"On wings of the wind, through clouds and the rain, your love carries me, carries me."

The lyrics drew him back to Lana. The other would take care of itself. For now, he wanted nothing more than to watch a miracle unfold.

She was as pale as a sheet, but the rough honey vocals were perfection. Like a tile mosaic of intricate design, emotion flowed from her lips and fingers. At first her eyes were closed but she'd opened them and found him. He held on, willing her to stand strong. She could do this. He knew she could.

He saw her knees shake, her fingers tremble and once in a while her lips quivered. He knew how scared she was. But while her body quaked, beauty and emotion flowed from her throat.

"You got this," he murmured, encouraging her in every way possible from ten feet away. "I'm sorry. Thank you. You're awesome."

He muttered a litany of apologies and random thoughts, more grateful than he could ever say for her sacrifice.

Miss Evelyn's announcement had nearly taken him to his knees. Even Jenny had begun to weep. Though Lana had not sung in public for a long time, someone was donating to Charlie's fund in exchange for a song. So she had agreed.

He knew the fear that haunted her. He knew how hard this was. She was terrified and yet, she had agreed for Charlie. His nephew. For the child of a woman who'd given her nothing but grief.

Why had he been such a coldhearted, selfish idiot? Lana would always put a child's needs before her own. Sydney's and now Charlie's.

Suddenly he understood what Austin had been trying to tell him. Lana's mistakes, like his and everyone else's, had been nailed to a cross. The moment she accepted Him, she was free of her past. She might still be working through some areas, trying to find her way, but who wasn't?

She was a good and decent person. And he loved her. He'd been miserable without her. He'd known all along she made him better, that she was the missing piece of his life, but he had allowed pride and opinion to rob them both.

She had every reason not to forgive him, but he prayed she would.

As Lana kicked into the final chorus, Davis turned to Jenny. "She did this for Charlie. Lana has paralyzing stage fright but she went up there for your son."

Tears gathered in his sister's eyes. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you were wrong. I was, too. I love her, Jenny, and I'm going to tell her even if she kicks me to the curb." Leaving his weeping sister, he excused his way through the crowd that now pressed against the stage. He approached the steps at one end, counting on her to exit the direction she'd entered.

The song ended and the building erupted in applause and cheers. Lana remained at the microphone, guitar against her body, with a bewildered expression as if she couldn't believe the applause was for her. Someone whistled a loud whoot. On the opposite side of the stage, Miss Evelyn practically levitated with excitement.

Davis started up the steps, not wanting to steal Lana's moment but eager to hold her in his arms, to apologize. If she'd let him.

Then Lana smiled-a wide, relieved smile-handed the guitar to its owner and took a quick bow. As she turned to exit the stage she saw him and froze.

Davis paused, adrenaline jacked, feeling a bit trembly himself. "You were phenomenal."

She took a step toward him. "I was scared to death."

"That's what made it phenomenal. You were afraid, but you sang. For Charlie."

She took another step. And then another.

The crowd of people faded into the background. Sound ceased. Davis saw and heard nothing but the special woman he'd almost thrown away.

"I've been an idiot," he said. "Forgive me? Please forgive me."

She didn't hesitate. Faster than he could breathe, Lana was in his embrace.

"I was wrong not to tell you," she said. "You had every right to despise me. I've made too many mistakes."

He stroked her soft hair. "Shh. Shh. I don't despise you. I never could. You're amazing. I was the one out of line."

The calloused tips of her fingers rubbed lovingly across his jaw. "I missed you so much."

"I was such a jerk. You should make this harder on me. Make me grovel." He looped a lock of hair behind her ear. "Do you know how many times I've had to stop myself from coming to your house?"

"Me, too. I'd look out the window and see you or the kids coming or going and I wanted to run to you."

"Can we start fresh? Start new? Try again?"

"Are you sure you can forget what I've done and where I've been? I don't want to hold you back or make you or the kids ashamed to know me."

"You could never do that. I'm proud of you, Lana. Proud." He cupped her face, more grateful than he could ever express. She'd forgiven him. Just like that. "Can you forget the ugly things I said?"

"I already have."

"There we are then. Forgotten. Forgiven." Whom the Son has set free is free indeed. Austin Blackwell was a wise man. "Lana Ross," he said. "You are an amazing, gifted child of God, a loving mother, a good friend, the woman who holds my heart. I want you in my life. Say you want me, too."

"Oh, I do. So much." Lana pressed her cheek against Davis's chest. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

He cupped the back of her head, aware of her warm breath seeping through his shirt. "If you are, don't wake up. I like it here."

"Daddy?" a small voice said.

Davis let his head drop against her hair. "Uh-oh. The dream is over."

Lana laughed softly and took a step away. Her absence left a cold spot. He caught her hand and tugged her back, sliding a possessive arm around her. No matter what anyone thought or said, he wasn't letting go this time. Let the whole world know for all he cared.

"Daddy." Nathan squinted up at them, expression intense. "Does this mean you and Lana are in love again?"

The adults exchanged looks. What Davis saw in Lana's eyes was all the answer he needed.

"Yes, son. I think it does."

Chapter Fifteen.

The Christmas Bazaar was in a word, bizarre. Good bizarre.

Too astonished and happy to do anything but grin, Lana held Davis's hand in a near death grip as they walked through the exhibits in search of the man who'd paid such a high price for a song. Her knees still shook but for a different reason now. It was as if the earth had moved and the world had suddenly righted itself. A world that had never made sense finally did.

Love was a powerful thing. She prayed with all her heart that this would last. That Davis wouldn't change his mind again and that she would have the courage to keep believing.

In front of them, Sydney, Paige and Nathan hopped and giggled and whirled in circles like wind-up Christmas toys, making a path through the well-wishers. With each step, someone stopped her to compliment her music, to ask when she would sing again, to invite her to events.

