“Willow hasn’t seen me at my worst. She thinks the person she fell in love with is the man I will always be. My panic attack on Friday night was nothing compared to what PTSD usually does to me. But even that stressed her out.”
“She was worried about you. We all were.”
“I don’t want her to worry about me.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” William waited for Zac to nod before continuing. “From the moment I met Megan and Nora, I didn’t stop worrying about them. And when I hold Rebecca, it’s worse. But I worry because I love them.”
Zac wiped his eyes. “I was worried Willow would go back to Nashville and never want to see me again.”
“So you broke up with her before she could break up with you?”
Zac nodded.
William wrapped his arm around Zac’s shoulders. “It’s just as well you’ve got friends like Levi, Caleb, and me. We’ve all said and done things to stop ourselves from getting hurt. But you know what? At some point you have to decide what’s important. And no one, including Willow, can answer that question for you.”
Zac took a deep breath. He loved Willow more than anyone else in the world. She was his beginning, middle, and end, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her. “It looks as though I’m going to Bozeman.”
“Good for you,” William said with a smile. “Just remember, we’ve all done things we’ve regretted. The trick is not to make the same mistake twice.”
Chapter Nineteen
Willow smiledas a man from Wisconsin told her what he liked about the canvas in front of them.
So far, the opening night of the exhibition had gone really well. Nick had started the evening with a lovely speech, welcoming Willow and all the guests to his gallery.
After that, delicious finger food and trays of bubbly champagne had circulated the room. Art collectors and other gallery owners from across America had admired Willow’s photographs. If the art critics’ comments were as positive as those of the other people in the room, the exhibition would be a huge success.
Willow was more than a little shocked by the prices Nick had placed on each canvas. But that didn’t faze the man she was speaking to. He wanted to purchase the three canvases she’d shot at Yellowstone National Park. At five thousand dollars each, they weren’t the type of spontaneous purchase Willow would have made.
As soon as their conversation was over, he shook her hand and made his way to the sales table.
“I can’t believe how many people are here.” Megan handed Willow a glass of orange juice. “Most of your photographs have already sold.”
Willow’s eyes widened. She hadn’t paid much attention to the red dots appearing below each canvas. “Are you sure?”
Megan nodded. “Positive. When I was standing beside the photo of the New York City skyline, two people almost had an argument over who was going to buy it.”
“I didn’t think there would be this much interest in my work.”
Megan smiled. “From the look of things, you’ll have to get used to it. The room is full of gallery owners from across America. They’re all speaking to Nick about hosting one of your exhibitions.”
After tonight, Willow would have to take a serious look at her career. If other gallery owners wanted to exhibit her photos, she’d need to reduce the number of commissions she accepted. There were only so many hours in the day and she was already exhausted.
“I saw your portrait of Zac. It’s incredible.”
Willow swallowed deeply. “I’m giving it to him as soon as the exhibition is over.”
“Did you take it at Levi and Brooke’s wedding?”
Willow nodded. “I hope he likes it.”
“I’m not a professional photographer and I don’t know much about art, but Zac’s portrait is stunning. I don’t know how you create such beautiful images, but I’m glad you do.”
Willow gave her friend a hug. “Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that. How are Rebecca and Nora?”
“They’re better than William. He takes his daddy-minding duties very seriously. It’s just as well I’m flying home tonight. Otherwise, he’d never survive.”
A lady who was wearing the sparkliest pair of spectacles Willow had ever seen, stopped beside them.
