“You should never be too busy to have quality time with your family. I’m in Sapphire Bay.”
For once in his life, Noah was speechless.
“I thought that might surprise you.”
Noah dropped his head to his chest. “Why did you go there?”
“To see Cassie. Don’t worry. She was as surprised as you are.”
Noah could only imagine what she’d thought when his granddad had arrived. He dreaded asking the next question, but he had to know. “Where are you staying?”
“At Acorn Cottage.”
“Why did you go there?” Noah growled. “You could have stayed in town.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten to know Cassie if I’d stayed somewhere else. I had dinner with her last night.”
Noah pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re meddling in things you know nothing about.”
A dry chuckle echoed down the phone. “Your grandmother and I were married for fifty-seven years. We had more than our fair share of disagreements, and some of them were doozies. Would you like to know what I learned?”
“No, but you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“You can’t fix a broken wheel from hundreds of miles away. If you love Cassie, get on a plane and ask for her forgiveness. Grovel if you have to. Believe me, what you’re feeling now is nothing compared with how you’ll feel if she walks away from you.”
“She doesn’t want to speak to me.”
“You leftonemessage.”
“I asked her to call me when she’s ready to talk. She hasn’t called.”
“When was the last time you waited for someone to get back to you?”
Noah looked for somewhere more private to discuss his non-existent love life. If any of his staff overheard the conversation, the gossip mill would be churning for weeks. “Our relationship isn’t a business transaction. I don’t want to push Cassie for an answer. What if she tells me to leave her alone?”
“At least you can say you tried. The trout I caught had more spunk than you’re showing.”
“Spunk?”
“Courage. Determination. All the things you used to have.”
Noah’s mouth slammed shut. It was better than saying something he would regret.
“If you want to make your relationship with Cassie work, get on a plane. I’ve got to go. Gordon needs some potatoes dug out of the garden for dinner.”
Noah frowned. “Who’s Gordon?”
“Come to Sapphire Bay before Sunday and you’ll find out.”
With those final words ringing in his ears, his granddad ended the call.
What on earth was happening in Sapphire Bay? It was bad enough that his grandfather had gone to see Cassie. But fishing and digging potatoes?
Before he returned to his meeting, Noah called his brother. If there was something wrong with their grandfather, Jack would know.
Three days later,Cassie stood inside the entrance of the old steamboat museum. It was a relief to be here, to know the tiny home village would soon become a reality. With the preliminary work Pastor John had already done, the planning department had approved the development in record time. Now, it was time to start building.
At seven-thirty this morning, the students from Montana State University and the apprentices from Pastor John’s construction program started the first tiny home.
