Chapter 30

At dawn, Lucy and Felix wake entwined after finally spending a full day and night together. Felix surprises Lucy with flowers from Christine’s garden and makes her breakfast, while Lucy joyfully arranges multiple vases, reconnecting with the creative satisfaction she’s been missing. They decide to host Bridget and Miles for dinner and tell them about their relationship.

Over breakfast on the deck, Lucy asks how their relationship will work. Felix affirms that they owe no one immediate answers but agrees to set a plan. They choose exclusivity, with no seeing other people, and commit to taking things slow. Their intimacy deepens as they savor the morning together.

Later on the beach, Felix admits he avoids risks after past hurts, and Lucy acknowledges her recent burnout at work. Felix proposes a simple plan: he will come to Toronto for the wedding so they can spend four nights together and begin a rhythm of monthly visits, alternating cities as budgets allow. They agree to tell their families they’re dating and to ask for space while they figure it out.

They discuss parental reactions: Felix expects Christine’s support, while Lucy anticipates doubts from her cautious parents. Lucy shares memories of her protective upbringing, her brother Lyle, and how her aunt’s illness briefly reconciled long-standing tensions between her aunt and mother. Bridget still hasn’t replied to Lucy’s text, leaving the impending conversation unresolved but imminent.