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Lucy had just gotten back from the station, showered, and changed into comfortable clothes when she started getting dinner ready.
Tim was going to be there for a while, so getting a head start on dinner seemed like the right thing to do for her fiancé.
Oh, yes.
Her fiancé.
She still got a ridiculous little thrill every time she thought about it.
She loved calling Tim that. Loved the way the word felt on her tongue, even months after he'd slipped a ring onto her finger and changed the trajectory of both their lives. And she loved it even more
when Tim called her his fiancée, usually with that tiny, smug smile that made her want to kiss him and roll her eyes at the same time.
Wedding planning was officially in full swing, mostly because Angela and Genny had apparently decided that Lucy and Tim's wedding was now a matter of national importance.
There were spreadsheets.
Color palettes.
Venue options.
A running list of potential floral arrangements that Lucy was ninety percent sure had somehow become a forty-page document.
And, of course, Angela had opinions.
Lots of opinions.
Lucy smiled to herself as she stirred the sauce, already imagining the chaos waiting for her at the next planning session.
But there was one person missing from all of it.
One person she hadn't had nearly enough time to catch up with.
Tamara. Her puppy. Her little sister. Her girl.
So much had happened since they'd last really talked. Lucy had wanted to call her a dozen times, but between work, Tim, wedding planning, and the general madness that seemed to follow them around, their conversations had been reduced to scattered texts and the occasional voice note.
She missed her.
More than she'd realized.
Tamara had decided to take a gap year after everything that had happened with Seth Ridley. Lucy had supported her decision, even if every protective older-sister instinct in her had screamed at the thought of Tamara being anywhere but somewhere safe.
But Tamara had needed the time.
Needed to figure out what she wanted.
And now, after months of traveling and finding herself again, she was finally due back soon.
Lucy glanced at the clock.
She knew.
She just knew.
Because if there was one thing about Tamara that hadn't changed, it was her ability to call at the most inconvenient—or completely insane—hours imaginable.
Sure enough, Lucy's phone lit up on the kitchen counter.
Tamara 🐶
Lucy laughed.
"Of course."
She picked up the phone and answered on the third ring.
"You're calling me at four in the morning."
A sleepy but unmistakably cheerful voice came through the speaker.
"Technically, it's seven in the evening for me."
Lucy rolled her eyes.
"You're in Paris, Tamara. Normal people don't use time zones as an excuse to call."
There was a pause.
Then—
"Okay, first of all, I'm not normal."
"That's true."
"And second, I have news."
Lucy immediately stopped stirring.
"Oh God."
"What?"
"Whenever you say you have news, something has gone horribly wrong or you've done something spectacularly irresponsible."
"Wow. The faith you have in me."
"I have plenty of faith in you. I just also have extensive experience with you." Lucy exclaimed.
Tamara laughed.
And just like that, Lucy felt something in her chest loosen.
God, she'd missed that laugh.
"How are you?" Lucy asked, softer now.
"I'm good."
"Actually good?"
"Actually good."
Lucy smiled.
"Good."
There was another beat of silence.
Lucy laughed, shaking her head as she went back to the stove.
"You're ridiculous.And you're getting married."
Lucy froze for half a second.
Even after all this time, hearing it said out loud still did something to her.
"I'm getting married," she admitted, smiling.
"To Tim Bradford."
"Last I checked."
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You're actually going to be someone's wife."
Lucy could practically hear the grin in Tamara's voice.
And despite herself, Lucy's own smile widened.
"Yeah."
She looked down at the ring on her finger, turning it slightly beneath the kitchen light.
"Yeah, I am."
Here’s a polished continuation, keeping the warmth and sibling dynamic while letting Tamara’s return land emotionally for Lucy.
"Show it to me again!"
Tamara's voice immediately went up an octave with excitement.
Lucy laughed, holding her hand up toward the camera and wiggling her fingers. The diamond caught the light from the kitchen and threw a little sparkle across the screen.
"It's beautiful, Luce," Tamara breathed. "He did so good."
"He did."
Lucy looked down at the ring, her smile softening.
"You should ask him to tell you the story behind it," she added. "That's his story to tell, for sure."
Tamara narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Oh, so there's a story?"
Lucy smiled.
"There always is with Tim."
"Okay, now I definitely need to hear it."
