Chapter Text
Three Months Later
“And…there…we…go.” Peter said hanging up the last picture on the walls of their new apartment. “Is it still crooked?” He asked stepping off the ladder.
“It’s perfect.” She said walking over and giving him a kiss and hugging him from the side. “I can’t believe we’re finally here.”
After moving in with Lara Jean 2 months ago, Peter insisted they needed a bigger place. They had too much stuff for her tiny one-bedroom apartment now. The searched for over a month and found the perfect place right in between Peter & Lara Jean’s job.
Their new place was a sweet ornate townhouse built in the 1930s. Lara Jean had been drawn to the old character of their new home. She appreciated it wasn’t just open and plain. There were intricate designs in some of the windows and decorative built ins were out of her wildest dreams. Peter only had one request. He made sure they had an extra bedroom for Lara Jean to use as an office so she could read & write. They had a large patch of greenery beside them that made it feel like they had the hugest yard in all of the city. It was there little sanctuary away from the world. It was there little paradise.
Peter got an offer for every job he interviewed for. He ended up taking a management position at an accounting firm. He easily transitioned into his new position. He loved his new job and exploring the city with his favorite girl. He liked that he was closer to both of their families and now their siblings and parents could visit and stay in one of the extra bedroom. He felt like he was a real adult. He was settling down and he was loving it.
They snuggled on their couch. She put her head on his shoulder. “It’s perfect.”
“And it’s ours.” He leaned his head against hers. A sweet smell hit his nose & he kissed her on top of her head. “Whatever you’re making smells so good.”
“Oh shit.” She sprung up and ran into the kitchen. She opened up the oven and took out a tray of pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls. She placed them on her cooling rack. “Saved by the bell!” she exclaimed.
She was most excited about her new kitchen. Her former kitchen was tiny with little space to spread out. She was often using the washer and dryer as additional counter tops. In this kitchen, she had a full island with a farmhouse sink and a shiny backsplash. She felt like she was creating the life she had only dreamed of & she was creating it with the man of her dreams.
Lara Jean was at her desk when she heard the news. She immediately felt her heart sank when the headline popped up on her screen.
Legendary Romance Novelist Betty James Dies at 80.
Tears began forming her eyes and fell before she could wipe them away. Betty was always a guiding light for her. Her spirit brought joy to LJ even when she felt lost in life. She thought back to the last time she had seen her friend. She seemed healthy and happy. She was full of stories and wisdom. She was a spark in the world whose embers burned so bright that Lara Jean thought it was impossible for them to ever go out.
She looked at her picture on the screen. It was a picture from a magazine profile of her a few years ago. She was sitting on her porch out in Rhode Island. She looked so at peace with her life. Lara Jean admired how she would just go for it. She remembered how Betty told her to do the same.
Later that night, she walked in the door to Peter plating a smorgasbord of her favorite take out. He wrapped her in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry my love.” She started crying into his shoulders. He pet her hair and lightly rocked her back and forth. “I got you all of your favorites and bought the movie adaption of First Summer so we could watch it tonight if you want.”
She smiled. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“I ask myself that every day.” He kissed the top of her head again.
She pulled away and gave him a kiss. “Thank you. I love you.”
A few week later, an intern dropped off a large envelope at her desk. It was sent from the Betty James estate. She opened it to find a sticky note on another envelope.
Found this while cleaning her office. She would want you to have it. – Nicole: Betty’s granddaughter.
She looked at the letter. She admired Betty’s beautiful penmanship and the perfect wax seal on the back. Betty and Lara Jean always shared a love for intricate stationary. Betty had even send LJ some beautiful letterhead when she got promoted to her current job. She opened the letter trying to keep it in tact. She felt herself welling up with tears before she even read it.
My dearest Lara Jean,
I cannot express to you enough the immense joy that filled my soul when we got to chat in that darling café in New York. Your friendship during my later years of life has been a true highlight. It is not every day you get to work with truly special people, if you are lucky you get maybe one or two. I am blessed to call you one of my special people.
I am sorry if you took offense to my heavy handed nudging for you to create stories of your own. I just think your heart has so many stories to tell that make the world a little brighter. Let me know if you ever do write something, I’d be honored to be your first reader & biggest fan.
Lara Jean, never let your vibrancy go. It will take you so far in life & you are just at the beginning.
Forever your friend, Betty James
PS: Hold onto that handsome beau of yours. I don’t know what it is about him, maybe he just reminds me of a European Duke I dated when I was 21, but he seems like the one. You lite up like a grand Christmas tree when he was around.
Peter and Lara Jean were going out to dinner for their 6th month anniversary. Lara Jean had made Peter promise to not do anything too fancy. She was working overtime. Betty’s passing had inspired her to start taking her writing seriously. So in addition to her busy work schedule at the publishing company, she would spend several hours each night in the office creating character dynamics & meticulously planning the plot of her star crossed lovers.
Lara Jean was too in her phone texting Kitty about her law school graduation party to realize where they were. Peter parked the car, opened her door, and grabbed her hand as they walked to a white brick building.
“No way.” Lara Jean stopped dead in her tracks. “You didn’t.”
“We’ve never been and you were the one who said I would love it.” He smiled. Peter had taken her to Howell’s the place where Peter had non-intentionally stood her up when he first got to town.
She gave him a quick peck before going walking back into the restaurant.
They were seated at a table in the back. Lara Jean thought it was the perfect place for tonight. Intimate but not fancy.
“So Will told me that they just got their interview date for the adoption interview. It’s the end of this month, I think. They want us to be there for character references.” She said after taking another sip of her drink.
“Sure. I thought we already wrote them that letter though?” His thumb was rubbing the back of her hand.
“We did. I think they just want to make sure we’re not psycho killers or anything. Unless….” She shot him crazy eyes. They both laughed and cheered their drinks.
Their food arrived and Peter’s eyes lit up as he tried every new thing they ate. “Holy shit, why didn’t we come here sooner.” Lara Jean sighed and rolled her eyes before giving him a kiss on the cheek. He was too precious to be annoyed with.
As they were finishing their food, Lara Jean blurted out what she had been thinking about all night. “Do you think it’d be crazy to quit my job while I try to finish this book?”
Peter was taken a back and took a second to think. “No. I don’t. I think if you want to go all in on this, you should give it a go. Why not ask for a few month sabbatical? Meg loves you. I’m sure she will give you some time. You told me she used to write too. I think she’d understand.” He smiled giving her reassurance. “I make enough for us to survive on just my salary anyway. I want you to follow your dreams.”
She felt like she was about to melt. How did she get so lucky to have him back in her life. She leaned over the table to kiss him deeply. “I love you, Peter Kavinsky.”
“Not as much as I love you.” He smirked and took the last bite of the flatbread they ordered.
He had his large hand resting on her thigh while they talked waiting for desert. “You’re all set for our trip home next weekend right?” he asked taking a sip of his drink. He tried to settle his nerves. He was planning to pop the question when they were at a big dinner Dr. Covey had planned with both of their families. Dr. C had suggested it when Peter asked his permission to ask Lara Jean to marry him. He knew he didn’t need permission, Lara Jean was a modern woman, but he admired Dr. Covey to much that he wanted to get his blessing to join the family.
“Totally. I can’t wait actually. Trina and my dad said they were going to all the way to Richmond to get a cake that my dad said was the best thing he ever ate. Guess we’re just that special.” She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears.
“Only the best for you Covey.”