Lucy hugged him, crying. "It's perfect. Thank you."
When it was Jake's turn, he pulled out a small wrapped box.
"This is—it's not much. But I saw it and thought of you."
Lucy unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a delicate silver necklace with a small pendant—a whisk crossed with a hockey stick.
"I had it custom made," Jake explained. "To represent us. Your passion, mine. Together."
Lucy stared at it, tears streaming down her face. "Jake, this is—"
"Too much? Not enough? I wasn't sure—"
"Perfect. It's perfect." She handed it to him. "Put it on me?"
Jake fastened the necklace, his fingers gentle on her neck. Lucy touched the pendant, feeling the weight of it, the meaning.
"I love it. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Okay, this is very sweet but also I'm going to throw up from the cuteness," Marcus announced. "Can we eat dessert now?"
Lucy had made a bûche de Noël—a French Christmas log cake that had taken her all day. Everyone raved about it, and Jake felt a swell of pride. This was his girlfriend. Talented, determined, creating beauty out of flour and sugar.
After everyone left, Jake and Lucy cleaned up together.
"This was nice," Lucy said, drying dishes. "Having everyone here. Feeling like a family."
"They are family. Maybe not by blood, but by choice."
"I like that. Family by choice."
Lucy moved into Jake's space and kissed him. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. This is the best one I've had in years."
"Me too. Last Christmas I was in Paris, alone in my tiny apartment, missing everyone. This is so much better."
"No regrets?"
"Not a single one."
They spent Christmas Day at Uncle Walter's, eating too much food and watching old movies. It was perfect and ordinary and exactly what Lucy had been missing in Paris.
That evening, walking Lucy back to Uncle Walter's, Jake said: "I have a question. About the spring."
"Okay?"
"When you open the restaurant, you're going to be busy. Crazy busy. Long hours, high stress, all your energy focused on making it succeed."
"Yeah. I know. I'm already planning for it."
"I want to help. However I can. Whether that's bringing you food when you forget to eat, or handling paperwork, or just being there when you need to vent. I want to support you through this."
Lucy stopped walking. "Jake, you have your own career. Coaching the Wolves is demanding. I can't ask you to—"
"You're not asking. I'm offering. Lucy, we're partners. Your dreams are my dreams. I want to see Margaret's succeed almost as much as you do."
