Downstairs among all the other graduates at University at Buffalo’s Alumni Arena, Bridget straightened her mortarboard and her shoulders. She’d made it. She had actually made it.
It had taken a few weeks to catch up on her fall classes, but her professors were supportive. Her living situation had worked out well, too. Zach’s friend Freddy Mack and his wife, Jess, had allowed her to rent a room in their home. Since both of them were Buffalo police officers, Bridget felt safe. Now, nine months later, it seemed any repercussions from her involvement in the fraud investigation at the clinic had truly blown over. Both Jimmy and Ralphie would be spending the foreseeable future in prison for their roles in the drug trade, Ashley’s death and the near misses on Bridget’s life. And sadly, Dr. Seth Ryan had lost his life over his part.
So many lives ruined.
Last Bridget heard, Heather had successfully finished rehab and Bridget prayed the young woman from the stash house stayed sober. Any of Bridget’s efforts to reach out to the Ryan family had been met by silence. Hopefully, the doctor’s son had given up gambling and could live with the horrible consequences of his actions.
Fortunately for the residents of one corner of the Buffalo community, the health-care clinic had reopened under a small group of physicians who rotated through. Bridget had felt great relief at that. Maybe she’d volunteer her time there—or at another clinic that served those most in need—once she got settled in her new nursing career. She still kept kicking around the idea of continuing her studies. Maybe become a nurse practitioner.
Excitement bubbled to the surface at all the possibilities.
A girl approached her. “Are these the Ms?” The graduates were lined up alphabetically.
“Yes, I’m Miller.”
“Oh, good. Milliken here.” The girl tugged on her honors rope and stepped into line behind Bridget, who found herself scanning the line of graduates ahead of her. Her friend Ashley Meadows should have been somewhere in front of her... She shook away the thought. Poor Ashley.
The graduation coordinator clapped her hands above the din to get their attention. The soon-to-be alumni quieted down, and the graduates began the procession up the stairs to the auditorium.
Zach met the passenger van in the loop outside the arena. He had told Bridget he’d do his best to attend her graduation, cautioning her that he might get stuck at work. He had been busy in yet another undercover assignment, but he wouldn’t miss this day for the world.
Over the past school year, he and Bridget had grown close, squeezing in dates between schoolwork and undercover assignments. They filled the time between with texts. They kept talk of the future to a minimum, fearing his undercover work would never allow for a normal life.
The past nine months had changed him in ways he never imagined. He had fallen hard for the beautiful woman from Hickory Lane, and he suspected—no, he prayed—the feeling was mutual.
The van driver slowed, and Zach waved. The man tipped his chin and pulled over beyond the blue crosswalk. The side door popped open, and Bridget’s family climbed out: Liddie, Elijah, Caleb, Jeremiah, Mae and Amos. Bridget’s father had been especially hard to convince to attend his daughter’s graduation. Zach had a feeling her grandfather Jeremiah had had a hand in his presence.
Zach enjoyed watching Caleb and Elijah take in the campus with slack-jawed expressions under their felt hats.
“Well,” Zach said, holding out his hand toward the arena, “the ceremony is about to start. We better go in.”
Zach ushered them into the arena to curious glances. When a recording of “Pomp and Circumstance” sounded over the speakers, the audience shifted their attention to the processing graduates, hoping to spot their loved ones.
Bridget’s parents sat quietly while Caleb and Elijah pointed out things and discussed them between themselves. Liddie leaned over to Zach and asked if he thought she should go to college. Zach smiled, not daring to cause any waves. On the other side of him, Jeremiah whispered, “Thanks for inviting us.”
“Thanks for convincing everyone to come.”
Jeremiah nodded.
After Bridget walked across the stage and made it back to her seat—Zach was able to watch her from the nosebleeds—he texted her with a bunch of celebratory emojis. Then he typed, You did it! Congrats!
Three dots appeared on the screen. You’re here! Then more bubbles. I can’t believe you spotted me in this crowd.
He tapped away with his thumbs. How could I miss this? You were easy to spot. You’re the most beautiful graduate here!
She responded with an “aw shucks” GIF.
He laughed and texted one more time: Meet me outside by the buffalo after the ceremony.
When the recessional music started, excitement coursed through Zach’s veins. He patted his suit coat pocket and squared his shoulders.
The audience spilled out into the aisles. Bridget’s father’s face grew pinched under the shadow of his felt hat. “We can wait a minute until the crowd clears,” Zach suggested.
Mae smiled her agreement and patted her husband’s arm.
Caleb and Elijah looked like they wanted to hop out of their seats and go exploring. Zach couldn’t blame them. Liddie seemed to be taking everything in. He had a hard time reading her. On the one hand, she seemed like the dutiful daughter, but on the other, she seemed to be ready to push the boundaries. Zach supposed that children growing into adults often pushed boundaries, no matter what the culture.
