Willow seemed defeated. “He didn’t come all this way to have a two-minute conversation with me.”
“If you’re worried about seeing him again, you could stay at my place.”
Willow shook her head. “I’ve got too much work to do.”
Zac didn’t have to think twice about his next suggestion. “I could stay with you until he leaves.”
“It wouldn’t be fair to ask you to do that. I’ll be okay.”
“You aren’t asking. I’m offering.”
Willow bit her bottom lip. “Are you sure you don’t mind? My home isn’t as big as yours and I don’t have all the modern appliances and—”
“I don’t need modern appliances,” Zac said gently. “All I need to know is that you’re safe and happy.”
Tears filled Willow’s eyes. “In that case, thank you. I would really appreciate you staying with me.”
He’d never seen Willow so worried about anything. “Good. After we’ve finished here, you can follow me home. I’ll pack a suitcase and stay until David has left Sapphire Bay.”
Willow sighed. “What would I do without you?”
Zac looked around the room at her friends. “You would have found a way to stay safe.” But for now, he was glad he was here to look after her.
Chapter Twelve
Willow spent the next day and a half in her studio. By Friday afternoon, she was alternating between working on her next commission and making Easter baskets for her friends.
“Something smells good.”
She looked over her shoulder at Zac and smiled. “I’m making lemon meringue chick cupcakes. They make wonderful Easter gifts.”
“Do you want me to be your taste-tester?”
“You’re a brave man.”
“Only when they smell so good.” He dipped his finger into the almost empty bowl of batter. “Yum.”
Willow took the cupcakes off the cooling rack. “If you can wait another five minutes, I’ll give you one that’s completely finished.”
“In that case, I’ll make the coffee. Have you finished the photos you were editing?”
“Nearly. I’ll send the images to the company who prints my canvases tonight. By next Thursday, I’ll have another happy customer.” She slid a tray of white meringues out of their packaging and picked up a piping bag. “Have I told you how much I appreciate you being here?”
“Only about a hundred times. But I got the better deal.”
“Because of my baking?”
Zac grinned. “How did you guess?”
“It wasn’t difficult. Whenever I’m in the kitchen, you suddenly appear beside me.” With a steady hand, she placed two black dots of royal icing on each of the meringues. When the eyes were finished, she changed piping bags and added yellow beaks. “What do you think?”
“They’re cute.”
“It gets better.” Willow picked up a cupcake and added buttercream frosting, then a spoon of lemon curd. Carefully, she placed a meringue on top of the curd and smiled. “What do you think?”
“I’m impressed. They’ll definitely make great gifts.”
“It’s nice to have something other than chocolate to eat at Easter.”
“There’s always room for chocolate,” Zac said with a smile. When the coffee was ready, he poured them both a drink. “Have you heard anything from your manager?”
“He’s called me twice, but I haven’t spoken to him. I keep waiting for him to knock on the front door.”
“He might have gone home.”
Knowing David, that was the last thing he would have done. “He doesn’t give up easily.”
Zac sipped his drink. “Are you sure he hasn’t changed?”
“If he has, it’s too late. I could never trust him again.”
“Aren’t you even a little curious about the recording contract?”
Willow added buttercream frosting to the other cupcakes. “Nothing can replace what I have here. I nearly lost sight of who I was when I was touring. When the YouTube video went viral, it reminded me of the worst part of being a musician. I want to enjoy singing, not hide every time I go somewhere.”
She handed Zac a jar. “Can you place a spoon of lemon curd on the top of each cupcake?”
He picked up a teaspoon and dipped it in the thick, yellow mixture. “This much?”
“That looks good. Place a meringue on the top and we’ll see what it looks like.”
When it was finished, Zac stood back and admired their creation. “Who would have thought something so simple could look so good. Who are you giving them to?”
Willow ticked her friends’ names off her fingers. “Megan and William, Brooke and Levi, Emma and the twins, and Sam and Caleb. Are you doing anything on Easter Sunday?”
“Not yet. Why?”
“Megan and William are having a special Easter lunch at their house. Everyone will be there. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Are you sure there’s room for another person?”
“Of course there is. You don’t need to bring anything—we’ve got everything organized.” Willow’s cell phone pinged. She read the text and groaned. “I forgot about a fundraising party at Nora’s school. I don’t suppose you want to go with me?”
“When is it?”
“Tonight. Emma will be there with Molly and Dylan. So will Levi, Brooke, and William. It’s fancy dress. If you don’t have anything you can wear, I’ll find you a costume.” To sweeten the offer, Willow added, “There’ll be a chocolate fountain.”
Zac’s slow smile made her heart pound. Living with him was so much easier than she’d imagined.
“How can I say no to chocolate?”
“You’ll come?”
Zac wrapped his arms around her waist. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“A room full of hyper-excited children isn’t most people’s idea of a great Friday night.”
He kissed the end of her nose. “You keep forgetting—I’m not most people.”
Willow sighed. “That’s one of the reasons I love you.”
“You do?”
