She didn’t see Gabriel and Sara in the audience, but that wasn’t surprising. There was a huge crowd. They were able to graduate outside because the skies cleared up. They held the graduation ceremonies on the football field, with faculty and students and families gathered for the occasion.

Michelle accepted her diploma from the principal, grinned at some of her fellow students and walked off the platform. On the way down, she remembered what a terrifying future she was stepping into. For twelve years, she’d gone to school every day—well, thirteen years if you counted kindergarten. Now, she was free. But with freedom came responsibility. She had to support herself. She had to manage an apartment. She had to pay bills...

Maybe not the bills part, totally. She would have to force Gabriel and Sara to let her pay rent. That would help her pride. She’d go off to college, to strangers, to a dormitory that might actually be unisex. That was a scary thought.

She ran to Gabriel and Sara, to be hugged and congratulated.

“You are now a free woman.” Sara chuckled. “Well, mostly. Except for your job, and college upcoming.”

“If it’s going to be a unisex dorm,” Michelle began worriedly.

“It’s not,” Gabriel assured her. “Didn’t you notice? It’s a Protestant college. They even have a chaplain.”

“Oh. Oh!” She burst out laughing, and flushed. “No, I didn’t really notice, until I thought about having to share my floor with men who are total strangers.”

“No way would that happen,” Gabriel said solemnly, and his dark eyes flashed. “I’d have you driven back and forth first.”

“So would I,” Sara agreed. “Or I’d move up to San Antonio, get an apartment and you could room with me.”

Tears stung Michelle’s cheeks. She was remembering how proud her father had been of her grades and her ambitions, how he’d looked forward to seeing her graduate. He should have been here.

“Now, now,” Gabriel said gently, as if he could see the thoughts in her mind. He brushed the tears away and kissed her eyelids closed. “It’s a happy occasion,” he whispered.

She was tingling all over from the unexpectedly intimate contact. Her heart went wild. When he drew back, everything she felt and thought was right there, in her eyes. His own narrowed, and his tall, muscular body tensed.

Sara coughed. She coughed again, to make sure they heard her.

“Lunch,” Gabriel said at once, snapping out of it. “We have reservations.”

“At one of the finest restaurants in the country, and we still have to get to the airport.”

“Restaurant? Airport?” Michelle was all at sea.

Gabriel grinned. “It’s a surprise. Someone’s motioning to you.” He indicated a female student who was waving like crazy.