Chapter 9

On Monday, Eden was sorting through some files at The Welcome Center when a small, eager face appeared in her office doorway. Oscar, with his bright blue eyes wide with excitement, walked into her room with a hesitant but hopeful smile.

“Can Rex come out to play?” he asked in his small voice, peering around the room in search of Eden’s furry companion.

Rex padded over to Oscar and greeted him with a wagging tail, earning a delighted giggle from the young boy.

Eden watched them with a smile. “Rex loves your cuddles, but he can’t leave the office. You can play with him in here if you’d like to.”

“Okay,” Oscar said happily. “Guess what?”

She laughed at the excitement on his face. “What?’

“I start school soon!” Oscar announced proudly, puffing up his chest as he shared his big news.

“That’s wonderful,” Eden’s heart warmed at his enthusiasm.

“Mommy said I’ll learn more numbers.” Oscar held up his fingers, trying to count. “I can write my name, too. Want to see?”

“I’d love to see that.” Eden smiled, moving aside some documents to make space on her desk for him.

Taking a crayon from his pocket, Oscar stood on tippy toes and carefully wrote his name on a sheet of paper. His tiny fingers gripped the crayon awkwardly, but the letters were surprisingly legible. “O-s-c-a-r,” he spelled out as he wrote.

Eden applauded softly, genuinely impressed. “That’s wonderful. You’ll be an awesome student.”

Oscar beamed, his smile lighting up the room.

Rex, sensing the celebratory mood, nudged Oscar gently, earning himself a tight, appreciative hug from the boy.

As Oscar scampered off to join the rest of his pre-school class, Eden stood in her doorway and watched them. The children were spread out on the floor, some stacking blocks, others drawing, and a few playing a game that involved counting colored rings.

Their excitement of being with their friends and doing something they enjoyed stirred a familiar ache in Eden’s chest—the same ache she felt every time she remembered her days as a teacher. Watching the children learn and grow had been her passion, and her abrupt departure from teaching had left a big chunk of her heart missing.

She walked back into her office and tried to focus on the spreadsheet in front of her. But her thoughts drifted to her classroom, her students, and the dreams she’d had for them. Oscar’s simple joy in learning something as fundamental as writing his name reminded her of why she had loved teaching so much.

Pushing back from her desk, Eden decided she needed a break. Walking over to the window, she looked outside. Families came and went from The Welcome Center and volunteers hurried inside from the parking lot. With all the activity, there was a sense of community and support that resonated deeply with her.

“Knock, knock,” a familiar voice said from the doorway.

Eden turned and smiled at Pastor John. “Hi, John. How’s your morning going?”

“Better than I thought. I just heard back from the county. They’re funding the expansion of the medical center and another ten family rooms for The Welcome Center.”

“Congratulations,” she said warmly. “Shelley told me about the projects. They’ll make a huge difference for the community.”

“That’s what I focused on in my presentation. Thankfully, the committee agreed. Is everything all right? You seem a little down.”

“It’s not my job,” Eden assured him. “I’m loving every minute of working here.”

John stood silently in the doorway, waiting for her to continue.

Eden sighed. “Shelley warned me you don’t give up easily.”

“It drives her insane,” John admitted. “But it helps everyone know where they stand. If your job isn’t worrying you, what is?”

Taking a deep breath, she pointed to the pre-school class in the play area. “Oscar, the little boy beside the blocks, starts school soon. He was excited when he told me what he’d be doing. I miss being a teacher,” she admitted. “I miss waking up each morning and feeling the same buzz of excitement Oscar’s feeling.”

John moved closer. “Maybe there’s a way to combine your love of teaching with your new life in Sapphire Bay.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to go back into a classroom,” Eden told him sadly.

“What if you weren’t the teacher? The local elementary school is always looking for volunteers. Or you could help with some of the church’s education programs.”

Eden frowned. Volunteering could be a way of testing whether she was ready to be part of a learning environment. The more she thought about it, the better it sounded. “I’ll call the school tomorrow and see what they say. If that’s not a possibility, should I talk to you about the church’s programs?”

John nodded. “But if I’m not available, talk to Shelley. She has all the information about our programs on her laptop.”

Eden tilted her head to the side. “I didn’t see Shelley at breakfast this morning. Is she okay?”

“She had a sleep in.” When Eden’s eyebrows rose, John chuckled. “I know. It shocked me, too. She’s usually awake by five o’clock, but I’m not complaining. I’ve been telling her for weeks to stay in bed for longer.”

Eden lifted her hand and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’ll call her and offer to make dinner. There isn’t that much time until your baby’s due and the more rest she gets the better she’ll feel.”

“That’s what I’m hoping,” John told her. “But you know Shelley. She gets bored easily.”

Eden grinned. “What she needs is a project she can do from home. If I think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

“That’d be great. And if she can do it sitting down, I’ll be even happier. Good luck with the school.”

Eden nodded as John walked away. If she could get past the knot in her stomach when she thought about teaching, it would be a game changer. Especially if it meant she could return to the only career she’d ever wanted to do.

Later that night,Steve stood at his living room window. The last rays of the setting sun were casting a warm glow over Sapphire Bay.

Harrison and Daniella’s wedding had left him feeling less isolated than he had in a long time. Until he’d met Eden, finding that kind of happiness seemed as likely as wearing a pair of Daniella’s fairy wings to one of the PTSD support group meetings.

