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“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.”
