The week before Christmas, Barrett Development officially took over operations of The Bread Basket.
Lucy spent her last Saturday as the official owner training the new manager—a woman named Sarah who'd worked in bakeries for fifteen years and genuinely loved the job.
"I'll take care of it," Sarah promised. "I know what this place means to the community. I'm not going to change what works."
"Thank you."
On Christmas Eve, Lucy closed the bakery early and went upstairs to find Uncle Walter, Rei, Jake, and Marcus all waiting in her apartment with Chinese food and wine.
"Surprise Christmas Eve," Rei announced. "We figured you needed family time."
They ate too much food and drank too much wine and told stories late into the night. Uncle Walter shared memories of Lucy's grandmother that Lucy had never heard. Rei told embarrassing college stories. Marcus regaled them with tales of Jake's evolution from "grumpy hermit" to "functioning human with feelings."
"I wasn't that bad," Jake protested.
"You literally didn't speak to anyone except to grunt about hockey," Marcus said. "For three years. You were that bad."
"And now look at him," Rei said. "In love, living his life, actually smiling sometimes."
"I smiled before."
"No, you did this thing where you showed your teeth. It was terrifying. Now you actually smile."
Lucy watched Jake laugh with her friends—her family—and felt her heart get too full.
This. This was what she'd been missing for five years. Connection. Joy. Life beyond work.
And it had taken Jake—and his pork bun obsession—to help her find it.
On Christmas morning, Lucy woke up in Jake's apartment to find him already awake, watching her.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Lucy stretched. "What time is it?"
"Seven. I made coffee. And I have something for you."
Jake pulled out a small wrapped box.
"Jake, we said no gifts—"
"Open it."
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny whisk charm—like the tattoo Lucy had on her wrist in honor of her grandmother.
"Jake..."
"I saw it and thought of you. And your grandmother. And how brave you're being." He helped her put it on. "So when you're in Paris and you're scared or lonely or doubting yourself, you can look at this and remember that someone in Timber Falls believes in you completely."
Lucy kissed him, trying to put everything she was feeling into it. "Thank you. I love it."
"I love you."
"I love you too. And—" Lucy pulled out a wrapped package of her own. "I also didn't follow the no-gifts rule."
Inside was a framed photograph—Jake on the ice during youth hockey practice, showing Emma the spin move, both of them grinning. Lucy had taken it a few weeks ago without Jake noticing.
"This is what you look like when you're doing what you're meant to do," Lucy said. "When you're happy. I wanted you to have it for your office—once you have an actual office as a coach."
