Willow nodded.
“Make the most of each day you’re together. Even with the best of intentions, nothing in life is guaranteed.”
“You’re probably right, but I want more.”
“We all want more. But sometimes, what we want and what we need are two completely different things. All you can do is trust that you both want the best for each other.”
Willow looked down at her camera. Another picture of the memory bags filled the screen. Each candle represented a person who had been loved. Someone who’d made a difference in another person’s life.
Zac meant the world to her and, maybe, if she gave their relationship a chance, she could mean the world to him, too.
Emma pushed back her chair. “It looks as though your students are arriving. If you’re feeling brave, meet me in The Welcome Center’s café after your workshop. Molly and Dylan will put your life into perspective quicker than anyone else.”
Willow smiled. That sounded like a great idea. “I’ll meet you there.”
Zac steppedinto the admin area in the church office. Emma was sitting behind a desk, sorting through a pile of papers. “Is it okay if I interrupt?”
“Of course, it is.” She sat back and smiled. “If you’re looking for John, he’ll be back soon. Story time at The Welcome Center finished a few minutes ago.”
“Story time?”
“Our volunteers read children’s stories to anyone who wants to listen. Between the books, the hot chocolate, and the cookies, it’s a hit with our guests.”
In spite of the smile on Emma’s face, there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
He hoped she was okay. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorting John’s receipts into date order. How are your filing skills?”
He looked at the pile of paper sitting on the desk. “Good enough to help.”
“Thank you. Even ten minutes would make a difference. Megan is introducing Rebecca to all the volunteers and guests. I’d love to catch up with her but, if I leave now, the next person in the office won’t know where I was up to.”
“I can do better than ten minutes. If you show me what you’re doing, I’ll come back in the morning and finish everything.”
Emma bit her lip. “Are you sure that’s okay? You must have lots of things you want to do before you start working in the medical clinic.”
“Until I hear back from the hospital in Polson, I can’t do much. If I come across a problem with the receipts, I’ll ask John what to do.”
“He’s right,” John said from the doorway. “You’ve been here long enough, Emma. I’ll help Zac tomorrow.”
Molly, Emma’s six-year-old daughter, rushed across the room. “Mommy. We saw Megan and ’Becca.”
Emma grinned. “Did you say hello?”
Molly nodded. “Megan let me hold ’Becca on the sofa. Dylan didn’t want to hold her. He said she was too wiggly, but she wasn’t wiggly for me.”
Dylan stood quietly beside his mom. While his sister was talking, his blue eyes moved between Zac and John.
Zac knelt on the ground and smiled. “Hi, Dylan. I’m Zac. What did you enjoy doing tonight?”
Emma’s son’s eyes widened. “I played with the dump trucks. Mr. Jessop used to drive big trucks on his ranch.”
“Mr. Jessop is the head gardener at The Welcome Center,” Emma explained.
Dylan gazed up at his mom. “I like Mr. Jessop.”
Emma ruffled her son’s hair. “He likes you, too. Let’s go back to the living room. I want to see Megan and Rebecca before we go home.” She looked at Zac. “Why don’t you come with us?”
