Chapter 23

Twenty-Three

Cory

“Cory, I can’t believe the fire in this diamond.”

Elena extended her hand, holding the glistening engagement ring up to the Christmas tree lights and moving it slowly to catch every angle and sparkle. The diamond danced on her finger, reflecting fiery red, green, blue, and white hues.

“It looks beautiful on you,” I said softly, my voice breaking the comfortable silence.

She glanced down at the ring with a bright smile. “It still feels like a dream,” she said, tilting her hand slightly to admire the way the diamond caught the light. “I can’t believe this is real.”

“It’s very real,” I said, squeezing her hand gently. “And it suits you—classic and perfect.”

She laughed lightly, leaning her head against my shoulder. “Well, thank you. I suppose the man who picked it out deserves some credit.”

I chuckled. “I guess you would agree, then, that I have pretty good taste in diamonds and girlfriends from the past?”

She giggled and held her left hand out again to admire her ring. “I can’t argue with that logic.”

The living room was quiet, the faint crackle of the fireplace and the soft glow of the Christmas lights dancing on the walls, wrapping the space in a peaceful ambiance. I leaned back into the couch, one arm draped around Elena’s shoulder, watching as she gazed at the tree. We sat there for a while, admiring how its lights made everything in the room glow. Though Jake had gone to bed hours ago, his excitement lingered, leaving the house alive with holiday cheer.

“This is going to be a Christmas to remember,” Elena said, breaking the silence again.

“It is,” I agreed, turning slightly toward her. “Speaking of Christmas… have you given any thought to where we should get married?”

She sat up a little, her face lighting up. “Actually, I have. What do you think about the wedding chapel in Beaver Creek?”

I smiled, the thought settling easily in my mind. “That’s perfect. It’s beautiful, and it’s close to your parents and mine and many of the people we grew up around. But,” I added, raising an eyebrow, “you might want to check if it’s even available this late in the season.”

Elena reached for her phone, pulling up the chapel’s website. As she scrolled, her brow furrowed. “Oh no… the only available time in December is Christmas Eve.”

I leaned over to look at the screen with her. “Christmas Eve, huh?”

She hesitated, her finger poised over the booking form. “Do you think that’s too hectic? I mean, people have plans, family dinners, church services… what if no one comes except our parents?”

I shrugged, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Honestly, I don’t care if it’s just you, me, and Jake. If you want a Christmas wedding, we’ll make it happen. But it’s up to you.”

Her lips pressed together in thought for a moment before she nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. “You’re right. It’s what I want.”

She began filling out the form, pausing when it came time to pay. I reached into my pocket, pulled out my credit card, and handed it to her. “Here. Consider it the first of many things I’ll happily spend my life giving you.”

Elena laughed as she took the card, her fingers brushing against mine. “Careful, or I’ll start planning a castle wedding with gold-plated invitations.”

I chuckled. “As long as I’m the one standing next to you, I don’t care where it is.”

As Elena finished typing the payment information for the chapel, she tilted her head thoughtfully. “You know, I still need to figure out the decorations and the reception. It’s a good thing I’ve got the girls at Reflections to help—there’s no way I can pull this off alone.”

“Sounds like you’ve got your own wedding squad ready to go,” I teased.

She smirked. “And what about you? Are you going to ask Jake if he wants to be your best man?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “No, not yet. I just proposed to you today. Let me catch my breath before we start planning every detail.”

Elena grinned—a flicker of excitement still bright in her eyes as she typed in the final details. The moment she hit submit, she set her phone aside and leaned back into my arms with a contented sigh. “It’s official. We’re getting married on Christmas Eve.” Then she looked up at me, “This is just a start. We have so much more to figure out.”

Her words lingered in the air, her questions pulling at thoughts I had been grappling with for a while. I’ve always been the practical one—focused on plans, deadlines, and getting things done—but with everything going on in our lives now, even I felt overwhelmed by the uncertainty. I brushed my fingers along the back of the couch, trying to gather my thoughts before opening my mouth.

“You’re right,” I said finally. “There’s a lot to figure out. But one thing I do know is where I want to start.” I paused, letting my gaze drift to the Christmas tree before returning my attention back to her. “And for me, that’s the hardware store.”

I leaned back into the couch, imagining the old hardware store as something new yet familiar. The counter where Dad had rung up items for countless locals over the years would remain. Keeping a few things would ground the project in its history—a reminder of where I came from, even as the foundation’s work took it somewhere new.

“You know, Dad’s been talking about retiring for years,” I said, massaging Elena’s shoulder. “But actually seeing him agree to it… it’s like he’s finally ready to let go. And I want to make sure the store still feels like a part of him, even when it’s the foundation’s headquarters.”

Elena smiled, her fingers brushing mine. “I love that you want to keep some of its charm. It’s a beautiful way to honor him,” she nodded, “that sounds perfect for you. When do you plan to start?”

“Right after the holidays,” I said. “The foundation always does its request for proposals at the start of the year, so the timing lines up. But I’ll need a space for my team to work while construction is underway.”

