Oscar’s enthusiastic nod made her grin.

  Chloe approached, her face glowing with gratitude. “Hi, Eden. I just wanted to thank you again for suggesting Penny rent the cottage on Anchor Lane to us. It’s perfect. I don’t know what we would’ve done without your help.”

  Eden stood up and smiled. Penny hadn’t told Chloe that she’d turned down the cottage. It wasn’t important. What Eden was proud of was how happy Chloe and Oscar had been since they’d moved in. “I’m glad it worked out, Chloe. You and Oscar deserve a wonderful home.”

  Oscar tugged at his mom’s hand. “Can we see the dinosaur footprints now?”

  “Of course we can.” Chloe grinned at Steve and Eden. “Oscar’s dinosaur crazy. One of the displays has some impressions of real dinosaur footprints. It’s all Oscar has talked about since someone told him about them.”

  “Enjoy the display,” Eden told them. As Chloe and Oscar maneuvered through the crowd, Eden turned to Steve. “I’m so proud of you,” she said softly. “Your sculptures look amazing.”

  “Thank you, Miss Taylor.”

  The warmth in Steve’s gaze made her blush. “You’d better talk to your fans before we get into trouble. I’ll see you later, handsome.”

  Ignoring Steve’s soft laughter, she headed across the room. While she was admiring another artist’s work, she overheard a conversation between two people standing nearby.

  “Can you believe it?” one women said, her voice tinged with awe. “Steve Thompson is actually Steven Gromwell, the guy who won a prestigious sculpting award the other day.”

  Eden’s heart skipped a beat. She knew Steve was talented, but she had no idea he had two names or that he’d won an important award.

  The women continued to rave about Steve and the sculpture he’d made.

  Eden found a quiet area of the studio and pulled out her phone, searching for any information about the award. When Steve first told her about his sculptures and how popular they were, she’d searched his name online, but came up with nothing.

  This time, her screen was filled with articles and news about the award and Steve’s career. The winning sculpture, Wrought Harmony, was featured in some high-profile newspapers and magazines, accompanied by praise and accolades from art critics around the world.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, he’d made the Forbes list of up-and-coming artists. When she saw how much money he’d earned over the past year, her eyes boggled. Steve had told her he made a good living from selling his sculptures. Two million dollars wasn’t what most people called a comfortable income.

  Feeling a whirlwind of emotions—pride, confusion, and a bit of hurt that Steve hadn’t shared this with her—she decided to step outside for some fresh air.

  As she stood under the veranda of another store, Eden took a deep, cleansing breath. She’d come to Sapphire Bay to find peace and perhaps a new beginning. She never expected to meet someone like Steve—a man who was not only incredibly talented but also kind, genuine, and supportive.

  As she thought about the time they’d spent together, she realized just how deeply she’d fallen for him. His quiet strength, his gentle smile, and the way he cared for Rex all added up to someone she’d grown to love more than she thought possible. But now, finding out he led a completely different life as Steven Gromwell, she felt uncertain and a little lost.

  Eden looked back at the gallery, where Steve was probably mingling with the guests. She knew she had to talk to him, to understand why he hadn’t told her about his career and the award. And to tell him how she felt about him.

  Falling in love with Steve had been unexpected and wonderful, but it also brought a vulnerability she hadn’t felt in a long time. The fear of being hurt or rejected loomed large in her mind.

  Her mom had always told her she leaped through life from one moment to the next, hoping she was heading in the right direction. This time, she wanted to make sure she’d thought about what would happen next.

  Being hurt wasn’t a good enough reason to walk away from a future with the man she loved. But if Steve couldn’t be honest about his life, he wasn’t the man for her.

  Steve knocked lightly on Eden’s door at The Welcome Center, his heart pounding in his chest. She’d asked him to come by after the exhibition, and he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong. He thought they were happy, but the tone of her voice when she asked to see him had filled him with dread.

  Eden opened the door with a small, tight smile. “Hey, Steve. Thanks for coming. Do you want to go for a walk? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  His heart sank even further. “Sure, let’s go,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

  They walked in silence toward the lake, the tension between them making Steve’s stomach churn. Had he done something wrong? Was Eden unhappy with him? Or had something happened at the exhibition?

  By the time they reached the water, he couldn’t take the silence any longer.

  “What’s going on, Eden?” he asked, stopping to face her. “You’re scaring me.”

  Eden took a deep breath, her eyes searching his face. “Who are you, Steve? Really?”

  He blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “At the exhibition, I overheard some women talking about you. They mentioned an award, the Forbes list, and referred to you as Steven Gromwell. Who are you?”

  The color drained from Steve’s face. He hadn’t expected this. “I… I’m sorry, Eden. I should have told you everything when we last talked about my career.”

  “Why didn’t you?” she asked, her voice trembling. “I feel like a fool for comparing your salary to an accountant or a lawyer. You must have laughed at how naïve I am.”

  Steve swallowed the knot in his throat. “I’d never do that. What I earn doesn’t matter.”

  “If it didn’t matter, you would’ve told me you earned two million dollars last year. I thought we were being honest with each other.”