She slowly nodded. “You make me feel alive, as if there’s nothing in the world I couldn’t do.”
Zac leaned his forehead against hers. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me.”
“Do you want to know something else? I thought you must be special when I saw my photographs in the entranceway of your home.”
Zac laughed. “We’re definitely meant to be together.”
Willow kissed him gently on the mouth. “I hope so,” she whispered. Because right now, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Two hours later, Willow looked around the auditorium of the small elementary school. The fundraising committee had done a wonderful job of decorating the room. Yellow and white streamers cascaded down the walls, ending in large baskets filled with flowers and pretend Easter eggs.
The costumes everyone had chosen were bright and colorful and added an extra element of fun to the evening.
Emma handed her a soda. “Thank you for coming.”
“It’s for a good cause. Every school should have a great library.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
Molly and Dylan rushed toward them. Molly was wearing a pretty pink dress with an Easter bonnet she’d made at school. Dylan was dressed as a cowboy.
“Hi, Willow,” Molly said. “Happy Easter!”
“Happy Easter to you, too. Are you enjoying the party?”
“It’s awesome. We dipped marshmallows in the chocolate fountain.”
With a shy grin, Dylan held up his hands. “Look.” Chocolate smears coated his fingers.
Emma pulled out a tissue and did her best to get rid of the sticky mess. “It looks as though you had a great time.”
“I didn’t get chocolate on me ’cause I was careful,” Molly said solemnly.
Willow held back a smile. Molly might not have chocolate fingers, but her face told everyone where she’d been.
While Emma searched in her bag for more tissues, Molly looked behind her mom and grinned. “Look at Zac. He’s a reindeer.”
Willow turned around and smiled at her temporary roommate. The brown velvet jumpsuit he’d bought did look a little like a reindeer. All he needed was a flashing red nose and he could have been Rudolph.
“I’m not a reindeer. I’m the Easter Bunny.” Zac pulled a headband out of the pouch on his stomach and stuck it on his head.
The floppy rabbit’s ears looked cute, but Molly and Dylan still seemed confused.
When Zac pulled two chocolate eggs out of the same pouch, the transformation into Easter Bunny was complete. The twins thought he was amazing.
“Where did you find your costume?” Emma asked.
“In the general store. Mabel has a special area for emergencies. This was the last Easter Bunny costume she had.”
Willow laughed. “I didn’t realize there could be other bunnies hopping around Sapphire Bay.”
“Only if they were quick. The costume is a limited edition.”
Willow couldn’t imagine anyone other than Zac wearing a velvet rabbit suit. “You were lucky to find it.”
“It was meant to be,” he said with a grin. “Do you want to dance?”
“She’d love to,” Emma said as she nudged Willow toward the dance floor. “Don’t come back until you’ve boogied to at least three songs.”
Zac held out his hand. “I promise not to step on your toes.”
That wasn’t what Willow was worried about. “Are you sure you can dance in your costume? Won’t you get hot?”
“I’ll be fine. Besides, what could be better than the Easter Bunny dancing with an Easter egg?”
Willow looked at her costume. She’d found some large sheets of cardboard in her studio and cut them into ovals. After she’d decorated them with crepe paper and glitter, Zac helped her attach a wide piece of ribbon to the top of each panel. Thankfully, the costume sat comfortably on her shoulders.
“Okay, I’ll dance with you. But don’t try any fancy moves. I’m not very bendy.”
Emma pulled out her cell phone. “Before you hit the dance floor, I need a photo. You look cute together.”
Willow stood beside Zac, smiling at the camera.
“You can do better than that,” Emma said. “It’s spring. Do something outrageous.”
Zac moved so fast that Willow didn’t have time to react. One minute she was standing beside him, and the next she was lying sideways in his arms, held in front of him like a football.
Before she could say anything, her feet were back on the floor.
“Perfect,” Emma said as she showed them the picture. “It’s a great photo.”
Willow groaned. The only good thing about it was that they were both looking at the camera. “Don’t put it on Facebook.”
The next song started and Emma held her hand to her ear. “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you.”
“Yes, you did,” Willow said loudly. “Remember, I know where you live.”
Zac laughed and pulled Willow toward the dance floor. “Let’s dance.”
She looked at him and sighed. How he’d reached the ripe old age of thirty-nine and not been married was beyond her. “Okay, Easter Bunny. Show me your moves.”
And for the next three songs, he did.
The next morning, Willow woke with a jolt. She lay in bed, heart pounding, listening to the sound of the house creaking in the early morning sunshine. Something had startled her out of a deep sleep and she didn’t know what it was.
A door farther along the hallway opened and closed.
Zac must have heard the noise, too.
She rubbed her eyes and pushed aside her blankets. As she left her bedroom, she grabbed her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head.
By the time she walked into the entrance, Zac had opened the front door and was looking toward the road.
“What was it?”
“It looks as though your manager was here.” He picked up a large brown envelope sitting on the veranda.
