Next on his list was sorting through the boxes in the garage. He had no idea what was inside half of them but, by the end of the week, he’d know exactly what he was keeping and what would go to the local thrift store. There might even be a few things he could donate to the tiny home village.
He turned around as a vehicle rumbled up the driveway. Leaning against the wooden rail, he watched Levi’s truck come to a stop below him.
Zac grinned. After spending too many years away from his friends, it was good to be back. “Aren’t you supposed to be with your new wife?”
“Brooke’s working so I thought I’d annoy you.”
“If you help me stain the rest of the deck, you can annoy me as much as you like.”
Levi stuck his hands on his hips. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“I learned from the best. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. The least I can do is give you a cup of coffee before you start work.”
While Levi was making himself at home, Zac covered his roller in plastic wrap. Two pairs of hands were always better than one. And if they finished the deck and garage today, he might be able to twist Levi’s arm into going fishing tomorrow.
By the timeZac walked into the kitchen, Levi had already made the coffee. “You smell like a chocolate factory. Have you been helping Brooke?”
Levi sat at the kitchen table. “I’ve been making Easter eggs for the last eight hours. It’s just as well Mondays are one of the slower days at Sweet Treats. Otherwise, we’d never be able to restock the shelves.”
“How is Brooke’s website coping with the online orders?”
“We haven’t had any issues yet. The only problem is making enough candy to send to the customers. The catering students at Pastor John’s church are fantastic, but they’re not available to help all the time.”
Zac wrapped his hands around his cup. When Levi told him he’d met Brooke in Sapphire Bay, he hadn’t thought too much about it. They’d known each other a few years ago, but after Brooke left Phoenix, Levi never thought they’d get back together. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
In a lot of ways, Zac envied the relationship between Levi and Brooke. They’d both changed since they met each other. But somehow, those changes had only made their relationship stronger.
“Do you ever regret moving to Sapphire Bay?” Zac asked.
Levi sat back in his chair. “Even if I hadn’t met Brooke, I would have stayed. There’s something about the town that makes you feel as though you belong. Are you thinking of living here permanently?”
“What would you say if I was?”
“I’d say you’ve made a good decision.” Levi looked around the state-of-the-art kitchen. “I don’t know how you’ve stayed away for so long. You have a great home and everything you could ever need right on your doorstep.”
Levi didn’t have to add that Sapphire Bay was also as far removed from Afghanistan as you could get. Even thinking about what had happened in Kabul sent a shiver down Zac’s spine.
“Don’t even go there,” Levi said. “There was nothing anyone could have done.”
Zac should have realized his friend would know what he was thinking. “After you left, nothing changed. It doesn’t matter how much aid arrives, there’s never enough for everyone.”
“I didn’t know a single person in the camp who was happy to be there,” Levi said. “Even if the militants left, the refugees’ lives wouldn’t be any easier. All they want is to go home and live in peace. That’s never going to happen.”
In his heart, Zac knew Levi was right. But that didn’t keep him from wanting to stop the fighting and violence that consumed too many people’s lives.
“Are you coming to tonight’s meeting at the church?” Levi asked.
“The one for people with PTSD?”
Levi nodded. “Pastor John said you might be there.”
“You’re going?”
“I don’t miss many of the meetings. They keep me grounded.”
“Even though Brooke is there for you?”
“Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people who are going through the same thing. This might sound strange but, in some ways, talking about what’s happened is only half the solution. Knowing you’re not the only person struggling makes the bad days easier to handle.”