When he spent time with Eden, he felt normal. Her happiness was contagious, and her kindness drew people to her. She’d made his awkward dance moves less painful, and hadn’t minded when he’d stepped on her toes.

Rex, sensing Steve’s restlessness, wagged his tail and nudged Steve’s leg.

With a wry smile, he rubbed his buddy’s head. “Okay, boy. Let’s see if Eden wants to join us for a walk. It might be less dangerous than teaching me how to dance.”

He picked up his phone and sent a quick text to Eden. Within minutes, she responded with a cheerful, “I’d love to!”

He looked down at Rex and grinned. “It looks as though Eden’s not tired of our company. Let’s go for a walk.” With a very excited dog leaping at his feet, Steve clipped on Rex’s harness and walked to Pastor John’s house.

When they arrived, Eden was waiting outside, wearing her bright yellow jacket.

She greeted them with a warm smile. “Hi, Steve.” Bending down, she gave Rex a quick cuddle. “I’m glad you texted me. It’s too nice an evening to stay indoors.”

“That’s what we thought, too.” Steve matched her stride as they headed toward the lake. “How was your day?”

Eden’s eyes lit up as she started to talk. “It was great. I met a little boy who’s living at The Welcome Center with his mom. His name’s Oscar and he told me all about starting school. It was wonderful to see his enthusiasm. “

Steve listened, enjoying the genuine affection in her voice. “It sounds like you enjoyed spending time with him.”

“I did,” Eden admitted. “He’s learned how to write his name, and he was so proud to show me. And his mom, Chloe, is amazing. When she’s not working at the general store, she teaches people how to bake at The Welcome Center.”

Steve unclipped Rex’s leash. “It sounds like Chloe’s doing everything she can to make a better life for her and her son.”

“She is,” Eden agreed, her voice softening. “When I was watching Oscar’s play group, it made me miss teaching. I enjoy helping children grow and learn. I like my job at the center but, some days, I feel like I’m not doing enough.”

They reached the lake and Rex trotted ahead, eager to explore. Steve glanced at Eden. “What’s stopping you from teaching again?” he asked gently.

Eden sighed, looking out over the water. “I guess... I’m scared. Scared of failing, of not being able to look after the children if something happens.”

“Why are you so scared?” Steve pressed gently.

She took a deep breath. “After the shooting, I felt powerless. I was supposed to protect my students, and I couldn’t. I’m terrified that if I go back to teaching, I won’t be able to connect with the students like I used to. What if something happens again, and I can’t handle it? Or worse, what if I make a mistake that puts them in danger?”

Steve looked across the lake at the shimmering water, his thoughts drifting back to his own experiences. “I know that feeling,” he said quietly. “That sense of powerlessness can eat you up inside.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. “There were times in Afghanistan when I felt the same way. We were trained to handle anything but, when the bomb exploded that killed my friends, all the training in the world couldn’t have prepared us for what happened. I felt like I’d failed my team, my country. I still do sometimes, even though I’ve worked hard to come to terms with it.”

Eden turned to face him, her eyes searching his. “What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?”

“I focus on the present. On what I can do now rather than what happened in the past.” Steve looked at Rex. He wanted to tell Eden about his sculpting, but not make a big deal of it. “I also make sculptures. Working with steel, copper, and other metals helps focus my mind on something that isn’t what’s bothering me. And talking about it helps, too. That’s why I go to Pastor John’s support group. Being open with people who understand what I’m going through has helped the most.”

Eden nodded slowly, absorbing his words. “I’ve been hoping I’ll forget what happened.”

“You’ll never forget,” Steve said gently. “But sharing your fears and your experiences lightens the load. You’re not alone, Eden. There are people here who care about you, who want to help. Including me.”

“Thank you.” Eden smiled as Rex tore across the grass, barking at a flock of birds. “I saw Pastor John today and told him how much I miss teaching. He suggested volunteering at the local school or helping with one of the church’s programs. It’s not the same as going back to teaching, but it could be a way to ease into it.”

Steve squeezed her hand reassuringly. “They’re good ideas. Take it one step at a time. You have so much to offer, and I know you’ll find your way back to teaching if that’s what you want. And remember, it’s okay to be scared.”

Eden looked down at their joined hands. “You’re right. Maybe I’ve been too hard on myself. It’s just... hard to let go of the past.”

Steve nodded. “I get that. But every day is a new chance to make things better.”

Eden looked at him and smiled. “You should have been a counselor. I feel better each time I speak to you.”

Steve let go of her hand and took a deep breath. He was falling too fast and too deep for Eden. He needed to pull back and focus on being her friend. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. “How’s the house hunting going?”

Eden sighed. “Not great. I’ve looked at a couple of houses, but they’re so expensive. I might have to stay with John and Shelley for a while longer.”

“Don’t stress about it,” Steve said. “The right place will come along. In the meantime, you have a safe place to stay.”

“I know,” Eden replied, her voice tinged with frustration. “I just don’t want to overstay my welcome, especially with the baby coming. They’ve been so kind, but I feel like I need to find my own place.”

As they continued their walk, their conversation flowed easily. They had more in common with each other than Steve had thought. They shared the same sense of humor and liked similar things. He never thought he’d find someone who understood who he was and what he wanted out of life. Someone who needed him as much as he needed her.

And then he’d met Eden, and everything was beginning to change.