Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
L ucy had opened the refrigerator door three times and each time she shook her head and sighed. She hated to cook, and equally despised cleaning up. Not having to cook often was one of the special perks of dating a chef. More than once, her tummy growled just thinking about Ethan’s cooking. But, it was nothing compared to his smile. That, Lucy lamented, she missed more than anything.
Her cellphone rang and Jack’s name showed on the screen.
“Hey, Jack! What’s up?”
“Hey, Lucy. I need a favor,” Jack said, his voice steady but carrying a nervous edge. “Can you invite Hannah over to your place tonight? I need to talk to both of you about something important.”
There was a beat of silence before Lucy’s voice softened. “Important, huh? This doesn’t sound like vineyard business.”
“It’s not,” Jack admitted, a slight chuckle breaking through his nerves. “I’ll explain when we’re all together.”
“Okay,” Lucy said, curiosity clear in her tone. “I’ll call Hannah and tell her to come over for dinner. Do you want me to make something special? If you do, you’ll need to go somewhere else. I hate to cook. How about I get us a couple of pizzas?”
“No fuss, pizza is fine,” Jack replied. “Thanks, Lucy. I’ll be there around seven. Oh…and Lucy, don’t mention this to Rachel.”
“Of course. See you at seven.”
Lucy hung up and immediately dialed Hannah. When her sister answered, Lucy wasted no time. “Hannah, can you come over tonight? Jack’s coming by, and he says it’s important. I’m ordering pizzas right now. I suppose you want your usual mushroom?”
“Jack?” Hannah asked, intrigued. “What’s going on?”
“I have no idea,” Lucy said. “But he sounded nervous, so it’s got to be something big. You in?”
“Of course. What time?”
“Seven. Don’t be late.”
Hannah laughed. “I’ll be there, and mushroom sounds good to me.”
Waiting for Jack to arrive, Lucy set the table set with three plates and opened a bottle of red wine.
Hannah poured herself a glass and then started pacing the living room floor, stopping only long enough to sip her wine.
“I bet he wants to propose to Rachel and wants to ask us for her hand,” Hannah said.
Lucy chuckled. “Her hand? Don’t you think that’s a bit formal? Rachel won’t care if he asks us. They’re two grown adults who don’t need our permission to get married.”
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t care. I think it’s romantic and very gentlemanly.”
Lucy shook her head. “You always amaze me, Hannah. One minute you seem like you’re still a teenager and the next minute you’re a conservative old soul.”
Just as the pizza delivery driver left, Jack’s car pulled up in front of the house.
Lucy worried when she saw his face, and Hannah perked up, oblivious to the fact that his usual easy demeanor was replaced with a noticeable tension.
“Hey Jack,” Hannah said walking away from the window. “Looks like the rain has finally gone out to sea.”
Jack nodded. “Hey, Hannah…Lucy. Yeah, it’s about time. Thanks for having me over last minute like this.”
“We’re practically family. You don’t need an invitation,” Hannah added and then looked at Lucy who was mortified Hannah used that exact phrase.
“Jack, sit down,” Lucy said warmly, gesturing to the chair across from Hannah. “Pizza’s hot. Would you like a glass of wine?”
Jack nodded, taking the seat. “Yes, that would be great. Thanks for this,” he said, his eyes darting between the two sisters.
“Okay, spill,” Lucy said, leaning forward with a grin. “What’s this big secret?”
Jack hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “I want to propose to Rachel,” he said finally.
Hannah’s ear to ear smile showed her excitement. “Jack! That’s amazing!” she exclaimed.
Lucy bent down and hugged him. “I’m so happy, Jack. You two are perfect for one another.”
“But I need your help,” Jack added quickly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “I want it to be perfect. And I…I don’t want to screw this up.”
Hannah leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “Jack, why would you screw it up? Rachel loves you. Anyone can see that, not to mention how much Everly adores you.”
Jack’s smile was faint. “I know she loves me. But marriage? That’s a whole other thing. After everything she went through with Brian…” He trailed off, his expression troubled. “I’m worried she’ll say no. That she’ll think it’s safer to keep things the way they are.”
Lucy’s smile softened, and she reached across the table to touch Jack’s arm. “Jack, Rachel’s been through a lot, but she’s also grown so much. Lately, it’s like she’s finally letting her guard down again. Don’t underestimate that.”
“She’s right,” Hannah said. “But if you’re this nervous, maybe it’s a good thing. It means you care enough to think this through. So let’s make sure it’s perfect.”
Jack nodded, some of his tension easing. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you two. I was hoping you could help me come up with a plan. I’d like to include Everly if that’s at all possible.”
“Of course,” Lucy said with a grin. “She’ll love being part of it.”
“That’s what I was hoping for,” Jack said, his smile growing. “Rachel and Everly are a package deal. I want this to be something they’ll both remember forever.”
Hannah’s eyes sparkled. “Okay, then. Let’s get to work. But first…pizza!”
The clinked their wine glasses in celebration and then spent the rest of the evening brainstorming ideas, their laughter filling the room as they bounced suggestions off one another. Jack’s nerves didn’t vanish completely, but by the time he left, Lucy was certain that he felt lighter—hopeful.
Thrilled that Rachel had found a life-long partner and someone who loved and cared for Everly as if she were his own, Lucy couldn’t wait to see Rachel’s reaction to Jack’s proposal.
After Jack left, Lucy and Hannah lingered at the table, both lost in thought as they finished their wine. The pizza boxes sat empty between them, save for a few forgotten crusts.
"Do you ever miss it?" Hannah asked suddenly, tracing the rim of her wineglass with her finger.
Lucy looked up, puzzled. "Miss what?"
"Being in love like that. The way Rachel and Jack are." Hannah's voice was soft, almost wistful. "The way you were with Ethan, and I thought I was with Oliver."
Lucy's breath caught at the mention of Ethan’s name. She'd been thinking about him earlier, standing in front of that empty refrigerator, but hearing Hannah say it made the ache more real somehow.
"Sometimes," she admitted, refilling both their glasses. "But what I miss most isn't the big moments—it's the little things. Like how he'd leave sticky notes with terrible food puns on the coffee maker all the time." She smiled despite herself. "Or how he always knew exactly when I needed a hug, even before I did."
Hannah nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I worry sometimes that I'll never find that again. Someone who just...gets me, you know?"
"You will," Lucy said firmly, reaching across to squeeze her sister's hand. "And when you do, Jack will probably help you plan the most elaborate proposal ever, just to pay us back."
They both laughed, and Hannah wiped away a stray tear. "Speaking of proposals, what do you think about Jack's plan?"
"I think it's perfect," Lucy said, smiling as she remembered his nervous excitement. "Simple but meaningful. Very them."
"Rachel's going to cry," Hannah predicted, grinning.
"Oh, absolutely. And Everly will be over the moon." Lucy paused, considering. "You know what this means, though, right?"
Hannah raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"We're getting a brother," Lucy said softly. "A good one, too. Someone who actually deserves to be part of our family. Not since Uncle Matthew, was there a lovely man to look up to in this family."
Hannah's eyes welled up again, but her smile was bright. "I know what you mean, and I miss him and Aunt Kathleen all the time." She raised her glass. "To Jack?"
Lucy clinked her glass against her sister's. "To Jack. And to Rachel finally getting her happily ever after."
As they sat there in the warm glow of wine, Lucy felt a familiar pang in her chest—not quite sadness, not quite hope, but something in between. Maybe it was time for her to start believing in happily ever after again too, and not just the ones she wrote about in her books.