Was Zach really just there visiting his friend or had Lukas sent him for the same reason? If so, why? Zach seemed so together, a charmer who didn’t take life too seriously. At least, not on the surface. Appearances could be deceiving, though.
Meeting Sophie’s expectant gaze, Isabelle sighed. “I know you’re so happy in love with Cole that you want me to be just as happily in love, but you can’t force that to happen, Sophie. Throwing Zach and I together, saying the things you said last night, well, they make me feel panicked. I know you mean well, but, just… just don’t, okay?”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “I went overboard in my excitement, didn’t I?”
Isabelle nodded.
“Oh, Izzy, I’m sorry. Please tell me that I haven’t ruined this. I’d never forgive myself.”
Guilt hit. Why had she said all that to her sister about a relationship that was only fake? She didn’t want Sophie worried or thinking she’d been the cause of the demise of something that had never existed.
“You haven’t ruined anything, because regardless of how I feel, or don’t feel,” she added for emphasis, “we both know Zach is only here for a short time and I’m tied to Pine Hill.”
Sophie considered her a moment. “You do realize that if you want to leave, you can?”
“Why would I want to leave?” Isabelle frowned. Was that how her comment had come across? Leaning back, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m happy here. Pine Hill is my home.”
“I feel the same,” Sophie agreed, but didn’t relent. “You may not talk about it, but I know you were happy in Nashville, too.”
“I’ve never regretted coming home and buying the shop with you. Please don’t let whatever is happening between Zach and me make you think otherwise.”
Especially when nothing was happening. Nothing but a business deal.
“Good, because I don’t want you to regret that.” Sophie’s smile was genuine, and she seemed back to her joyous self as she said, “Getting to work with you is one of the best parts of my life.”
“Agreed.” She hugged her sister. “For the record, I was happy in Nashville, but I’d always meant to come home. After graduation, my job offer was so good I didn’t think I should turn it down.” She didn’t say that she’d worried how she’d help her sister with college expenses if Sophie decided to pursue that avenue. She’d been tucking every penny away. Her frugalness had paid off when the quilt shop had gone up for sale and, full of dreams, Sophie had asked Isabelle what she thought about their trying to make a go of purchasing it. “I missed you, Mom, and Pine Hill,” she admitted truthfully.
“We are pretty awesome.” Sophie studied her. “Now, let’s get you tidied up before Zach arrives.”
“The shop is still open,” she reminded. “Shouldn’t you be out front?”
“Annabelle and Gwen have things under control.” Sophie grabbed her purse from a filing cabinet. “Here. I know it’s not a color you’d usually wear, but Rosie gave me this for my birthday and says a girl can never go wrong with Christmas red lipstick.”
Isabelle eyed the tube. “Zach’s coming for a sewing lesson, Sophie. I don’t need lipstick.”
Eyes sparkling with mischief, Sophie waggled her brows. “If you’re wearing the right lipstick, you might.”
Chapter Eight
Sarah had tobe at church at five to work on snowflake ornaments for the upcoming Christmas festival, so Zach rode with her into town. The church sat right off the square, and she’d tried to convince him to hang out with her and Jeannie until his lesson at six, but he’d been too on edge to hang out with a bunch of church ladies making snowflakes.
Restless, he wandered around the square, browsing through one shop and then another before landing on the same courthouse bench he’d been standing near on the day he’d met Isabelle. Unlike that day, the air was still, and the flag hung silently above him.
Reading the monument’s inscription, he sighed.
Why had he jumped at Sophie’s invitation to come to the shop? Better yet, why were his fingers clutching the Paw Parties, Inc. paper bag? Isabelle was not going to like what he’d bought and that was exactly why he’d bought it. Was he trying to antagonize her?
Hearing someone approach, he glanced up and saw Cole. Sophie’s fiancé glanced toward the flag, his expression one of pride and honor. Then the Marine-turned-firefighter sat down next to Zach.
“Humbling to look at this monument and know it could easily be referring to us, isn’t it?”
“Sometimes I think it should have been.” Probably not something he should admit to Isabelle’s future brother-in-law, but the words slipped out.
“Those of us who saw action, lost friends, all suffer some degree of survivor’s guilt. It’s something Bodie and I have discussed. Our conversations have helped me more than any of my therapy sessions.”
Zach had done the mandatory sessions. He’d undergone all sorts of sessions in an attempt to uncover what his brain had hidden away. His body had been reopened on numerous counts, and they’d supposedly gotten the last of the shrapnel with his last surgery. But the mental wounds? How could those ever truly heal when he couldn’t remember the details?
“I don’t recall much of what happened during the worst action I saw,” he admitted, surprised, as the explosion wasn’t something he talked about. “One minute I was there, fighting, hoping to take out as many of the enemy as I could to help some of our team make it out. Then I was waking up in a hospital, busted up, full of shrapnel, and had zero recall of the previous few months.”