"You will."
Tamara hummed, clearly filing that away for later.
Then, with suspicious casualness, she asked, "Oh yeah, on that note... how's dinner on Wednesday?"
Lucy blinked.
"Wait. What?"
Tamara tried—and failed—to hide her grin.
"Wednesday."
Lucy stared at the screen.
"Does that mean—"
"Yes and yes."
Lucy's mouth fell open.
"You're coming home?"
"Finally."
For a second, Lucy just stood there, completely frozen.
Then the words started tumbling out.
"Wait, you're actually coming home? Like, home-home? Los Angeles home?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Wednesday."
"This Wednesday?"
"Lucy."
"Sorry, I'm just—"
"You're shocked?"
"You're terrible at telling me things!"
"I was going to tell you!"
"You were going to casually mention that you're flying back across the Atlantic in the middle of a conversation about my engagement ring?"
"Well..." Tamara shrugged. "It seemed like a good transition."
Lucy laughed, shaking her head.
"You're impossible."
"I know."
Tamara's smile softened.
"I finally booked my tickets back home. And my semester starts the following Monday for that master's program I told you about."
Lucy straightened.
"Wait. You got in?"
"I got the admit two weeks ago!"
"Tam!"
"I've been working on getting everything sorted since then. Flights, housing, paperwork, all of it. I didn't want to say anything until it was actually happening."
Lucy stared at her little sister through the screen.
"Wow."
She smiled, the happiness spreading across her face.
"That's a lot, Tam."
"I know."
"You got into the program, you're flying home, you're starting a master's..."
"And I'm apparently going to be attending my sister's wedding."
Lucy laughed.
"Okay, that one's definitely the most important."
"Obviously."
"God, I'm so happy for you."
Tamara's expression softened.
"Me too."
There was a small pause.
Then Lucy asked quietly, "You're really ready to come back?"
Tamara nodded.
"I think I am."
Lucy didn't push.
She knew better than anyone that coming back wasn't just about getting on a plane.
There were things Tamara had left behind.
Things she had needed to get away from.
And there were things waiting for her when she returned.
But if Tamara was saying she was ready, Lucy was going to believe her.
"Then Wednesday can't come fast enough."
"For you or for me?"
"Both."
Tamara grinned.
"Good. Because I have missed you."
Lucy smiled.
"I've missed you too, puppy."
"Don't call me that."
"You'll always be my puppy."
"Lucy."
"Always."
Tamara groaned, but she was smiling.
And for the first time in months, Lucy could picture her little sister sitting across from her at the dinner table again.
—-
Wednesday couldn't come fast enough.
Lucy had been excited all week, and honestly, it was ridiculously cute to watch.
At least, that was Tim's assessment.
Every morning, she'd find some new reason to bring Tamara up in conversation.
Tamara was going to love this.
Tamara had to see that.
Tamara would absolutely make fun of them for that.
Tamara would be here Wednesday.
Tim had learned pretty quickly that there was no point pretending he wasn't just as excited. He'd seen how much Lucy had missed her, even when she hadn't said it outright.
And now she was coming home.
Tamara had arranged to move into campus accommodation the day her master's program started, which meant she would be staying with Lucy and Tim for the entire week.
A whole week.
Seven days of catching up.
Seven days of sister time.
Seven days of Tamara inevitably invading their kitchen, stealing Lucy's clothes, making herself entirely too comfortable on their couch, and probably giving Tim unsolicited commentary on his relationship.
He was looking forward to every second of it.
Especially because he knew what this meant to Lucy.
Tamara was going to UCLA for her master's in social work.
It wasn't something she'd chosen on a whim.
After everything she'd been through, and everything Lucy had done to help her find her way back to herself, Tamara had discovered something she wanted to do with her life.
She wanted to help people.
She wanted to pay it forward.
Lucy had been there for her when she'd needed someone to believe in her.
Now Tamara wanted to be that person for someone else.
Lucy couldn't have been prouder.
And Tim couldn't have been prouder of Lucy.
Because he'd watched his fiancée do something extraordinary without ever expecting recognition for it.
She'd taken someone who was hurting, someone who was lost, and she'd shown her that her life didn't have to be defined by the worst things that had happened to her.
She'd given Tamara a hand when she needed one.
