“Being similar isn’t a bad thing. In a lot of ways, my mom and dad are like each other. They have the same values and want similar things. But in other ways they’re chalk and cheese.” Willow looked down at her hands. “If you’re having second thoughts about dating me, it’s okay.”
Zac frowned. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just…” he tried to find the words to describe how he was feeling, but nothing seemed right. “In the last few weeks, my life has completely changed. I’m probably going through some kind of culture shock.”
“Or a mid-life crisis,” Willow joked.
Zac’s lips twitched. “That, too.” He looked across at Willow and sighed. “I want to be part of your life so much that it scares me.”
“You aren’t the only one. This is new for me, too. I never thought I’d fall in love with someone so quickly. But here we are.”
“Are you glad we found each other?”
“I’m shocked we found each other. Up until Levi and Brooke’s wedding, you were working in Afghanistan and I was in Montana. You can’t get more different than that.”
A weight lifted off Zac’s shoulders. “That’s true.”
“And you like pumpkin soup. I hate any kind of soup.”
“I’m feeling better already.” He grinned at the smile on Willow’s face. “Maybe we should make a list of all the differences between us. When everything feels as though it’s going too well, we can read the list and feel normal again.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a little weird?”
“No, but I’m glad you’re the first. That’s another thing we can add to the list.”
Willow groaned and Zac fell even more in love with her.
Chapter Fourteen
On Tuesday morning, Willow was busy in her studio when someone knocked on her front door. She glanced at her watch, thinking it must be Zac. They’d decided to explore the trails crisscrossing the mountain, but he wasn’t supposed to be here for another hour.
When she opened the door, she frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be on your way to the airport?”
Brooke waved away her concern. “This won’t take more than a couple of minutes. I have to decide what fudge will be featured on Sweet Treats website. If I don’t let Kathleen and Megan know before I leave, they won’t have enough time to make it. Would you try some samples and tell me which ones you like the best?”
Willow was beginning to think Brooke had lost her mind. “Your plane leaves in three hours. You should be thinking about your honeymoon, not fudge flavors.”
“I’ve been obsessed with finding the right combination of fudge for the last week. Nothing is working and Levi is no help. If we can choose the flavors today, I won’t be thinking about it while I’m in Vancouver.”
Willow sighed. “I’d be happy to help. What flavors did you bring?”
“I got it down to four. Cookies and cream, peanut butter, maple walnut, and berry delight.”
“My taste buds are drooling already.” Willow walked into the kitchen and pulled out a stool for Brooke. “Do you want to give me a sample of each flavor or should I randomly select a piece of fudge?”
Brooke opened the box she was holding. “Do it randomly. That way the flavor will be a total surprise.”
Willow leaned against the counter and closed her eyes.
“Take your time. There’s no pressure.”
“Are you sure? I’ll feel terrible if you miss your flight.”
“Don’t worry. Choose a piece of fudge.”
Willow dipped her hand into the box. After she bit into the soft, creamy, fudge, she sighed. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”
Brooke laughed. “That’s because you’ve got a huge sweet tooth. Tell me what the flavor is and, out of five, what you would score it for taste, texture, and, when you open your eyes, overall appearance.”
“Berry delight. Five, five, and…” Willow opened her eyes, “five.”
“Are you sure?”
Willow took another bite. “Absolutely. Anyone who bought this fudge wouldn’t be disappointed. It has just the right amount of berry flavor and melts in your mouth. I like the ripple effect of the red, purple, and pink color, too.”
“That’s the berry juice. It took a lot of experimenting to keep the colors separate, but it was worth the effort.” Brooke rustled the box. “Now for number two.”
Willow closed her eyes and chose another piece of fudge. “Peanut butter. Five, five, and…” She studied the light caramel color. It was just as well Brooke had only brought one piece of each flavor. Otherwise, she’d be here all day nibbling on the sweet treats. “And a five for overall appearance. I’m a sucker for any fudge that looks like a warm ball of sunshine.”
By the time Willow scored the cookies and cream, and maple and walnut flavors, Brooke still didn’t have two clear winners. In Willow’s humble opinion, each piece of fudge was as good as the others.
Brooke frowned at her score sheet. “I thought for sure you would be able to help.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because you’re decisive. If you don’t like something, you know immediately. Most people will keep nibbling on the fudge regardless of whether it’s their favorite flavor or not.”
Willow handed the box back to her friend. “What will you do now?”
Brooke shook her head. “I don’t know. I’ll need to think about it on the way to the airport. It’s too late to try a different type of fudge and I haven’t got the time to make any more flavors.”
“Will this help?” Willow placed the half-eaten pieces of fudge in a row in front of her. With her eyes closed, she moved one piece of fudge away from the others, then repeated the same action. “What about featuring these two flavors next month?”
“Berry delight and walnut maple,” Brooke murmured. “It could be a good combination. The sweetness of the berries will balance the nuttiness of the walnut. We could even do something quirky with the packaging and sell both flavors together.”
Willow checked her watch. “Are you ready to drive to the airport now?”
