The End of Beginning

Julia's days seemed to fly by as she juggled preparations for her upcoming trip, the bookstore, and her plans for the holidays. She and Chloe had spent hours putting together the final touches for their "Holiday Book Bazaar" event. They were determined to make it just as successful as the Halloween event.

To help with the increased foot traffic during the holidays, and to give Julia some time to focus on her trip, she hired a new part-time employee—Sarah, a college student who had been a regular customer at the bookstore. Sarah had a bubbly personality and a passion for books, making her an ideal fit for the job. Julia was relieved to have her on board, especially since she wouldn't have to worry about the store running smoothly while she was out of town.

As Julia and Chloe were wrapping up some last-minute details for the event, Ryan popped by the bookstore, his face lighting up when he saw Julia.

"So, what's all this about you going to visit Joe?" Ryan asked, looking at her with a mix of curiosity and surprise.

Julia paused for a moment, glancing at Chloe who was beaming at her from the counter. "I, uh, I'm going to visit him for a few days before Thanksgiving."

Ryan blinked, clearly processing the news. "Wait, you're going that soon? That's like next week!"

Chloe practically bounced with excitement. "Yes, she is! You should've seen her face when she told me—she's so excited!"

Julia smiled, a bit nervous about how Ryan would react. "Yeah, I'm really excited. It feels right." She could see Ryan looked a little surprised, so she quickly reassured him. "I'll still be at Mom's for Thanksgiving. I'm flying to Boston on my way back from Calgary. I'll get there the night before Thanksgiving."

Ryan seemed to relax a bit, but he was still a little unsure. "Alright, good. Well, just... be careful, okay?"

Julia rolled her eyes with a grin. "I'm not that reckless, Ryan."

He chuckled, then offered, "Want me to take you to the airport?"

"Yes, please. That would be awesome," she said, feeling grateful for his offer.

The next few days felt like a whirlwind as Julia packed for her trip. Her suitcase was sprawled out on her bed, half-filled with clothes. She carefully chose outfits for the trip, mentally running through what she'd need while in Canada: warm layers, cozy sweaters, casual clothing, and maybe something a little nicer if they go out.

The most daunting part of packing wasn't the clothes—it was the nerves. This trip would mark a new layer in her relationship with Joe. She'd be staying overnight with him for the first time, and it felt like a big step. She wasn't sure if it was just the physical distance or the emotional connection they had built over the last few weeks, but the idea of spending that much uninterrupted time with him had her heart racing.

"Julia, relax. You've got this," she muttered to herself as she folded a sweater.

She also found herself packing a small sketchbook. She hadn't sketched in a while, but she thought it might be nice to have a creative outlet while she was away, especially since she knew Joe would still have to do some filming while she's there.

Her phone buzzed with a message from him just as she zipped up her suitcase.

JOE: I'm counting down the minutes until you're here. I can't believe it's only a couple days away.

JULIA: I know! It feels like we've been waiting forever.

She smiled, typing out another message quickly.

JULIA: I'm packing now, and I just keep thinking about you. I can't wait for us to have time together.

JOE: You're making me miss you even more now. But soon. We're almost there.

Julia exhaled. It was going to be a big step in their relationship, and part of her wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew she was ready.

On the day of her departure, Julia woke up early to finish some last-minute details around the apartment. She double-checked everything, made sure the bookstore girls had all the info they needed, and took a few deep breaths.

Ryan arrived to pick her up just before 6:00 a.m. She met him downstairs in the lobby of her building, where he was waiting by the car, his hands shoved in his jacket pockets.

"Ready to go?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Julia grinned. "As ready as I'll ever be."

When they arrived at the airport, Ryan parked and helped her grab her bags.

"Text me when you land," he said, giving her a hug. "And have fun. Don't let Joe wear you out too much."

Julia laughed, feeling a little flutter in her chest. "I'm sure I'll be just fine."

"I know you will. Safe travels, Jules."

"Thanks, Ryan. I'll see you soon."

She gave him a hug and made her way inside, feeling both excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her.

As she walked through security and got to her gate, her phone buzzed again—this time, it was from Joe.

JOE: Just checking in. I seriously can't wait to see you.

JULIA: God, same. I'm at my gate now. Only a few more hours!

JOE: It will be so worth it. I'll see you soon, beautiful.

Julia smiled. She knew the next two and half days were going to go by way too fast, but she could already feel that it would be more than worth it.