Unexpected Love

Chapter 8

Meredith stood in the empty living room of her new apartment, taking in the space that would soon be her home. Boxes were scattered everywhere, and the bare walls echoed with the promise of new memories waiting to be made. It felt surreal—moving to New York, choosing this place, taking control of her life.

Just then, there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find Lexie grinning from ear to ear, a basket of muffins in hand.

"Welcome to the building, neighbor!" Lexie beamed, hugging Meredith tightly. "This is so exciting, Mer! You're officially a New Yorker."

Meredith chuckled, looking over at Lexie's basket. "You brought muffins? You didn't bake them, did you?"

"Hey!" Lexie laughed. "Give me some credit. They're from that amazing bakery down the street. They're still warm, and trust me, you'll need energy to unpack all this."

Before Meredith could reply, she heard another knock—this time it was her parents, Ellis and Thatcher, each holding boxes. Her mother, always impeccably dressed, looked around with a hint of approval.

"Well, it's charming, Meredith," Ellis remarked, setting down a box on the floor. "A bit smaller than I imagined, but you'll make it work."

Meredith smiled, catching her father's wink. Thatcher placed his box down and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm proud of you, kiddo. This place is perfect."

As the family began unpacking, Lexie chattered away, giving Meredith updates about the building. "And there's this cute coffee shop around the corner, and the neighbors are super friendly! I've already scoped out the best places for takeout, too."

"Thank you, Lexie," Meredith replied with a laugh, grateful to have her cousin's endless enthusiasm filling the room.

Over the next few hours, they set up the essentials, making the space feel a little more like home. Thatcher assembled her bookshelf while Ellis busied herself with unpacking the kitchen, making sure everything was meticulously organized. Lexie and Meredith tackled the mountain of boxes in the living room, turning the blank canvas of her apartment into a reflection of herself.

After they had finished, Ellis took a step back, examining the space. "You know, this really is wonderful for you, Meredith. You're in the city, you're close to Lexie and your siblings, and this fellowship is the best move you could make."

Meredith smiled, feeling the rare warmth of her mother's approval. "Thanks, Mom. It means a lot to me that you and Dad came out to help."

As the sun began to set, they gathered around the kitchen counter, which Lexie had covered with takeout boxes from the local pizza place.

Thatcher raised his glass of soda, grinning. "To new beginnings, to New York, and to Meredith."

"Cheers!" they all chimed, clinking glasses. Lexie leaned over and gave Meredith a side hug. "I'm so glad you're here, Mer. We're going to have the best time."

After her parents left that evening, Meredith sat on the couch, feeling the quiet settle around her. She looked at the photos she had placed on her coffee table—one of her and her siblings, one of her with Lexie, one of her with Richard and her fellow residents, and one of her family at their last Christmas together. For the first time in a long time, the future felt full of possibility.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Derek.

🔵 How's the new place? Do you need anything?

She typed back with a smile.

🔵 It's perfect. I think I'm finally ready for this.

As she put her phone down and looked around her new apartment, she felt a swell of excitement. New York was her city now, and she was ready to make it her own.

Meredith's Apartment

Living Room

Kitchen

Meredith's Bedroom

Spare Bedroom

Restroom