The terror had come, but she'd won. She and God. With the help of a very special man.

"I didn't fall down," she whispered as they walked past a display of wood-carved clocks.

Davis smiled his thousand-watt smile. "I would never let you fall."

That was part of the wonder, the knowledge that somehow the finest man on earth had seen past her faults and loved her anyway.

The same way Jesus had.

"Lana." A female voice turned her around. Jenny stood there, a determined expression on her face.

Lana stiffened, sucked in a breath and waited for the subtle digs or outright hostility. Coming off the high of singing again, she didn't want this confrontation, but she wouldn't run away from it either. Jenny had reason to dislike her but it was time for both of them to grow up and move on.

Not wanting to put Davis in the middle, Lana removed her hand from his.

Wonder of wonders, Davis shifted closer and put his strong workman's arm around her waist, securing her to his side, supporting her.

"Hi, sis," he said to Jenny.

Twisting her fingers, Jenny barely nodded to her brother. Her focus was on Lana. Instead of the expected hostility, Lana saw sadness.

"Your song...Miss Evelyn said..." Jenny's eyes dropped shut. Tears slid from beneath each lid. "Thank you for what you did."

"I hope Charlie's operation makes him well. That's all that matters."

Jenny smiled a wobbly, watery smile and walked away.

"You let her off easy," Davis said. "I love you for that. She's my sister, a good woman, but lately-" He shook his head, palms up in a gesture of helplessness.

"She's a scared mother. No matter what happened before, Charlie's situation takes center stage. I feel sorry for what Jenny's going through."

"See? Amazing. Generous. Good to the core." He snagged her hand again and looked around. "Now where is that Perry guy?"

"I can't imagine what that was all about. He knew about my song, Davis, the one I shared with you."

"We'll find out, don't worry," Davis said with an odd twinkle in his eyes.

But they didn't. Regardless of their search and even after speaking with Miss Evelyn, they never found him. For some baffling reasons, a stranger named Perry Grider had come in, requested the song, left a large chunk of money and disappeared without another word.

Finally, Lana said, "I have to get back to the serving line." She didn't want to. She wanted to stay right beside Davis and enjoy the pure freedom the night had brought. "I promised."

"I hear you. I have some things to do, too." He leaned in to kiss her forehead. "You smell really good."

Lana wrinkled her nose. "Like barbecue?"

"Hey, nothing wrong with that. Love that smell. Very romantic."

She laughed. "I'll remember that."

They stood smiling at each other like two lunatics, knowing they had to separate but reluctant.

"Later?" Davis asked.

"Absolutely."

The rest of the evening flew by in a happy blur of dishing up beans while catching glimpses of Davis. She saw him everywhere helping out. He even talked to Joshua Kendle for a while, apparently about something that made them both happy. They exchanged high fives and slapped each other on the back. During the exchange he glanced her way and grinned. Her silly pulse had gone off the charts.

The three little matchmakers popped by a couple of times to be sure the five of them would have some togetherness before the day ended.

"Daddy says come to our house after," Nathan insisted. "We have mistletoe."

Chuckling at the pure cuteness, Lana stopped serving long enough to grab a hug. "How can I turn that down?"

Back with the baked beans, she watched them skip away, giggling and excited. They were such loves, all three of them.

"Great event, huh?" Cassie asked suggestively as she twitched her perfectly arched eyebrows.

"Can't argue with that." The only imperfection was the mystery she hadn't solved. Who was Perry Grider and how did he know about her song?

The days leading up to Christmas were the happiest of Lana's life. She was loved by a wonderful man and the association with Davis brought her a new respectability. At least, she assumed that was the reason she no longer felt like an outcast in Whisper Falls.

She and Sydney, usually with Davis, Nathan and Paige along, attended a whirlwind of Christmas events-everything from church plays, caroling and cantatas to the adorable musical program at Sydney's school. As her writing skills improved, the articles came faster and easier, and she found more time for her music and for working on the house with Davis. The latter, when they could talk and unwind together, was the best part of her day.

With Davis's support, she'd gathered the courage to file for Sydney's guardianship. Guided by Haley and Creed, who had gone through a similar situation with Rose and knew the ropes, the process wasn't nearly as bad as Lana had expected. Even with her past, the social worker had been confident that two years of sobriety and a town filled with references would do the trick. Lana's eyes filled with grateful tears every time she thought about all the good things that had happened to her in Whisper Falls.

Yesterday with enthusiastic help from the three children, she'd created "gifts in a jar" for teachers and friends, the pastor, her boss and others. Then, today, Christmas Eve, the trio made the rounds, ho-ho-ho-ing and singing "Jingle Bells" at the top of their lungs as they delivered the goodies while Davis put the final touches on Annalisa Blackwell's tile work.

Davis was picking up something afterward, though the children had no idea she and Davis had found exactly the right puppy to put under Sydney's tree. Why not? They were here for good. Whisper Falls was finally home.

Steps light, she guided the children across the street, listening to their excited chatter. Her Sydney seemed so much happier and more secure these days. Lana giggled inside, anticipating the child's joy when she met the fat ball of love.

At the newspaper office, Joshua Kendle gave her a "little something" in an envelope, her first bonus ever, and requested all the articles she had time to write. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Then embarrassed, she stepped away only to find him laughing at her.

"You folks have a merry Christmas," he said. "And tell Davis not to worry. I'll be happy whatever you decide."

Lana stopped in the doorway. "What?"

"Never mind. You'll know soon enough. And you don't even have to thank me." When she frowned in bewilderment, he waved her off. "Merry Christmas, now."

Then he turned back to his computer and left her to wonder.

"I'm a little nervous," Lana said that evening as the five of them drove toward Davis's parents' home.