Last year, when he had taken Bridget home to collect her things, he sensed Amos’s displeasure with both his daughters. Bridget for her plans to leave again and toward Liddie, perhaps for having kept in communication with Jimmy. Zach hoped they could work it out. He knew the strain of harboring resentment toward a love one.
The crowd began to thin a bit. “Let’s head out. I told Bridget I’d meet her outside.” He overheard Amos lean in and tell his wife that maybe they should have brought flowers for their daughter, and Mae reassured him that being here was gift enough.
Zach smiled. It seemed that Amos had made peace with at least one of his daughters.
When they reached the exit, the pavement was teeming with people. Zach searched their faces. When his gaze finally landed on Bridget, she was staring in his direction with wide eyes. Apparently, she had spotted her family quicker than he had found her. Perhaps their Amish clothing made them stand out.
She broke through the crowd and into his embrace. He whispered into her hair, “You did it! Congratulations!”
Bridget pulled back quickly and brushed a chaste kiss across his cheek. “Thank you. Thank you for all of this.” She clutched her diploma to her chest and turned to her family. “I can’t believe you came.” Her smile spread from ear to ear. “This means so much more to me with you all here.”
“You must get your intelligence from me,” her grandfather joked, the first to break the awkward silence.
Her mother smiled proudly but didn’t say anything, perhaps taking her cues from Amos, who stood stiffly among the sea of graduates and their families.
“Hey, I heard there was food involved,” Liddie spoke up. “I’m starving.”
“Of course,” Zach said. “I’ll call the driver.” His gaze touched on each of Bridget’s family members before landing on her. “We can all go back to my mother’s home for a celebration.”
A single tear leaked out of the corner of Bridget’s eye as color infused her face. “Thank you,” she mouthed. “Thank you so much.”
The sun had lowered in the sky, and a late spring chill was in the air. Bridget sat across from her parents at the picnic table in Zach’s childhood yard. She couldn’t believe Zach and his mother had organized all this.
His mother, Annie, came out with a fresh pitcher of iced tea. “Does anyone need a top off?”
Her father lifted his hand and readied himself to stand. “Thank you for your hospitality. It’s time we go. We have a long ride home.”
A hint of disappointment swept through Bridget. “Thank you for coming. It meant a lot to me.” Her father had been his usual quiet self, but he had been gracious, and she sensed he had made peace with her decision.
Bridget’s father stood to leave and she got to her feet to join him. He hesitated, then said, “Don’t forget where you came from.”
Bridget touched her father’s arm. “I won’t.”
He tipped his hat and strode around the side of the house to the van parked out front.
“’Bye, Mem.” Bridget pulled her mother into a tight embrace. “Thanks so much for everything.”
Her mother seemed to be holding back tears. “Remember what your father told you.”
“I will. I will.” Her voice cracked, and she caught Zach’s warm gaze.
“Well, denki. I better catch up to your father. Come on,” she said to the rest of her family.
Elijah muttered his goodbyes, and Caleb bowed his head and dived into his sister’s side. Bridget bent down and kissed his head. “You boys be good.”
Caleb looked up with tears in his eyes. “Will you come visit us?”
Bridget looked toward the side of the house where her parents had gone on their way to the van. She didn’t want to lie because she didn’t know if she’d be welcomed home on a regular basis.
She locked gazes with Zach, then leaned over and kissed the top of her brother’s sweaty head again. “I’ll always be here for you.” And she meant that. Then she playfully patted his arm. “Better go get into the van. It’s a long walk to Hickory Lane.”
“You wouldn’t make us walk,” Caleb said with an air of disbelief.
Bridget playfully hip checked him and laughed. “Don’t test me.”
The two boys raced each other around the side of the house. Liddie picked up her paper plate of graduation cake and a plastic fork. “Not going anywhere without this.”
“Enjoy.” Bridget smiled. Zach pulled Bridget close in a side hug.
Liddie took a bite of cake and licked a bit of frosting from her lip. “You will come visit us, right?”
“I’ll try.” Bridget was more forthright with her sister. “Dad made an exception to come here, but I’m not sure if he’ll leave the door open for me to come and go as I please. It wouldn’t set a good example.” She reached out and squeezed her sister’s arm. “I’m here. I’ll always be here. You have my phone number.” Then she playfully wagged her finger at her sister. “Be gut.”
Liddie pointed at herself with the fork as if to say, Who me? Bridget had asked Liddie about Moses, the man who had courted Bridget years earlier and who had strangely shown up on the day Liddie decided to meet Jimmy. Liddie had dismissed Moses. She claimed he was a nuisance. Nothing more than that. Bridget chose to believe her sister.
