Chapter 14

Eden looked around The Starlight Café, taking in the joyful chatter and laughter of the women who’d come to celebrate Shelley’s baby shower.

After the café had closed, Eden had helped transform the gorgeous space into the perfect venue for a baby shower. It was beautifully decorated with pastel balloons, streamers, and floral arrangements that made the place feel warm and inviting.

While Eden was hanging fairy lights from the window frames, Shelley had introduced her to Sam and Bailey, Shelley’s two sisters, and Elana, her mom. They’d welcomed her with open arms, making her feel like she was part of their family.

Eden glanced around the room. It was heartwarming to see everyone come together to celebrate such a special occasion.

Even though Shelley had been feeling even more tired than usual, she looked radiant. Her face was glowing with happiness as she sat on a comfortable chair, surrounded by the people she loved.

Penny, a friend of Shelley’s and a local property developer, approached Eden with a friendly smile. “Hi, Eden. I was speaking to Steve yesterday, and he said you’re looking for somewhere to live. Is that right?”

Eden nodded. “I’m staying with Pastor John and Shelley for now, but I’d like to find a place of my own. Especially with their baby’s due date getting closer.”

“Well, I’ve got some good news,” Penny said. “I saw your application for renting one of the cottages on Anchor Lane. We’d told another couple they could move into the third home, but they’ve had to leave Sapphire Bay unexpectedly. If you’re still interested, it’s available right now. I’m happy to show you through the cottage if it’s something you’d like to consider.”

Eden’s eyes widened. “I’d love to see it. You don’t know how much I appreciate you thinking of me.”

Penny smiled warmly. “It’s no problem at all. How about we set up a time for you to see the cottage tomorrow afternoon?”

“That sounds great,” Eden agreed. “I can’t wait.”

As the baby shower continued, Eden enjoyed talking to Shelley’s sisters. The celebration was even more enjoyable knowing that tomorrow she’d be looking at somewhere she could potentially live.

When Shelley began unwrapping the gifts, everyone found a seat. Her friend, Shona, gave her a beautiful handmade quilt, each square meticulously crafted with love. Paris presented her with a stunning dried flower arrangement, the delicate petals preserved in a way that captured their natural beauty.

Mabel, the owner of the general store, gave Shelley a set of soft, cozy baby blankets. And Diana gave her a collection of classic children’s books, each one inscribed with a personal message.

As Shelley carefully opened the other presents, Eden was amazed at the thought that had gone into each gift. Many were handmade by Shelley’s friends. All of them would be adorable additions to the room Shelley and John had decorated for their baby.

After all the gifts had been opened, Shelley stood up, her hands gently resting on her tummy. She smiled warmly at everyone gathered around her. “Can I have your attention for a moment?” she called out. Everyone stopped talking and all eyes turned to her. “I just want to say how thankful I am to each and every one of you for being here tonight. Your support and love mean more to John and me than words can express.”

She paused, her eyes misting over with tears. “I’m so grateful to have amazing family and friends who’ve been with us through every step of this journey. Your kindness, your generosity, and your love has made this day so special.”

Shelley looked over at Eden, Daniella, and Andrea. “And a special thank you to my friends who set up this beautiful shower. Everything’s perfect, from the decorations to the food.”

Eden felt a lump in her throat, touched by Shelley’s heartfelt words. She shared a glance with Daniella and Andrea, who were both smiling warmly.

Shelley continued, her voice filled with emotion, “This baby is so lucky to be coming into a world where it’s already so loved. John and I feel incredibly blessed to have you all in our lives. Thank you for celebrating with us today and for all the wonderful gifts.”

The room erupted into applause, and Shelley wiped away a tear. She stepped forward, hugging each of her friends, her gratitude evident in every embrace.

Eden felt a deep sense of contentment and belonging as the celebration continued. This was more than a baby shower; it was a gathering of friends who had become like family.

As they enjoyed the rest of the evening, Eden knew she’d found a community where she truly belonged.

The next day,Steve called into Pastor John’s house after he’d finished working on a sculpture. Rex sat happily beside him as he knocked on John’s front door. With Shelley’s baby shower last night, and all the work he was trying to catch up on, this was the first opportunity he’d had to talk to Eden. Hopefully, she was home.

When she opened the front door, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Hi. I thought you might like to come for a walk with Rex and me.”

A mischievous grin lit her face. “I’d love to, but I have something I have to do first. I was just leaving to meet Penny at the cottages on Anchor Lane.”

Steve’s eyes widened. “Are you able to rent one of them?”

“I hope so. If you’ve got the time, I don’t think Penny would mind if you and Rex came with me.”

Steve looked down at his canine buddy. “I wouldn’t want him coming inside, but I could leave him in the backyard. As long as it’s fully fenced, he’ll be okay.”

Eden lifted her jacket off the coat stand and smiled. “Are you happy to walk to the cottage from here?”

Steve nodded and pulled Rex away from Shelley and John’s flowerpots. “How was your day?”

“Exciting,” Eden told him as he held her hand and started walking. “Although you might not think so. John had all the end of month invoices ready for me and everything balanced. I think he’s more motivated than usual, given how close it is to the birth of his baby.”

Steve smiled. “Knowing Shelley, she probably gave him a list of what he needs to do.”

Eden nodded. “You could be right. I saw Oscar, Chloe’s little boy, at The Welcome Center this afternoon. He’s looking forward to seeing Rex tomorrow while you’re at basketball practice.”

