Lucy opened the door of the apartment to find Henry. He smiled as he greeted her.
"Hey, Lucy."
She took in his attire and remarked, "Khakis, really?"
He walked inside. "Well, yeah, it's kind of all I got." He then closed the door behind him.
"So, I wasn't sure what to bring, and then I remembered this." He opened the paper bag in his hand.
Lucy peered down inside, a less-than-enthusiastic expression appearing on her face. "The Game of Life?"
"Yep. Used to play it when I was a kid," Henry began before he bent down to be at her eye level. He gestured as he explained, "Basically, you live your entire life in an hour. You'll never look at things the same way again."
Lucy grew excited as she tapped his arm with her finger. "And neither will you after tonight."
He stood upright as a puzzled expression formed on his face. "What does that mean?"
She looked around before she motioned for him to follow her. He did so – though his confusion remained. She led him to the living room.
"Right before I got sick, my step-grandma showed me something…the second storybook, like the one you write about. Now I know the truth. She told me…everything I believe is real."
Henry bent down once more as he tried to reason with her. "Oh, Lucy, she's always been manipulative."
Lucy remained unfazed. "No, I'm telling you. It's real. I saw the book. You were in it."
He stood up straight once more. "And where is it now?"
"I don't know," she hesitantly admitted as Henry simply indulged her. "But it doesn't matter, because tonight is the night you're finally gonna give my mom true love's kiss."
He scrunched up his face before she finished, "And when that happens," pausing to take a breath, "The curse will break and we'll all remember our stories."
"Wow, seems like a lot to put on a kiss," Henry surmised with a tilt of his head.
Lucy let out a sigh. "Just wait, and you'll see." She then turned on her heel and bounced away.
He let out a sigh of his own as he smiled and shook his head.
As the dark-haired girl stopped outside of her room, she added, "And Alena can stop worrying so much and just be with Nick. I know this kiss will work."
She then continued on into the room and joined her mom. The two of them finished grabbing the games.
Alena took a deep breath as she stopped in front of the coffee shop.
She really hoped she wasn't making a mistake.
She then walked inside and spied Nick leaning against the counter. A hint of a smile graced her features when she realized he held two cups.
She then shook her head and approached him. With a smile, he greeted, "I got you hot chocolate. I remembered how much you like it."
She returned his smile as she took the cup, adjusting the box on her hip.
"Do you want some help with that?" Nick asked her as she continued to balance the files.
Alena grunted a little as she answered, "I would like to set this down."
He chuckled lightly before he glanced around and gestured toward a table.
"Will that be alright?" "Yeah, let's go." The pair of them then walked over to it.
When seated, Alena warmed as she took a hearty sip of cocoa - the cinnamon left a pleasant taste on her tongue.
"Mmm - I do love cinnamon. It's a little quirk of mine."
"I remember," Nick began as he smiled at her. He sipped on his coffee and continued, "And now we can talk about the reason we're here."
He gestured toward the box and surmised, "You seemed pretty serious on the phone."
Alena nodded as she placed her cup back on the table. With a deep breath, she told him, "Yeah, I hope you'll help me. I could use a lawyer's input."
"So you said," he spoke. He then pointed out, "I'm actually a music lawyer…"
"You are?" she interrupted with a tilt of her head. She then ran her fingers through her hair and apologized, "Sorry - I should have let you finish."
"It's okay," he assured her. He then finished, "Even though I am a music lawyer, I still know my way around a contract."
Alena couldn't help but giggle. "Good to know. I have quite a few of them."
With a nod, Nick offered, "Let's see what you have - and see why you insisted on discretion."
"Yeah, that," she began as she grabbed some of the files, "A little while ago, I took a business risk - I knew it would pay off, and I had very little to worry about. But it's a risk all the same."
Nick only raised an eyebrow. She finished, "I started my own business - one that is in direct competition with Belfry Towers."
His brown eyes widened. "You weren't kidding about risk."
He then asked, "Why would you do it? I mean, I know she could be difficult, but isn't it a dangerous game you're playing?"
"Maybe - but I would make the same decision," she began. She then squared her shoulders. "I wanted to do something meaningful - something that mattered. Something I could be proud of where I could help the people - and the neighborhood - I cared about. I also hated being manipulated - it wasn't right, and I needed to push back."
When she finished, she found Nick smiling at her. A blush spread across her face.
"We agreed you'd stop doing that."
"What? Oh, sorry," he said as he rubbed the back of his head.
He cleared his throat before he told her, "I just admire you. I can see you love what you do - and you're also a great friend and mom."
Alena's blush deepened - gods, she was doomed no matter what world they were in - but a smile then settled in.
"Thank you, Nick. I take it that means you'll help me?"
He smiled. "Yeah, I'd be happy to help." Alena beamed as she handed him the files.
He flipped through them, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he read them.
Alena bobbed her leg up and down and drummed her fingers against the table.
Nick couldn't help but chuckle. "That isn't gonna help me read any faster."
"Sorry," she began, "I'm not used to sitting still and just waiting."
"It's okay - I'm sure Emma and Lily keep you on your toes."
"Oh, believe me, they do," Alena agreed with a chuckle.
She then rose from the table. "I'm gonna go get a donut or something. And just leave you to the paperwork."
He nodded. She then asked, "Do you want anything?" "I'm good."
