CHAPTER NINETEEN
SETH
Two weeks later, Jennifer sits beside me in Dr. Rahman's office, her fingers entwined with mine and our shoulders touching, as we wait while the doctor reviews everything. He’s looking over my chart, the data from my health app, and the hospital records from both my initial collapse and the recent setback that had me in the hospital for a few days.
I smile and squeeze her hand, opening my mouth to thank him when Jennifer speaks up.
“It's not just me, Dr. Rahman. Seth has made incredible changes.” She turns to look at me, pride shining in her eyes.
“He resigned as CEO of his company and is doing a six-month transition to hand everything over to his COO. He’s started therapy.
He bought a resort property, we're partners in it, and he's building a completely different life.” Her smile is radiant. “A life with me.”
Dr. Rahman's eyebrows shoot up. He sets down the tablet and leans back in his chair, studying me with new interest. “Is this true?”
“Yes, sir. All of it.”
“Tell me about that.”
I explain the transition plan, the therapy I'm starting, the resort partnership, and the boundaries I've set. He listens without interrupting, nodding occasionally.
“Mr. Donovan, when you first collapsed three months ago, I told you that you needed to make fundamental changes or you would die.
I've seen many patients in your position.
Most of them go back to their old lives.
They tell themselves they'll be more careful, work fewer hours, and manage stress better.
But they don't change the fundamental structure of their lives.” He leans forward.
“You did. That's rare. And that's why I think you're actually going to survive this.”
The words hit harder than I expected. “You didn't think I would before?”
“Honestly? No, I thought you'd make it six months, maybe a year, and then we'd be back here with a real heart attack or a stroke.” He smiles slightly. “I'm very pleased to be wrong.”
“So am I,” Jennifer says quietly.
“Continue your medications. Monthly check-ins with me via telehealth. And keep up the lifestyle modifications, the exercise, the diet, the stress management. You’re on the right track, and I’m hopeful you’ll stay there.”
He stands and extends his hand. “Congratulations, Mr. Donovan. You chose life. Not everyone does.”
***
We spend the next several weeks at the resort with Mrs. Avery, learning everything.
How the booking system works, which guests are regulars, and where all the maintenance issues hide.
Jennifer takes notes in a spiral notebook, asks a million questions, and lights up when Mrs. Avery shows her something new.
I watch her come alive in a way I've never seen. This is her element. She remembers guest preferences, anticipates problems before they happen, and has ideas for improvements that are practical and creative.
“We could convert the old storage shed into a yoga studio,” she says while we’re walking the property. “Nothing fancy. Just clean it out, add some windows, and get good mats. Morning yoga with a view of the lake.”
Mrs. Avery beams. “I always wanted to do that but never got around to it.”
“We'll do it,” I say, making a note. “What else?”
Jennifer's list grows: Better signage on the trails, kayak rentals, and monthly wellness weekends with visiting instructors.
“You're a natural at this,” Mrs. Avery tells her. “I knew it the day I hired you. You care about people, and that's what hospitality really is.”
That night, back at our cabin, Jennifer curls against me on the couch. “Thank you for this. I never thought I could do this or would want to, but I wake up every morning and pinch myself.”
“Hey, no damaging the goods,” I tease and receive a poke in the ribs for that.
“Jennifer, you’re a natural. You just needed the opportunity.”
She smiles. “Coming from you that is high praise.”
“All deserved. I’m not in the business of sugar-coating things or coddling anyone.”
Sighing, she rubs her cheek on my chest. “I am slightly terrified,” she admits. “What if I mess it up?”
“Then we'll fix it. Together.” I kiss the top of her head. “That's what partners do.”
***
A week later, we drive into town to sign the final paperwork with the lawyers.
The conference room is sterile and professional, nothing like the cabin or the resort. When we sign our names on the sales forms, Jennifer's hand trembles.
“It's real,” she whispers.
“It's real.”
We have dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate. Nothing fancy, grilled salmon and salad, but Jennifer is glowing.
“I called my mom yesterday,” she says. “I told her about the resort.” She fidgets in her seat, pushing her salad around. “And about us.”
“That must have been quite the phone call.”
Jennifer giggles. “She thought I was joking at first. It actually took over five minutes to convince her I wasn’t pulling her leg about not only having a serious boyfriend who’s a tech genius but that we’re also buying the resort I work at together.”
“I don’t see what’s so far-fetched about that. Doesn’t she realize how amazing her daughter is?”
She tosses her napkin at me. “Oh, stop.”
