Harper nodded, her mind already whirling with ideas. "We should put together some welcome baskets. Maybe some toys for the kids, to help them feel more at home. I'll bring it up to the committee."
"That's a wonderful idea," Renee said, smiling warmly at Harper. "I'll get back to the kitchen now, and you two can get your breakfast."
Harper and Nathan made their way to the breakfast buffet, the aroma of freshly cooked bacon and warm pastries filling the air. Harper's plate remained mostly empty as she picked at a small serving of scrambled eggs and a single piece of toast. Her stomach was a knot of anxiety about the new arrivals, and excitement over the prospect of her belongings arriving, making it difficult to focus on food.
Nathan, on the other hand, piled his plate high with a hearty selection. He glanced at Harper's meager portion and raised an eyebrow.
"You'll need more energy than that for moving day," he said, nodding towards her plate.
Harper shrugged, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "I know, I know. I'm a little wound up, but I'll try."
They settled back at their table, and Nathan took a sip of his coffee before asking, "When are the movers supposed to arrive?"
"They're scheduled to be at the apartment around nine," Harper replied, her eyes lighting up. "I can hardly believe it's finally happening."
Nathan nodded, cutting into his stack of pancakes. "When are the rest showing up for the moving party?"
"I've told everyone to come about eleven or so," Harper said, fidgeting with her fork. "That should give the movers enough time to get the big stuff in place before we start unpacking and organizing."
"Sounds like a solid plan," Nathan commented, his voice warm with approval. "I'm looking forward to seeing your new place."
Harper nodded, her excitement bubbling over. "I figured I'd probably have enough time, once the movers leave, to start unpacking the kitchen dishware at least, before everyone arrives." She chomped on a slice of bacon, then had a small bite of her scrambled eggs, her appetite slowly returning as she talked about her plans. "Kester is bringing a big pan of pastitsio and Greek salad from Kazakis Restaurant at noon. It would be nice if we didn't have to eat Greek food off paper plates with plastic utensils."
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. "Definitely not. Pastitsio deserves proper dinnerware." He paused, seeming to consider something. "You know, if you'd like, as soon as the movers bring in the kitchen boxes, I can start unpacking the dishes and silver, while you direct traffic. That way, you're sure to have everything ready by the time everyone arrives."
"Perfect!"
Finishing their breakfast, they headed out, only pausing in the lobby, where Nathan approached Angus to settle his bill.
"Thanks for the excellent breakfast," Nathan said, handing over his credit card.
Angus nodded, his usual calm demeanor in place. "Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with the move today, Harper."
"Thank you, Angus," Harper replied, her voice brimming with anticipation.
As they stepped outside, the crisp morning air filled Harper's lungs. She turned to Nathan, a smile playing on her lips. "Ready for this?"
Nathan grinned back. "Lead the way."
They separated to their respective vehicles, with Nathan following Harper's cherry red Mustang through the quiet streets.The drive was short, and before long, they were pulling up to Harper's new apartment building. Harper practically bounced out of her car, her excitement palpable. Nathan chuckled as he joined her, matching her brisk pace to the building's entrance.
"Someone's eager," he teased gently.
Harper stuck out her tongue playfully. "Can you blame me? I love the bed and breakfast, but as Dorothy from Kansas says, there's no place like home."
They climbed the stairs together, their footsteps echoing in the stairwell. Harper's hand trembled slightly as she inserted the key into the lock of her new apartment. Just as she was about to turn the key, the rumble of a large vehicle caught their attention.
Harper's eyes widened as she glanced out the window. "Is that...?"
Nathan peered over her shoulder. "Looks like your moving van."
Harper quickly unlocked the door, pushing it open. "They're early! That's good, but I'm so glad we didn't linger over breakfast."
She rushed into the apartment, a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in her stomach. "I guess this is really happening, huh?"
Nathan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It is. And it's going to be great."
Harper grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I requested the moving company to unload my sofa first," she said, turning to Nathan. "That way, we'll have a place to sit and be out of the way while the movers do their thing."
