"You figured it out. That's what matters."
In Uncle Walter's car, driving through Vermont fall colors, Lucy felt something settle in her chest. This was right. Coming home was right.
"Does Jake know I'm back?" Lucy asked.
"The whole town knows you're back. Mrs. Henderson told everyone."
"Of course she did. Has Jake—has he said anything?"
"Not to me. But Lulu—he's been hurting. These past three months, he's been going through the motions. Coaching, functioning, but not really living."
"Because of me."
"Because he loves you. And you left."
"I know. And I need to fix it. But Uncle Walter—what if he doesn't want to try again? What if three months was too long?"
"Then you'll deal with that. But Lucy—you won't know unless you try."
Uncle Walter dropped Lucy at his house—the same Victorian she'd grown up visiting, full of memories and warmth.
"Rest tonight," Uncle Walter said. "Tomorrow you can figure out what to say to Jake."
But Lucy couldn't rest. She was too anxious, too wired, too aware that Jake was in this town, breathing the same air, close enough to see if she was just brave enough.
At 7 PM, Lucy texted Rei:I'm home. Can we meet?
Rei:OMG YES. Mac's Tavern in 20 minutes?
Lucy:See you there.
Mac's Tavern was exactly as Lucy remembered—warm, crowded, smelling like beer and burgers. Rei was waiting at a table in the back, and when she saw Lucy, she jumped up and pulled her into a hug.
"You're really here! You're really home!"
"I'm really here. For good this time."
They sat down, and Rei immediately said: "Okay. Tell me everything. Why did you come back? Is it Jake? Is it more than Jake?"
"It's Jake. But it's also everything else. Rei, I was miserable in Paris. Working sixteen-hour days at a restaurant I hated, coming home to an empty apartment, missing everyone here. Missing—" Lucy's voice cracked, "—missing my actual life."
"But you had your dream career. The Michelin restaurant."
"It wasn't my dream. I thought it was, but it wasn't. My dream is here—opening my own restaurant, being part of this community, living the life I actually want instead of the life I thought I was supposed to want."
"And Jake?"
"I miss him. Every single day. I made the biggest mistake of my life choosing Paris over him."
"So tell him that."
"I'm scared. What if he's moved on? What if three months was too long?"
"Lucy, Jake orders six pork buns every Wednesday. He's coaching but he looks like a zombie. The man has not moved on."
"But that doesn't mean he wants me back. Maybe he's just—processing. Moving on slowly."
"Or maybe he's been waiting for you to come to your senses."
