Chapter 24
Summer arrived in Timber Falls with warm days and longer evenings.
Jake and Lucy had been officially living together for six weeks, and they'd fallen into a comfortable rhythm. She worked late at the restaurant, he had early morning practices. They cooked dinner together when their schedules aligned. They spent Sunday mornings in bed, reading and drinking coffee.
It was domestic and ordinary and everything Jake had wanted.
On a Saturday morning in late June, Jake woke to find Lucy already up, sitting on their small balcony with her laptop.
"What are you doing awake?" he asked, bringing her coffee. "It's your day off."
"Researching. I got an email from a food magazine. They want to do a feature on Margaret's."
"Lucy, that's amazing!"
"It is. But it's also—it's a lot. They want photos, interviews, the whole thing. What if I mess it up?"
"You won't mess it up. You're a natural at this stuff." Jake sat down next to her. "When's the interview?"
"Next week. They're sending a writer and photographer. Daniel's freaking out, Mae's already planning what to wear, and I'm just—terrified."
"Of course you are. But Lucy—this is good. This is your restaurant getting the recognition it deserves."
Lucy leaned into him. "I know. I'm excited. Also terrified. Can both things be true?"
"Both things are always true."
They spent the morning at the farmers market—a tradition they'd maintained even after Lucy moved in. The same vendors, the same produce, but now they shopped together. Planning meals, picking ingredients, being domestic.
"I love this," Lucy said as they walked home with their bags. "This normal life we've built. Wednesday morning pork buns, Sunday farmers markets, all of it."
"Me too. Though I have a confession."
"What?"
"I think I'm getting a little restless. With coaching. Don't get me wrong—I love the Wolves, I love what we've built. But I keep thinking there should be more. Something bigger."
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Expanding the youth program maybe. Running coaching clinics for other small-town teams. Writing a book about coaching philosophy. Something that has impact beyond just our team."
Lucy smiled. "You're ambitious. I like it."
"Says the woman who opened a restaurant and is already thinking about expansion."
"Fair point. We're both ambitious overachievers."
"That's why we work."
Back at their apartment, Jake's phone rang. Tommy.
"Jake, I need to talk to you about something. Can you stop by my place this afternoon?"
Jake met Tommy at his house an hour later. Tommy's wife, Patricia, let him in with a knowing smile.
"He's in the garage. Fair warning—he's being very mysterious about whatever this is."
Tommy was indeed in the garage, surrounded by boxes.
"What's all this?" Jake asked.
"Thirty years of coaching. Files, playbooks, notes. I've been going through everything, trying to organize it before Patricia makes me throw it all away."
"She's threatening to throw away thirty years of hockey history?"
"She says it's clutter. I say it's legacy. But that's not why I called you here." Tommy pulled out a folder. "I've been thinking about retirement. About what comes next."
"You've already retired."
"From coaching, yes. But Jake—I still have things to teach. Knowledge to share. And I don't want it to die with me."
"What are you thinking?"
"A coaching academy. For young coaches who want to work in hockey but don't know where to start. We'd teach strategy, player development, team management. All the stuff you learn on the job but wish someone had taught you."
"That's incredible. Who would run it?"
"I was hoping we'd run it. Together."
Jake felt his heart skip. "Together?"
"You're a natural teacher, Jake. You took a mediocre team and won a championship. You work with youth hockey every Saturday. You understand the game on a level most people never reach. And you're young enough to understand how the game is evolving."
"Tommy, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll think about it. We'd start small—summer clinics for high school coaches, maybe some online content. See if there's interest. If it works, we expand. Make it a real training program."
"Where would we do this?"
"Here in Timber Falls. We have the rink, we have the community support. We could bring coaches in from all over New England. Make Timber Falls a destination for hockey coaching education."
Jake's mind was spinning. This was exactly the kind of expansion he'd been craving. Teaching, mentoring, having impact beyond just one team.
"Let me talk to Lucy," Jake said. "But Tommy—I'm interested. Really interested."
"Good. Because I've already started planning the first clinic for August."
Jake drove home excited and nervous. This could be amazing—a chance to build something new with Tommy, to have real impact on the sport he loved.
But it would also mean more time commitment. More travel. More energy directed away from Lucy and their relationship.
Would she support it? Or would it be too much?
Lucy knew something was up the moment Jake walked through the door.
