unknown holding company. If anyone knew who was now running the accountant’s office, no one was saying. All Aiden knew was that occasionally Bridget’s phone would ring, and she would promptly leave the room for privacy. Still, she never left town or went on a job. And she never seemed upset by what she learned. So he let her do what she had to do.
Across the clearing, a German shepherd wearing a K9 unit vest sniffed around the grass beside an overturned tree. Probably downed by a storm.
“Do you think we’ll find her?”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her gloved finger, right over the spot he’d slid the ring on that one perfect day, in front of a small group of their closest friends. Sydney had giggled the entire time, though likely only because she’d tied a halo of ribbons to Butch’s head, and he’d licked her little white gloves the entire ceremony. Aiden knew for a fact she’d had candy in the palm of her hand, tucked under the glove.
The dog barked, jolting him out of his reverie.
It sat at attention.
“Sergeant Donaldson!”
Aiden lifted his head. “What is it, Officer?”
“He found something.”
Shortly after, the remains of a young woman were unearthed.
**
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Bridget grinned to herself, but waved a hand. “Just keep driving east. Toward the edge of town.”
In the backseat, Sydney giggled. “Mommy, we should tell him.”
Bridget turned to her daughter, all buckled up in the backseat. She’d grown so much since the New Year, when they’d met. Now it was the height of summer, and they’d gone shopping for flip flops, right before getting pedicures. Spending time together was amazing. Bridget was still bursting with the emotion of it all. And still, she had to balance the sheer joy with the need to not give in to whatever Sydney wanted. She had to temper the urge to try to make her happy buying everything she wanted.
As though one day it might suddenly all disappear.
Bridget felt the car slow. “Turn here.”
“The warehouse?”
“Pull in. We have an appointment.”
Aiden frowned. She stared at his profile. Those same huge, overwhelming feelings rolled over her. These two were like a rip tide. Normally a bad thing. Swept away, unable to fight the current. Bridget was drowning in family.
And she loved every minute of it.
“Care to share what this is all about? Aside from this being the spot where…” He trailed off and glanced at Sydney.
Yes, this was where Clarke had kidnapped Bridget. Where he’d been stunned and grabbed by Capeira. But that time in their life was over.
This was a new season.
“Welcome to Sygnet. Which might sound like a fancy tech company, but is actually a joint venture by business leaders in Last Chance to bring the community together. And the blending of Sydney and Bridget. Kind of. I’ll probably change it.” She winced. “When I think of something better.”
“What are you—”
Sydney shoved her door open. “Come on, Dad!”
Bridget got out. He held her hand to the side door of the warehouse. Had he parked around the front, he’d have seen the spot where she had been kidnapped—now an ocean of cars. The press conference started in two minutes.
“Syd, you—” Aiden spotted the crowd. “Are we supposed to be here?”
Bridget grinned. “Go sit with Sydney. I’ll catch up to you in a minute.” She lifted up on her toes and kissed him.
“What are you—”
“I’m pregnant.” Bridget lowered her heels to the ground but didn’t move her hands from his shoulders. “That’s not part of this. I just wanted to tell you.”
“I know you’re pregnant.”
“What—”
He kissed her. “Go. Do what you need to do.” He strode toward Sydney, who waved him to a chair in the middle.
Bridget swiped away a tear and strode to the podium. Cameras flashed. Local and regional news were here, but she hoped to get some serious attention. Even with the money she’d saved from years of extremely low overhead and the fantastic wage Millie had paid her, there was still a funding gap.
“Thank you all for coming today. I’ll cut to the chase. My name is Bridget Meyers, and I grew up in Last Chance. It wasn’t always easy.”
She spotted Millie and Eric at the back of the room. Her friend’s belly was round with the baby she wouldn’t birth for another three months at least.
Meanwhile, Bridget still didn’t look pregnant. Yet.
She met Aiden’s gaze. I know you’re pregnant.
“I lost people I loved. Many of them. Recently two very special people have come back into my life, and every day we make the most of it. Never taking for granted even one moment together.”
She took a breath. “That’s why I’m pleased to announce the renovation phase of the Annabelle Filks Memorial Center.”
At the back of the crowd, Maggie sucked in a breath. The owner of Hope Mansion lifted her hands to cover her mouth. The body discovered in the woods had been identified as her daughter, missing since the night Bridget left town. Killed by the Fire Chief, she was now laid to rest, and her mother could finally find peace.
Beside Maggie, her son—the town vet—put his arm around her shoulders.
“In conjunction with Hope Mansion, the local church, and the community of Last Chance, this warehouse will be repurposed into community center. A coffee shop and bookstore. A VR lounge and gamer wing are part of a drop-in center for teens. A computer lab. A full gym. An arcade. We will house two dorm rooms and full facilities that will make up a youth shelter for anyone under eighteen needing somewhere safe to go.
“Classrooms with counselors and teachers who sign up to volunteer. The warehouse will also feature a trampoline wing and—or so I’m told—an “epic” kids play area where moms can watch from coffee shop tables while their kids tear it up all the way to the rafters.” She lifted both hands. “Safely, of course.”
Several people chuckled.
Bridget pointed to the easels on one side. “All the plans have been laid out. I’m happy to announce we have all our permits in place and are ready to begin the work first thing on Monday.”
Sydney jumped out of her chair and lifted her fist into the air. “Yes!”
“For a long time, I thought no one in this town saw me. That no one cared what happened to me. Or who hurt me.” Bridget grabbed the edges of the podium. “That’s not going to happen anymore. In Last Chance, no one falls through the cracks.”
She met Aiden’s steady gaze and watched his lips move. Forming three simple words she would never get tired of hearing.
I love you.
Coming next…
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Coming Feb 26th 2021.
Expired Betrayal is the story of Alex Basuto and Sasha.
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About the author
A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she's discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children and an all-black Airedale known as The Dark Lord Elevator.
Lisa is the author of the bestselling Sanctuary (WITSEC town series), the Double Down series, and more than a dozen Love Inspired Suspense novels. Her 2019 series of Northwest Counter-Terrorism agents was a big hit.
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Lisa Phillips also writes Christian thriller supernatural novels under the name JL Terra
You can find these at www.jlterra.com