She handed Zac a jar. “Can you place a spoon of lemon curd on the top of each cupcake?”
He picked up a teaspoon and dipped it in the thick, yellow mixture. “This much?”
“That looks good. Place a meringue on the top and we’ll see what it looks like.”
When it was finished, Zac stood back and admired their creation. “Who would have thought something so simple could look so good. Who are you giving them to?”
Willow ticked her friends’ names off her fingers. “Megan and William, Brooke and Levi, Emma and the twins, and Sam and Caleb. Are you doing anything on Easter Sunday?”
“Not yet. Why?”
“Megan and William are having a special Easter lunch at their house. Everyone will be there. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Are you sure there’s room for another person?”
“Of course there is. You don’t need to bring anything—we’ve got everything organized.” Willow’s cell phone pinged. She read the text and groaned. “I forgot about a fundraising party at Nora’s school. I don’t suppose you want to go with me?”
“When is it?”
“Tonight. Emma will be there with Molly and Dylan. So will Levi, Brooke, and William. It’s fancy dress. If you don’t have anything you can wear, I’ll find you a costume.” To sweeten the offer, Willow added, “There’ll be a chocolate fountain.”
Zac’s slow smile made her heart pound. Living with him was so much easier than she’d imagined.
“How can I say no to chocolate?”
“You’ll come?”
Zac wrapped his arms around her waist. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“A room full of hyper-excited children isn’t most people’s idea of a great Friday night.”
He kissed the end of her nose. “You keep forgetting—I’m not most people.”
Willow sighed. “That’s one of the reasons I love you.”
“You do?”
She slowly nodded. “You make me feel alive, as if there’s nothing in the world I couldn’t do.”
Zac leaned his forehead against hers. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me.”
“Do you want to know something else? I thought you must be special when I saw my photographs in the entranceway of your home.”
Zac laughed. “We’re definitely meant to be together.”
Willow kissed him gently on the mouth. “I hope so,” she whispered. Because right now, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
Two hours later,Willow looked around the auditorium of the small elementary school. The fundraising committee had done a wonderful job of decorating the room. Yellow and white streamers cascaded down the walls, ending in large baskets filled with flowers and pretend Easter eggs.
The costumes everyone had chosen were bright and colorful and added an extra element of fun to the evening.
Emma handed her a soda. “Thank you for coming.”
“It’s for a good cause. Every school should have a great library.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
Molly and Dylan rushed toward them. Molly was wearing a pretty pink dress with an Easter bonnet she’d made at school. Dylan was dressed as a cowboy.
