Eden laughed. “Only a few. I find them calming, and they’re beautiful to look at.”

  As they found a bench overlooking the water, Steve laid out their impromptu picnic. He split the sandwich, giving half to Eden along with a napkin. She offered him one of the muffins, which looked delicious.

  “So, I have a random question for you,” he began, his anxiety inching higher. He took a bite of the muffin to give him time to calm his nerves. The sweet burst of berries on his tongue made him smile. “This is really good.”

  “I thought you’d like it.” Eden said, taking a small bite of her half of the sandwich.

  Steve wiped his hands on the napkin, getting ready to ask the question that’d been turning over in his mind. “You met Daniella at the community dinner last night. She’s the sister of my friend Owen, and she’s getting married in a couple of weeks. I was wondering if you’d like to go to her wedding with me.”

  Eden looked surprised. “Oh, I—I’d love to,” she said, her smile slowly spreading. “Daniella told me about the plans they’re making. It sounds like it’ll be fun.”

  A weight lifted off Steve’s chest. “The wedding reception’s in Owen’s glass studio. Daniella’s decorating it with props from her business. Knowing her, it’ll look incredible.”

  Eden picked up a napkin. “She was talking about The Fairy Forest last night. How long have you known Owen?”

  “I met him about a year ago when he came back to live in Sapphire Bay.” He looked at Eden. If he told her he had PTSD, would it make her less likely to spend time with him? But, if he didn’t say anything, she’d never get to know who he really was. Picking up his water bottle, he took a quick sip. “Pastor John runs a support group for people with PTSD. I met Owen there.”

  Instead of being surprised, Eden nodded. “Shelley told me about the group. It’s one of the reasons I came to Sapphire Bay.”

  “It is?”

  Eden slowly nodded. She seemed to be having the same trouble as he was.

  He looked into her blue eyes and hoped what he was about to say came across as sincere. “If you want to talk about it, I won’t say anything to anyone else. Even though it can feel as though you’ll never get better, PTSD isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

  Eden took the cap off her water bottle. “Do you remember when I told you I used to be a teacher?”

  Steve nodded. “At an elementary school in Boston.”

  “That’s right.” Eden looked across the lake. “Last year, a student brought a gun to school. He shot two children before the police stopped him. Afterward, I couldn’t sleep or eat. I was terrified the same thing would happen again. I spoke to a therapist, but nothing changed. When Shelley told me about John’s support group, I thought it could help me.”

  Her eyes were so full of sorrow that Steve knew there was more to her story than what she’d said. “John’s helped most of us see the world a little differently. There’s a meeting next Friday, if you’d like to come.”

  “I was planning on being there,” Eden told him. “It’s handy living with John and Shelley. I only need to walk into their living room and I’m at the meeting.”

  Her smile was forced, but that was okay. He’d had to do worse to get through difficult conversations about his own PTSD. “We’ll know where to find you if you forget. Tell me about Boston. What did you like the most about it?”

  As she told him about the Freedom Trail, the day trips to Martha’s Vineyard, and the Skywalk Observatory, Eden relaxed and became more animated.

  Between feeding Rex small scraps of beef, their conversation shifted to other topics—favorite foods, movies, and stories about their pasts. Steve shared more than he usually did, buoyed by Eden’s easy laugh and thoughtful responses.

  By the time they finished eating, he felt like they’d crossed a bridge from casual acquaintances to friends.

  As they stood to leave, Eden handed him the rest of the muffins. “Have these. You could take them to work with you.”

  Steve accepted the muffins, touched by her thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Eden. I’ve enjoyed your company.”

  “I’ve enjoyed yours, too,” she said, her smile lingering as she picked up the things she’d bought at the market. “Are you taking basketball practice next week?”

  Steve tightened his grip on Rex’s leash before getting rid of the trash with Eden. “I am. I’ll be at The Welcome Center on Tuesday and Thursday.”

