“I like the way you kiss,” she said softly. “But you’re only staying in Sapphire Bay for a couple of weeks.”
“Would it make a difference if I was living here?”
Willow tilted her head to the side. “Maybe, but that can’t be the only reason you stay.”
Zac had made many life-changing decisions based on a lot less than wanting to be close to someone. But if he stayed, it wouldn’t only be his heart on the line. Willow needed someone who could make her laugh, make her look forward to a brighter future. She needed someone she could trust.
All he could offer her was himself, and he didn’t know if that would ever be enough.
Willow lifted her hand to the side of his face and sighed. “I’m going to see Megan and the baby. Thank you for taking care of them.”
“I’m glad I was here.”
“So am I.”
Zac kept staring through the kitchen door long after Willow left the room. When he’d planned his trip home, he had no intention of staying in Montana. But now, after meeting Willow and helping Megan and William, he didn’t know if he wanted to go back to Kabul.
For the first time in his life he was torn between two worlds—and he wasn’t sure which one would win.
As soon as Willow walked into Megan and William’s bedroom, her gaze focused on the tiny baby in Megan’s arms. “She’s beautiful.”
Megan smiled. “Come closer. She looks like William.”
“Only a lot cuter,” William said from the other side of the bed.
Willow sat beside Megan and rubbed her arm. “Congratulations. I can’t believe how quickly she was born.”
“Neither can I. We’re so glad Zac was here. I don’t know what we would have done without him.”
A knot of emotion settled in Willow’s chest. She didn’t know what she would do without him, too. “Have you chosen a name for your daughter?”
Megan looked at William. “We’re calling her Rebecca Lacey Parker.”
Willow’s eyes filled with tears. Before William met Megan, he was married and had a daughter called Lacey. Sadly, Lacey died in a car accident, leaving William and his wife heartbroken. Their marriage had ended, and Willow could only imagine the grief that must have consumed William’s life.
She touched Rebecca’s tiny hand. “Welcome to the world, Rebecca Lacey Parker. You’re going to have a wonderful life.”
William kissed Megan’s cheek. “While you’re talking to Willow, I’ll get you something to eat and drink.”
“There are plenty of cookies in the kitchen,” Willow said.
Megan smiled at the look of anticipation on her husband’s face. “William hasn’t stopped talking about your cookies.”
“Wait until you taste them,” he said. “If Willow wants to change her career, she could join you and Brooke in Sweet Treats.”
Willow grinned. “We’d never get any work done, especially if Rebecca and Nora were there.”
“But imagine the fun you’d have. I’ll be back soon.”
After William left, Megan looked at Willow. “Would you like to hold Rebecca?”
“I’d love to.” Carefully, Willow took the newborn baby out of Megan’s arms. With her button nose, and long, dark eyelashes, Rebecca was one of the most beautiful babies she’d ever seen. “She’s perfect. How are you feeling?”
“Tired but happy. As soon as the road is clear, we’re taking Rebecca into the hospital.”
“Is Zac worried about her?”
Megan shook her head. “It’s more of a precaution because she was born so early. Thank you for looking after William while I was in labor.”
“That’s okay. All I did was make cookies and coffee.”
“They helped William relax. He was worried something would happen to me.”
William had been more than worried. He’d told Willow that he dreaded leaving Megan alone. Fear had catapulted him back to the darkest days of losing his elder daughter. It didn’t matter what Zac said, William was terrified something would happen to Megan and their baby.
Willow touched Rebecca’s cheek and sighed. Her skin was so soft and warm.
“She’s our little miracle,” Megan murmured.
“Your birthing plan went out the window.”
“We didn’t even get past the second bullet point, but it doesn’t matter. If you’re looking for Sam, she’s meeting Mabel at the general store. I was supposed to buy diapers last week but, with Brooke’s wedding, I forgot all about them.”
“Mabel will be thrilled that she’s one of the first people to know about Rebecca.”
“She’ll probably post something on the community Facebook page.” Megan studied Willow’s face. “Sam told me about you and Zac.”
The heat of a blush hit Willow’s cheeks. “We kissed. It’s not a big deal.”
“Are you sure?”
Willow looked over her shoulder. She’d die a hundred horrible deaths if Zac was standing in the doorway. He wasn’t, thank goodness. “Whenever I’m around him, my brain turns to mush and I can’t think straight. I hardly know anything about his life, but I’m still attracted to him.”
“And that worries you?”
“Of course, it worries me. I’m not impulsive. I don’t fall in love with someone because they’ve got kind eyes and big bulgy muscles.”
Megan’s lips twitched. “You’ve noticed Zac’s muscles?”
“I was dancing with him.”
“Oh, well. That makes all the difference.”
Willow frowned. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Would I do that?”
“Considering you’ve got a huge smile on your face, the answer is yes.” Rebecca’s hand brushed Willow’s finger, bringing her back to earth with an emotional thump. “What am I going to do?”
“Only you can answer that question.”
