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easily given up living Plain.
    But something had happened when everything in her life had turned upside down. In the middle of figuring out who her birth parents were, she’d figured out who she was.
    And her heart was telling her that she was Amish.
    â€œThere is one other choice, I suppose,” she said quietly.
    â€œYeah? What’s that?”
    She cleared her throat. “We could break up.”
    He pulled his hands away and clenched them on his lap. “Really? You’re actually thinking like that?” His voice was hoarse and thick. Almost as if he was fighting back tears.
    â€œNee,” she said in a rush. “But, well, it’s true, don’tcha think? Some relationships aren’t meant to be.”
    â€œNot meant to be? Huh.” Silence descended on them as a raccoon skittered across the dead-end street, his striped tail illuminated in the glow of the midnight moon.
    Lydia’s hands began to tremble in the ominous quiet between them. She began to regret her words, especially when he turned on the ignition and without another word pulled out into the dark, windy street.
    She gazed at him, watching the muscle in his cheek pulse every time the shadows switched and the moon’s glow hit his face just right. He was mad, and hurt.
    Lydia didn’t blame Walker. If the conversation had been reversed, and if he had been the one to bring it up, she would have been upset, too.
    But she didn’t attempt to take back her words. Someone had to be practical. When they were almost at her house, he turned her way and finally spoke. “Do you want to break up, Lydia?”
    â€œNot at all,” she replied, so quickly that her words were practically stumbling over each other. “Walker, I wouldn’t have kissed you like I did if I didn’t love you. You know that, yes?”
    After he pulled into her driveway and parked, he spoke again. “I know you love me. And I love you, too, Lydia.” When he gazed at her, his brown eyes piercing in the night, he said, “Don’t give up on us. Not yet. I know things are hard, and that we’re still trying to get used to each other’s lifestyles. But we’ll figure something out. I promise, we will.”
    â€œI won’t give up, Walker.” Lifting her chin, she said, “I’m going to start praying really hard. The Lord has to have a solution for us, don’tcha think? I just need to pray more often and ask for His guidance.”
    His gaze softened. For a moment, she worried that he was going to tease her—after all, Englischers didn’t always embrace the total faith in the Lord that the Amish did.
    â€œThat was a good reminder, Lydia,” he finally said. “You are exactly right. I’ll pray harder, too.” Looking beyond her, he smiled. “You’d best go on inside. I think your mom is waiting up for you. She’s probably ready to go to sleep.”
    Reaching out, she squeezed his hand quickly, then opened her door and stepped out. “Good night, Walker. Sleep well.”
    â€œ ’Night, Lydia. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    She stayed on the front porch until he drove out of sight. Then quietly, she opened the front door and slipped inside.
    From inside her parents’ bedroom doorway, she saw her mother’s shadow.
    â€œThank you for watching for me, but I am home safe.”
    â€œI’m glad of that.”
    Lydia ached to rush to her mother’s arms and confide everything. To share how wonderful- gut it felt to be in Walker’s arms. To share all the sweet things he said to her, and how she was sure they were meant to be together.
    But she was anxious to begin her prayers, and now wasn’t the right time, anyway. Her mother was tired, and would be shocked to learn all that Lydia was contemplating.
    â€œ Gut naught, Mamm,” she said simply as she went to her room. The moment she closed her door, she fell to her knees and