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“This is true,” I admitted, laughing as I leaned into him. “So, are we just going to stand here all day, or do we actually get to leave the house?”
Ethan grabbed his keys from the counter and held them up with a grin. “Go get dressed so we can go. I’ve got something planned that I think you’re going to love.”
As I headed upstairs to get ready, I couldn’t help but feel a buzz of excitement. What could he possibly have planned? The anticipation was thrilling, and I moved a little faster than usual, eager to see what the day would bring.
When I came back down, dressed and ready, Ethan was waiting by the door. His smile widened as he saw me. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a warm blush rise to my cheeks. “Now, let’s get going before I burst with curiosity.”
As we headed out the door, I watched for signs of what he had up his sleeve. Ethan always had a way of surprising me, and today seemed like it would be no exception. We climbed into his car, and as we pulled out of the driveway, he kept the destination a mystery.
While we drove through Dallas, Ethan pointed out some of the city’s landmarks, but I could tell he deliberately avoided telling me where we were headed. My heart was practically bubbling over with joy when we arrived in a charming neighborhood with tree-lined streets and quaint, historic buildings. “Alright,” I said, trying to mask my eagerness, “are you finally going to tell me what we’re doing here?”
Ethan's handsome face lit up with a mischievous grin as he turned onto a quiet street, slowing down in front of a beautifullyrestored building with a sign that read “For Sale.” The sun glinted off the windows, giving it an inviting warmth. My heart fluttered with anticipation as Ethan parked the car and turned to me, his eyes sparkling.
“Natalie,” he said, taking my hand in his, “you’ve done so much to support me. Today, I wanted to do something that supports your dreams.” He gestured towards the building. “This is just one of the properties I wanted you to see. I think it could be the perfect spot for your new preschool.”
My breath caught in my throat as I looked at him in disbelief. “You're serious?”
“Dead serious,” he replied, his expression softening. “I want you to have the best of both worlds—your flourishing career and our life together. I know how much the preschool means to you, and I want you to keep doing what you love, no matter where we are.”
Tears pricked at my eyes as I felt overwhelmed with emotion. Looking at the building, its exterior painted a cheerful yellow and adorned with colorful drawings from children's hands, I couldn't believe what Ethan was saying. “Ethan… this is incredible. I never expected… I mean, I thought?—”
“You thought you’d have to give it up?” he finished for me, gently squeezing my hand. “Not a chance. I want to see you thrive, Natalie. I want to see your dreams come true like you’ve been helping me with mine.” His voice was filled with love and determination.
Gratitude filled me as I gazed at the man whose unwavering love and support enveloped me. A smile spread across my face, my mind alight with visions of the building being transformed into my dream preschool. The prospect of being a billionaire's wife promised a future beyond my wildest imagination.
Tears welled in my eyes, and I blinked them away, not wanting to lose this moment. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Ethan leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”
We spent the rest of the morning exploring the property, my mind racing with ideas and possibilities. The more I saw, the more I fell in love with creating something new in this beautiful space. Ethan was right there with me, listening to my ideas, offering suggestions, and encouraging me at every turn.
As we wrapped up the tour and headed back to the car, I felt a sense of excitement and contentment that I hadn’t felt in a long time. This was our future, and it would be everything we dreamed of and more.
And as we drove back to Ethan’s home, our home, the anticipation for our upcoming visit to Cedar Cove grew. I couldn’t wait to share all of this with Jess, see the look on her face when she saw my engagement ring, and finally show her that Ethan was the man making all of my dreams come true.
But for now, I was just happy to be here, with the man I loved, building the life we’d always wanted.
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.
