Sweet Surrender Page 4

  “It’s the pretty dress and flowers,” Mabel whispered. “She’s usually wearing jeans and a T-shirt.”

  When Nora disappeared from sight, Zac turned to the back of the church. Megan walked slowly down the aisle. The deep blue, floor-length dress she wore looked beautiful. In her hands, in front of her baby bump, she held a bouquet of roses.

  Mabel took a handful of tissues out of her bag. “Megan looks so pretty.”

  Zac nodded and waited for Brooke to arrive. When she did, he turned and watched Levi.

  His friend was wiping tears from his eyes.

  Zac swallowed the emotions clogging his throat. Levi had been through so much. In the aftermath of Afghanistan, when peace seemed like a dark and distant goal, Levi had returned home to find a new kind of normal. Brooke became his anchor. But it had taken another three years and many miles of separation for them to realize they’d never stopped loving each other.

  “There’s Willow,” Mabel whispered.

  Zac followed the direction of Mabel’s gaze. Willow stood on a chair, her camera poised in front of her. As Brooke walked down the aisle, she moved slightly, capturing the moment Levi saw his bride. “I didn’t know she was the official photographer.”

  “She doesn’t do many weddings. Brooke was lucky Willow was between commissions. Did you realize you’ve got some of her photos in your home?”

  The only framed images Zac had bought were in his entranceway. He’d found the wildlife prints at a gallery in Bozeman. But they couldn’t be Willow’s. The photos had been taken by W. Clarke…an up-and-coming photographer from Montana. A sinking feeling hit his stomach.

  “The ones beside the stairs,” Mabel whispered. “It’s almost as if Willow knew where they would be going. I couldn’t imagine them in anyone else’s home.”

  Neither could Zac. He’d underestimated Willow. Without seeing her work, he’d pigeon-holed her career into something less than what she’d created.

  What he didn’t understand was why she was so secretive about what she did. If his photographs were half as good as Willow’s, he wouldn’t have changed the subject when they were talking about her work.

  But, thankfully, she wasn’t like him.

  Halfway through the wedding ceremony, Willow knew the photos would be some of the best she’d ever taken. Adjusting the camera settings, she took another photo of Brooke and Levi as they exchanged their wedding vows. Then another, as Levi wiped a tear off his bride’s face.

  Brooke lifted her face to Levi’s. The light coming through the windows fell across her veil, blurring everything except the deep and adoring love on her face.

  Willow sighed as the light changed again, creating a photo that would be just as special in thirty years’ time.

  For now and forever, until death us do part.

  Only a few months ago, Megan and William had exchanged their wedding vows, pledging their life, their love, and everything they had to each other. And before that, Sam and Caleb had married in a service that brought tears to Willow’s eyes.

  As she captured the moment Levi slid Brooke’s wedding ring along her finger, Willow had never felt so alone. For the last few years she’d done everything she could to avoid any romantic relationships. Keeping herself out of the spotlight had cost her more than she thought it would. And right now, she’d give anything to have a man look at her the way Levi was looking at Brooke.

  Their love was sweet and pure and, not for the first time, Willow wondered if she’d made the right decision to stay in Sapphire Bay. Finding that kind of love didn’t happen every day, especially when the town’s total population could almost fit onto a postage stamp.

  Pastor John held his hand above Brooke and Levi’s. He blessed their union, wished them a future filled with love, and pronounced them husband and wife.

  As the audience burst into applause, Willow turned and snapped random images of the wedding guests. When the lens of her camera found Zac, she paused. Unlike the people around him, he seemed sad. Was he thinking the same thing as her? Or was there more to his life than what she knew.

  She pressed the shutter and moved to Mabel. There was no mistaking her smile for anything other than happiness.

  Willow turned back to the bride and groom, capturing their first steps as they walked down the aisle.

  With smiles on their faces, the wedding guests quickly left the barn, heading toward the tables laden with food and drink.

  Willow sighed. She had a long list of photos to take, and a mother-of-the-bride who was heading in the wrong direction. Grabbing her camera bag, she rushed toward the doors at the side of the barn, hoping to catch Brooke’s mom before she went too much farther.

  Willow loved photographing weddings. But making sure no family members went missing sometimes felt like a losing battle. Especially when everyone was pitching in to create the bride and groom’s perfect day.

  Chapter Four

  Zac didn’t know whether it was being in a barn that made Levi and Brooke’s wedding more special or if it were the people around him. But either way, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

  After the wedding ceremony, a team of staff had quickly transformed the barn into a reception venue as good as anything he’d ever seen.

  In record time, round tables were decorated with white tablecloths. Vases full of flowers added color to each table and silver cutlery shone under the pendant lights. The rose-covered arch was now the backdrop to the dance floor and fairy lights twinkled from the rafters.

  Pastor John, the man who had officiated at the wedding, was completely different from the other ministers Zac had met. With an easy smile and a relaxed attitude to life, he was good company.

  While Zac stood in line at the buffet table, Pastor John pointed to Nora.

  “Do you think she’s practicing for her little brother or sister?”