“Almost. I wanted to wish you all the best for the concert and your exhibition. I can’t believe Levi and I will miss both events.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Willow walked toward the front door, with Brooke following her. “Mabel has asked if she can record some of the concert for the community Facebook page and Megan will be at the exhibition. When you get back, there’ll be plenty of time to catch up with what happened.”
From the veranda, Willow waved at Levi. He was sitting in his truck, patiently waiting for his wife. “Promise me you’ll have a wonderful honeymoon.”
Brooke grinned. “I will now. Thanks for helping.”
“You’re welcome.” She opened the passenger door, said hello to Levi, then bundled Brooke into the front seat. “Have a safe flight and try not to think about work.”
“I’ll see you in two weeks.”
As Levi drove away, Willow waved to her friends. It only seemed like yesterday they’d become engaged. And now look at them—heading to Vancouver on a honeymoon that had been postponed because of work.
She returned to her studio. Brooke wasn’t the only person who was still working. If Willow didn’t finish the portrait a family from Bigfork had commissioned, she would be working overtime, too.
Zac knocked on the door to Doc Reilly’s consultation room at The Welcome Center.
“Come in.”
“I hope I’m not intruding.”
Doc Reilly smiled. “Of course not. I came in to sort through a few things before I retire. Did you make a list of everything you’ll need?”
Zac pulled a sheet of paper out of his back pocket. “I did. Do you think the hospital will supply everything?”
Doc Reilly studied the list. “I can’t see why not. The consultation rooms in town have become a little run down. We were supposed to have a new medical clinic by now, so I wasn’t worried. But given the funding cuts hospi
tals are having to make, I can’t see a new clinic being built in Sapphire Bay. Not for a few years, anyway.”
“The community won’t be happy.”
“I know, but there isn’t a lot we can do about it. It wouldn’t take much to improve the current building. If you have any ideas about changes you’d like to make, talk to Levi. His construction company has remodeled quite a few buildings in town.”
“I’ll do that.”
Doc Reilly pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Have you heard anything from the clinical director in Polson?”
“Not yet. But my paperwork has been approved and John is happy for me to see patients at The Welcome Center.”
“Was your team in Afghanistan surprised to hear you weren’t going back?”
Zac still felt guilty about leaving the refugee camp so suddenly. “They were. Luckily, another doctor was able to take my place. It feels as though I’ve left a big part of my life behind.”
“It’s not easy making such a huge adjustment, especially when staying here wasn’t something you’d planned.”
That was an understatement. His intention was to stay in Sapphire Bay for two weeks and now look at him. “What made you want to work in Sapphire Bay?”
Doc Reilly smiled. “I met John at a community meeting in Polson. He hadn’t been in Sapphire Bay all that long but, even then, he was always looking at ways he could help the community. At that stage there were no doctors here. Everyone had to travel to Polson, even if it was for something minor. After a lot of hard work, John convinced the hospital that Sapphire Bay needed a part-time doctor. After some arm-twisting, I agreed to come here once a week. I’ve enjoyed every minute, but it’s time for a change of pace.”
“Are you looking forward to retiring?”
Doc Reilly rubbed his hand across his jaw. “I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss my job. Like you, my life is about to go through some big changes. But for once in my life I’m not going to worry about it. I’ve got my fishing boat, my wife, and more grandchildren than I know what to do with. Between those things, I’m hoping I won’t have a lot of time to think about my career.”
“Maybe I should get a boat,” Zac said half-jokingly.
“You don’t need one. If you have a free day, give me a call. We can commiserate with each other while we’re fishing on Flathead Lake.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You won’t regret making the decision to work in Sapphire Bay. It’s a great place to call home.”
Doc Reilly’s words stripped away all the uncertainty Zac was holding onto. “I’m beginning to see just how special it is. Don’t be surprised if you get a phone call from me every now and again.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
After he’d said goodbye, Zac left The Welcome Center and headed toward the parking lot. If he could build on what Doc Reilly had achieved, he would be doing a good job.
He checked his watch and increased his pace. If he didn’t get a move on, he’d be late for his hike with Willow. After spending most of the morning working in front of a computer, he needed to stretch his legs.
Willow looked behind her and smiled. “Come on, slowpoke. We’ll be here all day if you don’t walk faster.”
“I’m enjoying the scenery. Some of us like to take life at a slower pace than others.”
She knew for a fact that Zac’s mind and body worked at a million miles an hour. “I’ve seen the way you live your life and, believe me, there’s nothing slow about it.”
The snap of twigs was Willow’s only warning that Zac was on the move. In a blur of denim and nylon, he sprinted along the trail, heading toward the summit with the ease of a mountain goat. “Wait for me.”
Zac slowed, but only enough to let her catch up with him.
“You deliberately puffed me out so you could reach the top first.”
It was Zac’s turn to grin. “If you promise to be nice to me, I’ll share the victory.”
Willow stuck her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what you consider nice, but if you let me go first, I’ll share some of Brooke’s fudge with you.”
“You brought fudge and didn’t tell me?”