And then she'd trusted her enough to let her find her own way.
That was Lucy.
That was the woman Tim was going to marry.
The woman who cared too much, loved too deeply, and somehow always found room in her heart for one more person.
Tim watched her from the doorway of their kitchen as she checked her phone for what had to be the tenth time that morning.
"Wednesday," he said.
Lucy looked up.
"What?"
"You've said Wednesday approximately fourteen times today."
She smiled innocently.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure."
He walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You're excited."
"Maybe."
"You're very excited."
"Okay, I'm very excited."
He smiled against her hair.
"I like seeing you like this."
Lucy leaned back into him.
"I've missed her."
"I know."
"She's my little sister."
"I know."
"And she's going to UCLA."
"I know."
Lucy turned in his arms.
"She's getting her master's in social work."
"I know, Luce."
"You're not going to get tired of me talking about this?"
Tim smiled.
"Not even a little."
Her expression softened.
"I just... I'm so proud of her."
"I know."
Then Tim kissed her forehead.
"And I'm proud of you."
Lucy looked up at him.
"For what?"
"For being the kind of person she could look up to."
That caught her off guard.
Her eyes softened, and for a moment she didn't say anything.
Tim brushed his thumb along her cheek.
"She figured out what she wanted to do because you helped her believe she could have a future."
Lucy shook her head slightly.
"She did that herself."
"Yeah."
Tim smiled.
"But you helped her see it."
Lucy swallowed, her eyes getting a little glassy.
"You're going to make me cry."
"Occupational hazard of being engaged to me."
She laughed through the emotion and tucked herself back against his chest.
"You're pretty good at this fiancé thing."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Tim kissed the top of her head.
"I'm just trying to keep up with you."
And as Lucy smiled against him, Tim realized something.
He'd spent years believing that being a good cop meant protecting people.
Lucy had taught him that sometimes it meant something else entirely.
Sometimes it meant believing in someone until they could believe in themselves.
And he couldn't think of anyone better to do life with than the woman standing in his arms.
He couldn't wait for Wednesday either.
—--
Wednesday came fast, and before either of them knew it, Lucy and Tim were standing at the airport waiting for Tamara.
Lucy had taken the day off, determined to make the most of the few hours they had together before Tim had to head into the station. The plan was simple: pick Tamara up, go home, have lunch together, and spend as much time catching up as they could before Tim left for work.
Then they spotted her.
Tamara was making her way through the arrivals area with a trolley stacked with bags.
A lot of bags.
Lucy stared.
"Is that all hers?"
Tim followed her gaze.
"Looks like it."
"She left with, like, one bag."
"Apparently Europe gave her things to bring back."
Lucy squinted.
"That's double."
"At least."
Before Tim could say anything else, Lucy was already moving.
"Tam!"
Tamara spotted her at almost the exact same moment.
"Lucy!"
They both abandoned all dignity and ran toward each other.
The trolley was promptly forgotten.
Tim sighed, grabbed the handle, and started pushing the mountain of luggage after them.
The girls collided in a hug, laughing as they held onto each other.
"Hey, you!"
"Hey, yourself!"
Tamara turned toward Tim just as he reached them, and before she could say anything else, he pulled her into one of his signature bear hugs.
Courtesy of his height, Tamara's feet nearly left the ground.
She laughed into his chest.
"Hi, Tim."
"Welcome home, nosy roommate"
She squeezed him tighter not before a tiny whack.
She loved Tim's hugs.
They had always felt different from Lucy's. Lucy's were warm and familiar and comforting.
Tim's were like being wrapped in a human safety blanket.
When he finally let her go, Tamara looked between them, grinning.
"It's really good to see you guys."
Lucy immediately reached for her hand.
"It's so good to have you back."
"How was the flight?" Lucy asked as they started walking toward the luggage.
"Good."
"You sleep at all?"
"A little."
"Did you eat?"
"Yes."
"How long was your layover?"
"Lucy."
"What?"
"I just got here."
Tamara laughed.
"I know."
She looked over at the trolley.
Then at Lucy.
Then back at the trolley.
Tim caught the look and smirked.
"And I'm guessing you took the year to shop and hoard, just like Lucy."
Lucy gasped.
"Hey!"
Tamara immediately started laughing.