Alena offered a nod as well. She then headed to the counter. As she stood in line, she continued to fidget.
She supposed her nerves were getting to her. She still believed in ELJ, but she was so close to opening that she couldn't help but be a little anxious.
She then let out a deep breath. She never doubted she did the right thing for herself and her girls - and that is what would help her keep moving forward.
She stepped up to the counter and ordered a couple croissants. The server grabbed them from the case and passed them to her.
When Alena paid for them, she walked back toward the table. Once she sat back down, Nick looked up at her.
"You know, I'm not sure you even needed my help."
"Really? Why would you say that?"
"Because you already seem to have everything in order."
Alena couldn't help but smile. "Well, I have been doing this a while."
"I can tell," Nick replied as he returned her smile. He then closed the folder and placed it on top of the other one.
He then asked her, "Can I now see the one detailing your assets? As well as the employee contracts and benefits."
"Sure, they're right…" Alena began as she looked through the few remaining folders. "Here," she finished as she handed them to him.
He hummed as he looked over the first of the folders. Without looking up, he questioned, "How many employees are you gonna have?"
"A dozen to handle the various departments within ELJ - though it will be more as the business expands."
"And do you have anyone in mind for the COO? That's probably the most important job - other than yours, obviously."
When she didn't answer, he looked up to find a curious expression on her face.
"What is it?"
Alena rested her chin in her hand as she surmised, "I guess I just didn't expect you to know quite so much about corporate law."
With a chuckle, Nick posed, "And you still wanted my help?" She let out a chuckle of her own.
"I didn't mean it like that. I just meant the contracts - and the paperwork itself - are pretty standard. But I didn't think you'd specifically know about a COO."
He chuckled again. "I guess that's a good point."
He sipped on his coffee before he asked her, "And do you have ideas about your COO?"
"Not at this moment - as I'm still figuring out the last of the details - but I will soon as possible."
"That's great - I know you'll make a great boss." "Thanks - I hope I will at any rate."
She then ate a few bites of her croissant as he continued to read.
With a tilt of his head, he then asked her, "You invested in J's food truck?"
"I did," Alena began. She couldn't help but smile as she elaborated, "She and Sabine actually gave me the idea for ELJ."
"Really?" Nick interjected as he folded his hands in front of him.
Alena nodded before she explained, "I could see how much it meant to them - not only to help with the rent hike, but because it was something they wanted to do. I mean, they're my friends."
She paused and sipped her drink before she finished, "And it gave me the chance to do something I really loved - something I was passionate about."
A blush rose across her cheeks. She pressed her hand to her cheek and said, "Which is basically what I said earlier. I'm sure you don't want to hear me practically gush."
Nick bit his lip. He then managed an easy smile.
"And like I said earlier, I do admire you because of that very reason. And when ELJ is really up and running, everyone will see it."
Alena's expression grew serious. "I hope so - I just want to do the right thing for me, my girls, them," gesturing toward the file laid in front of him, "my employees, and this community."
"As far as I'm concerned, you already are," Nick reassured her as he offered her another smile.
Alena returned his smile. She then told him, "Thanks for all of this. I am a little nervous, so it means a lot."
"No problem. I really am happy to help."
He took a sip of his coffee. "And now we can get back to work." She hummed and sipped her drink as he continued reading the files.
For the next hour, the two of them discussed all the different aspects of ELJ. When finished, they stood and headed out onto the sidewalk.
"Do you want help carrying that, or are you okay?" Nick questioned as he gestured toward the box of files.
"I got it, but thank you," Alena began. She couldn't help but smile as she continued, "And thank you - again - for helping me with all of this paperwork - I'm one step closer to officially opening ELJ."
He returned her smile - it soon changed to a grin. "And you look like you're about to burst with excitement. I'm pretty sure that's where Emma and Lily get it from."
She giggled. "You know, you're probably right. I'm not sure I could deny it at this point."
Nick chuckled. "They really do remind me a lot of you. And I'm sure when they grow up, they'll be equally bad ass."
Alena couldn't help the laughter that escaped. When she sobered, she said, "I actually don't doubt that they will be – but I think I want them to be my little girls as long as they can."
"Yeah, I can see that," Nick surmised, a smile crossing his features. He then ducked his head and rubbed the back of it.
He quickly brought his eyes back up to hers. He then said, "So, I need to head back to work. But, if you need any more help, you know where to find me."
With a nod, she replied, "Yeah, I do." She couldn't help but smile as she added, "But I think I'll be good once I add those couple things you mentioned."
He smiled and shook his head, "They were only suggestions – you probably know a little better than I do."
She only chuckled. "Even still, I appreciate it." He nodded, another smile snaking its way across his features.
He then gestured behind him and spoke, "So, I do need to head back. I'll see you later?"
She peered at him as she tilted her head. She then nodded slowly.
"Sure. We'll see each other around."
He smiled once again. She returned it before he turned and headed down the sidewalk.
Alena leaned against the wall, letting out a deep breath. Her fingers curled around the edges of the box.
Jack - and Nick, for that matter - still made her heart race. And that often meant she was more inclined to follow it.
But at least in this case, Nick still knew and understood they could only be friends. That would make those inevitable run-ins a hell of a lot easier.
Her blue eyes then roamed over the files. A smile bloomed over her face.
So many things were still up in the air - but this dream was about to come true.