Steve’s face drained of color.
“Are you okay?” she asked quickly.
He cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I just…” He looked at the list. “I was thinking about the remodel.”
Eden frowned. “I should have asked you to look at the house before I bought it. But it’s the only house in Sapphire Bay I could ever afford.” She pulled the list of repairs closer. “Before we give up, let’s finish going through the costs and then look at the photos again. I want to see what’s possible.”
They worked together, looking at alternative solutions and making plans. By the time they were done, Eden felt more confident about the project. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with Steve’s help, she believed she could turn the rundown cottage into a beautiful home.
Later that afternoon, as they walked around the lake with Rex, Eden felt a renewed sense of hope. While she was living at The Welcome Center, she’d ask a builder to do the work she couldn’t do on her own. As soon as the walls were straight, she’d put on a pair of coveralls, watch a few YouTube videos, and learn how to lay tiles, replace the leaky faucet in the bathroom, and screw drywall onto the bare timber frames.
Steve’s voice broke through her thoughts. “I spoke to some of the construction crew where we make the tiny homes. They’re happy to work at the weekends if you need reasonably priced labor.”
Eden nodded, her eyes shining with determination. “That will definitely help. Thank you for everything, Steve. I couldn’t do this without you.”
He smiled with eyes that were full of warmth. “You’re welcome. Don’t get too worried. In a few months, you’ll look back on today and wonder why you were so stressed.”
Eden hoped so. With the way she was feeling now, she was worried nothing would get finished.
The next day,Steve was at Owen’s studio, helping to set up the exhibition of local artists’ work. The space was a hive of activity as artists moved their pieces into place and final touches were added to the displays.
Steve was excited and nervous as he positioned his sculptures. It didn’t matter how many times his work was exhibited or where it was displayed, he still panicked about how each piece would be received.
Owen was directing people and making sure everything was perfect. “Steve, can you give me a hand with this panel? Natalie wants it placed against the far wall.”
“Sure thing.” Steve helped Owen lift a heavy, bubble-wrapped panel into place. As they stepped back to make sure it was where it should be, a voice behind them caught their attention.
“That looks great. Thanks for your help.”
Steve turned to see a woman with long brown hair standing nearby.
Owen quickly stepped forward with a welcoming smile. “Natalie, this is Steve Thompson,” Owen said as he introduced them. “Steve, this is Natalie Armstrong, one of the artists exhibiting here.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Natalie,” Steve said, extending his hand. He was surprised at how normal she looked. After Eden had been constantly reminding him about how lucky he was to be exhibiting alongside Natalie, he’d expected her to be surrounded by security guards.
Natalie shook his hand warmly. “Nice to meet you too, Steve. Owen’s told me great things about your sculptures. I’m looking forward to seeing them.”
Steve felt a blush creep up his neck. Owen wouldn’t have told Natalie about the exhibitions he’d been part of, so she wouldn’t recognize the name he was exhibiting under today. “I’m looking forward to seeing your work as well.”
Natalie smiled, her eyes twinkling. “I hope you enjoy the paintings. How long have you been living in Sapphire Bay?”
“I’ve been here for about four years. What about you?”
“Nearly nine. My grandparents used to live here and, when I was little, I’d visit them all the time. I’ve never regretted my decision to come back here.”
Steve was curious about why she’d moved to a small town in Montana. From what Eden had told him, Natalie could have lived anywhere in the world and still had a successful career.
“A friend told me you lived in Italy for quite a few years. Did you enjoy it?”
“I did,” Natalie admitted. “But the constant attention and the pressure to keep producing work that would sell, was too much. I needed to find a way to create for myself again, not for the market. Coming back here allowed me to rediscover my love of painting. Now, with a husband and three children, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Steve nodded, understanding her sentiments. “It sounds like you made a smart move. It’s easy to get lost in the demands of the art world.”
Natalie smiled. “It is. I focus on balance now—limiting media engagements and spending more time creating. I have a great agent who handles the business side of being an artist. That allows me to concentrate on what I love.”
Owen joined the conversation. “I’ve been talking to people from across America who want to see our exhibition because of Natalie. And she’s right—balance is the key to any successful career.”
The pointed look he sent Steve made him wince. Balance was something he needed to work on. Especially when deadlines were looming and a sculpture was taking longer to make than he’d thought.
