Not so long ago, Lucas and Brooke Scott had spent their days living the fast paced New York City high life. He was the handsome NBA Superstar and she was the beautiful fashion queen trophy wife. They lived for the days when their photos made it in the society pages along with some of the world's most beautiful people. Dinners at the most upscale restaurants along with the free flowing champagne and caviar. Their nights were spent at the trendiest clubs and the most popular parties. They lived life in the spotlight and they loved it. Neither could imagine another way.

Now a few years later oh how it had all changed. Lucas was retired after a debilitating genetic heart condition had forced him to do so. Brooke was burned out and estranged from the high society she had always been so accustomed to. And it was no longer just the two of them. An unexpected but nevertheless welcome addition had made them a threesome. Instead of being mobbed by the press and rabid fans on the streets of Manhattan, a couple walked hand in hand along the boardwalk. The woman wore sunglasses and a simple white sundress, sandal heels to match. The man's attire was simple as well, just a red tee shirt, baggy khaki pants and a fisherman's hat to match. They pushed a stroller that contained a beautiful and happy baby girl that had inherited the greatest features of both her parents. On this day they were just another normal, happy family much like any other.

Lucas couldn't help but grin at her all through lunch. Brooke sat devouring the biggest, messiest chili cheese dog with onions, mushrooms, and hot peppers he had ever seen. Lovingly he wiped a bit of mustard from the corner of her mouth. He liked her this way. Two years ago, Brooke Scott wouldn't have been caught dead in a twenty dollar dress sitting on a pier eating a giant hot dog. But life experiences had changed her and motherhood had definitely calmed her. She was a different person now. Like it or not, they all were.

After lunch, they strolled along the streets to a nearby park. Brooke looked on as Lucas pulled a blanket from the stroller and carefully spread it out on the grass underneath the shade of a large tree. There he sat propped up against the trunk, Harmony positioned on his torso and Brooke in the crook of his right arm as he read aloud to them from the book "Horton Hears A Who!" by Dr. Seuss. She looked up at him with a smile just enjoying the scent of his cologne and the smile on her little girl's face as her daddy's voice rose and fell with animation as he read. He was a wonderful father, no question about that and in the last few weeks, he had been the husband she knew he could be. Wonderful yes but perfect no. And that was fine with her. The greatest moment in her life was the minute she came off her high horse and realized that there was no such thing as perfect.

"Brooke, I've got something I want to tell you", Lucas said as they walked arm in arm, Harmony napping in the stroller.

"Sure. What's up?"

"I got a job. I mean, a job offer but I really want to take it. Actually, I think I am."

"A job? Really?"

"Yeah. The League offered me the Assistant Defense Coach position for the Celtics. I think I really want to take it."

"The Celtics?" she asked surprised. "Wow. That's great, Lucas. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks. I'm happy too. I mean, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'd give anything if I could be back on that court as a player. But I can't and as much as that sucks, I accept it. What other choice do I have? Still I have a lot of love left for the game and I know I never want to leave it. It might not be the same but I think it's worth a shot."

She knew how much basketball meant to him and how broken he had been left when the chance to continue playing had been seized from him. Maybe this was the best thing. He could still be involved in the sport but at a safe distance. And she loved how brightly his eyes lit up simply from discussing the prospect. It made him feel alive again and she had missed his special spark.

"I think you should go then. Do it. Do what makes you happy. I think there's a lot you can offer the team."

"Thanks, Brooke. Your support through all of this has really helped."

"When, um, when would you go?"

"Next week."

Wow. Next week. Seven days away. 168 hours away. Exactly 10,080 minutes and he would be gone. It would all be over. It seemed so soon, so sudden. She was truly happy for him but she would miss him and the new life they had slowly begun to build. But she wanted him to seize the opportunity and she hoped the look of disappointment etched on her face wasn't too painfully obvious.

"Damn. That's pretty quick. I guess you have a lot to do before you leave."

"Yeah. I know we talked about selling the Greenwich house and I think that's a good idea. I still have my agent and he set me up with a realtor in Boston and I found a cool little brownstone in the Beacon Hill area. It's really nice. He e-mailed me some pictures. You should see the kitchen. It's huge. Everything has been remodeled from the cabinets down to the floor. And the living room! Man. Leather furniture everywhere with of course a space for my 50 inch plasma TV. And it's four bedrooms and each one was put together with a different theme by that famous design company out in San Francisco…what's the name? Mark something…"

"Mark Sylva designs?" Brooke meekly asked.

"Yeah, that's it. They did a great job but boy it cost me an arm and a leg."

"Oh", Brooke managed to squeak out.

It sounded like he had everything all planned and put together.

"Beacon Hill is supposedly one of the fanciest and most expensive areas in Boston. Plus I hear it's in the center of everything. I'm excited but I'm thinking I'll need a place to relax, you know, a real home. So…I found this great little property on Martha's Vineyard out in Edgartown. Only 2.9 million dollars for 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms right on the Waterfront with 5.9 acres. The only thing about that is hiring decorators to spruce up the place…"

Brooke swallowed hard.

"Good luck. Seems like you got everything all planned out."

"Yeah. I guess I do. Everything is all ready to go."

"Cool", she said softly.

"Oh except for one thing."

"What's that?"

"See, this picture is basically perfect except for a very important detail. I have a daughter who I love very much and I can't live without. I really want her to live with me so I can take her shopping for little dresses and toys. I want to tuck her in at night and have breakfast with her in the morning. I'll teach her to shoot hoops in the yard, then we can go swimming on the beach. Hell, since the property is big enough, I was even thinking about getting her a pony."

"Lucas…"

"But there's one more thing. My daughter, Harmony is a total daddy's girl and I know she's be game to come with me to Massachusetts. But uh, Harmony is part of a package deal you could say. The other half of that package is just as important to me. See, Harmony's mother and I have a little history. She is the strongest, most wonderful, beautiful woman I have ever met in my life and I love her very much. She loves me too, I think, it's just that we had a little drama the last few years. I screwed up a lot but I'm very sorry. I think she has finally forgiven me. It would mean the world if this lady ripped up those stupid divorce papers she has stuffed in her bedroom safe and said she would come to Boston with me and we could try living happily ever after again."

"Aw Lucas…", Brooke said as she began to cry tears of joy and relief.

"What do you think? Should I ask her? Think she'll say yes?"

"What if there is no happily ever after?" Brooke asked.

"With this woman there is. There is eternity and forever and just happiness. We complete each other. And I know no matter what other curve balls life could ever throw our way, I know we'd make it as long as we were together."

He smiled as he wiped away one of her tears with his thumb.

"Maybe you should ask her then", she smiled through tears.

"Maybe I will", he said getting down on both knees and taking her hands in his. "Brooke Rebecca Davis Scott. I love you. I love you more than anything. You and our daughter mean the world to me. I cannot and would never want to imagine my life without you guys in it. I know we've been through a lot but all that's over now and we learned some pretty important lessons from it. But one thing I did learn was something I already know and that's that I love you. I've always loved you and I could go on loving you forever."

"So could I", she whispered.

"Then let forever start today."