  “I might see you there. It’s Shelley’s last week and we’re trying to cram everything into my training.”

  “Good luck.”

  Eden smiled. “Thanks. I’ve got a feeling I’ll need all the luck I can find. Remember to put the crystal in your house.”

  Steve patted his top pocket. “I will.”

  After they said goodbye, an unfamiliar optimism bubbled inside him. Maybe, just maybe, this unexpected day could lead to more than friendship. But, for now, he was content to see where this new path would take them.

  With Rex trotting faithfully beside him and Eden’s laughter echoing in his ears, whatever happened had to be better than being alone.

  The next few days passed in a blur for Eden. In between learning as much as she could about Shelley’s job, she tried to find somewhere else to live. John and Shelley were more than happy for her to stay with them but, with their first baby nearly here, Eden had a feeling they’d appreciate having the house to themselves.

  Shelley had warned her about how time would disappear as the week progressed, and she wasn’t wrong. Each day was filled with learning new routines and being introduced to people who worked for the church. But between notebooks filled with instructions and the documents Shelley had created, Eden was finally feeling as though she could do the job.

  Late on Thursday afternoon, after a lengthy session reconciling the latest donations with bank deposits, Eden stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. The sun was starting to dip low, casting shadows over the court where Steve was rounding up the boys’ basketball teams. Watching him in action, seeing how he managed the energetic group with a firm yet gentle hand, made her smile.

  After the children went home, he walked over to her with a basketball tucked under one arm.

  “Hi, Eden. How’s the training going?”

  “Better than yesterday. I finally feel as though I can do Shelley’s job without asking her lots of questions.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “How was practice?”

  “It was great. The boys don’t run out of energy.”

  Eden looked around for Steve’s dog. “You didn’t bring Rex with you?”

  “He’s at the tiny home village with my neighbor. After the last time he got away, I’m worried about bringing him here.”

  Eden couldn’t blame him for being extra cautious. She would be, too. “I could keep an eye on him if you want to bring him to practice. It’d give me a reason to take a break and come outside.”

  Steve smiled. “Really? I’d appreciate it and I’m sure Rex would, too. He enjoys spending time with other people.”

  “Just let me know when you plan on bringing him.”

  “Will do.” Steve pulled up the zipper on his track suit and looked uncertainly at her. “After I’ve picked up Rex, I’m grabbing some dinner from the food trucks beside the lake. Would you like to join us?”

  Eden hesitated before answering. She had a pile of invoices to pay and some of Shelley’s notes to review. But the warmth in Steve’s eyes, combined with the thought of a relaxing evening, swayed her. “Shelley and John are going out for dinner, so that sounds wonderful. I need to finish a few things before I leave, though. Can I meet you at your house in an hour?”

  Steve nodded. “That’ll be perfect. It’ll give me a chance to get changed and feed Rex. I’ll text you with my address.”

  After they’d exchanged phone numbers, Steve sent her his address. “The tiny home village is hard to miss. I’m on the far side. If you end up at The Welcome Center’s parking lot, you’ve gone too far.”

  Eden checked Steve’s address before slipping her cell phone into her pocket. “I’ll call you if I get lost. See you soon.” And, with a determined stride, she hurried back to The Welcome Center.

  One of her main worries before coming to Sapphire Bay was being isolated from her family and friends. But with the people she’d met, and the friends she’d made, she felt like she’d always been part of this tight-knit community.

  How she’d feel when she left wasn’t worth thinking about.

  Chapter 6

  Steve stood in front of his wardrobe, the door flung wide as he considered his options for dinner with Eden. Pulling out a light blue button-down shirt, he held it against his chest and glanced down at Rex. “What do you think, buddy? Is this the one?”

  Rex wagged his tail, unbothered by the fashion dilemma unfolding before him.

