“What did you think of the tiny home village?” Steve asked.
“It’s fabulous. Have you built many of the houses?”
“Most of the homes in the village were finished before I arrived. Since I started on the project, we’ve been building tiny homes for Red Deer, Polson, and Bigfork. Pastor John’s hoping to purchase more land for tiny homes here, but it’s expensive.”
Eden nodded. “I bet it is. Any type of property is hard to find in Sapphire Bay. I’ve been looking for somewhere to live for the last week and there’s nothing available. How did you find a home in the village?”
“It was pure luck. When I met John, I was renting a cottage that’d been turned into an Airbnb. It was about twenty minutes out of town, which was okay when I wasn’t working. But, as soon as I started building the tiny homes, it got more difficult, especially during the winter. Someone left the village and John offered me the house. It’s worked out well.”
Eden buried her hands in her pockets as a gust of wind lifted the leaves on the sidewalk. “I called a realtor the other day. They have two homes for rent, but they’re both out of my price range. John and Shelley are happy for me to stay with them, but I don’t want to intrude after their baby’s born.”
Steve tried to think of other options she might not know about. “Have you added your name to the wait list at the church? As well as managing the tenancies in the tiny home village, they work with a property developer who manages other rentals in the area. A few days ago, I saw a sign inviting people to apply for one of the last two cottages on Anchor Lane.”
“I put my name on the wait list yesterday,” Eden told him. “I’ll make sure it includes both cottages.”
As they approached the food trucks parked near the lake, the aroma of grilled meat filled the air. “Do you like hamburgers?” he asked Eden.
“I love them, especially if that’s what we can smell.”
Steve grinned. “The Gourmet Burger Shack is my favorite food truck. You can’t go home without trying each of their burgers.” After looking at their options, Steve ordered two—one classic beef for himself and a chicken burger for Eden.
Rex tugged at his leash excitedly, his nose twitching at the smell of all the food. While they waited for their order, the little dog’s attention was caught by the geese waddling near the water’s edge. Before Steve could tighten his grip, Rex darted toward the birds, barking joyously.
“Rex! Come back here!” Steve called out, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation. He excused himself to Eden and jogged after his small dog. Rex was enjoying the chase, although the geese seemed less than thrilled. After a short, spirited run, Steve managed to scoop Rex up, carrying him back to where Eden waited, her laughter ringing in the crisp air.
“I’m positive he thinks he’s a much bigger dog than he actually is,” Steve said, setting Rex down but keeping a firm hold on his leash this time.
Eden patted Rex’s head. “If the geese didn’t fly away, it wouldn’t be so much fun. Does he chase anything else?”
“Only flies and bumblebees,” Steve replied. “One day, he’ll eat one and figure out it’s not such a good idea.”
When their hamburgers were ready, they sat at a picnic table that was away from the geese. Rex jumped up beside him, no doubt thinking about the juicy meat inches from his nose.
Steve looked across the tranquil water of Flathead Lake and sighed. This was why he’d come to Sapphire Bay. Why he’d left his family and friends to start over. And why he’d never leave.
They unwrapped their burgers as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. It was a perfect, peaceful moment, and Steve felt a rare sense of calm.
Eden took a bite of her burger. “This is really good,” she said as she wiped some sauce from the corner of her mouth. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“It’s one of my favorite spots,” Steve replied, his gaze lingering on the horizon. He took a deep breath, the serenity of the lake giving him the courage to talk about what had brought him to this small town. “You haven’t asked about why I go to John’s PTSD support group.”
Eden picked up her can of soda. “I thought you’d tell me when you’re ready.”
Steve nodded. “I don’t usually talk about it much, but I think you should know what happened in case it…” He placed his hand on Rex, needing the reassurance his little buddy gave him. “In case it makes a difference to how you feel about me.”
A tenderness filled Eden’s eyes. “I know how difficult managing PTSD can be. It creeps into every aspect of your life. The smallest thing can trigger an extreme reaction. But it doesn’t change your heart or who you are. It just makes it harder to live your life.”
“I don’t know what a normal life feels like anymore,” Steve admitted, his voice steady but low. “I was in the army and did two tours of duty in Afghanistan. During my second deployment, a bomb exploded in a building we were clearing. Three of my friends died. It changed everything for me.”
Eden reached out, placing her hand gently over his. “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.”
“It was, and some days, it still is,” Steve admitted. “My friends had families—children who’ll grow up not knowing their fathers. I’ve been working through what happened, doing therapy and going to John’s support group. But it will always be with me.”
Eden squeezed his hand. “I appreciate you telling me what happened. All I can say is that I’m here for you, as a friend or whatever this might become.”
A weight lifted off Steve’s shoulders. “Thanks. That means a lot.”
She looked toward the opposite side of the bay. “There’s something you should know about me, too.” When she looked at him, her eyes were wary, as if she was scared of sharing what was happening in her life, too. “The boy who shot the children at my school was one of my students.”
