No matter how much Keeley reassured him that everything was real and she wasn't leaving, Aaron still experienced moments of insecurity, feeling it was too good to be true. Deep down, he believed he didn't deserve happiness. Why else would the insecurity persist?

She touched his face. "Aaron," she said, "I'm not going anywhere. My dad survived his illness, and so will I. We're going to live long and happy lives together. You hear me?"

He closed his eyes, clutching her hand.

[Remove the promotional text about the website.]

"I know, I know," he said, "it's just…I can't lose you again, Keeley. I really can't. I didn't think it was possible to love you more than I did before, but every day with you, I fall deeper in love."

"I barely survived losing you the first time. It was horrible. I was barely alive for those twenty-seven years. I know you're annoyed with my worrying, but I can't help it. I need you more than anything."

Her heart ached remembering his suffering after her death. Keeley wasn't the only one who suffered the consequences of their past mistakes. If she had lived alone with that guilt and grief for twenty-seven years, knowing it was her fault, she might have gone insane.

She gently moved Dinah from her lap to the cushion beside her, then crawled into Aaron's embrace. Dinah glared at her, and Keeley felt guilty, but it was necessary. He needed her more than the cat did at that moment.

"I know, honey," she said soothingly, stroking his face, "but I'm right here. I'll always be here. Relax, okay? I need to go to my doctor's appointment so we can safely bring our third child into the world. You'll be glad I did once we meet him later this month."

He always responded well to physical affection when stressed. She felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.

"I love you, Aaron. I'm so glad you're mine," Keeley confessed, kissing him.

He tightened his arms around her, burying his face in her neck. "I love you too," he mumbled. "I love you so much."

The next week and a half was incredibly boring, as predicted. The twins wanted to go to the park, but Aaron had forbidden Keeley from leaving their apartment except for the doctor's appointment.

She wouldn't have survived without Jennica, who brought her son over to keep Kaleb and Violet occupied. The conversation helped, too; Keeley had always been prone to cabin fever.

On the 16th, Jennica had to take Noah to the dentist (he'd gotten into his father's candy) and couldn't watch the twins. Alice volunteered instead.

Aaron stipulated that Keeley must have a driver for the appointment. He dropped the kids off at Alice and Roger's before taking her.

The twins were pouty about missing Noah and Pancake (the dog they got after Ziggy died; Noah had chosen the name, and Cameron and Jennica hadn't argued). Keeley had to explain Noah's dentist appointment before they calmed down enough for her to leave.

The Clarks lived in Long Island, not Manhattan (it was too expensive). The driver used the Long Island Expressway. City speed limits are usually low, but freeway limits are much higher.

A speeding car lost its brakes, crossed the highway divider, and caused an eight-car pileup. The first car hit was also speeding slightly and slammed into Keeley's car. Three other cars collided with them.

She looked up groggily, blood dripping into her eyes, barely comprehending what happened. Her vision was blurry, and she was in pain.

"Henry, are you okay?" she asked weakly.

There was no response. Keeley was in the back seat, and the ringing in her ears indicated a hard blow to her head.

She drifted in and out of consciousness, too weary to check on the driver. The last thing she registered was the sound of approaching sirens before blacking out.

Sounds filtered through her subconscious: paramedics' instructions, sirens, screams, crying, and a curse.

"This woman is pregnant," someone said. "We need to get her to the hospital. Ma'am? Can you hear me? What's your name?"

"Kee…Kee…" she mumbled. She wanted to point to her purse but lacked the strength.

The paramedic spotted it. As she was loaded into the ambulance, the paramedic said, "Your name is Keeley Hale, and you're thirty-one, correct?"

"Uh huh," she whispered.

Hale. Her last name triggered panic. Someone needed to call Aaron. He would be worried sick. What about her kids? The baby? Thoughts swirled frantically.

Was she going to die again on the same day? Could the universe be that cruel? What would Aaron do without her? Could he care for the kids alone?

She grasped the paramedic's wrist. She wouldn't die there! She needed to see Aaron. She had to tell him she loved him.

"Husband. Call my husband," she gasped.

"I found a phone," the other paramedic said. "There's an emergency contact, Aaron, with a heart emoji." He turned to Keeley. "Is Aaron your husband?"

"Yes! Call Aaron," Keeley insisted.

Everything hurt. She wanted to sleep. Even as the paramedics urged her to stay awake, she drifted off. Giving in to unconsciousness was easier.