And Jake was learning to believe in himself as a coach.
"You're a natural at this," Tommy said one afternoon, watching Jake run a practice. "The way you communicate, the way you adjust strategies—this is what you were meant to do."
"Thanks. It feels right. More right than playing ever did."
"That's how you know you've found your calling. When it feels natural instead of forced."
After practice, Jake found Emma waiting by the bench.
"Coach Jake, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Em. What's up?"
"How did you know Miss Lucy was the one? Like, how did you know to give her another chance?"
Jake crouched down to Emma's level. "That's a pretty big question for a nine-year-old."
"My friend Sarah says her parents are getting divorced. She asked me how people know if love is real or not. And I thought about you and Miss Lucy."
Jake's chest tightened. "Well, I think—I think you know someone is right for you when being with them feels like coming home. When you're willing to work through hard things because they're worth it. And when you can imagine your life with them and it makes you happy."
"And Miss Lucy makes you happy?"
"She does. Very happy."
"Good. Because you smile more now than you did before. And Sarah says smiling is important."
After Emma left, Marcus appeared. "Kid wisdom. It hits different."
"She asked how I knew Lucy was the one."
"And? How did you know?"
Jake thought about it. "Because even when I was furious with her, even when I was hurt and trying to move on—I never stopped loving her. And I figured, if I can't stop loving her even when I want to, maybe that means something."
"It means you're stuck with her."
"Yeah. In the best way."
"How are things going? Really?"
"Good. We're building back slowly. It's not perfect—there are still moments where I'm scared she'll leave again. But we're talking about it. Being honest. And that's more than we did before."
"Progress."
"Yeah. Progress."
That evening, Jake drove to the Morrison building to pick Lucy up. She'd been there all day with contractors, finalizing renovation plans.
When he arrived, Lucy was standing in the middle of the empty space, looking around with an expression Jake couldn't quite read.
"Hey," he said. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just—taking it in. This is really happening. In four months, this will be a restaurant. My restaurant."
"How does that feel?"
"Terrifying. Exciting. Like I'm finally doing what I'm supposed to be doing."
