“I like the way you think. Did you know Zac’s coming to our wedding?”
Willow frowned. “No, I didn’t, but that makes sense.”
“We weren’t sure if he would be able to make it back in time. Something big happened in Kabul and it was difficult for him to leave.”
Willow held out a chair for Brooke. “Is he going straight back to Afghanistan after the wedding?”
“I don’t know, but it’s a long way to travel for only a few days.” Brooke studied the images on Willow’s workbench. “More beautiful photos.”
Willow pushed Zac to the back of her mind. Whether or not he was staying in Sapphire Bay was no one’s business but his own. “They’re a sample of the images I’ve taken at other weddings. If you like any of them, I could include something similar at your wedding. Have you thought about who you want me to photograph?”
Brooke took a piece of paper out of her pocket. “We used our guest list and came up with these combinations.” She pointed to three photos sitting on the left-hand side of the table. “I like those group shots, but the guests are standing on the church steps. Would it be difficult to do something like that at our wedding?”
“Anything is possible. I spoke to the man who owns the ranch. He can provide some hay bales for people to stand on, or there is another alternative.” She pointed to one of the photos. “That aerial photo was taken using a drone. It gives you a lot more flexibility.”
“I like that idea,” Brooke said decisively. “I saw the photos you took of the tiny homes using the drone. They’re terrific.”
The tiny home village was a community project led by Pastor John. Eventually, twenty-five houses would be built by volunteers to help people who were unable to find accommodation. To attract more corporate sponsorship, Willow had taken a series of photos showing the progress they’d made. To her delight, another sponsor had stepped forward to help.
“I like these group photos, too.”
As Brooke told her what she liked about each image, Willow made lots of notes. She wanted to create photos that Levi and Brooke would cherish. Even these last-minute suggestions would make her job a lot easier.
“I’ve got something else for you.” Brooke pulled another sheet of paper from her pocket. “This is the timeline for the day of our wedding. As well as a master list, there are separate sheets for before and during the wedding, and at the reception.”
Willow took one look at the timeline and smiled. “Did your mom make this?”
Brooke grinned. “Mom thought her days of creating spreadsheets were over. She made this schedule in half the time it would have taken me.”
“Are your parents looking forward to the wedding?”
“I think they’re more excited than I am. I’m so busy at the candy store that I haven’t had time to think about Saturday.”
“At least Easter only happens once a year. Once it’s over, you won’t need to make another chocolate egg for months.”
“There’ll be plenty of other holidays to keep me busy.” Brooke picked up the box of fudge she’d brought with her. “While we’re talking about candy, would you like a piece of fudge?”
Willow closed her notebook and smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Later tonight, Megan, one of their friends, had organized a surprise evening for Brooke. If the bride-to-be wasn’t looking forward to her wedding after tonight, nothing short of postponing Easter would make a difference.
And that was never going to happen.
By lunchtime,Zac was heading into Sapphire Bay. As he drove down Main Street, he was surprised by how much everything had changed. Since his last visit, more cafés and galleries had opened. Baskets of hanging flowers adorned the verandas of the old-fashioned stores and the sidewalk was crowded with people.
Like a lot of things, the sleepy town he once knew had disappeared.
He found a parking space and walked toward the general store. Out of habit, he stayed close to the buildings, watching the people around him for any unexpected behavior. He desperately wanted to fit in, to be able to enjoy the sunshine like everyone else. But he couldn’t stop the adrenaline pumping through his body, the fear that came with walking along a busy street, surrounded by strangers.
After spending the last ten years in one war-torn country after another, being here was as alien to him as walking on the moon.
Taking an unsteady breath, he crossed the road.
On this side of the street, even more people lined the sidewalk. By the time he maneuvered around the strollers, the shopping bags, and the families clustered together, he had a good idea of why they were here.
The smell of freshly baked fudge tickled his nose and made his stomach rumble. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten fresh fudge, let alone the sweet chocolatey variety that was tempting his taste buds.
If the smell weren’t enough to make him stand in line, the window displays would do it. With Easter only a few weeks away, the candy store was full of chocolate eggs. In the window closest to him, a white rabbit stood in the center of a glass shelf, surrounded by dozens of brightly decorated Easter eggs and candy.
