Chapter 12

twelve

ANDREW

I led Jacob to a table on the far side of the barn. It would be a lot quieter than sitting in the middle of the room, especially once the band started playing.

“You don’t have to tell me about living in Sunrise Bay,” Jacob told me. “I’ve spent enough time here to know it’s a great town.”

I opened my napkin and placed it on my lap. “I don’t mind. Besides, Pastor Adam will want to know whether I’ve made a difference to your decision to go back to Afghanistan.”

“You could always tell him a white lie.”

I shook my head. “A lie is a lie, no matter which way you sugar-coat it. Why is this the first time you’ve been home in three years?”

Jacob looked down at his plate. “It’s a long way to travel.”

“That’s true.” There was so much more I wanted to ask, but surrounded by Shane and Jonathon’s wedding guests wasn’t the time to do it. “Is there anything you want to know about Sunrise Bay?”

“There are a lot more businesses in town than when I was last here. Do you know why?”

“It’s probably a combination of a lot of things. More people are visiting Sunrise Bay. They want to spend time on the lake and enjoy the old-fashioned craft and food stores they can’t find anywhere else. When Jonathon’s candy shop opened, a lot of people came here just to buy his fudge. Ben, the owner of the jewelry store on Main Street, won a prestigious award. That brought a different type of tourist to town. As more people arrive, more people decide to live here, and more businesses open. I guess it’s all about supply and demand.”

“That wouldn’t be helping the housing shortage Pastor Adam was telling me about.”

“It isn’t. Finding a property to buy or rent is nearly impossible. That’s why the tiny home village is so important.”

Jacob picked up his wineglass. “Do you volunteer at The Welcome Center?”

I smiled. “I do. Pastor Adam involves most of the community in the church’s projects. That’s one of the reasons I like living here. There aren’t many places where you feel connected to something much bigger than yourself.”

“Is that why you left Nashville?”

Jacob’s question caught me off guard. “I don’t think I ever felt connected to Nashville, not in the way I do here. In Sunrise Bay, I can be myself. Nashville was all about who I was and what I could do for everyone else.” I couldn’t help the bitterness in my voice. I’d given everything I had to create a successful music career. At the end of eight years, all I had to show for it was a large bank balance and lots of broken promises.

“What did you do in Nashville?”

“I was in the music industry.” I picked up my knife and fork and ate some bean salad. “Did Pastor Adam tell you about the fundraising concert we’re organizing?”

Jacob studied my face. “No, he didn’t. Why don’t you want to talk about your life in Nashville?”

“It’s not who I am anymore.”

“Who were you?”

I placed my cutlery on the side of my plate. “I was a singer. A friend uploaded one of my songs to YouTube and an agent in Nashville called me. Six months later, I was the opening act for Garth Brooks when he performed at the Grand Ole Opry.”

“You must have a great voice.”

I shrugged. I didn’t like talking about my music career, but if it helped Jacob understand why Sunrise Bay was so special, I’d tell him almost anything he wanted to know.

“What happened after the concert?”

“I released an album and started touring. When I look back at those first few years in Nashville, it seems surreal.”

“Why did you move to Sunrise Bay? It couldn’t have been good for your career.”

I never talked about why I’d left Nashville. It still hurt to think about the way my manager had tricked me into signing the rights of my first songs over to him. I’d been young, naive, and foolish—and he’d taken advantage of me.

Jacob was still waiting for me to say something. So I forced a smile and pretended the answer to his question didn’t upset me. “For eight years I worked crazy hours and lived out of a suitcase. By the time I was twenty-six, I was exhausted. I’d had enough, so I stopped performing and came home.”

“And started a photography business?”

I nodded. “While I was in Nashville, I won a couple of photography awards. Opening my own studio was an easy decision. What would you have been if you weren’t a doctor?”

Jacob sat back in his chair. “I don’t know. My dad and grandfather were both doctors. For as long as I can remember, it’s all I ever wanted to do.”

I felt the same about music. It had consumed my life, taken me to places I never thought I would go, and nearly destroyed me. I looked away from Jacob and watched Jonathon’s mom walk toward us. Butterflies bounced inside my stomach.

“Hi, Andrew. Are you enjoying the buffet?”

I stood and hugged Mrs. Johnson. “The food’s delicious. You look amazing.”

“Thank you. I can’t wait to see your photos.”

“They’ll be ready in a few days.” I turned to Jacob. “Have you met Jacob Hilary? He’s my neighbor and a friend of Shane’s.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jacob. I’m Virginia. Jonathon told me you flew here from Afghanistan.”

“I did. Barring an airline strike or a humanitarian crisis, I was determined to be here.”

“I’m pleased you made it. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell Andrew the band has arrived.”

I checked my watch. Earlier in the day, the band had set up their instruments and completed a sound check. “Are they having dinner?”

“They are. Do you want me to tell you when they’ve finished?”

I shook my head. “We’ve got plenty of time. I’ll see them after I’ve eaten.”

“That sounds great. Thank you for doing this for Jonathon and Shane.”

“I’m happy to help.”

“I know you are, but I also know how much you like to keep a low profile.” Virginia’s cell phone beeped. As soon as she saw who was calling her, she frowned. “I need to go. My husband’s looking for me. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

“I will.”

After Virginia left, I ignored the surprised look on Jacob’s face. When he didn’t say anything, I sighed. “It’s only two songs. After that I’m back to being a photographer.”

A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Can I have your autograph?”

Despite my nerves, I smiled. “I haven’t sung anything yet.”

“You don’t need to. I have a feeling you’ll be better than anyone I’ve heard.”

I sighed. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, it isn’t working. But I promise to give you my autograph as soon as I return to our table.”

“You’re nervous?”

“I’m always nervous before I perform. What if I forget the words or sing off-key?”

“Has that ever happened?”

I shook my head.

“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

That was easy for Jacob to say. He wasn’t about to sing two of my best friend’s favorite songs.

He handed me a glass of water. “You’ll be fine. Just pretend you’re only singing to Shane and Jonathon.”

That’s what I’d planned on doing. But a certain brown-eyed doctor was messing with my heart and making it hard to think about anyone else. “I’d better tell you about Sunrise Bay before I leave.”

The gleam in Jacob’s eyes calmed my nerves. “You can start by telling me more about your cottage. Are you planning on doing any more remodeling?”

“I don’t think that’s what Pastor Adam had in mind when he asked me to tell you about living here.”

“It could be incredibly relevant. Especially if you want to drive piles into the ground for an extension. The noise and vibrations could send me back to Kabul.”

I smiled. It would have to be a huge extension to be felt at Jacob’s home, but I was happy to answer his question. It was better than talking about why I was still living in Sunrise Bay.