"You could say so."
She reached for one of the smaller bags.
"I had a job and did babysitting too, so I made some cash."
Lucy looked at her.
Tamara continued cautiously.
"Spent some."
"And saved some."
She glanced at Lucy.
"Too."
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
Tamara knew that look.
She had absolutely known this was coming.
"How much did you save?"
"Enough."
"Tamara."
"I saved money."
"How much?"
"Lucy."
"Tamara."
Tim looked between them, fighting a smile.
"Oh, we're doing this already?"
Tamara pointed at him.
"You stay out of this."
"I'm staying out of it."
He grabbed another suitcase.
"I'm just enjoying the show."
Lucy folded her arms.
"I'm not mad."
Tamara raised an eyebrow.
"You're doing the voice."
"What voice?"
"I'm not mad, but I'm about to give you a thirty-minute lecture about financial responsibility."
Tim snorted.
Lucy looked at him.
"Don't encourage her."
"I'm not."
He paused.
"Okay, maybe a little."
Tamara laughed.
"See? This is exactly what I missed."
Lucy shook her head, but she was smiling.
"You've been home for five minutes."
"I know."
Tamara slipped her arm through Lucy's.
"And already I feel like I never left."
That silenced Lucy for a moment.
She looked at her little sister, then squeezed her arm.
"Good."
Tamara smiled.
"Good."
Behind them, Tim pushed the mountain of luggage toward the exit.
He looked at the bags.
Then at the girls.
Then back at the bags.
"Just so we're clear," he called out, "I'm only making one trip to the car."
Tamara grinned.
"That's fine."
Lucy looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because I bought a lot of stuff."
Tim groaned.
"Of course you did."
And just like that, they were home again.
—-
"That smells delicious!"
Tamara exclaimed the second they walked through the front door.
Lucy smiled.
"That's because it is."
They barely made it three steps into the house before they were ambushed by Kojo, who was apparently just as excited about Tamara's return as everyone else.
"Oh my God!"
Tamara immediately dropped her bag and crouched down, arms going around the excited dog.
"Kojo!"
Kojo's tail was going a mile a minute as he licked her face.
"I missed you too, bud."
She laughed, scratching behind his ears.
"Did you miss me?"
Kojo answered by enthusiastically trying to climb into her lap.
"Okay, okay. I missed you too."
Lucy watched them with a grin.
"Traitor."
Tamara looked up.
"He has excellent taste."
"Whatever."
Lucy picked up Tamara's bag.
"Come on. I'll show you your room."
She led her down the hallway, opening the door with a little flourish.
"This is your room."
Tamara stepped inside and looked around.
"It's our office too," Lucy explained excitedly, "but we have this Murphy bed here, and it's actually super comfortable. The closet has dressers, so you can put out everything you need. And the guest bathroom is the next door, opposite the linen closet."
Lucy turned to her.
"Feel at home."
She pulled Tamara into a hug.
Tamara hugged her back tightly.
"Thank you."
"Obviously."
Tim appeared in the doorway.
"We're just down the hall on the other side of the house."
Tamara looked between them.
"So I'm basically in my own little wing."
"Pretty much," Tim said.
Tamara laughed as she looked around again.
"This literally feels like a bigger version of our apartment living room."
She looked at Lucy.
"Lucy, you really took over this space, didn't you?"
Lucy looked offended.
"Well, of course I did."
Tim smiled.
"Of course she did."
"Some of Tim and some of me," Lucy continued, gesturing around the room. "It's ours now."
Tim walked over and kissed her forehead.
"Definitely ours."
Tamara watched them for a moment, a small smile on her face.
Then it faded.
"I'm sorry about that night."
Lucy immediately knew what she meant.
Tamara looked down.
"I know I said it before, but..." She swallowed. "I just wanted to say it one last time."
Lucy stepped closer.
"Tam."
"I shouldn't have—"
"Hey."
Lucy gently took her hands.
"You don't have to."
Tamara looked at her.
"It's all behind us. Don't worry."
"But—"
"No."
Lucy smiled.
"You're home. That's what matters."
Tim, who had been quietly standing nearby, nodded.
"She's right."
Tamara looked at him.
Tim gave her a small smile.
"We're good."
Tamara's shoulders finally relaxed.
"Okay."
