As the sun set over the sprawling estate that would soon be their home, Marie couldn't help but marvel at how much her life had changed. She had spent so long meticulously planning her future—her career, her independence, her success. Yet, here she was, standing on the cusp of a life she had never expected to want, and it felt more right than anything she had ever imagined. She felt grounded, secure in the knowledge that wherever they went from here, she and Welder were in it together.
After they finalized the decision to purchase the estate, the next few months were filled with a whirlwind of planning. The house needed renovations, of course, but both Marie and Welder found themselves excited about the process. They pored over blueprints, choosing design elements and planning out rooms. Welder wanted a home office that overlooked the garden, while Marie envisioned a cozy reading nook by the large bay window that caught the morning light.
The pace of life slowed down in ways that neither of them had anticipated. They still commuted to the city for work, but more and more, they found themselves retreating to their countryside sanctuary. It became a place where they could breathe, where the pressures of business and the complexities of their public lives faded into the background.
One evening, after a long day of overseeing the renovations, Marie found herself curled up on the porch swing, a glass of wine in hand. The night was still, the only sound the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Welder emerged from the house, joining her with his own glass of wine. He sat beside her, the weight of his presence comforting and familiar.
"Do you ever miss the city?" Marie asked after a moment, her voice quiet as she stared out at the stars.
Welder shrugged, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Sometimes. But I don't miss the noise or the constant rush. I think I'm finally starting to understand the appeal of slowing down."
Marie chuckled softly, resting her head on his shoulder. "I never thought I'd hear you say that. You're the one who used to thrive on being in the middle of everything."
Welder leaned his head back against the swing, his eyes on the night sky. "I guess being with you has changed that. I used to think success was all that mattered—that I needed to be on top of everything, always one step ahead. But now… I realize that what I really want is balance. A life that feels full, not just in terms of work but in every way."
Marie nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. She had spent her entire career chasing success, pushing herself to be the best, to prove something—perhaps to herself more than anyone else. But being with Welder had shown her that there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder.
"What do you think comes next?" Marie asked softly, turning her gaze to him.
Welder was quiet for a moment, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "I think… we keep building. Not just our careers, but our lives. This house, our future. And maybe—" he paused, his gaze turning serious, "maybe we start thinking about that family we talked about."
Marie felt her heart skip a beat. The idea of starting a family had been lingering between them for a while now, but hearing Welder say it out loud made it feel more real. She wasn't sure she was ready—not yet—but the thought no longer filled her with the same uncertainty it once had.
"I've been thinking about that too," Marie admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I'm ready right this second, but… I can see it. I can see us having a family here."
Welder smiled, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "We'll take it one step at a time. There's no rush."
They sat in silence for a while after that, the weight of their future resting comfortably between them.
As the months turned into a year, Marie and Welder settled into their new life at the estate. The renovations were completed, and the house had become a warm, welcoming home filled with personal touches that reflected both of their personalities. Welder's office overlooked the garden, just as he had wanted, and Marie's reading nook was her favorite spot in the house.
Their work lives continued at a steady pace, but both of them found themselves craving more time away from the city. They began to talk about transitioning to a model where they could work remotely more often, relying on their trusted team to handle the day-to-day operations in the office. The company was thriving, and they had built a solid foundation that allowed them to step back when needed.
One afternoon, as they were enjoying a quiet lunch on the patio, Welder broached a topic that had been on both of their minds for some time.
"I've been thinking about taking a step back from the company," Welder said, his tone thoughtful. "Not retiring or anything drastic, but maybe shifting my role a bit. I've been running things at full speed for so long, and I'm starting to realize that I don't need to do that anymore."
Marie looked at him, surprised but not entirely shocked. Welder had always been driven, always focused on his next big move. But in the past year, she had seen a change in him—a desire for something more than just corporate success.
"What would that look like?"Marie asked, curious.
Welder shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe I focus more on strategic direction and less on the day-to-day operations. We've built a great team—they can handle the business without me micromanaging everything."
Marie nodded, considering the idea. "I think that makes sense. You've earned the right to step back a bit. And honestly, I've been thinking about doing something similar."
Welder raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "You? The woman who used to work 80-hour weeks without breaking a sweat?"
Marie laughed, shaking her head. "I know, it sounds crazy. But the more time we spend here, the more I realize that I want to focus on other things too. The company will always be important to me, but it's not the only thing that matters anymore."
Welder smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand. "It's funny, isn't it? How everything we thought was important has shifted. I think this place has changed us."
Marie looked around the estate, the sprawling grounds, the home they had built together. It had changed them, but in the best possible way. They had found something here that neither of them had expected—a sense of peace, of belonging, of purpose beyond their careers.
"I think it has," Marie agreed softly. "And I'm glad for it."
Welder's smile widened, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "So, what do you think? Should we start making plans for the next phase of our lives?"
Marie looked at him, her heart swelling with love and gratitude for the man sitting across from her. "Yes," she said, her voice firm and certain. "Let's start making plans."