“Emma won’t let me. She said she’d chain me to the clinic to keep me here.”
Willow sighed. “I knew there was a reason I liked her so much.”
Zac gently squeezed her fingers. “And there’s a reason I like you, too. But if we don’t leave in the next few minutes, you’ll miss your surprise.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“The kind that takes your breath away. You’ll need a jacket and a warm hat.”
Willow frowned. “Where are we going?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
She studied her dress and high heels. Both were fine for a restaurant, but not much else. “Do I need different shoes?”
Zac shook his head. “They’ll be okay.”
Taking him at his word wasn’t difficult. Especially when he was looking at her as if she was the most important person in the world.
Opening the hall closet, she removed her jacket and found a hat buried on a shelf. There were only two more things she needed. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
When he saw what she was holding, Zac frowned. “I can understand why you’re taking the camera. But why the backpack?”
“We’ve already made two trips to the hospital. This time I’m prepared for anything. I’ve got bottled water, snacks, two sweaters, two sleeping masks, and two sets of earplugs.”
“Are you sure you haven’t got the kitchen sink hidden in there, too?”
Willow grinned. “It wouldn’t fit.” And for the first time that night, she knew everything would turn out okay.
An hour later,Zac held open the passenger door of his truck. From the moment he’d turned into the meeting point for the hot air balloon company, Willow’s gaze hadn’t left the pasture.
He hoped that was a good sign. “What do you think?”
“They’re amazing.”
Six balloons stood tall and proud in front of them. Their blue, yellow, and orange fabric glowed against the early evening sky. Flames leaped inside the burners as everything was prepared for the next flight.
Zac’s dad had taken him for a ride in a hot air balloon when he was about ten years old. He’d never forgotten the uninterrupted views, the sense of being part of something that was much bigger than himself. When Levi told him about Polson’s festival of lights, he’d wanted to bring Willow. Out of everyone Zac knew, she would be the person who would appreciate the color and magic that Levi had talked about.
Willow jumped out of the truck. “I wasn’t in Montana when the festival was on last year. I didn’t think the balloons would be so big.”
With a push of a button, Zac locked the truck. “The company said they’re about eighty feet tall. They don’t often have six balloons in one location.”
Willow looked around the property. “I thought there would be more people looking at them.”
Zac stuck his hands in his pockets. “The land is privately owned. Once the balloons reach Flathead Lake, there will be plenty of people looking at them. Do you want to have a closer look?”
“Are we allowed?”
“I can’t see why not.” Before Willow realized why they were here, he led her across to the nearest balloon.
A man wearing a bright yellow jacket held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Gary. Are you booked on tonight’s flight?”
“We are.” Zac shook Gary’s hand, then turned to Willow. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“Is this the surprise you were talking about?”
“It is. I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”
