Jake called Derek back.
"I'm not taking the Nashville offer."
"Jake, are you sure? This is probably your last chance—"
"I'm sure. I'm staying in Timber Falls. I'm coaching. This is where I'm supposed to be."
"Okay. I respect that. Good luck, Morrison."
After he hung up, Jake texted Lucy.
Jake:I told Nashville no. I'm staying. No matter what you decide about the bakery. No matter what.
Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again.
Finally:Thank you. That means more than you know.
Jake smiled despite the anxiety still churning in his gut.
They were going to be okay. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But eventually.
They just had to be brave enough to keep choosing each other.
Even when it was scary.
Especially when it was scary.
Chapter 11
Monday morning arrived with Lucy's mind made up.
She woke at 4:45 AM, but instead of immediately going downstairs to the bakery, she lay in bed and let herself feel the decision settle into her bones.
She was selling. She was really doing this.
By 5:30, Lucy was in the bakery kitchen, making pork buns the way her grandmother had taught her. The familiar motions were soothing—mix, knead, fold, pinch. Each bun a small meditation.
She thought about her grandmother's hands doing this same work for forty years. Building something from nothing. Feeding people. Creating community through food.
And now Lucy was going to let it go. Let it grow. Let it become something bigger than what one person could build alone.
It wasn't betrayal. It was evolution.
Mae arrived at 7 AM with coffee and found Lucy sitting at the prep table, surrounded by perfectly formed pork buns.
"You're glowing," Mae said.
"I'm exhausted."
"No, you're glowing. Like you've made a decision and you're at peace with it."
"I'm selling the bakery. Officially. I'm calling Shayna today."
Mae squealed and hugged her. "Lucy! That's amazing! I'm so proud of you!"
"The town is going to hate me."
"The town will get over it. And the ones who really care about you will understand."
