"But will Timber Falls accept that Lucy? Or will they just see Margaret Chen's granddaughter who went away for a while and came back?"
"I don't know," Jake admitted. "Maybe some people will only see that. But the people who matter—Uncle Walter, Rei, Mae, me—we'll see you. All of you."
Lucy turned back to her cooking, stirring the coq au vin with unnecessary vigor.
"Tell me about Timber Falls," she said. "What have I missed?"
So Jake told her. About the Wolves making the playoffs. About Tommy's retirement. About Emma asking when Miss Lucy was coming home. About the new coffee shop that opened on Main Street and how everyone complained it was too expensive. About Mrs. Henderson's dog finally passing away at the remarkable age of seventeen.
"She was devastated," Jake said. "The whole Knitting Circle has been taking turns staying with her so she's not alone."
"That's sweet."
"That's Timber Falls. Everyone takes care of everyone else. For better and worse."
They ate dinner at Lucy's tiny table, watching the sun set over Paris rooftops. The coq au vin was incredible—rich, complex, perfectly executed. Lucy Chen had become an extraordinary chef.
"This is amazing," Jake said.
"Thanks. It's weird cooking here. The stove is tiny, the counter space is basically nonexistent, but somehow it works."
"Because you make it work. That's what you do—you adapt, you figure it out, you make beautiful things in less-than-perfect conditions."
After dinner, they moved to Lucy's bed (which also functioned as her couch when folded up) and talked until past midnight. Really talked, for the first time in months.
"I'm scared," Lucy admitted. "Whatever I choose, I'm giving up something huge. Stay in Paris, I lose you. Go home, I lose this career I could build here."
"Those aren't your only options."
"Aren't they?"
"Lucy, if you want to stay in Paris, I'll visit. We can do long distance for real. I can look into coaching opportunities in Europe eventually. We can figure it out."
"You'd do that? Leave Timber Falls?"
"For you? Yes."
"But coaching is your dream now. The Wolves are your team. You can't just give that up."
"Why not? You're considering giving up Michelin restaurants for me."
"That's different."
"How?"
Lucy didn't have an answer.
They lay in bed together, not sleeping, just holding each other. Jake traced patterns on Lucy's back and thought about the impossibility of their situation.
"I love you," Jake said into the darkness.
"I love you too. That's what makes this so hard."
"I know."
"Jake?"
"Yeah?"
