Chapter 25

Twenty-Five

Ethan

I stood in the middle of Natalie's apartment, taking in the space that had once been filled with her life, her dreams, and her memories. Now, with boxes stacked against the walls and empty shelves staring back at me, it felt like a place in transition—just like we were. I turned to Natalie, who was carefully wrapping a framed photo in bubble wrap.

"You've done a lot of growing here," I remarked, my voice soft, almost reflective.

Natalie looked up, meeting my gaze with a nostalgic and bittersweet smile. "We both have," she replied, setting the wrapped photo in a box. "It's strange, packing up this place. It's like saying goodbye to a version of myself I didn't even know I was holding on to."

I walked over to her, slipping my arms around her waist and pulling her close. "You're not saying goodbye to who you were, Nat. You're just making room for who you're becoming."

She leaned into me, resting her head against my chest. "I know, but it's still hard. This place has been my home for so long, and now… everything's changing."

I kissed the top of her head, understanding the gravity of her words. "Change can be good, though. And we're doing it together."

Natalie smiled, pulling back slightly to look up at me. "Together," she echoed. "I like the sound of that."

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and we both turned. I gave her a reassuring squeeze before letting go, and Natalie walked over to open the door. Jess stood on the other side, her face lighting up as soon as she saw us.

"Natalie!" Jess exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. "I've missed you so much! And—oh my gosh—let me see that ring!"

Natalie laughed, holding out her hand so Jess could get a better look. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Absolutely stunning," Jess agreed, her eyes wide with admiration. "You're one lucky lady."

I chuckled, stepping forward to shake Jess's hand. "I'd say I'm the lucky one."

Jess grinned, shaking her head. "You two are ridiculous. But seriously, I'm so happy for you both."

As we moved into the apartment, Jess took a seat on the couch, eyeing the half-packed boxes scattered around. "So, what's the plan?" she asked, her tone curious. "Are you guys all set for the move to Dallas?"

Natalie sighed, sitting down next to her. "Almost. There's one thing that's been on my mind—what to do about the preschool here in Cedar Cove. I love that place and can't leave it without knowing it's in good hands."

Jess frowned, clearly understanding the dilemma. "That's tough. You've put so much into building that school."

"Exactly," Natalie nodded. "But I can't open a new one in Dallas until I find someone who can take over here. It's too much to manage both, and I'd end up only seeing Ethan on the weekends."

I'd been leaning against the wall, but hearing Natalie's concern, I crossed the room and sat on the arm of the couch beside her. I placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Nat."

Jess, however, suddenly had a thoughtful expression on her face. She stood up, glancing at us both with a sly smile. "Give me just a minute. I need to make a quick call."

Natalie and I exchanged puzzled looks as Jess stepped out of the apartment, her phone already pressed to her ear. The murmur of her voice was barely audible through the door.

Natalie turned to me, her brows furrowed. "What do you think she's up to?"

I shrugged, though my curiosity was piqued. "Knowing Jess, she's got something brewing. Let's just wait and see."

Jess reentered the apartment a few minutes later, her face beaming with excitement. "Okay, so, you're not going to believe this, but… Mike just sold a big property, and we've been thinking about investing in something more meaningful. What if we bought the preschool? I've been working there as a volunteer for years, and with your assistant Betsy's help, I'm confident we could keep it running smoothly."

Natalie's eyes widened in surprise, and then a huge smile spread across her face. "Jess, are you serious? That would be… incredible! I can't believe it."

Jess nodded enthusiastically. "I'm totally serious! We could take over, and you wouldn't have to worry about a thing. You could focus on your new school in Dallas without feeling guilty about leaving Cedar Cove behind."

I watched as the realization hit Natalie, her excitement palpable. Relief filled my chest, knowing that this solution was perfect for everyone involved.

"It's like it was meant to be," Natalie said, her voice filled with emotion. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling. "Everything's falling into place."

I smiled, wrapping my arms around her and Jess in a group hug. "It sure is. I can't think of a better way to start this next chapter of our lives."

As we broke apart, Jess looked around the room, her expression thoughtful. "So, what's next? Have you guys thought about where you want to have the wedding?"

Natalie and I exchanged a glance before she answered, "We were thinking about having it in the park by the lake, but now that we're here… Jess, do you know that quaint wedding chapel nearby? Maybe we should go check it out."

Jess grinned, clapping her hands together. "Great idea! Let's head over there as soon as you're ready."

But before we could leave, I spoke up, "Actually, there's one more stop we need to make first. I want to drop by Joe's shop and share the news with him in person."

Natalie nodded, her smile widening. "I think that's a wonderful idea. Joe's been such a big part of your time here, and he should be the first to know."

