Semi-retired at 30? "I'm keeping my CEO title and my board seat, but I'm delegating everything else. My life is here now." "With you." Lucas pulled her inside and kissed her like she might disappear again if he didn't hold on tight enough.
"I missed you," he said. "I missed you, too. Every single day." Mia appeared in the hallway. "Victoria!"
She ran over. Victoria scooped her up, hugging her tight. "Did you bring me a present?" Mia asked. "Mia," Lucas started.
"It's okay," Victoria laughed. "I did, actually." She pulled a small box from her bag. "Open it." Mia tore into it.
Inside was a bracelet with three charms, a soccer ball, a book, and a heart. "The soccer ball is because you're amazing at the game," Victoria explained. "The book is because you're the smartest kid I know, and the heart is because you have the biggest one." Mia threw her arms around Victoria's neck. "Thank you!
I love it!" Over Mia's shoulder, Victoria caught Lucas's eye. He mouthed, "I love you." She mouthed back, "I love you, too." That night, after Mia was asleep, they talked.
"I want more," Victoria said. "More than weekend visits and separate apartments. I want a life with you, a real one." "What are you saying?" "I'm saying I want us to live together.
I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to help Mia with homework and fight with you about whose turn it is to do dishes. I want all the mundane, boring, beautiful parts of building a life together." Lucas's heart was pounding. "That's a big step."
"I know, and I know we haven't been back together that long, but Lucas, I wasted 7 years. I'm not wasting another day. What about Mia? We'd need to make sure she's comfortable. So, we ask her.
We include her in the decision, but I think she'll be okay with it. She already acts like I'm part of the family. Lucas thought about it. About what it would mean. Victoria's things mixed with his.
Her presence not as a visitor, but as a permanent fixture. Shared responsibilities. Shared everything. It terrified him. It also felt absolutely right.
"Okay," he said. "Okay?" "Yeah, let's do it. Let's build a life together." Victoria kissed him.
"I'm going to need a bigger apartment. Your place is tiny." "We'll get a house. Something with a yard for Mia. Room for all of us."
"A house?" Victoria smiled. "I've never owned a house." "Neither have I. We'll figure it out together." They told Mia the next morning over pancakes.
"Victoria and I are thinking about getting a house together. All three of us. Would you like that?" Mia's eyes went wide. "Like a real house with a yard?"
"Yep. And you'd get your own room. We'd pick it out together." "Can I get a dog?" Victoria laughed.
"Absolutely not." "Maybe a dog," Lucas said, shooting Victoria a look. "We'll discuss the dog," Victoria amended. Mia bounced in her seat. "This is the best day ever."
They started house hunting the following week. Looked at dozens of places. Too small. Too big. Wrong neighborhood.
Terrible schools. Finally, they found it. A three-bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood. Decent yard. Good school district.
Room to grow. "This is it," Victoria said, standing in the empty living room. "This is our home." Lucas could see it. Furniture in the corners.
Mia's toys scattered around. Pictures on the walls. A life built from scratch. They put in an offer that day. It was accepted by the end of the week.
Moving day came in early December. Friends and family helped. Richard and Margaret, Eleanor, even some of Lucas's coworkers. Everyone wanted to be part of this new beginning. Mia ran through the empty rooms claiming the biggest bedroom for herself.
Victoria unpacked kitchen boxes organizing things with military precision. Lucas assembled furniture and tried not to have a panic attack about this massive, wonderful, terrifying change. That night, after everyone left and Mia was asleep in her new room, Lucas and Victoria sat on the floor of their new living room surrounded by boxes. We did it. Victoria said.
We really did. I never thought I'd be here. In Denver. In a house. With you.
Life's weird like that. Victoria leaned against him. I'm happy. Actually, genuinely happy. I didn't think that was possible anymore.
Lucas kissed the top of her head. Me, neither. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Then Lucas said. I want to ask you something.
But I don't want you to feel pressured. Victoria sat up. Okay. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Her eyes went wide.
Lucas, let me say this before I lose my nerve. He opened the box. A simple ring, nothing ostentatious, just a single diamond on a silver band. Seven years ago, I let you go because I thought it was the right thing to do. Turned out it was the stupidest decision of my life.
I'm not making that mistake again. Lucas, I know we've only been back together for 8 months. I know this is fast. But I also know I don't want to spend another day without knowing you're mine. Officially.
Completely. He took a breath. Victoria Hale. Will you marry me? Victoria was crying.
You're serious. Completely serious. We fight, we're both stubborn, we have baggage and complications and a 7-year-old who's going to have opinions about this. Is that a no? No, it's not a no, you idiot.
She wiped her eyes. It's a yes. Yes, I'll marry you. Lucas slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly.
They kissed there on the floor of their new house surrounded by boxes and possibilities. Should we tell Mia? Victoria asked. In the morning. Let's just have this moment first.
Okay. She looked at the ring. I can't believe this is real. Believe it. They stayed up late talking about the future.