Elena sat up straighter, her expression thoughtful. “What if you rented an office here in Cedar Cove? Just until after the baby is born and Jake finishes school for the year.”

I tilted my head, considering what she said. “That’s… a great idea. It’d also give us more time to figure out a place to live in Beaver Creek. I’ll allow my staff to work remotely until we get settled. I don’t want them to have to move twice.”

She nodded, her eyes lighting up. “Exactly. I don’t want to rush into anything, and I still need to find someone to manage Reflections . I worked hard to get it started, and I don’t want to let it go completely.”

“I’d never ask you to,” I said. “It’s a big part of you, and I know how much you’ve put into it. You could always open Reflections 2.O in Beaver Creek.”

Elena’s fingers played with the edge of a blanket draped over the couch. “That said, I’ve been thinking… instead of opening another salon in Beaver Creek, I’d rather do something bigger. Something meaningful.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“I’d like to donate my gift from Grandpa Prescott to the Horizon Foundation,” she said. “And I have an idea for how the foundation could use it.”

My curiosity was piqued. “I’m listening.”

Elena leaned forward, her eyes glowing with quiet excitement. “Your Grandpa Prescott left me that money because he believed in second chances. I’ve thought a lot about what to do with it, but this feels right. The foundation is about helping people and making things better—and that’s exactly what I want to do.”

Her voice softened, and she glanced at me. “It’s funny, though. Right after you gave me the inheritance, I thought about all the things I could do for myself. A chain of salons, a bigger house… but none of that feels important now. I want to do something that isn’t only about me or our family.”

Elena’s eyes sparkled as she pondered her idea. “What if you used the money to build an athletic complex in Beaver Creek? There’s nothing there like the one here in Cedar Cove, and I know it would make such a difference for the community. Plus, Jake could watch it develop—see how projects like that come to life.”

I grinned, already envisioning it. “That’s an incredible idea. It’s exactly the kind of project the foundation was created for. And who knows? Maybe one day Jake will want to take over the foundation himself.”

Elena laughed softly, settling back against me. “Let’s not put too much on his plate just yet. He’s still figuring out how to hang ornaments without breaking them.”

I chuckled, pulling her a little closer. “Fair enough. But still, this… all of it… it feels like the start of something I never dared to dream about.”

“Yes, it is like a dream come true,” she said softly. “And I’m so glad we’re doing it together.” A smile played on her lips as she added, “I can’t wait to tell the gals at Reflections . I’m going to need their help—a lot—since we don’t have much time. I can afford to close the salon for a bit and pay them their regular salary while they plan the decorations, figure out the reception… all the details.”

“Sounds like you’ve already got it all mapped out,” I teased.

She laughed, the sound warm and easy.

We stayed on the couch, wrapped in quiet conversation, our plans weaving together seamlessly—talking about the hardware store, the wedding, and the baby. Our words drifted between the practical and the dreamy, the kind of talk that made the future feel both exciting and attainable. By the time we noticed the clock, it was well past midnight, and the house had settled into a deep, peaceful stillness.

“Guess we should call it a night,” I said, stretching slightly as I stood. I reached for her hand, pulling her up with me. “But I’ll say this—I wouldn’t trade nights like this for anything.”

She smiled, her fingers lacing through mine. “Neither would I.”

Hand in hand, we made our way down the hall, the holiday ambiance following us as if to remind us of all the good things waiting just around the corner. As we passed Jake’s room, Elena stopped, her fingers tightening around mine. She nudged the door open just enough for us to peek inside.

Jake was sprawled across his bed, tangled in his blankets. His face was peaceful, and his earlier excitement had given way to the quiet of deep sleep.

Elena smiled and whispered, “He’s going to be such a great big brother.”

I nodded, my heart swelling as I watched him. “Yeah, he will be. He’s already so protective. Can you imagine how he’ll be once his little brother’s here?”

Elena turned to me, one eyebrow raised, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “His little brother? What makes you so sure it’s a boy? What if it’s a girl?”

I chuckled softly. “Then he’ll likely become intrigued and even more protective with what it’s like having a little sister.”

She laughed and nestled her head against my shoulder. “You might be right about that. You know how us gals can be.”

Her words lingered, and I found myself smiling at the thought. My gaze shifted back to Jake, his young frame curled up under the blanket, and a wave of gratitude washed over me. He has so much ahead of him, so much to learn, to experience—and now, he would have someone to share it all with.

I nodded, imagining the bond they’d have, and added, “He’s going to have so many stories to tell. And they’re going to look up to him so much. I hope I can teach him what he needs to know to be that kind of big brother—and maybe even the kind of person who could take over the foundation one day.”

Elena tilted her head to look at me, her eyes soft. “You’re already teaching him, Cory. Every day, just by being here.”

Her words settled over me, warm and reassuring. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her closer, my gaze lingering on Jake’s peaceful face.

We stood there for a little longer, savoring the quiet promise of the future, before gently closing his door and continuing down the hall. As we slipped into our room, I felt the excitement of everything I had to look forward to: a wedding, a new baby, a growing family. And most of all, a future filled with love, laughter, and a life I’d never dared to dream of before now.