Lucy looked at their joined hands. A week ago, this had all felt so clear. Now everything was muddy and complicated and terrifying.
But underneath the fear, underneath the doubt, she knew the answer.
"Yes," she whispered. "I'm choosing you."
Jake pulled her close, and Lucy let herself sink into his embrace. They sat like that for a long time—holding each other, breathing together, trying to believe they could survive this.
"I should go," Lucy finally said. "I need to think about the bakery decision. Really think. Without panicking."
"Okay."
"But Jake? Thank you. For not giving up on me. For fighting for this even when I was too scared to."
"Always."
Lucy kissed him softly, then forced herself to leave before she could change her mind.
As she walked down the stairs to her apartment, her phone buzzed. Uncle Walter.
Uncle Walter:How did it go?
Lucy:Better. I think. We're okay.
Uncle Walter:Good. Now figure out what you want with the bakery. Not what everyone else wants. What YOU want.
Lucy climbed the stairs to her apartment and sat down with a piece of paper. She drew a line down the middle—pros and cons of selling the bakery.
Sell:
?Freedom to travel, to learn, to grow
?Financial security
?Grandmother's legacy expanded to more people
?No more 16-hour days, 6 days a week
?Chance to figure out who Lucy Chen is beyond this building
Don't Sell:
?Keep the town happy
?Preserve everything exactly as grandmother left it
?Avoid change and risk
?Stay safe
Lucy looked at the lists. The "don't sell" column was all about avoiding. About fear. About keeping everyone else happy.
The "sell" column was about choosing. About growing. About possibility.
She knew what her grandmother would say. She'd say that Lucy was being brave. That change was necessary. That holding onto the past too tightly meant missing the future.
But knowing that and believing it were two different things.
Lucy picked up her phone and called Shayna.
