Chapter 4: The Ripple Effect

My first encounter with Natalie was on a camping trip. It was a weekend. A friend invited me and Rachel to join a group hike. Rachel, as usual, was all business, saying she had to work overtime to organize case files. She didn’t go, but she didn’t stop me either. That’s when I met the lively Natalie.

We’d pitched tents by Lake Winona, the bonfire crackling, the sky a blanket of stars. Natalie showed up late, arms full of s’mores fixings, and immediately had everyone in stitches with her stories about growing up in Kentucky. Her laugh was loud and bright, impossible to ignore.

Maybe it was like rain after a drought, or maybe it was real love. Natalie’s smile struck me right away. Wherever she went, the place came alive. After that day, all I could think about was her dimples and those sharp green eyes. We exchanged numbers and texted now and then. I never planned on crossing any lines, but I couldn’t help being drawn to her energy. Her world was vibrant, the opposite of Rachel’s. Like tossing a stone in a still lake, she stirred up ripples in my heart.

She’d text me links to indie bands and dog memes late at night, sometimes asking for restaurant tips or sharing a work joke. With every exchange, my world felt a little less gray.

Every weekend after that, I went out with Natalie. Rachel never asked. She only reminded me to drive safe. Rachel never made a fuss—always steady, always practical. Sometimes I mistook her quiet for boredom. But Natalie always admired her with envy: “But your wife is a judge, that’s amazing.” She’d even warn me, “A man who doesn’t love his wife isn’t a good man.”

The more Natalie said this, the less I could control my growing feelings for her. Until she finally agreed to be with me. We started dating frequently, fell in love. I also promised her I would clear things up with Rachel as soon as possible.

Late-night drives, takeout in the backseat, and the thrill of a new romance—suddenly, I was living a life I’d only watched in movies. Natalie wore her heart on her sleeve, and with every kiss, I felt like I was getting younger by the day.