Chapter 30

thirty

ANDREW

The following day, I wished I hadn’t been so quick to volunteer my services at The Welcome Center. Today’s photographic workshop was the last one I’d tutor this semester. Each of the previous classes had been fun but, with everything that had happened, my head felt as though it was spinning.

I picked up one of my spare cameras and placed it on a table. In half an hour, the students would arrive. If I didn’t push aside my nagging sense of unease, no one would enjoy the class.

“Are you all right?” Elijah asked from the doorway.

I forced a smile. “I will be after my workshop’s finished. Where are the twins?”

“They’re with Pastor Adam and the other children. He’s keeping Eddie and Molly amused in exchange for my accounting skills.”

This time, my smile was more relaxed. Sticking to a budget and recording all of the center’s income and expenditure wasn’t one of Adam’s strengths. He should employ an accountant. But finding someone who’d work for less than they could get somewhere else was almost impossible. Luckily, there were enough small business owners in Sunrise Bay to make the job easier. With each of them volunteering for a few hours each month, the church’s accounts were more organized than they’d been in years.

Elijah handed me a sheet of paper. “If you’ve bought anything for the workshop, write the details on here and include the receipts.”

“You know I’m not doing that.” All the money the church earned kept The Welcome Center open and supported the tiny home village. There was no way I’d take money away from those two important projects. “We use digital cameras for most of the work. I can pay for the other bits and pieces. They aren’t expensive.”

With raised eyebrows, Elijah studied the canvas frames sitting on the tables. “Who paid for the photos to be printed onto the canvas?”

“It won’t bankrupt me.”

“That’s what you always say.”

“Because it’s true.”

“In that case, thank you. But don’t feel as though you have to pay for everything. Adam wants to reimburse you.”

“I know, but it isn’t necessary.”

Elijah leaned against the desk. “I visited Barbara on my way here. Jesse was his usual happy self. You wouldn’t know he’d spent a few days in the hospital.”

“I did the same thing an hour ago. I’m glad Jacob was here to help him.”

“Talking about Jacob…” Elijah looked over his shoulder. “Before the students arrive, tell me about your date. Jonathon said you went on a hot air balloon ride.”

With a groan, I sat down. “Please tell me you’re the only person Jonathon told.”

“Kathleen was there, too. She was wrapping Easter eggs in Candy Lane and one thing led to another.”

“Which led to my date with Jacob?”

“Don’t be annoyed,” Elijah said with a sigh. “Hearing about everyone else’s happy ever afters is the highlight of my week. The chance of anyone taking me on a date is practically zilch.”

“That’s not true. If the men of Sunrise Bay are too blind to see what a wonderful person you are, then they’re not worth dating.”

“It’s not the men who are the problem.” Elijah sat down and hugged his clipboard to his chest. “Eddie and Molly have been asking about their other dad again.”

I rubbed my friend’s arm. “What did you tell them?”

“The same thing I always do—that he loves them very much, but he had to work in another city.”

It was bad enough that Elijah’s husband had disappeared out of his life when the twins were a few months old. It was a whole lot worse knowing he’d never bothered to stay in contact with them. “Do you think he’ll ever want to see Eddie and Molly?”

Elijah bit his bottom lip. “I know this sounds terrible, but I hope not. He’s never wanted to be part of their lives. Even with our surrogate, he missed all the scans and doctor’s appointments. I’m surprised he stayed as long as he did.”

“Are you still sending him photos of the twins?”

“Not anymore. The last email couldn’t be delivered. I tried calling him, but no one answered. Either he doesn’t want to talk to me or he’s changed his email address.”

“Maybe one day he’ll realize how much he gave up when he left.”

“I doubt it. But that doesn’t stop Eddie and Molly from wanting to see him.”

I didn’t know what to say to make my friend feel better. Elijah had been through so much in the last few years, it was a wonder he could still smile. “You’ve done everything you can to encourage your ex-husband to be part of the twins’ lives. When they’re older, they’ll understand.”

“I hope so. Tell me about Jacob. It’ll take my mind off everything else.”

“After the hot air balloon ride, we had a picnic dinner beside Willow Lake.” I picked up my camera and flicked through the images. “There were tiny lights bobbing in the water and memory bags lined the boardwalk.”

Elijah frowned. “What’s a memory bag?”

“I’ll show you.” I found the photos I’d taken. “The outside of each paper bag was decorated with pictures and words that celebrated someone’s life. An LED candle lit the bag from the inside. By the time we arrived at the lake, it was pitch black. From a distance, the bags looked like stars that had fallen from the sky.”

Elijah’s fingertips touched the screen. “They’re beautiful. What did Jacob think of the festival?”

“He was impressed. I don’t think he realized how much the towns around Willow Lake have changed.”

“Is that a good thing?”

I placed the camera on the desk. “I think so. Without the businesses that have opened in Sunrise Bay and the events we’re organizing, families wouldn’t consider moving here. And if our population wasn’t increasing, Jacob wouldn’t have a reason to take over from Doc Martin.”

“You could be all the reason he needs.”

A sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. “What if that’s not enough? I’m worried he’ll change his mind and go back to Afghanistan.”

Elijah sighed. “Do you want my advice?”

I nodded.

“Make the most of each day you’re together. Even with the best of intentions, nothing in life is guaranteed.”

“You’re probably right, but I want more.”

“We all want more. But sometimes, what we want and what we need are two completely different things. All you can do is trust that you both want the best for each other.”

I looked down at my camera. Another picture of the memory bags filled the screen. Each candle represented a person who’d been loved. Someone who’d made a difference in another person’s life.

Jacob meant the world to me and, maybe, if I gave our relationship a chance, I could mean the world to him, too.

Elijah pushed back his chair. “It looks as though your students are arriving. If you’re feeling brave, meet me in The Welcome Center’s café after your workshop. Molly and Eddie will put your life into perspective quicker than anyone else.”

I smiled. That sounded like a great idea. “I’ll meet you there.”