Zac didn’t want to interfere in Megan’s pre-natal care, but he’d already decided to talk to her before he left tonight. Her baby had definitely dropped and, with five weeks left until her due date, it was possible she could go into labor earlier than she thought.
He handed John a plate. “What’s the tiny home village?”
“Sapphire Bay doesn’t have enough rental accommodation, so the church is building a village of twenty-five tiny houses. As well as a home, we’re offering the tenants free access to the budgeting, counseling, and medical services The Welcome Center provides.”
Zac’s eyebrows rose. “It sounds like an ambitious project.”
“The best ones usually are. I’m helping the plumbers tomorrow afternoon. If you want to see what we’re doing, you’re welcome to come along.” John handed Zac a business card. “This is the address of the village and the fundraising website.”
“How long have you been offering free medical services?”
“For about eighteen months. Doc Reilly drives up from Polson for the clinics. He spends a few hours in town, then comes to The Welcome Center. He keeps talking about retiring but, until then, he’s happy to help us.”
“What will you do when he retires?”
“I’m hoping another doctor will step into his shoes.” Pastor John frowned. “We still don’t have a full-time medical clinic in Sapphire Bay. The county keeps promising us better health services, but we can’t wait. Most of the people who come to The Welcome Center don’t have a job. They can’t afford the bus fare to Polson, let alone a doctor’s bill. I don’t know what we’d do without the health professionals who volunteer their time.”
“If you need any help while I’m here, I’m happy to be part of your program. But I can’t give you the long-term solution you need. I’m only staying in Sapphire Bay for a couple of weeks.”
“If you decide to stay, a lot of people will be extremely happy.”
Zac added green beans to his plate. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Willow was born in Sapphire Bay and lived here until she moved to Nashville. Maybe talking to her might change your mind about living in a small town.”
“I hope you aren’t telling Zac all my secrets?” Willow asked from behind them.
Zac turned and looked into her eyes. Something about Willow unsettled him and made his stomach twist in knots each time she was close.
“I’ll try not to,” Pastor John assured her. “I thought you’d be the best person to tell Zac what it’s like to live in Sapphire Bay.”
Willow smiled. “You want him to take over from Doc Reilly, don’t you?”
John didn’t seem surprised by what Willow had said. “Am I that obvious?”
“Only to the people who have worked with you.” Willow’s gaze settled on Zac. “I’ll trade you a serving of potato salad for everything you want to know about living here.”
Zac would have traded a whole lot more than food to spend time with Willow but, for now, that had to be enough. “You’ve got a deal.”
“Allow me.” John reached for the spoon beside the salad. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Just remember that Zac hasn’t said he’ll stay.”
“Not yet,” John whispered. “Tell him all the good things.”
As they moved along the buffet table, John kept adding more food to Willow’s plate.
She shook her head when Zac offered her some pulled pork belly. “I’m fine with what’s on my plate. I’ll wait for you, then we’ll find a table.”
John cleared his throat.
“And I’ll tell you how amazing it is to live here,” she added with a smile.
Zac sighed. His first two days in Sapphire Bay were enough to know he could easily live here permanently. Especially if his neighbor kept smiling as if she was looking forward to spending time with him.
Willow ledZac 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 Sapphire Bay,” Zac told her. “I’ve spent enough time here to know it’s a great town.”
