back out on the force.
Where his life would—once again—be in danger.
Reagan understood people like Raul a little better now, maybe even people like her own son. They were wired to put themselves in harm’s way. Whatever it took to help someone else.
Several hours later, Reagan carried the covered casserole as she and Luke and their kids entered Officer Raul’s house. He was sitting in a big blue recliner, chatting with family and the dozen officers who surrounded him.
When he spotted Reagan and her family, he lifted his hand, a smile stretched across his face. “My favorite family… with my favorite dinner!”
Reagan couldn’t believe it. She had heard stories from Tommy about how well the officer was doing. But seeing him now… She held her breath as she set down the casserole. God had done this. Only He could’ve brought the young man back from the brink of death time and again over the last month.
They all took chairs into the family room and joined Raul and the