THE LIFE ETHAN COLE NEVER EXPECTED
Chapter 9
The morning of the wedding, Ethan stood in front of the mirror.
His suit felt strange.
Too formal.
Too clean.
He adjusted his tie.
Failed.
Adjusted it again.
Failed again.
There was a knock.
Walter opened the door.
“You ready?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Ethan looked at him.
“That’s reassuring.”
Walter stepped inside.
“You nervous?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“Because this is forever.”
Walter smiled.
“That’s the point.”
Ethan nodded.
Walter fixed his tie.
“You remember when you first came here?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t trust anyone.”
“I remember.”
“You barely talked.”
“I remember.”
“You were ready to leave every week.”
Ethan smiled.
“Still remember.”
Walter stepped back.
“And now?”
Ethan looked toward the window.
Outside, people were gathering.
He could hear laughter.
Children running.
Music.
The distant sound of the harbor.
He smiled.
“Now I have people waiting for me.”
Walter nodded.
“Exactly.”
