Chapter 22

Twenty-Two

Natalie

My heart pounded against my chest as I mounted the steps of my parents' home, about to introduce Ethan as my fiancé. The anticipation that had been building finally reached its peak, sending a wave of serenity and happiness rushing through me. But just as quickly, a ripple of anxiety washed over me, wondering how my parents would react to our sudden engagement.

Would they welcome Ethan with open arms? Would they give their approval to our love that had blossomed so quickly?

I stole a glance at Ethan, taking in how he adjusted his collar and straightened his jacket with a hint of nervousness. His usual confidence seemed slightly muted, and I found it oddly comforting. It was a reminder that even with our love for each other, we were still human and could feel vulnerable in big moments like this. But we were facing it together, hand in hand, and that thought gave me strength and reassurance.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice steady but with a hint of unease.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, flashing him a small, reassuring smile.

The door to the house opened before we even reached it, and there stood my mom, Donna, with her usual loving but slightly guarded expression. My dad, Jim, was right behind her, his grin wide and welcoming.

"Natalie!" Mom exclaimed, stepping forward to give me a tight hug. She pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes scanning my face as if she could read all the changes that had happened in my life since the last time we saw each other. "It's so good to see you, sweetheart."

"It's good to see you too, Mom," I said, hugging her back before turning to Dad, who reached to hug me.

"And this must be Ethan," Dad said as he released me, extending a hand to Ethan with a firm grip. "I've heard all about the mechanic undercover billionaire."

Ethan smiled his nerves seemingly under control now. "All good things, I hope," he said with a light chuckle, shaking my dad's hand.

Mom looked Ethan over, her expression thoughtful but clearly scrutinizing. "Welcome, Ethan," she said, giving him a polite smile. "Please come in."

There was a moment of silence, and I realized this was the perfect time to share the news. I took a deep breath, flashing my engagement ring as I spoke. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you both. Ethan and I… well, we're engaged."

For a second time seemed to freeze. My mother's eyes widened, and my father's smile faltered just slightly. Ethan, noticing the reaction, quickly stepped forward, his old-fashioned values coming to the forefront.

"Mr. Collins," he said, addressing my dad formally, "I wanted to ask you… I know it's a bit late, and I apologize for that, but I'd be honored if you would give us your blessing for our engagement."

Dad looked at Ethan, then at me, his expression shifting from surprise to something softer. A grin spread across his face, and he laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Well, that depends, son. How much is this wedding going to cost me?"

We all laughed, the tension in the air dissipating like mist under the morning sun. "You have my blessing, Ethan," Dad said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Welcome to the family."

I felt a rush of relief and joy, the anxiety that had been gnawing at me fading away. Though still a bit reserved, my mother stepped forward and hugged Ethan. "Congratulations to both of you," she said softly, though I could sense there were more questions she'd save for later.

After the initial shock of our announcement faded, the conversation naturally shifted to wedding plans. We moved into the living room, where the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows. The soft light filled the space, echoing the growing sense of peace within me as my parents began to embrace this new chapter in my life.

"So," Dad said, settling into his favorite armchair, "have you two thought about where you'd like to have the wedding?"

Ethan glanced at me, his hand finding mine and gently squeezing it. "We were thinking of Cedar Cove," he said, his voice filled with the same excitement I felt.

I nodded, my heart swelling at the thought. "Yes, maybe by the lake. It's such a beautiful place, and it means a lot to both of us."

Mom's face softened, her earlier reservations fading as she smiled. "That sounds lovely, Natalie. I'd love to help with the arrangements."

Dad chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "A lakeside wedding, huh? That sounds like a perfect way to start your life together."

The conversation flowed easily afterward, with my parents asking questions and offering suggestions about our plans. The more we talked, the more I realized how much I wanted this—to marry Ethan, to build a life together, and to have my family by my side.

But as the conversation began to wind down, I noticed a flicker of concern cross my mother's face. She glanced at Ethan, then back at me, as if weighing her words carefully.

"Ethan," she began, her tone gentle but serious, "I know you have a demanding career. How do you plan to balance that with a family life? I just want to make sure that Natalie isn't left feeling lonely or overwhelmed."

Her question hung in the air, and I could feel its weight. I looked at Ethan, my heart in my throat, wondering how he would respond.

Ethan didn't miss a beat. He leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Mrs. Collins, I understand your concern, and it's something I've thought a lot about. My work is important to me, but nothing is more important than Natalie. I've already started making changes in my life to ensure that I can be there for her and for our future family. It's about finding the right balance, and I'm committed to making that work."

Mom seemed to relax a bit at his words, and I felt a swell of pride in my chest. This was the man I was marrying—a man who wasn't afraid to face challenges head-on and willing to make sacrifices for the people he loved.

She nodded thoughtfully and turned to me with a question that had clearly been on her mind. "Natalie, how do you feel about giving up your preschool? I know how much it means to you."

