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.

Steve looked down at his burger. “This might sound weird, but I’m hungrier now than I was at the food truck.”

Eden smiled. “It must have something to do with talking to each other.” She lifted her can of soda toward Steve. “To good friends who understand what we’re going through, and open hearts that don’t judge. And to Rex, a pint-sized wonder dog who looks after his dad.”

Steve looked down at Rex’s expectant face, then tapped his soda against Eden’s. “To good friends and a mischievous dog. The perfect combination.”

As they ate their burgers, Steve felt a sense of peace settle over him. With Rex beside him and the sounds of nature surrounding them, he felt connected to Eden in a way that was deeper than anything he’d experienced.

Today, he was grateful for the serenity of the lake, and the joy of sharing a meal with someone who understood him.