“Thank goodness you’re here,” Mabel said as she rushed across the kitchen. “The next lot of pies are ready to come out of the oven. Willow, can you check the teenagers who are taking the sandwiches out to the dining room? Make sure they aren’t eating them before the plates go on the tables.”
“I’ll check that the coffeepot is hot,” Sam said quickly. “Given the noise coming from the dining room, I’d say our first guests have arrived.”
As soon as Willow stepped out of the kitchen, she knew Sam was right. By the time everyone else arrived, The Welcome Center would be bursting with people.
Zac slowedhis truck to let a family walk across Main Street. After meeting the couple who would be living in one of the new tiny homes, he was even more certain that this was where he needed to be.
He glanced across the cab and smiled at Willow. “We were lucky we didn’t run out of food.”
“Thank goodness the catering students at the church made more sandwiches. I don’t know how much extra money was donated, but the jars we left on the tables had to be emptied a lot of times.”
Zac was surprised by how generous everyone had been. “The money going into the jars was worth far more than the food or drink people consumed.”
“That’s Sapphire Bay for you,” Willow said contentedly. “Everyone wants to help and they’re excited about what we’re creating. I hope other communities around the country see what we’re doing and try something similar.”
“Pastor John might end up touring the country, telling other towns about what you’ve achieved.”
“He might, but I think that’s the last thing he’d want to do. John has a lot of programs he wants to start. If he was away from Sapphire Bay for too long, he’d worry that nothing was happening.”
“He’s a good man.”
Willow nodded. “There’s someone else who deserves that title, too. Did you donate the money for Mr. Jessop’s greenhouse?”
Zac’s hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Why do you think it was me?”
“Because it’s the type of thing you would do.”
He would have preferred not to tell anyone about his donation, but Willow was different. She would understand why he hadn’t said anything to anyone.
“I talked to Mr. Jessop about the community garden. He gave me a copy of the quotes he received and told me about the greenhouse he liked the best. After I spoke to him, I saw John. Even though the church’s priority is the tiny home village, John could see the advantage of growing vegetables year-round. So, I transferred the money into the church’s trust fund and the greenhouse was ordered. If it all goes to plan, construction should start at the beginning of next month.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Zac sent Willow a rueful grin. “I didn’t want you to see me any differently because of what I’d done.”
“Where have I heard that before?”
“I guess we’re more alike than we think.” Zac stopped at the intersection and wondered if the red light was an omen.
“What’s bothering you?”
He should have known Willow would realize something was wrong. “Do you think people can be too alike?”
She tilted her head to the side. “I’m not sure. I’ve never met someone who is exactly the same as me. What about you?”
Zac thought about the people he’d spent a lot of time with over the last few years. Apart from their shared experience of working in refugee camps, they were his polar opposite. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t met anyone who mattered more than Willow.
The light turned green and he slowly accelerated. “I see more of myself in you than in anyone else I’ve met.”
“Being similar isn’t a bad thing. In a lot of ways, my mom and dad are like each other. They have the same values and want similar things. But in other ways they’re chalk and cheese.” Willow looked down at her hands. “If you’re having second thoughts about dating me, it’s okay.”
Zac frowned. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just…” he tried to find the words to describe how he was feeling, but nothing seemed right. “In the last few weeks, my life has completely changed. I’m probably going through some kind of culture shock.”
“Or a mid-life crisis,” Willow joked.
Zac’s lips twitched. “That, too.” He looked across at Willow and sighed. “I want to be part of your life so much that it scares me.”
“You aren’t the only one. This is new for me, too. I never thought I’d fall in love with someone so quickly. But here we are.”
