**Tying the Knot**
The days leading up to Claire and Ethan’s wedding passed in a joyful blur. The excitement in the air was palpable, and Seabreeze buzzed with anticipation as the big day approached. The entire town seemed to be involved in some way—friends and neighbors offered their help, contributing flowers from their gardens, lending decorations, and sharing recipes for the reception. It was as if the whole community was coming together to celebrate the love story that had, in many ways, been a part of all their lives.
Claire found herself marveling at how quickly everything was coming together. The garden, which had once been wild and overgrown, was now a breathtakingly beautiful space, filled with blooms of every color. The oak tree, under which they would say their vows, stood tall and majestic, its branches providing a natural canopy that seemed to embrace the love that would be declared beneath it.
As she and Ethan worked side by side to finalize the preparations, Claire cou