Written across the front, in David’s neat, precise writing, was her name. Willow didn’t need to open the envelope to know what was inside. “It will be the first draft of a contract with the recording company. How did you sleep?”
Zac closed the door. “Better than my first night.” He followed Willow into the kitchen, frowning when she dropped the envelope into the recycling bin. “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
“I don’t want to work with David ever again. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got a better idea. How about I make us both breakfast?”
Willow leaned against the kitchen counter. “Sounds great.” While Zac moved around the kitchen, she thought about her music career and what had brought her to Sapphire Bay. “Do you think I’m crazy to throw away the contract?”
Zac opened the refrigerator and took out four eggs. “It’s up to you. Do you want to make another album?”
“Even though I haven’t sung professionally, I’ve written a lot of songs. A part of me wants to share them with the rest of the world. The other part wants to stay away from the music industry.”
“Is it the music industry you’re not happy with or one person?”
“Before I left Nashville, I asked myself the same question. It’s both. I can’t be the person I used to be. All that David and everyone else saw was the money I made. They could overlook what was happening behind the scenes because they didn’t think it mattered. It wasn’t the same for me.”
“What would have helped?”
“A team of people around me I could trust. Mom and Dad thought I was happy and, for most of the time, I was. But when I discovered what David had done, I realized my life wasn’t mine anymore. From what I’ve heard, nothing has changed.”
Zac wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “You’ve changed. Maybe that’s enough to make everything else a lot better.”
Willow leaned against his chest. “Do you think I should look at the contract?”
“I think you should do what’s best for you. But don’t discount the offer because of David. He doesn’t have to be part of your future.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Zac kissed the top of her head. “While you’re thinking about it, I’ll scramble some eggs.”
Willow watched him for a few seconds before taking a carton of juice out of the refrigerator. “Can I ask you a question about your PTSD?”
The whisk in Zac’s hands stilled. “Sure.”
“How has it changed your life?”
Zac stared into the half-beaten eggs. “It’s made me more careful about where I go and who I spend time with.” He left the whisk on the counter and held her hand. “When I heard the engine of David’s car, my heart raced as if I’d run a marathon. Loud, unexpected noises are the worst. I get flashbacks, cold sweats, and sometimes shake so much that I need to sit down.”
“Is there anything you can do to make it better?”
“I’ve tried counseling, meditation, acupuncture, and drugs. Mom even sent me a healing stone, hoping it would help.”
“Did it?”
Zac shook his head. “I wish it had.”
“How have you felt over the last couple of weeks?”
“A lot calmer. Sapphire Bay is good for me.”
“Does that surprise you?”
Zac tilted his head to the side, staring into her eyes as if she held the key to his happiness. “It surprises me less than realizing I’ve fallen in love with you.”
With her fingertips she traced the deep grooves on either side of his mouth. “I didn’t expect to fall in love with anyone, either. I nearly adopted a cat.”
Zac’s lips twitched. “Was I worth the sacrifice?”
“Definitely. But I can’t guarantee I’ll never have a kitten racing around my cottage.”
“What about a dog? They’re more intelligent than cats.”
Willow’s
eyebrows rose. “I don’t think so. Cats like cuddling on your lap. They follow you around the house and wait for you to come home. What more could you want?”
“A dog follows your directions. He can go running with you and—”
The sound of an engine cut across the front yard.
Willow froze. “Do you think David has come back?”
“I don’t know.” Zac held her hand as they walked toward the front door.
As soon as she saw the truck, Willow breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s not David. It’s Ryan Evans. Why on earth would he be here so early?”
“Is he the singer you told me about?”
Willow nodded. “He isn’t supposed to be here until Tuesday. Even that’s earlier than he’d normally arrive for a concert.”
“For someone who doesn’t want to be part of the music industry, you’re doing a lot of singing.”
“The concerts on Friday and Saturday night are special. The money we raise will change a lot of people’s lives. You’ll like Ryan. He’s different from most musicians.”
Ryan had moved to Montana to escape the same craziness that drove Willow out of Nashville. He’d met Sophie, his wife, not long after he’d finished building his new home. And now, more than five years later, they were the proud parents of three young children.
She smiled at the dark-haired man climbing out of the truck. “It’s good to see you, Ryan.”
“You, too.” He wrapped her in a warm hug, then held out his hand to Zac. “I’m Ryan Evans.”
“Zac Hilary.”
Ryan’s blue eyes crinkled at the corners. “I hope I’m not too early. The boys woke us at five-thirty this morning.”
“It’s okay,” Willow said with a smile. “Zac was making breakfast. Would you like to join us?”
“Does your offer include the world-famous jam I love?”
Willow laughed. “It could.” Each year she sent Ryan and Sophie a big Christmas basket full of preserves and jams. They loved every mouthful and ordered more when their supply was getting low.
She linked her hand through Ryan’s arm. “While Zac and I get breakfast ready, tell us what you’ve been doing.”
For the next hour, they caught up on all their news, talked about the fundraising concert, and the logistics of making everything come together in a seamless production.
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