Chapter 13

Eden walked into the local elementary school in Sapphire Bay, excited to be helping children again, but nervous about stepping into a classroom.

Her background checks had finally come through, and today was her first day volunteering with Diana’s students. As she walked down the corridor, she passed rows of backpacks hanging from metal hooks. The quiet hum of children’s chatter filled the air, reminding her of her days in Boston.

Before she could peek inside the classroom door, Diana stepped into the corridor.

“There you are,” she said with a warm smile. “Are you ready for your first day?”

Eden returned her smile, feeling a bit more at ease. “I’ve been looking forward to it. Thank you so much for having me here.”

“You’re welcome.” Diana led her into the classroom, where the students were already settled into their afternoon routine. Brightly colored posters still adorned the walls, and a cozy reading nook she hadn’t noticed before was tucked into one corner.

“Class, this is Miss Taylor. She’s helping us for a few afternoons each week,” Diana announced to the room.

The children looked up from their desks, their faces lighting up with curiosity. A few of them waved shyly, and Eden couldn’t help but smile at their innocence and eagerness.

As Diana introduced her to the various activities and responsibilities she would be handling, Eden’s gaze landed on a familiar face. Oscar, the little boy from The Welcome Center, was sitting at a round table near the front of the room. He was busy drawing a picture, his brow furrowed in concentration.

One of the first things Diana wanted her to do was help the children feel comfortable with her being in the classroom. She couldn’t think of a better way of doing that than joining Oscar and his little friends.

Eden approached him with a gentle smile. “Hi, Oscar. It’s nice to see you here.”

Oscar looked up, his eyes widening in surprise before breaking into a grin. “You’re the lady from The Welcome Center.” He looked around the classroom. “Did you bring Rex?”

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to bring a dog to school,” she said, crouching down to his level. “What are you working on?”

He held up his drawing proudly. “I’m drawing a picture of a dinosaur. Can you help me color it?”

“Of course,” Eden replied, feeling a warm sense of connection. She glanced at Diana, who nodded encouragingly.

As Eden and Oscar worked on the drawing together, the other children around the table told her about their drawings. Before too long, they were sharing stories about their families, and what they liked and didn’t like about school.

Diana moved around the room, checking on the other students. By the time Eden moved to the next table, she was feeling a sense of purpose and fulfillment that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Being back in a classroom, surrounded by the eager faces of children, was exactly what she needed.

After a while, Diana approached with a stack of papers. “Eden, would you mind helping me grade these homework assignments? The children had to draw a picture of something they love and write a few words that describe what’s in the picture. It’ll give you a good sense of where the children are at.”

“Sure,” Eden agreed, taking the papers and a pen.

As she worked through the homework, she noticed how much effort each child had made. There were pictures of all kinds of things, including moms and dads, trampolines, toys, and pet rabbits. She smiled when she saw Oscar’s homework sheet. He’d drawn a picture of Rex and, in wobbly letters, written Rex’s name under the yellow ball of fluff.

After she’d finished grading the homework assignments, Diana explained what she’d like her to do while she helped some of the students with their reading. Before long, Eden was sitting beside Alicia, a new student who was struggling to read.

With a lot of encouragement and laughter, Alicia had gone from sitting quietly beside Eden, to trying to sound out each word. It was a step in the right direction, and Eden was looking forward to helping her again.

Eden’s eyes widened when the school bell rang. It was hard to believe she’d been here for two hours.

Excited chatter filled the air as the students hurried back to their chairs. After Diana reminded them about their homework, they rushed to their parents and caregivers waiting in the corridor.

“You did it,” Diana said with a wide smile to Eden. “How do you feel?”

“If I said amazing, it’d be an understatement. I enjoyed every minute.”

Diana looked at her thoughtfully. “I can see why you enjoyed teaching so much. The children already adore you.”

Eden blushed. “Thank you. It feels good to be back in a classroom.”

Diana’s eyes softened with understanding. “After you told me what happened in Boston, I can’t imagine how difficult today must have been.”

Eden nodded, taking a deep breath. “I was worried too. But it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Being here has made me happy.”

Diana reached out and squeezed her hand. “You’re doing an amazing job. If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you.”

“Thank you,” Eden said, feeling a lump in her throat. She glanced around the empty classroom, her eyes landing on a board filled with photos of the students helping in the community. “This school is special. I can see how much everyone cares about each other.”

“That can be a good and a bad thing,” Diana whispered with a smile. “Especially when someone in the community disagrees with something we do.”

Eden didn’t mind a little controversy. It was good to push people’s boundaries and try new things. Especially when the outcome could be better for everyone.

Steve was choosingsome pieces of metal to weld together when Owen walked into his workshop. He was holding two mugs of coffee and looking far too relaxed for someone who was organizing another exhibition.

“Hey, Steve.” Owen looked at the model of the piece he was creating. “Nice sculpture.”

“Thanks. It’s supposed to be finished by the end of the month, but I’m not sure if I’ll make the deadline.”

Owen handed him a mug of coffee. “Have this. It won’t make you work any faster, but it tastes good.”

Steve took a sip and sighed. “It’s the new coffee blend from The Starlight Café.”

