Jake wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You're going to be amazing."
"What if I'm not? What if I fail?"
"Then you'll try again. But Lucy—you're not going to fail. You're too talented, too determined, too good at this."
Lucy turned in his arms. "How are you so sure?"
"Because I've watched you work. I've eaten your food. I've seen how you light up when you talk about recipes and ingredients and creating things that bring people joy. That passion—you can't fake it. And it's what makes great chefs great."
"You've been watching cooking shows again, haven't you?"
"Rei got me hooked on Top Chef. Don't judge me."
Lucy laughed and kissed him. "I would never judge you for that."
They locked up the Morrison building and drove to Uncle Walter's for dinner. He'd invited them both, plus Rei and Marcus, for what he called a "family dinner."
The five of them crowded around Uncle Walter's dining table, eating pot roast and talking over each other.
"So March opening?" Marcus asked Lucy.
"That's the goal. Late March, early April. Depends on renovations and inspections."
"What's the menu going to be?"
"French technique with New England ingredients and my grandmother's influence. So like—duck confit with maple glaze and root vegetables. Pork buns reimagined as an appetizer. Butternut squash soup with brown butter and sage."
"That sounds incredible," Rei said. "I'm already planning my opening night outfit."
"Opening night is going to be chaos. I'll probably burn everything and cry."
"No you won't," Jake said. "You'll be brilliant. And we'll all be there to support you."
"That's what I'm afraid of. What if you all come and the food is terrible?"
"Then we'll lie and say it's amazing," Marcus said. "That's what friends do."
Uncle Walter raised his glass. "To Lucy. For being brave enough to come home. And to Jake, for being brave enough to give love a second chance. To second chances in general."
"To second chances," everyone echoed.
After dinner, Jake and Lucy walked back to Jake's apartment. The snow was falling softly, covering Timber Falls in quiet white.
"This is nice," Lucy said, linking her arm through Jake's. "Being here. With you. With everyone. I missed this so much in Paris."
"The snow?"
"The connection. In Paris, I had friends. But it wasn't the same as this—as being with people who've known me my whole life. Who understand where I come from."
"Do you miss Paris at all?"
Lucy thought about it. "Sometimes. I miss Amelie and James. I miss the food culture, the beauty of it. But I don't miss being there. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect sense."
At Jake's apartment, they settled on his couch with hot chocolate (Lucy's addition to his bachelor lifestyle—she'd bought fancy cocoa and insisted they make it properly).
"Jake?" Lucy said, curled into his side.