"Okay."
Lucy clapped her hands together.
"Now."
Tamara blinked.
"What?"
"Lunch."
Tim laughed.
"That's her way of changing the subject."
"It is not."
"It absolutely is."
Lucy ignored him and headed toward the kitchen.
"Come on."
A few minutes later, Tim was setting the table while Lucy brought out the lasagna she'd baked that morning.
The smell alone had Tamara practically floating toward the kitchen.
Lucy placed the dish in the center of the table.
Tamara's eyes widened.
"Oh, Lucy."
She looked at the lasagna, then at her sister.
"You made my favorite."
"Of course I did."
Tamara immediately wrapped her arms around Lucy from behind.
"You are the best."
Lucy laughed.
"I know."
"Seriously."
Tamara took her seat, already reaching for a plate.
"I missed your cooking."
Tim sat down beside Lucy.
"I thought you missed Lucy."
"I did."
Tamara pointed toward the lasagna.
"But I also missed this."
Tim shook his head.
"Good to know where we rank."
Tamara grinned.
"You're both important."
Lucy handed her a serving.
"Eat."
Tamara took the first bite.
Her eyes practically closed in bliss.
"Oh my God."
Lucy laughed.
"That good?"
Tamara nodded emphatically.
"I've been eating European food for a year."
"That's a complaint?"
"No."
She took another bite.
"But apparently what I really needed was my sister's lasagna."
Lucy smiled across the table.
And for the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should.
As Lucy ate, Tamara's eyes drifted toward the ring on her sister's finger.
She reached across the table and caught Lucy's hand, gently turning it so the diamond caught the light.
"Tim, this is gorgeous."
Tim looked up from his plate.
Tamara shook her head, studying the ring again.
"I know I've said it, but seeing it in person? It's even better."
Lucy smiled, unable to resist wiggling her fingers excitedly.
"It really is."
Tim looked at her hand, then at Lucy.
"Glad you like it."
"Like it?"
Tamara looked at him incredulously.
"Tim, it's beautiful."
She turned back to Lucy.
"And you."
Lucy laughed.
"What about me?"
"You look ridiculously happy."
"I am ridiculously happy."
Tim's hand found hers beneath the table, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.
Tamara caught the movement and smiled.
Then her eyes lit up with sudden curiosity.
"Okay, so Lucy told me there's a story behind it."
Tim's eyebrows lifted.
"There is."
"Then why don't you fill me in?"
She pointed between them.
"Also, the proposal."
Lucy immediately looked at Tim but Tamara continued before either of them could answer.
"I never got to see pictures. I'm sure you had that covered too, right? Because knowing you two, there are probably approximately seventeen thousand pictures somewhere."
Tim and Lucy's smiles faded as the memories of that day came rushing back.
The warmth around the table shifted almost instantly.
Tamara noticed.
Her eyes moved between them, her own smile disappearing.
"What's wrong?"
Neither answered immediately.
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked, suddenly worried. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"No, no." Tim was the first to recover.
He shook his head quickly.
"You're good."
His eyes flicked toward Lucy.
Just for a second.
But Lucy knew exactly what he was saying.
It's time.
She swallowed.
There were things she hadn't told Tamara.
Not because she didn't trust her.
Not because she wanted to keep her in the dark.
She'd simply wanted to protect her from another piece of a life that had already been far too complicated.
But Tamara was home now.
And this was her story too, in a way.
Lucy slowly placed her fork down.
"Tamara..."
She let out a deep breath.
Tamara immediately straightened.
"What?"
Lucy reached across the table and took her hand.
"There's something we didn't tell you about the proposal."
Tamara's eyes widened.
"Okay..."
She looked at Tim.
Then back at Lucy.
"Is everything okay?"
Lucy nodded.
"Yes."
She gave her sister's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Everything is okay."
Tim reached across the table and rested his hand over Lucy's.
"But the day didn't exactly go the way you probably think it did."
Tamara's expression shifted from concern to confusion.
"What happened?"
Lucy exchanged another look with Tim.
Then she finally said it.
"The proposal wasn't just..."
She paused, searching for the words.
"It wasn't just this beautiful, perfect moment where Tim got down on one knee and I said yes."
Tamara's brow furrowed.
"Then what happened?"
Lucy took another breath.
