Eden helped him adjust his costume one last time before they made their way to the auditorium. On the way there, she found Andrew and asked him to hold Oscar’s hand and show him where to go.
With the children who were playing the trees huddled together, she felt much better about leaving Oscar with the other students and teachers.
The stage was set, and the audience was finding their seats. Chloe, Oscar’s mom, was already there, sitting near the front, dabbing her eyes with a tissue as she watched the children take their places.
The lights dimmed, and the music began to play. Eden took her seat beside Chloe, giving her a reassuring smile. “He’s going to be great,” she whispered.
Chloe nodded, her eyes shining with pride and emotion. “He was so excited this morning.”
As the play progressed, Eden kept her eyes on Oscar. He was doing so well. Their performance was a much shorter version of the original play, but everyone was enjoying themselves. The children sung with all their might and moved into place effortlessly.
Oscar stood proudly among the other “trees,” his nervousness slowly fading as other children joined him on the stage. When it was his turn to move, he did so with confidence, remembering all the spots he was supposed to stand.
Eden felt a swell of pride in her chest as she watched him overcome his fears. She glanced at Chloe, who was dabbing her eyes again, a smile on her face.
Forty-five minutes later, the play concluded with a rousing round of applause from the audience. The children took their bows, beaming with pride. Eden stood up and clapped enthusiastically, her heart full of joy for Oscar and all the children who’d worked so hard.
After the performance, Eden made her way backstage to find Oscar. He ran up to her, his face glowing with excitement. “Miss Taylor, did you see me? I did it! I remembered everything!”
“I did, Oscar! You were fantastic!”
Chloe joined them, her eyes still moist with tears. “You were wonderful, sweetheart,” she said, hugging Oscar. “I’m so proud of you.”
Oscar beamed, holding onto his mom and Eden. “Thanks! I was so scared, but I did it!”
Eden ruffled his hair. “You sure did. And you know what? This is just the beginning. There’s so much more you can do when you believe in yourself.”
After she’d helped collect the costumes, Eden felt a deep sense of contentment. Being part of the children’s lives, helping them grow and learn valuable life lessons, made her realize how much she missed teaching.
If these children could face their fears and conquer the stage, then she could face her own challenges with the same courage. Sapphire Bay had become more than just a place to escape—it was becoming her home. With this newfound sense of belonging and purpose, Eden took a deep breath.
She was ready to take on her biggest challenge yet.
Steve took a deep breath,enjoying the crisp morning air as he stretched on one of the trailheads around Flathead Lake. The sun had just risen, casting a golden hue over the tranquil water. This was his favorite part of the day—especially when it meant going for a run with Owen.
They’d both been so busy with their families and jobs that this was the first run they’d had in more than two weeks. By the end, they’d be sweaty, exhausted, and more motivated to make sure they did another one soon.
Owen jogged toward him. “You’re here early.”
“Rex was awake at four o’clock this morning. If I’d known he only needed a few hours’ sleep at a time, I would have built him a kennel outside.”
Owen laughed. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re too much of a softie.”
Steve didn’t know about being a softie, but he would have worried about Rex getting cold.
Owen looked around them. “Where is he now?”
“Sleeping,” Steve said with a growl. “After we’d gone for a walk, he collapsed onto his bed and started snoring.”
“Oh, man,” Owen laughed. “You need to talk to someone who knows about dogs. Otherwise, you’ll end up sleep-deprived and grumpy. Are you ready to hit the trail?”
“Yeah, let’s do it,” Steve replied, starting at a steady pace.
As they ran along the winding path, Steve cleared his mind and enjoyed the sound of their feet hitting the dirt.
Owen glanced at him. “How are you at calming a stressed fiancée?”
Steve grunted. “About as good as ignoring Rex when he wakes up. What’s happened?”
