It had been three years since Kathy Robinson's older sister Leah passed from an aneurysm the night before her wedding. But for Kathy, it was still so fresh. As she reconnected with Sterling, she found herself talking a lot about Leah and the last year of her life. Sterling was the only person in her circle who wasn't around when Leah passed. It was actually kind of refreshing. Her parents, their extended family, the church family, and friends were all still reeling from what happened.

Kathy's father, Bishop Lee Robinson, was the pastor of the very progressive Hattiesville Community Church. He was so devastated by his daughter's death that it took him months to return to his pulpit. His wife Katherine finally put her own grief aside and convinced him to go back. She knew the church couldn't begin to heal until he returned. They were all in a tough place — that place where you know God is but you can't hear Him or feel Him. That space where you can't pray because you can only cry.

During the months that the bishop was away, Minister Benjamin Coffey took the reigns and led the staff and other church leaders in keeping the ministry moving. In taking over for Bishop Robinson, Ben had to put on hold the plans for the first church plant in the Atlanta area, marrying Belinda Stewart, and adopting her twin daughters Brittani and Brianna. But a year later, they were married in a small ceremony which Bishop Robinson officiated. Belinda's sister Kirby was her matron of honor and Kirby's husband Enoch was Ben's best man.

* * *

When Kathy saw the friend request from Sterling Chance on Facebook, she was surprised but not shocked. They met originally in college, dated briefly, had a misunderstanding and didn't see each other again until a year ago when they met at a conference, and he talked her into having dinner with him. He was now the head football coach at DavisTown College, and they resumed their friendship.

She was a big football fan, so he knew that was a good way for him to spend some time getting to know her better. He really liked her, but she seemed so distracted. He took the team to worship at Hattiesville Community Church occasionally, and he would come pretty regularly during the off season. When she asked why he didn't join, he told her that he knew they had a high level of accountability, and he couldn't serve at that level because of the demands of his job. Kathy didn't accept that as an excuse, but he knew that was a stipulation of them moving from friendship to courtship.

Sterling Chance had been a standout college football player — an All-American — at DavisTown. He was drafted by the NFL and played five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. An injury sidelined him for an entire season, and his comeback season was not without its challenges. He retired from the league, and the timing was perfect. The DavisTown coach was retiring, and they hired Sterling immediately.

* * *

Clay had been true to his word when he told Cicely the night before Leah and Grant were supposed to get married that he loved her and wanted to be in an exclusive relationship with her. He asked her to move in with him but she refused. She was true to her word about doing things the right way. He did get her to rearrange some things financially so that she could quit the part-time job. Her being more available had definitely enhanced their relationship.

Clay was still concerned about Grant. He had gone through with the transfer to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC, but for the first year after Leah passed, he did not adjust well. His family encouraged him to get some counseling, but it didn't seem to help. He was angry with God for allowing Janis to live and Leah to die.

The night before the wedding Grant and Janis struggled over a gun that she intended to use to keep him from marrying Leah. She was shot and the bullet was lodged in her spine. She had surgery and was hospitalized for weeks but survived. Leah had unknowingly developed another cerebral aneurysm. Her blood pressure went up and the aneurysm ruptured, causing her death the night before her wedding.

"What kind of name is Jacksa?" he asked.

She laughed. "When my parents met in Korea, my mom didn't speak much English. My dad told her his name was Jackson. She pronounced it 'Jacksa.' That became her nickname for him, and after they were married, they decided Jacksa would be the name of their first child. So here I am!"

Anderson Thorn had recently met Jacksa Baye at the birthday party of a mutual friend. He thought she was fascinating, she thought he was mysterious. She asked about his name.

"My mother's maiden name is Anderson, and since I am the only male in the family, my grandmother wanted me to have the name."

"You don't have any brothers?"

"No, I am the youngest of three. I have two older sisters, and my mother had only one sibling — a sister."

"I bet you are really spoiled."

"Well, I admit to being grandma's baby, a mama's boy, and the apple of my sisters and my aunt's eye!"

Jacksa just rolled her eyes. His dimples were so cute when he smiled.

Anderson grew up in South Carolina, along the Catawba River, on the reservation of the Catawba Indian Nation with his paternal family. His mother was half-Catawba, but his father was full-blooded Catawba Indian. His father died when he was young, but the community rallied around him, his mother and sisters. When he moved away to attend college, it was a success story for everyone on the reservation.

Jacksa Baye had been hired as a paralegal in the law offices of Sandra and Roderick Matthews. She didn't intend to come home to Charlotte, DavisTown, actually. But her mother's illness compelled her to be close. Jacksa and her brother Jackson Jr., JJ, always thought their mother would be better had the multiple sclerosis been diagnosed earlier. For six years, her condition was misdiagnosed, and now Min Baye was getting progressively worse. She was using a walker all the time, and her vision was worsening. The dark spot in her eye had become a blind spot. She still insisted on working a few days a week, teaching an online class for DavisTown College.

Jacksa's parents, Jackson and Min met as children. His father was in the military and stationed in Korea. Min's mother and father worked on the base. Min and Jackson went to school together, and their families lived in the same complex. He had always loved her. But she couldn't stand him! He used to throw rocks at her and tell her he was going to marry her when she grew up.

After Jackson and his family left Korea, they communicated occasionally if he initiated the contact. But when she came to the States to attend college, she wrote him to let him know. He was a senior at Howard University when Min arrived as a freshman at Georgetown University. Because Jackson was the only person Min knew in the States, she depended on him a lot and he liked that. They married shortly after she graduated.

* * *

Jackson Baye usually got a haircut on Thursday after work and then had a drink with his barber. Min didn't expect him until around nine o'clock and during basketball season later after the game. Since JJ was away in school, Jacksa made a point of seeing her mother on Thursday. Min didn't like Jacksa fussing over her, but she enjoyed the company. They decided to eat out. Min was feeling particularly strong that day. They had a good visit and, like clockwork, Jackson...