  Steve chuckled and set the shirt aside. With his options running out fast, he took a crisp white shirt off its hanger. He changed quickly, turning to face Rex again. “Better, huh?” But the dog just tilted his head, more interested in a noise outside the window than Steve’s wardrobe choices.

  With a sigh, he swapped the white shirt for a dark green one. His mom had given it to him a couple of years ago and said it matched the color of his eyes. He wasn’t sure what difference that made but, if it worked for a casual dinner with Eden, he was happy.

  “That’s better,” he murmured as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. With no more shirts to choose from, and even less time, it would have to do.

  Rex barked softly, as if giving his approval, and Steve patted his head. “All right, green it is. Thanks for your help.”

  Feeling more confident, he grabbed his wallet and keys, checked Rex’s food bowl to make sure he’d eaten his kibble, then spent a few minutes tidying his home.

  Just as he was putting away the book he’d left on the sofa, a gentle knock sounded at the door. He opened it to find Eden standing there, brightening the doorstep with her yellow jacket and a blue woolly hat. With her auburn curls peeking out from beneath the hat, she looked like a teenager.

  “Hi, Steve. Are you ready to have dinner?”

  “Absolutely. You look great.” His earlier nervousness disappeared as he absorbed the warmth of her smile.

  Eden looked down at her jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers. “The evenings are still a little cold, so I thought I’d wear a jacket.” Bending down, she petted Rex. “How are you, boy. Are you looking forward to seeing the lake again?”

  Rex wagged his tail, looked up at Steve, then longingly at the door.

  Eden laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Steve smiled as he clicked Rex’s leash into place and grabbed his own jacket. “Let’s go.” He locked the door behind them and started walking toward Flathead Lake with Eden. The chill in the air was reduced by their brisk pace and warm conversation, making the journey even more enjoyable than usual.

  “What did you think of the tiny home village?” Steve asked.

  “It’s fabulous. Have you built many of the houses?”

  “Most of the homes in the village were finished before I arrived. Since I started on the project, we’ve been building tiny homes for Red Deer, Polson, and Bigfork. Pastor John’s hoping to purchase more land for tiny homes here, but it’s expensive.”

  Eden nodded. “I bet it is. Any type of property is hard to find in Sapphire Bay. I’ve been looking for somewhere to live for the last week and there’s nothing available. How did you find a home in the village?”

  “It was pure luck. When I met John, I was renting a cottage that’d been turned into an Airbnb. It was about twenty minutes out of town, which was okay when I wasn’t working. But, as soon as I started building the tiny homes, it got more difficult, especially during the winter. Someone left the village and John offered me the house. It’s worked out well.”

  Eden buried her hands in her pockets as a gust of wind lifted the leaves on the sidewalk. “I called a realtor the other day. They have two homes for rent, but they’re both out of my price range. John and Shelley are happy for me to stay with them, but I don’t want to intrude after their baby’s born.”

  Steve tried to think of other options she might not know about. “Have you added your name to the wait list at the church? As well as managing the tenancies in the tiny home village, they work with a property developer who manages other rentals in the area. A few days ago, I saw a sign inviting people to apply for one of the last two cottages on Anchor Lane.”

  “I put my name on the wait list yesterday,” Eden told him. “I’ll make sure it includes both cottages.”

  As they approached the food trucks parked near the lake, the aroma of grilled meat filled the air. “Do you like hamburgers?” he asked Eden.

  “I love them, especially if that’s what we can smell.”

  Steve grinned. “The Gourmet Burger Shack is my favorite food truck. You can’t go home without trying each of their burgers.” After looking at their options, Steve ordered two—one classic beef for himself and a chicken burger for Eden.

  Rex tugged at his leash excitedly, his nose twitching at the smell of all the food. While they waited for their order, the little dog’s attention was caught by the geese waddling near the water’s edge. Before Steve could tighten his grip, Rex darted toward the birds, barking joyously.

