Chapter 34

**A Fork in the Road**

The days following the court victory were a whirlwind of meetings, planning, and yet another round of unexpected complications. The discovery of mold in the shop had thrown Claire and Ethan into a fresh crisis, just when they thought they had cleared their biggest hurdle. The full gut renovation would be costly and time-consuming, pushing their reopening further into the future than they’d hoped.

Despite the challenges, Claire and Ethan pushed forward, determined not to let this setback define their journey. They met with contractors, reviewed budgets, and strategized ways to stretch their remaining funds. Every decision felt critical, every choice weighed down with the pressure of keeping their dream alive.

As Claire stood in the shop one morning, surveying the damage, she felt the familiar sting of anxiety creep in. The walls were stripped down to their studs, the air thick with the smell of damp wood and cleaning chemicals. The once-welcoming space was now a