I paused, knowing we would have to address this sooner or later. "I'd love to continue running it, Mom, but with Ethan's work in Dallas, it would be impractical for us to live in Cedar Cove. I've thought about it a lot, and while it's hard to imagine letting go of something I've built, I'm excited about what the future holds for us in Dallas. Maybe I can find a way to continue working with children there."

I'm glad to hear that," Mom said softly, her eyes meeting mine with a look of approval. "That's all I needed to know."

My mother smiled gently, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know you'll make it work, Natalie. You always do."

Ethan squeezed my hand, and I felt reassured. This was a new chapter, and while it meant making some sacrifices, it also meant new opportunities and adventures together.

The tension eased once more, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, like wedding colors and guest lists. I could feel the last remnants of anxiety slipping away, replaced by a growing sense of excitement and anticipation.

This was really happening. We were planning a wedding, building a future together. And as I looked around the room at the people I loved most, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would overcome them.

After our initial conversations about the engagement and the wedding, we moved into the dining room, where my parents had set out some documents and notes. I knew this was where we'd dive into the details of the Whitmore deal—a subject that had loomed over Ethan and me since we left Dallas.

Dad spread out the papers on the table, his expression turning serious. "We've done some digging, and there are a few things you need to know about this resort deal."

Ethan and I exchanged glances before we sat down, ready to absorb whatever information they had gathered. Mom handed me a stack of notes, and I skimmed through them, trying to understand the legal jargon and government regulations that filled the pages.

Dad cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him. "The government's restrictions on the land are pretty strict, as you know. But there's a way to make this work. The key is to transfer the deed from the current owner directly to Whitmore instead of calling it a sale. By doing so, Whitmore would be bound by the same terms originally agreed upon with the government, which means he won't be able to make extensive changes to the resort for at least a year."

Ethan leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "And after that year?"

Mom chimed in, her voice steady and calm. "After that year, Whitmore would have to pay a substantial assessment fee, but then he could make limited changes, provided they don't infringe on the surrounding national forest. It's not ideal, but it's a way to move forward without losing the deal entirely."

I watched Ethan process the information, his mind clearly working through the implications. I knew how much this deal meant to him—professionally and personally—and I could see the apprehension in his jaw as he considered our next steps.

"This could work," he finally said, nodding slowly. "It's not what we originally planned, but it's better than losing the deal altogether. I appreciate all your work on this, Mr. Collins."

Dad smiled with a hint of pride in his eyes. "Call me Jim, son. And you're welcome. We're happy to help."

Ethan reached over and took my hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I returned the gesture, feeling a wave of gratitude for my parents' support. It wasn't lost on me how much they were willing to do to help Ethan and me navigate this complicated situation.

"So, what's our next move?" I asked, looking between Ethan and my parents.

"We'll need to present this option to Whitmore as soon as possible," Ethan replied, his tone more confident now. "I'll contact him first thing tomorrow, and we'll go from there."

"Good," Mom said, nodding in approval. "And in the meantime, you two should focus on your future. The business will always be there, but these moments are precious."

I smiled, feeling the kindness of her words settle over me. "You're right, Mom. We've got a lot to figure out, but I'm glad we're here to talk through it."

Ethan leaned over and kissed my temple, a silent agreement to what I had just said. The feeling of unity between us was stronger than ever, and it gave me confidence that we could face whatever challenges came our way.

After a delicious Italian meal prepared by Mom, Ethan and I were shown to the guest room where we'd be staying for the night. As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of two twin beds placed side by side, separated by a small nightstand.

"Well, this is... nostalgic," I said, stifling a laugh. The room reminded me of childhood sleepovers, but it was clear that my parents had chosen this setup for propriety's sake.

Ethan chuckled, his hand grazing the top of one of the beds. "It has a certain charm, doesn't it?"

"Charm isn't the word I was thinking of," I teased, but there was no malice in my voice. I appreciated the humor in the situation, and I could tell Ethan did, too.

After Mom closed the door, we exchanged a mischievous glance. Silently, we shifted the nightstand and pulled the bedsides together, erasing the gap between them.

"There," I said, hands on my hips as I admired our handiwork. "Much better."

Ethan stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. "I couldn't agree more."

We slid under the covers, the twin beds forming a makeshift double bed. It was a little snug, but I didn't mind. I needed to be close to Ethan, feeling the comfort of his body next to mine.

As we settled in, Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Sophia. I listened as he explained the new plan for the Whitmore deal, giving credit to my parents for their help. I could hear the relief in Sophia's voice, and it made me happy to know that we were one step closer to resolving the issue.

As soon as the call ended, Ethan rolled towards me and looked at me with his piercing eyes. "Natalie, you're a force to be reckoned with. Seriously, I owe you big time."

I couldn't help but grin as I reached out and playfully swatted his arm. "Oh please, we're like the ultimate duo." Our lips met in a kiss that spoke volumes without any words needed.

We snuggled closer, the twin beds barely able to contain us as we drifted off to sleep. I felt safe, content, and ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow might bring.