  Steve ran a hand through his hair, struggling to find the right words. “We are.” Even to him, what he’d said wasn’t enough. “I’m sorry if you’re upset.”

  “I’m more disappointed than upset. How can I trust you when you still aren’t completely honest with me?”

  The tears shimmering in Eden’s eyes made his heart ache. The last thing he wanted to do was disappoint her. So, he’d start at the beginning, where his love of sculpting had come from. Eventually, she’d hear how his life unraveled to reveal a man who didn’t know who he was anymore.

  “I studied at a prestigious arts school,” he began slowly, hoping Eden still cared enough about him to listen. “I won an international sculpting award when I was eighteen. My parents were devastated when I told them I wanted to join the army. They thought I was throwing away a career that could change my life. But I wanted to make a difference. I didn’t think I could do that with sculpting.”

  Eden’s eyes softened, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

  “You already know that when I was diagnosed with PTSD, I left the army. Sculpting was the only thing that relaxed my mind and made the symptoms less severe. A few years ago, a friend saw one of my pieces and convinced me to enter it into an Italian sculpting competition. After I won, things changed quickly. An agent began representing me. My work was featured in major art galleries, and I started getting commissions from all over the world. My popularity grew and so did my income but, inside, I was a mess. The pressure to create better sculptures, to push the boundary of what people expected of me, was more than I could handle. When mom died, it was even worse. Some friends from the army told me John had started a PTSD support group. So, I came to Sapphire Bay to see him, and never left.”

  Eden took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you tell me all of that when we last spoke about your career?”

  “I didn’t want you to see me differently. I want to be Steve Thompson, the guy you met in Sapphire Bay, not Steven Gromwell, the award-winning sculptor.”

  Eden looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Why did you choose Gromwell as your sculpting name?”

  “It was my grandmother’s maiden name. She was a great person. At Christmas, we’d bake gingerbread houses and spend all night decorating them. After she died, our family was never the same.”

  Eden crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

  If Eden was ever going to trust him, he needed to tell her everything. “I’ve bought three commercial buildings with a property development company based out of Bozeman. And I have about four million dollars invested in different funds.”

  Eden’s mouth dropped open. “Are you joking?”

  Steve shook his head. “I want you to trust me.”

  Eden looked into his eyes. “I fell in love with Steve Thompson. I don’t know Steven Gromwell.”

  His heart ached at her words. “He’s the same person who loves you beyond measure. He’s the man who gets out of bed each morning, worried he’ll do something to hurt the only woman who’s changed his life for the better. He’s the same man who’d do anything to make you happy.”

  Eden didn’t say anything for so long that he thought he’d lost her forever. When she was ready, she uncrossed her arms and held his hands in hers. “I don’t care how much money you have. All I need is for you to be honest with me. No more secrets.”

  He nodded, relief washing over him. “No more secrets. I promise.”

  They stood by the lake, holding each other close, the tension between them easing.

  Later, as they walked back to The Welcome Center, Steve felt a sense of hope. He knew they still had challenges to face but, with honesty and love, he hoped they could overcome anything.

  Chapter 19

  Eden stood in the middle of her house on Chestnut Drive, surrounded by timber framing, exposed floorboards, and boxes of building supplies waiting to be unpacked. Although only the bathroom and one bedroom were ready, she’d moved in from The Welcome Center. This way, she could work on the house more efficiently, without the hassle of traveling back and forth. Plus, it made her feel like she was taking a step toward making her fixer-upper a home.

  Despite the progress she was making on the remodeling, she still had a lingering caution around Steve. While she appreciated his honesty and loved him deeply, she couldn’t shake off the unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.

  If he couldn’t trust her with the identity he used as a sculptor, then that was a problem. Would anything or anyone be able to fix Steve’s trust issues?

  The sound of a car pulling up outside caught her attention. Moments later, Shelley appeared in the doorway, a warm smile on her face and two bags of food in her hands.

  “I brought lunch,” Shelley announced, setting the bags on the makeshift kitchen counter. “I thought you could use a break.”

  Eden smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Shelley. I’ve been so caught up in everything that I forgot to eat.”

  Shelley started unpacking sandwiches, juice, and tray of strawberries. “How are you settling in?”

  “It’s a work in progress,” Eden replied, glancing around. “But it’s starting to feel like home. Did you drive yourself here?”

  “If only,” she said with a sigh. “I’m so big that I need to push the driver’s seat back to get behind the wheel. But, when I do that, my feet don’t reach the pedals. John think’s it’s hilarious.”

  Eden held back a smile. “That’s what you get for growing a healthy baby.”

  “That’s what Mom keeps telling me.” Shelley looked around the kitchen. “You’ve done something in here, but I don’t know what it is.”

  Eden pointed across the room. “I’ve removed the overhead cupboards and taken the tiles off that wall. There’s enough storage without adding to the amount of work I have to do.”

  “That makes sense.” Shelley sat on an old dining room chair Eden had found at a thrift store. “I spoke to Owen yesterday. He’s thrilled with how the art exhibition went. All the artists who were there want to do another one before Christmas.”

  Eden picked up a sandwich. “I don’t blame them. Half the community must have come to see the exhibition.”