With that, we finished packing up the last of Natalie's things, a sense of completion settling over us. As we closed the door to the apartment one last time, I knew it was the end of an era—but the beginning of something even better.

The bell above the door jingled as we stepped into Joe's auto repair shop. The familiar scent of motor oil and rubber filled the air, grounding me in memories of my time here. Joe looked up from under the hood of a car, his face breaking into a wide grin when he saw us.

"Well, if it isn't the man of the hour!" Joe exclaimed, wiping his hands on a rag as he approached. "Ethan, Natalie, good to see you both. And Jess, always a pleasure."

I extended my hand, and Joe shook it firmly. This handshake carried more meaning than usual. "Good to see you, Joe. I wanted to stop by and share some news with you in person."

Joe's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "News, huh? This sounds serious."

I glanced at Natalie, who was beaming beside me. I took a deep breath, pride swelling in my chest as I spoke. "Natalie and I are getting married."

Joe's face lit up with genuine happiness as he looked between us. "Well, I'll be! That's fantastic news, you two. Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Joe," Natalie said, stepping forward to give him a warm hug. "We couldn't have done it without all the support we've had here, especially from you."

Joe chuckled, clearly pleased. "Aw, shucks. I didn't do much. But I'm glad to see you both so happy. That's what matters."

I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude toward the man who had been more than just a boss during my time in Cedar Cove. "You did more than you know, Joe. Working here gave me the chance to figure out what I really wanted in life. And I'm grateful for that."

Joe patted me on the back, his expression turning serious for a moment. "You've come a long way, Ethan. And it's been a pleasure having you here. You're always welcome at this shop, you know that."

I nodded, feeling the impact of his words. "Thank you, Joe. That means a lot."

We spent a few more minutes catching up, sharing stories and laughter that felt like the perfect way to close this chapter of our lives in Cedar Cove. As we left the shop, the sun shining brightly above us, I felt a sense of peace.

The drive to the wedding chapel was filled with light chatter and laughter. Sitting in the back seat, Jess was already texting her husband Mike about the news, her excitement palpable. I couldn't help but smile as I watched Natalie in the passenger seat, her hand resting comfortably on my knee as we navigated the familiar streets of Cedar Cove.

When we arrived at the chapel, the sight of it took Natalie's breath away. The quaint building was nestled among towering oak trees, and its whitewashed walls and stained glass windows gave it a timeless charm. It was the kind of place that seemed to hold a thousand stories within its walls, and I couldn't help but imagine our story becoming part of its history.

I parked the car, and we all stepped out, taking in the peaceful surroundings. Jess was the first to speak, her voice soft with awe. "This place is perfect."

Natalie nodded, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me. "It really is. It's exactly what I imagined."

I took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Let's go inside and make it official."

The interior of the chapel was just as beautiful as the exterior. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the wooden pews. The air was filled with the faint scent of old wood and candle wax—a comforting, nostalgic smell that made my heart swell with emotion.

The chapel's caretaker, a kind elderly woman with a warm smile, greeted us as we entered. "Welcome to St. Mary's Chapel. How can I help you folks today?"

I stepped forward, my tone respectful. "We'd like to reserve the chapel for our wedding."

The caretaker's smile widened. "Of course. Do you have a date in mind?"

Natalie and I exchanged a look, and then she spoke up, her voice filled with certainty. "How about three months from now? That gives us enough time to plan everything."

The caretaker nodded, jotting down the details in a worn leather-bound ledger. "That sounds lovely. We'll make sure everything is ready for your special day."

As we finalized the arrangements, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction. This was where we would start our life together, in a place that felt like it had been waiting just for us. When we stepped back outside, Natalie turned to me, her eyes shining joyfully. "It's really happening, isn't it?"

I smiled, pulling her close. "It is. And I couldn't be more excited."

Jess joined us, her grin as wide as ever. "This will be the most beautiful wedding Cedar Cove has ever seen. I can't wait!"

"You guys are going to be amazing together," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so glad I got to be part of your story."

Natalie hugged her friend, her own tears threatening to spill over. "You're not just part of our story, Jess. You're family. And that means you'll always be part of our lives, no matter where we go."

I nodded in agreement, my voice firm with conviction. "Absolutely. Cedar Cove will always be a second home to us. And we'll be back often. I promise."

Jess smiled through her tears, nodding as she wiped her eyes. "You better. This place wouldn't be the same without you."

As we watched Jess drive away, Natalie and I stood together in the fading light. We had closed the first chapter of our unique story, but the next one was already waiting, filled with love, hope, and the promise of a beautiful future.