Oscar had become a regular visitor to Eden’s office since she started looking after Rex. Steve enjoyed seeing the close bond that had developed between Oscar and Rex, and even more impressed by the tricks Oscar had taught the little dog.

Eden leaned against his arm. “How are your sculptures?”

“They’re getting there. The rest of the copper wire I’ve been waiting for arrived this morning. Tomorrow, I’ll do the finishing touches to the larger piece.” Steve looked down at Eden. Her smile made his heart sink. If he told her he hadn’t been entirely truthful to her now, he’d spoil her day.

Eden kissed his cheek. “Thank you for talking to Penny the other day. I don’t think she would’ve remembered my rental application without you reminding her.”

Steve shrugged. “I thought it was worth mentioning. I’m glad she had something available for you to look at.”

As they turned into Anchor Lane, Eden looked at the first four buildings. “I can’t believe I might be able to live on this street. The first four cottages are almost too cute to be businesses.”

He thought the same thing. Penny and the construction team had done an incredible job of turning the run-down buildings into thriving businesses. With tour buses arriving most days, and craft groups making the quilting and knitting stores their second homes, there weren’t many days when the buildings weren’t busy.

The next four buildings had been turned into community housing. With white picket fences, wide verandas, and small gardens, the cottages were everything most people could want.

They met Penny outside the third residential cottage.

“Hi, you two,” she said with a warm smile. “Welcome to the cottages on Anchor Lane.”

Steve picked up Rex. “You go ahead. I’ll take Rex into the backyard. He can wait for us there.”

Penny took a key out of her pocket. “Don’t worry. We allow pets in the cottages. As long as he’s been to the bathroom, you’re more than welcome to bring him inside.” She smiled at Rex’s contented sigh, then opened the front door. “This home is the same size as the first two residential cottages, but we created three bedrooms instead of two.”

Eden looked at the stained glass above the door. “This is gorgeous.”

Penny smiled. “Wait until you see what we’ve done inside. It’s completely different from what it used to look like.”

As he stepped into the wide hallway, Steve admired the ornate ceilings and fresh interior paint. The soft cream color made the cottage look charming and welcoming. The living room was spacious—perfect for relaxing with a cup of coffee or enjoying the evening breeze.

As they moved through the cottage, he was even more impressed by what he saw. The new kitchen had modern appliances, sleek countertops, and plenty of cabinet space. The bathroom was pristine, with a large bathtub and stylish fixtures. The three bedrooms were cozy and inviting, with plenty of natural light streaming through the windows.

“We had to do a lot of work on this place,” Penny said. “The veranda was sagging, the roof was leaking, and the floorboards were rotten. The kitchen cabinets were chipped, and the paint was peeling off the walls. Nearly everything had to be removed and replaced.”

Eden looked around, feeling a mix of admiration and hesitation. “You’ve done a fantastic job. It’s beautiful.”

Penny smiled. “Thank you. We wanted to create a space that felt like home.”

By the time they reached the backyard, Steve was sure Eden would love living here. It was exactly the type of house she’d told him she wanted. But, when he looked at her, he wasn’t so sure.

“What do you think of the cottage, Eden?” he asked.

She sighed. “It’s amazing, but I can’t help thinking there are more deserving people who need somewhere to live. It’d be perfect for Chloe and Oscar.”

Penny looked thoughtfully at Eden. “Chloe’s on my list of potential tenants. If you don’t think this is the house for you, you don’t have to rent it.”

Steve’s eyes widened when he saw the indecision on Eden’s face.

She looked at Penny. “How many people are waiting for a home they can rent?”

“We have about thirty people on our waitlist, but not everyone has arrived in Sapphire Bay. Some families are more organized than others and start looking for a rental before they arrive.”

Eden looked at Steve. “I can’t live here, not with people like Chloe and Oscar looking for somewhere to live. The Welcome Center is lovely, but it’s not a great place for Oscar. He’d love running around in the backyard and it’s so much closer to his school.”

Steve held her hand. “If you don’t take the cottage, you’ll have to stay with John and Shelley.”

“Not necessarily.” Eden turned to Shelley. “Can I ask if Chloe’s near the top of the list for the next available house to rent?”

Shelley opened a document on her iPad. “She’s near the top. What are you thinking?”

Eden sighed. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I thought I was taking someone else’s place. What if Chloe and Oscar moved into the cottage? I could ask John if I could take their room at The Welcome Center. Hopefully, I won’t be there for long.”

Steve admired what she wanted to do, but it might take her longer than she thought to find something else. “Are you sure? It’s difficult finding somewhere to live in Sapphire Bay.”

“It would be a short commute to work,” she said half-jokingly. “I hope I haven’t wasted your time, Penny. I really was excited about seeing the cottage, but it doesn’t seem fair if I live here when others can’t.”

Penny sent Eden a genuine smile. “I completely understand. If another rental comes on the market, I’ll let you know. But before you do anything, let me talk to Chloe. If she’d like to move into the cottage with her son, I’ll tell John you’d like to take their place at the center. It should work, but you never know.”

Eden nodded and looked back at the cottage. “It really is a lovely home.”

Penny slipped her iPad back into her bag. “Don’t worry. There’ll be others.”

Steve lowered Rex to the ground. “And you’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep knowing you’ve helped someone else.”

Whether Eden slept quite so soundly after he told her about his sculptures was another story.