Chapter 5

Steve checked the time. Even though it was one o’clock in the afternoon, the Saturday market in downtown Sapphire Bay was still busy. The chatter of locals and the enticing smell of the food made his stomach rumble.

He’d dropped Owen off at his studio a few minutes ago and decided to walk around the booths, looking for something for his lunch. Lynda, Owen’s mom, had looked after Rex while they were in Polson. With the excited welcome Rex had given them, anyone would’ve thought they’d been gone for months instead of hours.

He shortened Rex’s leash as they walked through a group of teenagers. It was the perfect day for the popular market. Sunshine glinted off the lake, creating a festive atmosphere over the booths lining the waterfront. Families wandered between the vendors, children tugged at their parents’ hands, leading them toward the homemade ice cream stand and the cotton candy machine.

If that wasn’t enough to bring people into town, a jazz band was playing in the background, adding a relaxed atmosphere to the afternoon.

Steve stopped in front of a vendor selling gourmet sandwiches and chose the caramelized onion, beef, and salad option. Rex sat quietly beside him. For a little dog, he sure knew how to act when there was the possibility of a juicy strip of beef in his future.

While Steve waited for the sandwich to be made, he watched the people around him. Across the walkway, a booth selling handmade soaps had a few people browsing their products. Beside them was a display of colorful crystals. His eyes widened when he saw Eden. With her red hair tucked under a fluffy hat, and a thick jacket keeping her warm, she looked cute in a small-town meets big city way.

Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage before walking over to her. “Hi, Eden. That’s a colorful crystal.”

Eden looked up and sent him a smile that did funny things to his heart. “Oh, hi Steve! Isn’t it stunning? I’ve always loved crystals and this amethyst is gorgeous.”

She returned the large crystal to the table and petted Rex. “Hi, boy. How are you? Have you been behaving yourself?”

“He’s been really good,” Steve told her. “A friend’s mom looked after him this morning and he didn’t leave her side.”

Eden rubbed behind Rex’s ears. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Rex’s tail flicked back and forth as he enjoyed every second of her attention.

Eden stood and looked closely at Steve. “You seem tired. Were you worried about Rex?”

“Only a little.” When she tilted her head to the side, he sighed. “Okay, a lot. I kept waking up every few hours last night to check on him.”

“In that case…” Eden glanced at the display of crystals and chose a pale pink one. “You need a rose quartz crystal. It’s my favorite. As well as helping to give you clear vision, it’ll balance your emotions and harmonize the energy around you.”

“I’ll remember it next time I’m here.” Steve wasn’t convinced it could make a difference, especially with the amount of chaos inside his head. But, if it made Eden feel better, it didn’t matter what he thought. “It looks as though you’ve bought a few things at the market.”

Eden looked at the bags at her feet. “I went a little crazy buying birthday presents for my family. Everything’s so reasonably priced that I couldn’t say no. What do you like the best about the market?”

He smiled. “Do I sound shallow if I say the food?”

“It makes you sound normal,” Eden said sweetly. She pointed behind him. “It looks as though whatever you’ve ordered is ready.”

Steve turned and lifted his hand to let the lady know he’d seen her. “Have you had lunch?”

“Not yet. I was going to grab something on my way home, but I keep getting distracted.”

“Would you like to share my sandwich? It’s big enough for two.”

Eden bit her bottom lip. “Okay, but only if you have one of the muffins I bought earlier. They’re mixed berry and look amazing.”

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s a deal.”

While Steve collected his sandwich and two bottles of water, Eden bought something from the crystal booth. When he met her in the middle of the walkway, she handed him a small bag.

“This is for you. It’s the rose quartz crystal. I wasn’t sure you’d come back for it, so I bought it for you.”

Steve’s eyes widened. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Eden shrugged. “Everyone needs at least one crystal in their home, and it wasn’t expensive.”

Steve moved the bottles of water under one arm and took the bag. If Eden knew how much he needed to rebalance his life she’d suggest he buy the biggest stone he could find. “Thanks. I’ll let you know if it works.”

Eden grinned. “At least you’re open to trying it. Mom sighs each time I give her a healing crystal.”

As they walked toward the lake, Rex trotted happily beside them.

Steve glanced over at Eden. “How long have you been collecting crystals?”

“For a few years. I fell in love with them when I visited The Crystal Castle in Australia. It was amazing. They have an amethyst cave you can sit in, and some of the biggest crystals in the world.”

“Let me guess,” Steve said. “You took home a suitcase full of crystals.”

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 fewdays 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.