"Lucy. Have you made a decision?"
"Not yet. But I need to ask you something. If I sell, can I have a clause in the contract that says you'll preserve at least 75% of my grandmother's original recipes? That the name The Bread Basket stays the same? That you'll work with me on maintaining the spirit of what she built?"
"Absolutely. That's always been the plan."
"And the consulting position—would that be remote? Or would I need to be here?"
"Mostly remote. We'd want you to check in on the new locations periodically, maybe come back quarterly to work with the bakers. But you could do it from anywhere."
"So I could travel. Go to culinary school. And still stay involved."
"Yes. Lucy, that's the whole point. We don't want to erase what your grandmother built. We want to expand it. And we want you involved in that expansion—but on your terms."
After they hung up, Lucy sat with her decision.
She was going to sell. She knew she was going to sell.
But first, she needed to tell the town. She needed to face the disappointment head-on instead of hiding from it.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow she'd make her announcement. And then she'd see if Timber Falls could forgive her for choosing herself.
After Lucy left, Jake sat in his apartment and thought about Nashville.
He could call Derek back. Accept the offer. Start fresh somewhere else.
Lucy would probably be relieved. She could sell the bakery without worrying about him waiting around. She could travel and go to culinary school without the guilt of leaving him behind.
It would be easier for both of them.
His phone buzzed. Marcus.
Marcus:How did it go with Lucy?
Jake:We're okay. I think. She's deciding about the bakery by Wednesday.
Marcus:And you?
Jake:Nashville called. They want me to reconsider.
Marcus:Are you going to?
Jake stared at that message for a long time. Then he typed:
Jake:No. I'm staying.
Marcus:Good. Because we need you here. Not just as a player. As a coach. As a friend. As someone who finally learned how to show up.
Marcus:Also Lucy needs you here. Even if she's too scared to admit it right now.
Jake set down his phone and looked around his studio apartment. It wasn't much. But it was home.
And he'd chosen it. He'd chosen Timber Falls, chosen coaching, chosen Lucy.
Even if it all fell apart, he wouldn't regret choosing.
That was the difference between this and the last six years. He wasn't settling. He was choosing.
And that made all the difference.