"There was a lot more to that day than we told you."
And suddenly, the story they'd kept tucked away was no longer something only the two of them carried.
Tim picked up the slack when Lucy struggled to get the words out.
"We were kidnapped."
Tamara's face fell.
"Seconds after the proposal."
Lucy looked down at their joined hands.
"We were caught up in our own little bubble," Tim continued quietly. "We'd just gotten engaged. We were happy. We weren't paying attention to anyone around us."
He paused.
"Two people walked past us and stopped to congratulate us. They looked completely harmless. Just strangers who'd seen the ring and wanted to share the moment."
Tamara's brow furrowed.
"And then?"
"They injected us with something."
Her eyes widened.
"Something that knocked us out."
Lucy squeezed her hand.
"When we woke up, we were separated."
Tamara stared at them, trying to process the words.
"Separated?"
Tim nodded.
"We were both being held somewhere, but we had no idea where the other person was."
"How long?"
Tim's jaw tightened.
"More than two weeks."
Tamara's eyes immediately went to Lucy.
"Two weeks?"
Lucy nodded slowly.
"It was the doing of a criminal we'd captured the day before."
Tim's expression hardened as the memories surfaced.
"He'd had a problem with me from the first time we arrested him. Apparently, he'd been planning this for a while. He was running things from inside prison, with people on the outside carrying out his orders."
Tamara's mouth parted slightly.
"So he..."
"He orchestrated the whole thing," Tim said.
"The kidnapping. The separation. Everything."
Tamara looked between them again.
"And you had no idea where the other one was?"
"No," Lucy whispered.
The word hung heavily between them.
Tim reached for Lucy's hand again.
"We didn't know if the other person was okay. We didn't know if we'd ever see each other again."
Tamara's eyes filled.
"Oh my God."
Lucy gave her a small, reassuring smile.
"But we did."
"Eventually."
Tim nodded.
"We were found."
Tamara exhaled shakily.
"And the proposal?"
Lucy glanced down at her ring.
"Still happened."
Despite everything, a tiny smile appeared on her face.
"That's the part that makes it complicated."
Tim looked at her.
"We had this beautiful moment."
His thumb brushed over her hand.
"And then, minutes later, our lives completely changed."
Tamara sat silently, absorbing everything.
She looked at the ring again.
Suddenly, it didn't just look beautiful.
It looked like a symbol of everything they'd survived to get here.
Tamara's mouth dropped open.
Tim glanced at Lucy.
She gave him a small smile.
"But we're okay."
Lucy's voice was gentle, reassuring.
"It's been a while now. We went to therapy, we spent time together, and we recovered."
She glanced around the table, a small smile appearing on her face.
"Thanks to our lovely village."
Tim smiled too.
"His mom, his sister, Angela, Nyla, Bailey, John..."
Lucy shook her head fondly.
"Everyone was there for us. More than anything."
"They made sure we weren't doing it alone," Tim added.
Tamara looked at them, still processing everything.
Tim's eyes dropped to the ring for a moment.
"And that's why this little piece of jewelry is precious."
He gently took Lucy's hand.
"Not just because of where it came from."
He looked at Lucy.
"But because of where it got us."
Lucy met his eyes.
"It kept us bonded, even when we were separated."
Tamara's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm so sorry."
She looked between them.
"I wish I could've been there for you guys."
"No, no, Tam."
Lucy reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"Don't do that."
"But—"
"There's a reason I didn't tell you over the phone."
Tamara looked at her.
"I wanted to tell you when you were here. When we could actually talk about it. When I could see you and know you were okay."
She gave her sister a reassuring smile.
"We're here now."
Tim nodded.
"And we're okay."
"And he's in the ground," Lucy added.
Tamara blinked.
"He was sentenced and executed a couple of weeks ago. That's part of why we finally got the closure we needed."
Lucy took a breath and then deliberately brightened her expression.
"So we're moving forward."
She looked at Tim.
"And focusing on something much more fun."
Tim's mouth curved into a smile.
"Wedding planning."
Tamara immediately laughed through the last of her tears.
"Oh, I can't wait to get to that."
She squeezed both their hands.
"Okay, show me everything."
Lucy grinned.
"Oh, you're going to regret saying that."
"Absolutely not."
Tim leaned back in his chair.