  “Rex! Come back here!” Steve called out, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation. He excused himself to Eden and jogged after his small dog. Rex was enjoying the chase, although the geese seemed less than thrilled. After a short, spirited run, Steve managed to scoop Rex up, carrying him back to where Eden waited, her laughter ringing in the crisp air.

  “I’m positive he thinks he’s a much bigger dog than he actually is,” Steve said, setting Rex down but keeping a firm hold on his leash this time.

  Eden patted Rex’s head. “If the geese didn’t fly away, it wouldn’t be so much fun. Does he chase anything else?”

  “Only flies and bumblebees,” Steve replied. “One day, he’ll eat one and figure out it’s not such a good idea.”

  When their hamburgers were ready, they sat at a picnic table that was away from the geese. Rex jumped up beside him, no doubt thinking about the juicy meat inches from his nose.

  Steve looked across the tranquil water of Flathead Lake and sighed. This was why he’d come to Sapphire Bay. Why he’d left his family and friends to start over. And why he’d never leave.

  They unwrapped their burgers as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. It was a perfect, peaceful moment, and Steve felt a rare sense of calm.

  Eden took a bite of her burger. “This is really good,” she said as she wiped some sauce from the corner of her mouth. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

  “It’s one of my favorite spots,” Steve replied, his gaze lingering on the horizon. He took a deep breath, the serenity of the lake giving him the courage to talk about what had brought him to this small town. “You haven’t asked about why I go to John’s PTSD support group.”

  Eden picked up her can of soda. “I thought you’d tell me when you’re ready.”

  Steve nodded. “I don’t usually talk about it much, but I think you should know what happened in case it…” He placed his hand on Rex, needing the reassurance his little buddy gave him. “In case it makes a difference to how you feel about me.”

  A tenderness filled Eden’s eyes. “I know how difficult managing PTSD can be. It creeps into every aspect of your life. The smallest thing can trigger an extreme reaction. But it doesn’t change your heart or who you are. It just makes it harder to live your life.”

  “I don’t know what a normal life feels like anymore,” Steve admitted, his voice steady but low. “I was in the army and did two tours of duty in Afghanistan. During my second deployment, a bomb exploded in a building we were clearing. Three of my friends died. It changed everything for me.”

  Eden reached out, placing her hand gently over his. “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”

  “It was, and some days, it still is,” Steve admitted. “My friends had families—children who’ll grow up not knowing their fathers. I’ve been working through what happened, doing therapy and going to John’s support group. But it will always be with me.”

  Eden squeezed his hand. “I appreciate you telling me what happened. All I can say is that I’m here for you, as a friend or whatever this might become.”

  A weight lifted off Steve’s shoulders. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

  She looked toward the opposite side of the bay. “There’s something you should know about me, too.” When she looked at him, her eyes were wary, as if she was scared of sharing what was happening in her life, too. “The boy who shot the children at my school was one of my students.”

  The vulnerability in Eden’s voice drew him closer to her. No one should have to face what she had, especially in a school.

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Even though I pleaded with Dougie to put down the gun, he still shot two of his classmates. Tayla died in the hospital a few days later, but Jessie survived.”

  Steve tightened his grip on her hand. “Trying to stop him was a brave thing to do.”

  Eden gave a small, sad smile. “I didn’t feel brave. I was terrified. But the children needed someone to protect them.”

  The raw honesty in her words struck a chord within him. She understood the kind of split-second decisions that could haunt you forever, the kind that had shaped his own struggles with PTSD.

  Steve held her hand. “I’m sorry that happened.”

  Eden nodded. “Whenever I see a little girl with blonde hair, I think of Tayla, of the nightmares Jessie must have. That’s why I couldn’t go back to teaching. I kept reliving the shooting. I felt... broken.”

  Steve nodded, understanding more than he wished he did. “It’s how I felt after the bomb in Afghanistan. The noise and the chaos stay with you.”

  They shared a silence that was comfortable but filled with the heaviness of what they’d experienced.

 

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