Chapter 21

**The Seeds of Tomorrow**

Winter in Seabreeze slowly gave way to the early promise of spring, the snow melting into rivulets that fed the earth, coaxing new life from the ground. The air was still crisp, but there was a softness to it now—a warmth that spoke of renewal, of the world waking up after a long slumber. For Claire and Ethan, the changing season mirrored the shift in their own lives. The darkness and uncertainty that had once loomed over them had begun to fade, replaced by a growing sense of optimism and hope.

The success of the community event had breathed new life into Ethan’s woodworking shop. Orders had steadily increased, and the local partnerships they’d forged had brought in a stream of new customers eager to support a business that felt like a part of the fabric of Seabreeze. While they weren’t completely out of the woods yet, the tide was turning in their favor, and with it came a renewed sense of purpose and energy.

One bright morning, as the sun streamed through t