Willow had never believed in love at first sight. When she was living in Nashville, she’d been surrounded by people who bounced from one relationship to another, always searching for someone who could make them happy.
She wasn’t like that. After a few wrong turns, she’d found her own sense of happiness. Waking up each morning in Sapphire Bay was a joy. She had friends she adored and a job that challenged and thrilled her. Her life couldn’t have been better. Then Zac came home and everything changed.
“Have you told Zac how you feel about him?”
Willow’s face flamed even hotter. “I’m pretty sure he knows.”
Megan reached across the bed for a glass of water. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Men don’t think like us. Sometimes you need to say the same thing a few different ways, then keep repeating it.”
“Baking us chocolate chip cookies helps, too,” Zac said from the bedroom doorway.
Willow cringed. How much of her conversation with Megan had he heard?
“Keep moving,” William said from behind Zac. “The tray is heavy.”
Zac stepped into the room, staring at Willow as if she had a bad case of hives.
Her heart sank. He must have heard more than she thought.
William rushed into the room. “I heated some pie in the microwave and added a side plate of cookies.”
Willow’s eyes widened. There was enough food on the tray to keep four people happy.
Megan didn’t seem to mind. “You even remembered my herbal tea.”
“I thought you might enjoy a hot drink better than a glass of water.” William placed the tray on the bedside table and smiled at Willow. “Don’t worry. We only heard the part where Megan was sharing her words of wisdom about men. And just for the record, she’s probably right.”
While William placed more pillows behind Megan’s shoulders, Willow looked down at Rebecca. Enjoying the sweet bundle of joy in her arms was far better than looking at Zac.
Especially if he’d heard more than William thought he had.
Chapter Seven
The following afternoon, Zac stopped his truck beside the tiny home village. Pastor John hadn�
�t been kidding when he said it was a community project.
Instead of seeing one digger and plumber, at least ten people were busy working on the plot of land.
Opening his door, he stepped outside. After driving in his air-conditioned truck for the last twenty minutes, breathing the fresh mountain air made him feel alive.
“You made it.” Pastor John strode across the parking lot. “I thought you’d be resting after delivering Megan’s baby.”
“You must have read Mabel’s Facebook post.”
John smiled. “I never miss them, especially if they include a picture of our latest arrival. Is Megan okay?”
“She’s fine. It wasn’t the stress-free birth she was hoping for, but everyone’s safe and well.”
“That’s the main thing.” John turned to the large plot of land. “Welcome to the first stage of the village. Would you like a guided tour?”
“Are you sure you’re not too busy?”
“The site foreman has got everything under control. You might want to take a look at the plans before we go any farther. It will give you an idea of what everything will look like once it’s finished.” John unwound the large sheets of paper he was holding and placed them on the hood of Zac’s truck. “The two homes in front of us were moved into position last week. The structural work is complete, but the plumbers and electricians need to finish their work.”
“And that’s what everyone’s doing today?”
“Some of what we’re doing. We built the homes in the old steamboat museum on the outskirts of town. It meant we could continue construction over the winter, but it had a few drawbacks.” John pointed to two men lifting a large mirror off the back of a truck. “Anything that could be damaged when the homes were moved wasn’t installed. We’ll be adding those fixtures to the houses over the next day or two.”
Zac studied the plans. “When I said this was an ambitious project, I wasn’t wrong. Why didn’t you include a kitchen and laundry in each tiny home?”
“We want to provide inexpensive, safe accommodation to people who haven’t been able to find somewhere to live. To make the project more affordable, we had to look at ways to reduce our costs. Using the houses that were originally on each plot of land as communal living spaces made that possible. By sharing kitchen, laundry, and group meeting areas, we’re not only making the homes cheaper to build, we’re reducing social isolation, encouraging inter-generational activities, and giving the residents a sense of community. Would you like to look inside one of the homes?”
“I’d love to.” As they walked across the parking lot, Zac imagined the finished project sprawled in front of them. In a lot of ways, it reminded him of the refugee camps in Afghanistan. The people who worked in the camps did everything they could to make life easier for the families living there. Creating a sense of community, drawing on people’s strengths, and overcoming their obstacles was a top priority.
John opened the door to a small office. “We’ll need to sign in before we enter the construction area. And you’ll need one of these.”
Zac took the hard hat and followed John toward the nearest home. “When will these two houses be ready?”
“We’re officially opening the site in ten days. The first tenants will be living in their homes by mid-April.”
As they walked closer to the first tiny home, Zac could see why John was so enthusiastic about the project. Whoever had designed the home hadn’t let the limited budget detract from the appearance of the house. The wide veranda would be a welcome addition during summer, and the French doors would give easy access to the outdoor living space.
“I like the bright red front door.”
John smiled. “That was Willow’s idea. When she saw the original color scheme, she told me we could do better. A lot of people have worked hard to make these homes comfortable for the tenants.”
Zac stood to one side as two builders walked out of the house.
“Don’t worry about your shoes,” Pastor John said. “The floors have been covered in sheets of plastic. We’ll leave it there until everything’s finished.”