Owen grinned. “As well as being a talented sculptor, you’re a coffee connoisseur. It’s no wonder you’re my best friend.”

Steve frowned. Owen only brought coffee to the workshop for two reasons. “I know Harper’s keeping you busy with wedding plans,” he told his friend. “So, you can’t be bored. That must mean you want something.”

Owen placed his hand over his heart. “I’m here with the best of intentions. I’ve been thinking about your work.”

Steve’s eyebrows rose. “What about it?”

“I know you don’t want to have a full-blown exhibition of your work, but have you considered doing a smaller display?”

Steve took another sip of coffee. He knew Owen was trying to help spread the word about his sculptures, but he had enough work to keep him busy for the rest of the year.

Undeterred, Owen continued. “If you’re worried about having to talk to potential customers, you could combine your display with my next glass exhibition. We could have a common theme, make it an immersive experience for the people who come to see it.”

Steve put down his coffee. “An immersive experience?”

Owen grinned. “Harper gave me a subscription to a fancy arts and crafts magazine. I read an article about increasing visitor satisfaction in art studios and thought of you.”

“I don’t think exhibiting my work is a good idea.” As if on cue, Steve’s phone buzzed. Seeing his dad’s name on the screen, he hesitated before answering. “I’ll just answer this, Owen.” Before he missed the call, he slid the green telephone icon across the screen. “Hey, Dad.”

“Have I caught you at a good time?” his father asked.

“It’s fine. I was just talking to Owen. How can I help?”

Trevor cleared his throat. “I wanted to thank you for the glass bowl. I’ve put it on the coffee table in the living room. It looks great.”

A flicker of warmth spread through Steve. “I’m glad you like it. Did you get home okay?”

“The flight was delayed, but I survived.” His dad paused. “I’m sorry I was so hard on you about your sculpting. I only want what’s best for you.”

Steve sighed. “I know you do, Dad.”

“That’s good because I thought about a few things on the way home. What you’re working on must be expensive to produce. If you ever need some extra money, just call me. I don’t mind helping.”

Steve ran his hand around the back of his neck. His dad was disappointed in the career he’d chosen, so Steve hadn’t told him how successful he was. “Thanks, Dad. But I make enough to cover the costs.”

“Well, if you’re ever short of a few dollars, don’t forget to call me.”

Steve frowned. Something must have happened. It wasn’t like his dad to be so supportive. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine. I thought I might visit you again when it’s a little warmer. Are you planning any vacations?”

“I won’t be going anywhere,” he told his dad. “When you decide what dates you’re traveling, let me know. Accommodation fills up fast the closer you get to summer.”

“Will do.”

After a few more pleasantries, Steve hung up, his mind racing. He looked at Owen. “That was Dad. He called to thank me for the bowl.”

“That’s unusual,” Owen said diplomatically.

“That’s what I thought.” Steve picked up his coffee and looked at his friend. “I should probably tell you something.”

Owen frowned. “If it’s about the exhibition, don’t worry. I know what it’s like to be terrified of showing people what you do.”

Now Steve felt really guilty. “That’s not the reason I don’t want to exhibit my work. Well, not completely.” Taking a deep breath, he thought about what he should say. What he should have told Owen months ago. “I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

Owen set down his coffee. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t have to exhibit my work to find customers. I have an agent who does that.”

“That’s a bit fancy, but each to their own.” Owen pointed to the sculpture behind Steve. “I hope your agent doesn’t take too much of a commission. Something that size could bankrupt you.”

This was the part of the conversation Steve had been dreading. “His commission is reasonable. My sculptures sell for a lot of money.”

Owen didn’t seem surprised. “Anyone with half a brain can see how talented you are. Even without factoring in your labor, the raw materials must cost a fortune. That adds to the price.”

Steve crossed his arms in front of his chest. He’d never told anyone how much he earned. He was worried they’d treat him differently, expect more from him than he was willing to give.

“Last year, I earned more than two million dollars from the commission pieces I made.” Steve waited for Owen to react, to say something that meant their friendship wouldn’t change.

Owen blinked, processing the information. “Wait, are you serious? How come you’ve never mentioned this before?”

Steve shrugged, feeling vulnerable. “It’s not something I like to talk about. I want people to like me, not the person they think I am.”

Owen leaned against the workbench, his expression bemused. “Is that what’s stopping you from doing the exhibition?”

“It’s part of it,” Steve admitted. “But I’m more worried about Eden. She doesn’t know the full extent of what I do or how much I earn. If she thinks I’ve deceived her or I’m pretending to be someone I’m not, she might not want to have anything to do with me.”

Owen laughed. “Are you crazy? Eden won’t hold that against you. If anything, she’ll make you pay for dinner on your next date.”

Steve didn’t think it would be that easy.

“You’ll have to tell her at some stage. If it were me, I’d do it now before she finds out from someone else.”

Steve looked at the half-finished sculpture behind him. “I guess you’re right. I just... I don’t want to mess things up.”

“You won’t,” Owen said firmly. “Just be honest with her. Tell her the truth and let her decide how she feels. And if she doesn’t want anything to do with you, come and see me. I could do with a run around the lake. I might even let you pay for the pizza.”

Steve sighed. At least Owen hadn’t changed.