He had that look—excited but nervous, like he wanted to tell her something but wasn't sure how she'd react.
"What happened?" Lucy asked. "Did Tommy propose or something?"
"Kind of. He wants to start a coaching academy. For young hockey coaches. And he wants me to co-run it with him."
Lucy felt excitement rise in her chest. "Jake, that's incredible! That's exactly the kind of thing you've been talking about!"
"You're not worried?"
"Worried about what?"
"About it taking time away from us. About me being gone for clinics and training sessions."
Lucy pulled him down to sit on the couch. "Jake Morrison, listen to me. I spent seven months in Paris chasing my dream. You supported me completely, even when it nearly destroyed us. Now it's your turn. You have an opportunity to build something meaningful. Of course I support it."
"Even if it means I'm busier? Even if I have to travel occasionally?"
"Even then. Jake, we're not the same people who fell apart over distance. We've learned how to communicate, how to support each other's dreams. We can handle you being busy with a coaching academy."
Jake kissed her. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
"Not in the last three hours. You're slipping."
"I love you. Thank you for being excited about this."
"I am excited! This is perfect for you. Teaching, mentoring, building something with Tommy. It's everything you're good at." Lucy paused. "When would you start?"
"First clinic in August. Then we'd see how it goes. If there's interest, maybe expand to regular programs in the fall."
"August is perfect. Margaret's will be more established by then. I'll have systems in place. We can both be busy pursuing our dreams."
They spent the evening planning—Jake outlining what the coaching academy might look like, Lucy describing her ideas for expanding Margaret's catering services.
"Look at us," Lucy said. "Both building empires."
"Very small empires."
"Still. Empires."
Around 10 PM, Lucy's phone buzzed. Uncle Walter.
Uncle Walter: Can you and Jake come over tomorrow? I have something I want to discuss.
Lucy: Everything okay?
Uncle Walter: Everything's fine. Just want to talk about something. 2 PM?
Lucy: We'll be there.
"That was cryptic," Jake said, reading over her shoulder.
"Very. Uncle Walter being mysterious is never good."
"Maybe he wants to tell us he's dating someone."
"Uncle Walter? Dating? He's been single since Aunt Marie died twenty years ago."
"People surprise you."
The next afternoon, Lucy and Jake went to Uncle Walter's house. He had coffee and cookies ready, looking nervous.
"Okay, what's going on?" Lucy asked. "You're freaking me out."
"Nothing's wrong. I just—I wanted to talk to you both about something." Uncle Walter took a breath. "I'm thinking about selling the house."
Lucy felt her stomach drop. "What? Why?"
"It's too big for one person, Lulu. Four bedrooms, huge yard, constant maintenance. I don't need all this space anymore."
"But this is the family house. Where I grew up visiting. Where Grandma used to make Sunday dinners—"
"I know. And I've loved living here. But I'm sixty-eight years old. I want to downsize, travel, enjoy retirement. Not spend every weekend mowing a lawn that's too big for me."
"Where would you go?"
"There's a nice condo complex near the lake. Two bedrooms, no yard, all maintenance included. I'd still be in Timber Falls, just—smaller. Simpler."
Jake squeezed Lucy's hand. She was trying not to cry.
"I wanted to talk to you first," Uncle Walter continued. "Because I'm offering to sell you the house. Below market value. If you and Jake want it."
Lucy looked at Jake. They'd been living together for six weeks. They hadn't talked about houses or long-term plans or anything beyond just being together.
"Uncle Walter, that's—we can't—" Lucy stammered.
"Think about it. No pressure. But Lucy, your grandmother would want this house to stay in the family. And you and Jake—you're building a life together. Eventually you'll want more space than Jake's apartment. This could be that space."
"Can we talk about it?" Jake asked. "Just the two of us?"
"Of course. Take all the time you need. I'm not selling until fall at the earliest."
On the drive home, Lucy was silent.
"Talk to me," Jake said. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that's a huge decision. Buying a house together. We've been living together for six weeks, Jake. Six weeks. People don't buy houses together after six weeks."
"People who've been living together for six weeks, no. But people who've known each other for four years, dated for months, survived Paris, survived distance, survived rebuilding trust—those people can buy houses together."
"Can they?"
"I think so. But Lucy—only if you want to. Only if you're ready for that level of commitment."
"Are you?"