"No. It's not. So Lucy—what are you scared of? Really?"
"I'm scared of promising forever and then changing my mind. I'm scared of committing to a life here and then wanting something different. I'm scared of being the person who left for Paris all over again."
"But Lucy—you're not that person anymore. You came back. You built Margaret's. You've stayed for eight months without running. You've proven you're committed to this life."
"To the restaurant, yes. But to Jake? I keep asking for more time because I'm terrified that if I commit fully, I'll discover I made the wrong choice again."
"And what if you commit fully and discover you made the right choice?"
Lucy was quiet.
"Here's what I think," Uncle Walter said gently. "I think you're waiting to feel certain before you commit. But certainty doesn't come before commitment. It comes after. You commit, you choose, you build a life. And then, years later, you look back and realize it was the right choice all along."
"But what if it's not the right choice?"
"Then you adjust. You communicate. You work through it. That's what partnerships are—two people choosing each other over and over, even when it's hard."
"I don't know if I'm capable of that."
"You are. You already have been. Lucy, you chose Jake every day for eight months. You chose Timber Falls. You chose this life. You just haven't said the words yet. Haven't made it official."
"What if I say the words and then change my mind?"
"Then you'll deal with it. But Lulu—you can't let fear of what might happen keep you from what's happening now. Jake loves you. You love him. That's all you need to know."
Lucy drove home thinking about what Uncle Walter had said.
She'd been waiting for certainty. Waiting to feel ready. Waiting for some sign that committing to Jake was the right choice.
But maybe certainty didn't work that way. Maybe you just had to choose and trust that the choice would become right through the choosing.
At their apartment, Jake was watching film. He looked up when Lucy came in.
"Hey. How did it go with the magazine?"
"Good. They'll run the feature in September." Lucy sat down next to him. "Jake, we need to talk."
"Okay."
"I've been thinking about what you said. About being ready for everything. And I realized—I've been waiting to feel ready. Waiting for some perfect moment when I'm not scared anymore. But that moment isn't coming. I'm always going to be a little scared. That's just who I am."
"Okay."
"But I don't want to lose you because I'm too scared to commit. So here's what I'm saying: I want to buy the house. I want to build a life with you. I want—all of it. Whatever all of it means. I'm still scared, but I'm choosing it anyway. Choosing you anyway."
Jake was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Are you sure? Because Lucy—I can't do this again. I can't have you commit and thenchange your mind six months from now. I need to know you're all in."
"I'm all in. I promise. No more asking for time, no more hedging. I'm choosing this. I'm choosing you."
Jake pulled her close. "Okay. Then let's buy the house. Let's build a life. Let's do all of it."
Lucy kissed him, relief flooding through her. She'd said it. She'd committed. She'd chosen brave over scared.
And it felt right. Terrifying, but right.
"Jake?" Lucy whispered.
"Yeah?"