  Nora was slowly pushing a stroller around the dance floor. Willow walked beside her, making sure she didn’t bang into anyone.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me,” Zac replied. “Megan said she’s looking forward to not being pregnant.”

  “That’s probably an understatement. We had a meeting about the tiny home village last night and she was really uncomfortable.”

  Zac didn’t want to interfere in Megan’s pre-natal care, but he’d already decided to talk to her before he left tonight. Her baby had definitely dropped and, with five weeks left until her due date, it was possible she could go into labor earlier than she thought.

  He handed John a plate. “What’s the tiny home village?”

  “Sapphire Bay doesn’t have enough rental accommodation, so the church is building a village of twenty-five tiny houses. As well as a home, we’re offering the tenants free access to the budgeting, counseling, and medical services The Welcome Center provides.”

  Zac’s eyebrows rose. “It sounds like an ambitious project.”

  “The best ones usually are. I’m helping the plumbers tomorrow afternoon. If you want to see what we’re doing, you’re welcome to come along.” John handed Zac a business card. “This is the address of the village and the fundraising website.”

  “How long have you been offering free medical services?”

  “For about eighteen months. Doc Reilly drives up from Polson for the clinics. He spends a few hours in town, then comes to The Welcome Center. He keeps talking about retiring but, until then, he’s happy to help us.”

  “What will you do when he retires?”

  “I’m hoping another doctor will step into his shoes.” Pastor John frowned. “We still don’t have a full-time medical clinic in Sapphire Bay. The county keeps promising us better health services, but we can’t wait. Most of the people who come to The Welcome Center don’t have a job. They can’t afford the bus fare to Polson, let alone a doctor’s bill. I don’t know what we’d do without the health professionals who volunteer their time.”

  “If you need any help while I’m here, I’m happy to be part of your program. But I can’t giv
e you the long-term solution you need. I’m only staying in Sapphire Bay for a couple of weeks.”

  “If you decide to stay, a lot of people will be extremely happy.”

  Zac added green beans to his plate. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Willow was born in Sapphire Bay and lived here until she moved to Nashville. Maybe talking to her might change your mind about living in a small town.”

  “I hope you aren’t telling Zac all my secrets?” Willow asked from behind them.

  Zac turned and looked into her eyes. Something about Willow unsettled him and made his stomach twist in knots each time she was close.

  “I’ll try not to,” Pastor John assured her. “I thought you’d be the best person to tell Zac what it’s like to live in Sapphire Bay.”

  Willow smiled. “You want him to take over from Doc Reilly, don’t you?”

  John didn’t seem surprised by what Willow had said. “Am I that obvious?”

  “Only to the people who have worked with you.” Willow’s gaze settled on Zac. “I’ll trade you a serving of potato salad for everything you want to know about living here.”

  Zac would have traded a whole lot more than food to spend time with Willow but, for now, that had to be enough. “You’ve got a deal.”

  “Allow me.” John reached for the spoon beside the salad. “It’s the least I can do.”

  “Just remember that Zac hasn’t said he’ll stay.”

  “Not yet,” John whispered. “Tell him all the good things.”

  As they moved along the buffet table, John kept adding more food to Willow’s plate.

  She shook her head when Zac offered her some pulled pork belly. “I’m fine with what’s on my plate. I’ll wait for you, then we’ll find a table.”

  John cleared his throat.

  “And I’ll tell you how amazing it is to live here,” she added with a smile.

  Zac sighed. His first two days in Sapphire Bay were enough to know he could easily live here permanently. Especially if his neighbor kept smiling as if she was looking forward to spending time with him.

  Willow led Zac to a table on the far side of the barn. It would be a lot quieter than sitting in the middle of the room, especially once the band started playing.

  “You don’t have to tell me about living in Sapphire Bay,” Zac told her. “I’ve spent enough time here to know it’s a great town.”

  She opened her napkin and placed it on her lap. “I don’t mind. Besides, John will want to know whether I’ve made a difference to your decision to go back to Afghanistan.”

  “You could always tell him a white lie.”

  Willow shook her head. “A lie is a lie, no matter which way you sugar-coat it. Why is this the first time you’ve been home in three years?”

  Zac looked down at his plate. “It’s a long way to travel.”

  “That’s true.” There was so much more she wanted to ask, but surrounded by Levi and Brooke’s wedding guests wasn’t the time to do it. “Is there anything you want to know about Sapphire Bay?”

  “There are a lot more businesses in town than when I was last here. Do you know why?”

  “It’s probably a combination of a lot of things. More people are visiting Sapphire Bay. They want to spend time on the lake and enjoy the old-fashioned craft and food stores they can’t find anywhere else. When Brooke’s candy shop opened, a lot of people came here just to buy her fudge. Cassie, the owner of the jewelry store on Main Street, won a prestigious award. That brought a different type of tourist to town. As more people arrive, more people decide to live here, and more businesses open. I guess it’s all about supply and demand.”

  “That wouldn’t be helping the housing shortage Pastor John was telling me about.”

  “It isn’t. Finding a property to buy or rent is nearly impossible. That’s why the tiny home village is so important.”