  Shelley undid a container of orange juice. “How’s Steve? He came to see John this morning, but I didn’t get to say hello.”

  “He’s okay,” Eden said softly.

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Shelley studied Eden’s face. “What’s happened?”

  “Steve told me something about his career that surprised me.” When Shelley didn’t say anything, Eden looked at her. “Did you know he uses a different name for his sculpting?”

  A guilty blush made Shelley’s cheeks turn pink. “John might have mentioned something, but I couldn’t tell anyone. It didn’t make much sense to me, either. Until I saw the way people treat Natalie when they know how much money she makes.”

  Eden frowned. “How do they treat her?”

  “They ask her for money or expect her to pay for any fundraising programs in the community. I don’t know how she copes with all the attention.”

  “Now I feel bad.” The delicious food in front of Eden suddenly seemed less appealing. “I didn’t ask her for money, but I positively gushed about how amazing she is.”

  Shelley grinned. “She wouldn’t have minded. She’s an incredible painter, so a little adoration is to be expected.” Her smile faded. “Don’t be too hard on Steve. He adores you. That kind of feeling doesn’t happen every day.”

  “I guess not. I love him, Shelley, but how can I trust him when he doesn’t tell me the truth about something that’s important?”

  “If the situation were reversed, what would you have done?”

  Eden thought about Shelley’s question. With a sinking feeling, she realized she might have done the same thing.

  Shelley bit into a juicy strawberry. “Exactly. There are some unscrupulous people out there. If they think someone has plenty of money, they’ll tell them whatever they want to hear. As soon as they get their hands on the money, they’re gone.”

  “I’m not like that,” Eden told her friend.

  Shelley shrugged. “You and I know that, but Steve has PTSD. His last girlfriend left because she couldn’t understand the person he’d become. Until he met you, he hadn’t had another relationship. That must tell you how many trust issues he has.”

  Eden picked up a sandwich. “How did you become so wise?”

  Shelley grinned. “I’ve had some of my most unwise moments in Sapphire Bay. I drive John insane with my methodical, process-driven mind. But, sometimes, his calm, commonsense approach to life rubs off on me. And talking about common sense things, I’ve got a housewarming gift for you.” She reached for the second bag, then winced.

  “Are you okay?” Eden asked.

  Shelley rubbed the side of her tummy. “It’s nothing. The doctor said it’s normal to have Braxton-Hicks contractions at this stage in my pregnancy. I just wish I’d get some warning of when they’re going to happen. Could you take the gift out of the bag?”

  Eden opened the pretty gift-wrapped box. When she saw the electric drill, she grinned. “You didn’t have to buy me anything, but I’m so glad you did.”

  Shelley smiled. “Every new homeowner needs a good electric drill. If you aren’t sure how to use it, I know a handsome sculptor who’d give you lessons.”

  Someone with a deep voice cleared his throat.

  Eden turned around and blushed.

  Steve stood uncertainly in the doorway, holding a small box. “Unless you know another sculptor, I’d be happy to help. This isn’t a power tool, but I thought you might like it.” Stepping into the kitchen, he handed his gift to Eden. “It’s supposed to bring good energy to your new home.”

  Carefully, she unwrapped the box and held a gorgeous deep blue crystal in her hand. “It’s beautiful, Steve. Look, Shelley. It’s a Labradorite crystal.”

  Shelley’s eyebrows rose. “How on earth do you know that?”

  Eden smiled. “I like crystals.”

  Rex trotted over, his tail wagging enthusiastically. Instead of stopping beside Eden, he immediately went to Shelley and cuddled up to her.

  Shelley laughed and petted him.

  Steve looked at her. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay,” Shelley told him. “I just have a few pesky contractions that are making my life difficult.”

  Steve’s eyes filled with worry. “Are you sure everything’s all right?”

  “Everything’s fine. The contractions are normal.”

  Steve nodded, still not looking entirely convinced. He turned to Eden and pulled a small, intricately crafted sculpture from a bag. “I brought you something else. It’s a gift for your garden.”

  Eden’s eyes widened as she took the sculpture from him. It was a delicate bronze butterfly, beautifully detailed and full of life. “It’s fantastic, but it’s too nice for my overgrown garden. I’ll keep it in my bedroom until the living room’s finished. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Steve said, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

  Just then, Shelley winced again, her hand going to her stomach. “I think... I think this might be it,” she said, her voice tight with pain.

  Steve took his phone out of his pocket. “We need to get you to the hospital. I’ll call for an ambulance.”

  Eden quickly gathered Shelley’s things, her mind racing. “I’ll call John,” she said as she dialed his number.

  He answered on the first ring. “Is everything okay?”

  “Shelley’s in labor,” Eden said, trying to stay calm. “Steve’s called for an ambulance.”

  “They’ll be at least forty minutes,” Steve said as he ended the call. “The dispatcher said it’d be quicker if we drive Shelley to the hospital ourselves.”

  Eden frowned. “Did you hear that, John?”

  “I did,” he said quickly. “Can you and Steve take her to the hospital? I’m visiting someone who lives just outside of Polson. I’ll meet you there.”

 

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