His response came immediately.
Jake:I love you too. Always.
Lucy fell asleep with her phone on her pillow, already looking forward to tomorrow's Wednesday morning pork bun routine.
Some things would change. But some things—the important things—would stay the same.
Wednesday morning arrived with fresh snow and Jake's usual 8:17 AM arrival at The Bread Basket.
But this time, when he walked in, the bakery erupted in applause.
Jake stopped, confused. "What—"
"We heard," Mr. Peterson said from his usual corner table. "About you turning down Nashville. Twice. To stay here and coach."
"That's—I didn't—"
"The whole team was talking about it at Mac's last night," Tom from the hardware store said. "Marcus was very vocal about your 'character growth' or whatever he called it."
Jake was going to kill Marcus.
Lucy emerged from the kitchen, smiling. "Six pork buns and black coffee?"
"That's the one."
But when Lucy handed him his order, she also handed him a small bag. "For later."
"What is it?"
"Butternut squash muffins. Your favorite."
Jake felt his chest get tight. "Thank you."
"Thank you for showing up every Wednesday for three years. For being the most reliable part of my week."
"I'm still going to come here," Jake said. "After you sell. After you leave for Paris. This is still my Wednesday routine."
"I know. But it won't be me serving you."
"No. But you'll be in Paris, learning to be amazing. And I'll be here, cheering you on from across an ocean."
They stared at each other across the counter, and Jake realized something: this was the last Wednesday morning they'd have like this. In two months, Lucy would be gone. The bakery would be under new ownership. Everything would change.
But they'd still have each other. Different, maybe. Complicated by distance and time zones and uncertainty.
But real. Permanent. Worth fighting for.
"Friday," Lucy said quietly. "Come with me? To the signing?"
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure. I want you there. I need you there."
"Then I'll be there."
Jake took his pork buns and sat at his usual table by the window. And for the first time in three years, Lucy took her break and sat with him.
They didn't talk much. Didn't need to. Just sat together, eating pork buns, drinking coffee, watching Timber Falls wake up outside the window.