We eat in silence for a moment. Then she says, “She wants to meet you. We’re invited to dinner at her house next Friday.”
Meeting her mother. The thought should terrify me, but it doesn't. “I'd like that.”
“Fair warning: she's going to give you the protective mom speech.”
“I can handle it. I'll bring the binder.”
Jennifer laughs so hard she snorts, and I grin like a fool, so happy to be living in the moment and enjoying life.
Seven weeks ago I arrived at the cabin barely able to sleep, blood pressure through the roof, and working myself to death. Now I'm waking up naturally, well-rested, and next to the woman I love.
Before I couldn't imagine a life outside my company. Now, I can't imagine going back.
I reach across the table, and Jennifer gives me her hand, her gaze warm and full of love. “I've been thinking about something. About the future.”
Her smile widens. “Uh-oh, got another binder?”
“I know it's early. I know we just bought the resort, and I still have six months until I’m fully transitioned out of my company, and there’s so much going on, but I was hoping.” I swallow hard. “That is, I was wondering how you felt about children?”
Her fingers tighten on mine, and I hurry on. “Not now, but maybe someday?”
“You want kids?”
Smiling, I nod. “With you, I do. I want everything with you, Jennifer. The resort, a home, and a family. All of it.”
It’s crazy. I never gave much thought to having children. I didn’t have time for a long-term relationship, so how would I have the time for the demands of parenthood?
But now everything has changed. I’ve changed.
“I want that too, Seth.” She squeezes my hand. “Just not yet. Let’s make the changes to the resort and learn about managing being a couple first.”
“Absolutely.” I squeeze her hand back. “And there’s the little matter of a proper proposal and a wedding before we commit to becoming parents.”
Her brown eyes gleam with tears. “That sounds perfect.”
I lean across the small table and press my mouth to hers.
The kiss tastes like promises of an amazing future and everything I didn't know I needed.
“How many?” she asks against my lips.
“How many what?”
“Kids. How many do you want?”
I pull back to look at her. “I don't know. Two? Three? How many do you want?”
“Two sounds good. Maybe a boy and a girl.”
“We can't exactly order them.” I grin.
“I know. But we can hope.” She grins. “I hope they get your eyes.”
“I hope they get your heart.”
We finish our meal and head home, planning a future that feels impossibly far away and thrillingly close all at once. We talk about baby names and whether we'd find out the sex ahead of time and how we'd decorate a nursery.
“Would we raise them in the cabin?” I ask.
Her brow furrows. “There’s not really any room there for more than one kid.”
“We could add on to the main house and make that our home instead.” We hadn’t really talked about what we were going to do with Mrs. Avery’s former home.
Jennifer’s smile is so bright it could chase away the gloom on a cloudy day. “That is a perfect idea! And since you’ll be right there, you can be a hands-on dad, not like my father was.”
“No, not like your dad,” I promise. “I'm going to be the dad who makes breakfast, coaches soccer, and shows up for every school play.”
She gives me a look. “Do you even know how to play soccer?”
I laugh, feeling carefree and alive unlike ever before. “No, but I could learn. The main thing is I want to be there.”
Reaching across the gearshift, I grasp her hand and link our fingers. “I'm going to live long enough to see them graduate, Jennifer. To walk my daughter down the aisle. To meet my grandkids. That's the life I choose.”
She's crying now, happy tears. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I take a deep breath. “And I’m grateful. Grateful my body forced me to stop before it was too late, and beyond grateful I ended up here, meeting you.” I turn to face her as we pull up to our cabin. “Several weeks ago, I was dying. Now I'm learning how to live.”
“We're learning,” she corrects. “Together.”
“Together.”
We exit the vehicle and stand gazing up at the cabin and the lake in the background.
“What do you think happens next?” Jennifer asks.
“We officially re-open the resort in a month. We make it amazing. We build a home together and we figure out this partnership thing.” I pull her close. “We live. We really, truly live.”
She sighs. “Sounds perfect.”
“It will be. We'll make sure of it.”
I cup her face and gaze at the woman I adore and think about everything. The collapse that forced me here. The doctor's ultimatum. Jennifer finding my pills. The health scare that nearly killed me and Jennifer walking away when I couldn't choose.
Every painful moment led to this. To us. To this life that's better than anything I could have planned or controlled.
“Seth?” Jennifer whispers against my mouth.
“Yes?”
“Thank you for choosing me.”
“Thank you for making me choose.” I kiss her as the sun begins to lower. “Best decision I ever made.”
When we pull apart, we head into the cabin, hand in hand, ready for whatever comes next.
Ready for our life.