Even though he’d seen the plans, Zac was surprised at how spacious the homes were. To the left of the front door was a living area. The high ceiling and exposed wooden beams made the room appear much larger than the floor plan suggested. In front of him, a small kitchen counter and refrigerator would enable someone to prepare breakfast or a cup of coffee without having to leave the house. On the right-hand side, the ceiling dropped to a standard height. A queen-sized bed and bathroom completed the ground floor layout.
John stood beside a spiral staircase. “A team of architectural students from Montana State University designed the houses. They’ve used every trick they could think of to maximize the space.”
Zac ran his hand along a set of inbuilt shelves. “They’ve done a great job.”
“Look in the loft.”
Zac climbed the stairs and was even more impressed. The loft utilized the space above the downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Two single beds and a wall of shelves would give the tenants even more options. Someone had added soft yellow blankets and red and blue cushions to each bed. The floor-to-ceiling window was framed by colorful curtains and the view of Flathead Lake was spectacular.
“What do you think?” Pastor John asked as he climbed the stairs.
“It’s incredible. A lot of people will want to move into the homes.”
“As soon as we shared the plans with everyone, we had a waiting list of thirty people. If you’ve got some spare time, you could help us build the next two houses.”
Zac looked around the loft. What the community had achieved was nothing short of a miracle. And maybe, if he was part of what they were working toward, a little of their positivity might rub off on him. “I’ve got a few more days of work ahead of me, but I might do that.”
“Good. When you’re ready, give me a call. In the meantime, I’ll show you the first of our communal living spaces. If you’re impressed with this home, you’ll like that even more.”
Before John disappeared down the stairs, Zac cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask you about something else. Willow told me you have a PTSD support group in Sapphire Bay. Are you meeting any time over the next two weeks?”
“You’ve asked at the right time. Our next get-together is at the church at six o’clock tomorrow night.”
“Would you mind if I came along?”
“You’re more than welcome. There’s usually about a dozen of us. I don’t know what Willow told you, but we’re fairly informal. We’ll have dinner together before talking about what’s happening in our lives.”
“What would you like me to bring?”
“We’re having a barbecue, so a small piece of meat or a salad would be great.” John stepped onto the spiral staircase. “If we’re lucky, Mabel will drop off some of her home-baked chocolate cheesecakes. Between her cooking and the fudge in Sweet Treats, I’ve gained ten pounds in the last year.” He ducked his head as he wound his way down the staircase. “The plumbers have been working overtime to make sure the kitchen in the first communal living space is finished today. You’ll be one of the first people in the community to see it.”
Zac followed John across the lot. He was grateful John hadn’t made a big deal out of him coming to the support group. After kissing Willow, he knew he had to give counseling one last try.
If he wanted to be more than her friend, he needed to deal with his past. And Sapphire Bay, with its towering mountains and glistening lake, could be the best place to do it.
On Sunday afternoon, Willow placed another photo in Brooke and Levi’s wedding album. She’d spent most of the day going through each shot, choosing the images that worked the best, then enhancing, cropping, and printing the photos.
Usually, it would take a couple of days to make the album, but she hadn’t been able to sleep after she’d arrived home from Megan’s house.
She picked up another photo and frowned. Sam must ha
ve snapped the image when Willow was dancing with Zac. With his arms holding her close, and a smile softening his face, Zac looked…content. For someone who’d spent most of his life in high-pressure situations, she didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.
With a weary sigh, she slipped the photo into the album. She must have been more tired than she thought to kiss Zac. Just because he was the most attractive man she’d ever met was no excuse. And it didn’t matter if she was a little in love with him, either. He lived and worked on the other side of the world, had a job that must be incredibly stressful, and had only hinted at the possibility of staying in Sapphire Bay for longer.
Commitment and trust meant everything to her. She’d been let down too many times to stand on a ledge and throw herself into the arms of someone she barely knew. Even if he was one of the kindest and most honest people she’d ever met.
After placing the last four photos in the album, she slid it into a box and tied a bright red bow around the outside.
If Brooke and Levi’s family wanted reprints, they’d have to wait until next week. She still had to get the last canvas ready for her exhibition.
But that could wait until she’d had a cup of coffee and something to eat.
As she walked into the kitchen, she turned on the coffee pot, then opened the pantry doors. On Friday, she’d visited Sweet Treats and bought a yummy carrot cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. The only way she’d made it last more than a couple of days was to cut it into slices and freeze it. Otherwise, she would have found any excuse to nibble her way through the entire cake.
With her taste buds already drooling, she picked up the last fresh piece of cake and sighed.
A knock on the front door startled her. Whoever was standing on her veranda definitely wouldn’t be Megan or Brooke. Sam and Caleb were painting their spare bedroom, and Emma was taking her twins to a birthday party. Zac had told her he was working on his home, so that left only a handful of people who might be visiting her.
With more caution than usual, she walked down the hallway. She looked through the glass panel and frowned. Zac stood outside, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
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