"This is perfect," Rei said, finding Lucy in the kitchen. "Your house, your life, everything."
"It is pretty perfect, isn't it?"
"Are you happy? Really happy?"
"I am. More than I've been in years. Maybe ever."
Lucy looked out at the party—all the people who mattered, all the people who'd supported them through everything. This was community. This was home.
Jake appeared at her side. "Can I steal you for a minute?"
"Everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect. Just want to show you something."
He led her outside to the backyard. The party noise faded behind them, replaced by peaceful winter quiet.
"What did you want to show me?" Lucy asked.
Jake took both her hands. "Lucy Chen, we've known each other for four years. We've been through Paris, through distance, through doubt, through learning to trust each other again. We've built careers we love in a town we love. We bought a house together. Built a life together."
Lucy's heart started pounding. "Jake—"
"Let me finish. You're my best friend. You're my partner. You're the person I want to come home to every day for the rest of my life. You're brave and talented and occasionally infuriating in the best way. And I love you. I've loved you since the first Wednesday morning pork bun. I'll love you for every Wednesday morning pork bun for the rest of our lives."
Jake dropped to one knee, pulling out a ring box.
"Lucy Chen, will you marry me?"
Lucy felt tears streaming down her face. "Yes. Yes, of course yes!"
Jake stood and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly—simple and elegant and exactly right.
"I love you," Lucy said, kissing him. "I love you so much."
"I love you too. Lucy Morrison has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Lucy Morrison. Lucy Chen-Morrison. Mrs. Jake Morrison." Lucy laughed. "I'll figure out the name situation later. Right now I'm just—I'm engaged!"
They went back inside, and the moment everyone saw Lucy's ring, the house erupted in celebration.
"I knew it!" Emma shouted. "I knew Coach Jake would propose!"
"To Jake and Lucy!" Giuseppe declared, somehow producing champagne from nowhere. "To love! To forever! To amore!"
Everyone toasted, and Lucy felt overwhelmed with happiness. This was her life. These were her people. This was home.
Later that night, after everyone had left and they were cleaning up, Jake pulled Lucy close.
"No regrets?" he asked. "No second thoughts?"
"Not a single one. Jake Morrison, you're stuck with me."
"Best kind of stuck."
The wedding was planned for June.
Not a huge wedding—just family and close friends, in Timber Falls, at the small church where Lucy's grandmother had gone. A reception at Giuseppe's because where else would they have it?
