Page 68 of Phoenix Rising

Toward the end of breakfast, though, as they lingered over coffee, Josephine brought up a practical matter that Becky had been avoiding.

“So, Becks,” Jo said, leaning back in the booth, “I’m guessing you’ve already handled all the city hall stuff?”

Becky stiffened, glancing at Lucinda, who gave her a reassuring nod. “Yeah, we’re going there after this. Gotta fill out the personal relationship disclosure forms. You know how it is.”

“Right,” Josephine said with a smirk. “Paperwork first, love second.”

Becky rolled her eyes. “It’s not that bad. It’s just procedure. You know the drill.”

“Still,” Ember chimed in, raising an eyebrow at her mom. “It’s a big deal, right? You don’t really do relationships.”

Becky smiled softly at her daughter’s observation. Ember wasn’t wrong. Becky had always kept her personal life locked up tight, especially after everything with her ex-wife. But Lucinda was different. This was different.

“Yeah, Ember. It’s a big deal,” Becky admitted, her eyes flicking toward Lucinda, who met her gaze with a small, affectionate smile.

Ember nudged Josephine with her elbow. “Look at my mom, all grown up. You think she’s gonna start knitting sweaters or something?”

Josephine laughed, but Becky just shook her head, feeling the warmth of Lucinda’s hand resting on her knee beneath the table. It was subtle but grounding, a reminder of how far they had come.

A few hours later, Becky found herself walking through the corridors of city hall with Lucinda by her side. The sun filtered through the tall windows, casting long beams of light across the marble floors. It was quiet for a weekday, but that suited Becky just fine. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk with politicians and officials.

As they entered the Records Department,Becky felt a familiar tension rise in her chest. This wasn’t the first time she’d been here for relationship paperwork, but it felt heavier this time, more significant.

Maybe because with Lucinda, it wasn’t just about following the rules. It was about truly building something, about committing in a way that scared her more than she’d like to admit.

Lucinda caught the flicker of hesitation in Becky’s expression and squeezed her hand briefly. “It’s just paperwork,” she whispered, though her voice was laced with understanding.

That statement alone eased her tension. Lucinda would have never been so casual about official paperwork stating their relationship to all of Phoenix Ridge. Lucinda really did want to go all in.

Becky nodded, exhaling softly. “I know. It’s just so real now.”

The clerk called them forward, a middle-aged woman with glasses perched on the end of her nose. She barely looked up as she passed them the necessary forms.

“Personal relationship disclosure, correct?” the clerk droned, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

“Sign here, here, and initial here. Once it’s processed, you’ll get confirmation.”

Becky reached for the pen, but her hand hovered over the page for a moment. Lucinda stood beside her, calm as ever. Becky glanced at her, feeling the warmth of her presence. They were in this together.

With a deep breath, Becky signed the form, and Lucinda followed suit. It was such a simple act, but the weight of it settled in Becky’s chest in a way she hadn’t expected. They were officially recognized, not just personally but professionally. They were committing to blending their lives in more ways than one.

When they stepped out of city hall into the afternoon sun, Becky felt a strange sense of relief wash over her. It was done. They were official. As they walked back to the car, Lucinda slipped her hand into Becky’s, and for the first time all day, Becky felt completely at ease.

“You okay?” Lucinda asked, her voice soft as they reached the car.

Becky smiled, the tension finally gone. “Yeah. More than okay.”

Lucinda leaned in, pressing a soft kiss toBecky’s cheek. “Good. Because we’ve got a lot of life to plan together.”

Becky chuckled. “Yeah, we do. But first, how about we grab some coffee?”

Lucinda laughed, her eyes lighting up. “Deal.”

And as they drove away from City Hall, the future didn’t seem quite so daunting after all.

EPILOGUE

2 YEARS LATER

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