  Zac picked up his wine glass. “Do you volunteer at The Welcome Center?”

  Willow smiled. “I do. Pastor John involves most of the community in the church’s projects. That’s one of the reasons I like living here. There aren’t many places where you feel connected to something much bigger than yourself.”

  “Is that why you left Nashville?”

  Zac’s question caught her off guard. “I don’t think I ever felt connected to Nashville, not in the way I do here. In Sapphire Bay, I can be myself. Nashville was all about who I was and what I could do for everyone else.” Willow couldn’t help the bitterness in her voice. She’d given everything she had to create a successful music career. At the end of eight years, all she had to show for it was a large bank balance and lots of broken promises.

  “What did you do in Nashville?”

  “I was in the music industry.” She picked up her knife and fork and ate some bean salad. “Did Pastor John tell you about the fundraising concert we’re organizing?”

  Zac studied her face. “No, he didn’t. Why don’t you want to talk about your life in Nashville?”

  “It’s not who I am anymore.”

  “Who were you?”

  Willow placed her cutlery on the side of her plate. “I was a singer. A friend uploaded one of my songs to YouTube and an agent in Nashville called me. Six months later, I was the opening act for Faith Hill when she performed at the Grand Ole Opry.”

  “You must have a great voice.”

  She shrugged. Willow didn’t like talking about her music career, but if it helped Zac understand why Sapphire Bay was so special, she’d tell him almost anything he wanted to know.

  “What happened after you sung with Faith Hill?”

  “I released an album and started touring. When I look back at those first few years in Nashville, it seems surreal.”

  “Why did you move to Sapphire Bay? It couldn’t have been good for your career.”

  Willow never talked about why she’d left Nashville. It still hurt to think about the way her manager had tricked her into signing the rights of her first songs over to him. She’d been young, naive, and foolish—and he’d taken advantage of her.

  Zac was still waiting for her to say something. So she forced a smile and pretended the answer to his question didn’t upset her. “For eight years I worked crazy hours and lived out of a suitcase. By the time I was twenty-six, I was exhausted. I’d had enough, so I stopped performing and came home.”

  “And started a photography business?”

  Willow nodded. “While I was in Nashville, I won a couple of photography awards. Opening my own studio was an easy decision. What would you have been if you weren’t a doctor?”

  Zac sat back in his chair. “I don’t know. My dad and grandfather were both doctors. For as long as I can remember, it’s all I ever wanted to do.”

  Willow felt the same about music. It had consumed her life, taken her to places she never thought she would go, and nearly destroyed her. She looked away from Zac and watched Brooke’s mom walk toward them. Butterflies bounced inside her stomach.

  “Hi, Willow. Are you enjoying the buffet?”

  She stood and hugged Mrs. Johnson. “The food is delicious. You look amazing.”

  “Thank you. I can’t wait to see your photos.”

  “They’ll be ready in a few days.” Willow turned to Zac. “Have you met Zac Hilary? He’s my neighbor and a friend of Levi’s.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Zac. I’m Virginia. Brooke told me you flew here from Afghanistan.”

  “I did. Barring an airline strike or a humanitarian crisis, I was determined to be here.”

  “I’m pleased you made it. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell Willow the band has arrived.”

  Willow checked her watch. Earlier in the day, the band had set up their instruments and completed a sound check. “Are they having dinner?”

  “They are. Do you want me to tell you when they’ve finished?”

  Willow shook her head. “We’ve got plenty of time. I’ll see them after I’ve eaten.”

  “That s
ounds great. Thank you for doing this for Brooke and Levi.”

  “I’m happy to help.”

  “I know you are, but I also know how much you like to keep a low profile.” Virginia’s cell phone beeped. As soon as she saw who was calling her, she frowned. “I need to go. My husband is looking for me. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

  “I will.”

  After Virginia left, Willow ignored the surprise on Zac’s face. When he didn’t say anything, she sighed. “It’s only two songs. After that I’m back to being a photographer.”

  A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Can I have your autograph?”

  Despite her nerves, Willow smiled. “I haven’t sung anything, yet.”

  “You don’t need to. I have a feeling you’re going to be better than anyone I’ve ever heard.”

  Willow sighed. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, it isn’t working. But I promise to give you my autograph as soon as I return to our table.”

  “You’re nervous?”

  “I’m always nervous before I perform. What if I forget the words or sing off key?”

  “Has that ever happened?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

  That was easy for Zac to say. He wasn’t about to sing two of her best friend’s favorite songs.

  He handed her a glass of water. “You’ll be fine. Just pretend you’re only singing to Levi and Brooke.”

  That’s what she’d planned on doing. But a certain brown-eyed, dark-haired doctor was messing with her heart and making it hard to think about anyone else. “I’d better tell you about Sapphire Bay before I leave.”

  The gleam in Zac’s eyes calmed her nerves. “You can start by telling me more about your cottage. Are you planning on doing any more remodeling?”

  “I don’t think that’s what John had in mind when he asked me to tell you about living here.”

  “It could be incredibly relevant. Especially if you want to drive piles into the ground for an extension. The noise and vibrations could send me back to Kabul.”