Epilogue

Natalie

Three Months Later

The soft melody of a familiar tune drifted through the lakeside park, blending seamlessly with the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The fairy lights strung between the trees cast a warm aura over our wedding reception, making everything feel like a dream. I was in my father's arms, dancing under the stars, surrounded by friends, family, and the man I loved. It was a perfect snapshot in time—one I would remember forever.

Dad's hands were strong yet gentle as he guided me across the dance floor. For a moment, I was a little girl again, twirling around the living room in my Sunday best, laughing as my father spun me in circles. But now, everything had changed. I was a wife, standing on the brink of a new life, and this dance was a bittersweet reminder of the journey that had brought me here.

"You've grown up so much, Natalie," Dad said, his voice tinged with emotion. "Your mom and I are so proud of the woman you've become."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. "Thank you, Dad. I wouldn't be here without you and Mom. You've always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."

He smiled, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You've always had it in you, sweetheart. It just took the right person to bring it out."

As we danced, I glanced around at the familiar faces of our guests—people who had stood by us, offering support through every twist and turn. It felt surreal to see them all gathered here, celebrating the start of this new chapter with Ethan and me. Resting my head against Dad's shoulder, I realized that no matter where life took us, these were the people who would always be there for us.

The dance ended, and I reluctantly let go of Dad, giving him a kiss on the cheek before making my way through the crowd. As I moved, I spotted Joe standing off to the side with a warm smile as he watched the festivities. My heart swelled with affection for the man who had been such a steady presence in our lives.

"Joe," I called out as I approached him, my smile widening. "I'm so glad you could make it."

He turned to me, holding a glass of bubbly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he grinned. "Wouldn't have missed it for the world, Natalie. You and Ethan did well. Real good."

His words, simple as they were, touched me deeply. "Thank you, Joe. You've been like family to us, especially to Ethan. We couldn't have done it without you."

Joe chuckled, shaking his head. "Ethan was different from the start. I knew that. But you? You're the one who brought out the best in him. I'm proud of you both."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I hugged him. "That means more to me than you know, Joe. Thank you."

He patted my back, then stepped back, looking me over with a fatherly affection. "You take care of each other now, you hear? And don't be strangers. Cedar Cove's always going to be home."

I nodded, my eyes misty as I smiled at him. "We will, Joe. I promise."

As the evening continued, I found myself at Ethan's side once more. We had just finished greeting another group of guests when I noticed a tall, handsome man approaching us with a confident stride. There was an air of familiarity about him, and when he reached us, Ethan's face lit up with a grin.

"Natalie," Ethan said, turning to me with a spark of excitement in his eyes, "I want you to meet Liam, one of my oldest friends."

Liam extended his hand to me, his smile warm and genuine. "So, you're the one who finally got this guy to settle down," he said with a teasing lilt to his voice.

I shook his hand, feeling an instant connection. "Guilty as charged," I replied with a laugh. But then something clicked in my memory. "Wait a minute… were you the person in the boat that day on the lake?"

Liam's eyes twinkled with amusement as he nodded. "Yep, that was me. I was trying to enjoy a peaceful day on the water when I got a text from this guy, telling me to stay away before I blew his cover."

I turned to Ethan, raising an eyebrow. "You texted him?"

Ethan chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist. "I was afraid Liam would give away my real identity. I didn't want him to accidentally ruin the whole undercover thing."

Liam shook his head, still smiling. "You two seem so happy. I'm glad things worked out the way they did."

Ethan grinned, giving Liam a playful nudge. "There's hope for you yet, man. You just need to get away from the usual crowd."

Liam laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Not a chance. Marriage isn't in the cards for me, but I'm happy for you two."

The conversation flowed easily, with Liam fitting right in with the rest of our friends. But as I looked at him, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to his story than he was letting on. Something about the way he spoke, the glint in his eye—it was as if he wanted to hide from his life, just like Ethan did.

But I pushed the thought aside for now. Tonight was about celebrating, not worrying about what the future held for anyone else. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that Liam's story was far from over.

The reception was in full swing, laughter and music filling the air. I was making my way back to Ethan when I felt a gentle tug on my dress. I looked down to see Jude, Jess's son, staring up at me with big, hopeful eyes.

"Miss Natalie," he said, his voice small but full of determination, "can I have this dance?"

A warm smile spread across my face as I bent down to his level. "Why, of course, Jude. I'd be honored."

I took his hand, and we made our way to the dance floor. The band was playing a slower tune, perfect for a gentle sway. As we started to dance, Jude's little hands in mine, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of joy. There was something so pure and sweet about this moment, sharing a dance with a boy who had become such a special part of my life.

"You look really pretty today, Miss Natalie," Jude said shyly, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

"Thank you, Jude," I replied, my heart melting at his sincerity. "And you look very handsome. You're quite the gentleman."

He beamed up at me, his chest puffing out with pride. "Mom said I should always be nice to ladies, especially ones as nice as you."

I laughed softly, touched by his innocence and charm. "Your mom is very wise. You'll grow up to be a wonderful man, Jude."

We continued to dance, his little feet trying to keep up with the rhythm. As the song came to an end, Jude gave me a hug, his small arms wrapping around my waist.

"I'm really glad you're going to be Mr. Ethan's wife," he said, his voice muffled against my dress. "You make him really happy."

My throat tightened with emotion, and I blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over. "Thank you, Jude. That means the world to me."

He pulled back, giving me one last smile before running off to join his friends, leaving me feeling incredibly blessed. I glanced over at Ethan, who had been watching us with a soft smile on his face. He walked over, taking my hand in his and kissing it gently.

"That was beautiful," he murmured, his eyes filled with love. "You're going to make an amazing mom one day, Natalie."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as I smiled back at him. "And you're going to be an amazing dad."

As the evening wore on and the music began to slow, Ethan and I made our way around the reception, saying our goodbyes to the guests who had been part of our special day. The air was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and heartfelt congratulations.

Charles Whitmore approached us with a glass of champagne in hand, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Ethan, you've finally closed a deal that didn't involve a mountain of paperwork," he said with a grin, causing a ripple of laughter among those around us. "You've built something special here, and I'm glad to be part of it."

Ethan chuckled, raising his own glass in a toast. "Thanks, Charles. It means a lot to have you here. This is one deal I'll happily celebrate for the rest of my life."

Charles nodded approvingly, and after a few more pleasantries, he moved on to mingle with Sophia and the other guests.

As the reception began to wind down, I spotted Jess standing near the edge of the dance floor, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. I made my way over to her, feeling the reality of our situation settling in. She pulled me into a tight hug as soon as I reached her.

"You better keep in touch, Natalie," Jess said, her voice thick with emotion. "This place wouldn't be the same without you."

I hugged her back just as tightly, the reality of leaving Cedar Cove hitting me all over again. "I promise, Jess. Cedar Cove will always be home, no matter where we go."

As we finally stepped back, Ethan joined us, wrapping his arm around my waist. Jess wiped away a tear and offered him a smile. "Take good care of her, Ethan. She's one of a kind."

Ethan's gaze softened as he looked at me, his smile warm. "Don't worry, Jess. I intend to."

He then turned to me, his eyes filled with love. "I love you, Natalie."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with affection and excitement. "And I'm ready for our honeymoon… to celebrate at the Telluride Resort."

We waved goodbye to our guests before slipping into the waiting limo. As the car pulled away from the park, I leaned my head against Ethan's shoulder, my hand comfortably resting in his.

The road ahead was full of possibilities. Our journey was just beginning, and it was already more than I had ever dreamed it could be.