As Willow followed Brooke and Emma, she said hello to at least twenty people in the restaurant. Living in a small town had its challenges, but most of the time it was like living in a big, extended family.
A family that had just become bigger.
Brooke stopped in the middle of the room, staring at her fiancé. “What are you doing here?”
Levi didn’t seem the least bit worried about being in the same bar as his wife-to-be. “I decided to take Zac out for dinner. It’s busier than I thought it would be.”
A very pregnant woman walked toward them. “Levi? What are you doing here?”
Levi sighed. “Zac and I are about to have dinner. How are you feeling?”
Megan rested her hand on her tummy. “I’m fine. And before you ask, I’ve got my cell phone with me in case I go into labor.”
Levi grinned. “If you need a doctor, you’re in luck. Megan, this is Zac.”
“I thought your face was familiar. William showed me the photos of the refugee camp in Kabul.”
Zac held out his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m sorry I couldn’t come home for your wedding.”
“That’s okay. William told me how busy you’ve been. And don’t worry about delivering my baby. I’ve still got five weeks until the due date.”
“Is there a doctor in Sapphire Bay?”
“Doc Reilly travels from Polson once a week for his clinic. Most of the time we have to drive to the hospital in Polson to see someone.”
“Does that work?”
Megan shrugged. “We don’t have much choice. The community has been asking the county for a full-time doctor for years, but nothing has happened.”
Levi sent Zac a loaded stare. “You could always stay in Sapphire Bay.”
“I need to go back to Afghanistan.”
“Are you sure?”
Zac hesitated before answering. “I’m sure.”
“At least I tried,” Levi said with a sigh. He turned to Emma. “Zac, this is Emma, and you already know Willow.”
A tingle of awareness shot along Willow’s spine. Compared to the exhausted person she’d met this morning, Zac looked completely different. There were still black circles under his eyes, but he seemed more relaxed.
Emma sent Zac a wide smile. “It’s nice to meet you, but you’ll have to excuse me. If I don’t take this tray to our table, I’ll spill the drinks.”
“I’ll carry it for you,” Zac said quickly. “Show me where you’re sitting.”
Emma handed him the tray. “Thanks. We’re over here.”
After they left, Levi grinned at his fiancée. “How would you feel about everyone having dinner together?”
Brooke poked him in the ribs. “Did you have this planned all along?”
“Not until Willow had to pry you out of our apartment. Besides, it would give Zac an idea of what it would be like to live here.”
Willow frowned. “He doesn’t want to move back to Sapphire Bay.”
Levi cleared his throat. “Not at the moment, but he might change his mind.”
Brooke sighed. “Leave the poor man alone. He must be exhausted from traveling here.”