“When my parents and I went hiking, we always took trail mix with us. I didn’t have any nuts and chocolate at home, so I raided my supply of Brooke’s candy.” She swung her backpack off her shoulders. “I’ve got chocolate, caramel, and strawberry dream fudge.”
He watched her take an old ice cream container out of her bag.
Willow didn’t need X-ray vision to see how interested he was in the supply of candy. She popped open the lid and waved the container under his nose. If Zac’s sense of smell was as good as his strategic plotting, he should be drooling by now.
“Blackmail won’t work.”
“Who said anything about blackmail? This is an old-fashioned trade. You can have two pieces of fudge if we walk to the top of the mountain together. If you let me go first, I’ll give you four.” Zac was so close that she could smell the tangy freshness of his aftershave. “What would you like to do?”
“I’m an equal opportunities kind of guy.” Zac peered inside the ice cream container. “I’ve also got a strong suspicion I’ll enjoy each of the flavors. For that reason alone, you’ve got a deal. But if you find any grizzly bears or mountain lions in the caves, run fast.”
“The only bear I’ve seen was in the zoo.”
“They might be closer than you think.” Zac wiggled his eyebrows. “Especially the dark-haired, brown-eyed variety. They tend to get desperate for company and make a nuisance of themselves.”
“They’re probably lonely. The poor things might want someone to give them a hug when everything becomes too much.”
“I’d like to see that happen.” Zac helped himself to a piece of fudge. “You’d be a tasty treat for a grizzly bear.”
She moved the ice cream container away from him. “That’s not very gentlemanly.”
“I was only joking.”
Willow forced herself to scowl. “You’ll have to eat the other pieces of fudge when you reach the summit. If there are any big, hairy animals in the caves, you can be the bait. There’s more meat on your bones.”
“I’m shocked. Would you really feed the man you love to a grizzly bear?”
“Only if he beats me to the summit.” Willow threw her backpack over her shoulders and took off up the trail.”
Zac was only a few steps behind her. “That’s cheating,” he yelled.
“Shh. You’ll disturb the wildlife.” Willow ducked under a branch, hoping it didn’t spring back and hit Zac.
“Ow!”
“Oops. Sorry.”
Zac muttered something before grabbing her hand and bringing her to a standstill. “I believe you owe me three pieces of fudge.”
Willow dragged deep breaths into her oxygen-starved lungs. “We’re not at the summit.”
Zac opened his backpack and handed her his water bottle. “It depends on what you call the summit.”
She took a sip of water and studied the dirt trail. Sunlight filtered through the overhanging trees, casting pretty shadows on the ground. In the distance, the pale blue sky peeked through the canopy. “I suppose you could say we’re on the outer edge of the summit.”
With a raised eyebrow, Zac stared intently at the ice cream container.
“Oh, all right.” She handed him the fudge. “Don’t take the extra piece of caramel fudge. It’s my favorite.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now you have manners.”
“I gave you my water bottle.”
Willow grinned. “That’s true. There might be hope for you yet.”
Zac returned her smile. “Thank goodness for that.”
They kept moving, walking under the trees in an easy silence.
“Have you been on this trail before?” Willow asked.
“Years ago. When I was little, Granddad used to bring me here at night. We would lie in the grass
and stare up at the sky. I used to think that if I tried really hard, I’d be able to touch the stars.”
“That’s a great memory.”
Zac nodded. “Granddad showed me the different constellations and told me about the missions to the moon. By the time I was seven, I knew all the names of the Apollo 11 astronauts.”
“I bet that impressed your friends.”
“They didn’t care. But it came in handy when we did a space project at school. Mrs. McIntosh thought I was some kind of science genius.”
Willow smiled as she imagined his teacher’s amazement. “My one claim to fame was being able to tell my classmates how solar panels work. Mom and Dad lived off the grid until a couple of years ago.”
“That must have been hard, especially in the middle of winter.”
“My parents knew what they were doing, so it wasn’t too bad. The worst thing was when our solar panels got covered in snow and the generators became jammed with ice.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t continue the family tradition.”
“If I lived somewhere warm, like California, I might live off the grid. But once I moved to Nashville, I was spoiled. I became too used to soaking in bathtubs full of unlimited hot water.” When they reached the top of the mountain, Willow walked to the edge of the plateau. “This view of the lake is stunning.”
“It’s one of Montana’s best kept secrets.” Zac took off his backpack and sat on the grassy slope. “Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you hadn’t grown up in Sapphire Bay?”
Willow sat beside Zac. “Sometimes. If I’d grown up in New York City or Las Vegas, everything about my half-hippie lifestyle would have been different. What’s one thing that could have changed your life?”
“If Dad and Granddad hadn’t been doctors, I don’t know if I would have chosen medicine as a career.”
“Let me guess—you would have become an astronaut.”
Zac laughed. “Close. An astronomer. Granddad’s enthusiasm for the stars and planets rubbed off on me.”
“He sounds like an amazing man.”
Zac’s smile disappeared. “He was. Granddad died eleven years ago.”
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