“I hope you learned your lesson.” Bridget’s grandfather stepped outside onto the back porch.
Liddie rolled her eyes. “Listen to the biggest rebel of them all.” Apparently, her grandfather’s misadventures had become well-known among his granddaughters in light of recent events.
He ran a hand across his beard. “Do as I say, not as I do.” He laughed, then tipped his head at Zach. “Take care of her.”
“Yes, sir.” Zach squeezed Bridget’s shoulders. “Thanks for coming. Let me walk you to the van.”
Her grandfather waved him off. “I’m perfectly capable of walking to the van. Come on, Liddie. Our chariot awaits.”
“’Bye, Bridget. ’Bye, Zach.” Liddie’s eyes danced, and she took another bite of her cake and strolled away.
Bridget stepped away from Zach. “Well, I better help your mom clean up.”
“No, no.” Zach had taken off his suit coat and now he wore only his button-down with rolled-up sleeves. “I’ve got this. Sit. Relax.” He directed her toward a chair on the patio. “The bugs shouldn’t bother you here.”
Bridget sat and reflected on the day. It was perfect. The sounds of Annie and her grown son talking easily over the running of water and clanking of dishes floated out to her. Their relationship was definitely on the mend.
She tipped her head back and settled into the chair. The scent from the citronella candle tickled her nose. Now that she had her bachelor’s degree, she couldn’t shake the idea of continuing on to graduate school. She hadn’t yet discussed it with Zach. He had insisted she focus on school and not let him distract her. Yet as the months and days passed, she had found she wanted her plans to intertwine with his.
Would that be possible with his job?
A short time later, Zach returned with two iced teas. “Hey there. How’s my college graduate?” The pride in his voice warmed her heart.
She took a sip and set the glass on the small table between them. “I start my job at the hospital on Monday.” She swallowed hard. “Will you be starting a new assignment soon?” There it was. The thing she had been avoiding all day. How much time could they spend together before he got lost in another undercover assignment?
Zach scooted to the edge of his patio chair and set his drink down next to hers. “Well...” A slow smile played on his lips.
Excitement with underpinnings of apprehension and, if she was being honest, a touch of fear danced across her skin. “What is it?”
“I’ve spent the past several years undercover.” He scrubbed a hand over his hair. “It’s been a tough life.”
“I can imagine.”
“I was offered an assignment at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico. I’m ready for a change.”
“Quantico.” A fluttering started in her belly. “Where’s that? Virginia?” Was he leaving her, too?
“Yes.” He seemed to be studying her face. “I was hoping you’d come with me.”
Bridget jerked her head back. “I have a job here.”
“There are jobs there.” He pressed his lips together. “And I know you were considering grad school. There are some fantastic graduate programs in that area.”
Had he seen the college brochures at her house?
“I... How?” She couldn’t wrap her head around this. Before she had another second to process the details, Zach had slid out of his chair and knelt down on one knee in front of her. He pulled out a box from his suit coat slung over the back of his chair.
“Will you marry me, Bridget Miller?”
She pressed her hands to her cheeks and stared at the ring. “It’s so sparkly.”
“Is that a yes?” Zach gently pulled her hands away from her face and drew her up into his embrace.
“Yes!” She buried her face in his chest. “Yes.”
He took her hand and slipped on the ring. She held it out. “It’s beautiful.”
He drew a thumb across her cheek. “You’re beautiful.”
She smiled tightly, and a whisper of sadness threatened to dim this moment. “I wish I could share this with my family.”
“We can visit Hickory Lane whenever you want. I promise.”
She reached up and gently kissed his lips. “I know you’d do anything for me.”
“I want you to know I’ll support whatever you decide to do. Grad school. Work. Both.” They laughed in unison. “Or if you decide to stay home with our children, I’ll support that.”
“Children?” Her face grew warm. She hadn’t thought that far down the road.
“Yes, children. If you want.” His hand brushed across her back, pulling her close. “I’d love to have children with you.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “We can figure all that out together.”
Bridget planted her left hand on his solid chest and tucked her head under his chin.
“I love you,” he whispered into her hair.
“I love you, too.” She drew in a deep breath. His subtle aloe aftershave and clean-soap scent reminded her of all the times he had held her like this. Made her feel protected. Loved.
This was home.
He was home.
Look for the next book from Alison Stone, featuring Bridget’s sister, Liddie, coming later in 2021!
And look for these other Amish titles from reader favorite Alison Stone:
Plain Protector
Plain Cover-Up
Plain Sanctuary
Plain Jeopardy
Plain Outsider
Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!
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