"I give it three hours before she starts questioning every decision we've made."
"Three hours?" Tamara said. "Optimistic."
Lucy laughed.
And just like that, the heaviness at the table began to lift.
They had survived the worst of it.
They were here.
Together.
And now they had a wedding to plan.
—-
Tamara was halfway through unpacking when she found it.
Her new camera.
She pulled it carefully from between two sweaters, holding it up for a moment before smiling at the memories attached to it. She'd carried that camera with her through nearly the entire year—through cities, train rides, little cafés, beaches, strangers she'd met along the way, and moments she'd wanted to remember.
And then an idea struck her.
She looked toward the suitcase she'd left open on the floor.
A pre-wedding shoot.
For Tim and Lucy.
But not just any pre-wedding shoot.
She wanted to recreate the proposal.
Same beach.
Same outfits.
Same setting.
Only this time, there would be photographs.
New memories.
A way to take a day that had become tangled with something terrible and give it something beautiful to hold onto instead.
Tamara smiled.
It was perfect.
Later that afternoon, Lucy was taking a shower while Tim had taken Kojo out for a run.
Tamara wandered into the living room, still thinking about her idea.
She glanced around.
There were pictures everywhere.
Lucy and Tim at dinner.
Lucy and Angela.
The three of them with Kojo.
Tim and Lucy on vacation.
Their engagement party.
Little snapshots of their life together.
But no proposal pictures.
None.
Tamara walked closer to one of the framed photographs and studied it.
There were pictures from before.
Pictures from after.
But nothing from that day.
Her idea suddenly felt even more right.
"What are you looking at?"
Tamara nearly jumped.
She turned around to find Tim standing behind her.
"Oh."
She smiled quickly.
"Um... nothing."
Tim raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
She pointed toward the kitchen.
"What's for dinner?"
Tim's eyebrow stayed firmly raised, but he let it go.
"I made ravioli."
Tamara's face immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
He glanced toward the hallway.
"And pancakes for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Good?"
"Perfect!"
Tamara grinned.
Tim shook his head, amused.
"Thought so."
As he walked toward the kitchen, Tamara looked back at the photographs.
She smiled.
It was good to be home.
And tomorrow, she was going to give them something they'd been missing without even realizing it.
The next morning, Tamara waited until breakfast was underway.
Lucy was sitting across from her with a cup of coffee while Tim was working his way through a stack of pancakes.
Tamara took a breath.
"So, there's something I wanna do for you guys."
Lucy immediately looked concerned.
"Tam, you don't have to do anything. Your presence is everything."
"I know, I know."
Tamara waved her off.
"But still."
She looked between them.
"Consider it my wedding gift to you guys."
Tim's expression turned amused.
"Okay."
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"What is it?"
Tamara smiled.
"So..."
She paused dramatically.
"I took photography as a course in Paris."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"You did?"
"Yeah."
Tamara pointed toward the hallway.
"And I have a camera now. A very nice one."
Tim nodded.
"Okay."
"And I want to gift you guys a photoshoot."
Lucy blinked.
"A photoshoot?"
"A pre-wedding photoshoot."
Tamara's excitement grew as she explained.
"And, if it isn't too much..."
She hesitated.
"We could go to the same beach."
Lucy's smile slowly faded into something softer.
Tamara continued carefully.
"Wearing the same outfits as you did for the proposal."
Tim stopped eating.
"And recreate it."
She looked between them.
"Not because we want to recreate what happened."
Tamara's voice softened.
"But because I want you to have pictures of that moment that belong to you."
Lucy stared at her.
"We can make new memories there."
Tamara swallowed.
"Happy ones."
For a moment, neither Lucy nor Tim said anything.
Then Lucy reached across the table and took her sister's hand.
"Tam..."
Tamara gave her a nervous smile.
"If you don't want to, that's completely okay. I just thought..."
"No."
Lucy shook her head.
"I think it's beautiful."
Tim looked at Lucy.
She looked back at him.
There was something in her eyes.
Something hopeful.
Tim reached across the table and squeezed Lucy's hand.
"I think it's a pretty damn good wedding gift."
Tamara's face lit up.
"Really?"
"Really."
Lucy smiled through the emotion gathering in her eyes.
"Let's make some new memories."
—---