Roxie nodded.

They both shook their heads at the next one he flipped out. “Too busy.”

“So what have you done since high school?” Nathan asked.

“Associate’s degree in library science and now working at the library.”

“Will you go on for more?”

“I don’t know.” She turned to her mother. “What do you think? Look at more or order?”

Oh, Loren. Ask him a question. At times Roxie felt like shaking her daughter—and now was one. “I think order. That other one is too perfect.”

“So, what have you been doing since high school?” she asked Nathan since her daughter didn’t.

“Got my degree in business so I could be a better help for my dad.” He led the way to the counter.

“Your dad owns this store?”

“Actually, we have a chain of four stores around the area. I manage this one, my brother manages the one in Green Bay, Dad the one in Madison, and my sister the one in De Pere.”

“That’s great, a family-owned business that has grown well.”

“My grandfather started it back in the forties. He and a friend of his made furniture and needed an outlet. No one’s made the furniture since then, but we make sure we have good quality at a decent price.” He pulled out an order form. “Name?”

Roxie handed him her business card. “This is easier.” While he filled out the form, she nodded at Loren. “See that lamp over there?”

“Unusual.”

“I know. How do you think that would fit in the living room?”

Loren shrugged. “I like the one we have.”

Nathan laid the form on the counter and showed Roxie the information. “How would you like to pay for this?”

“Credit card.” She drew out her wallet and extracted the one she used for much of their living expenses, then paid off before it came due. She had another one she used for her real estate business. She had been the money manager in the family from the get-go although Greg, her husband, had been equally money conscious. Money had never been an issue between the two of them. Surely there had been areas of conflict between them, but these years later, he had been burnished with hero qualities. She’d never cared to find someone to take his place. He was too hard to measure up to.

Except for her children. Good thing her brother had taken on the role of strong male in their lives. The two older ones were off and growing their own lives, but little Loren, the baby, had yet to find her niche in life. Or to really want to, or so it seemed to Roxie. She brought herself back to standing in front of the counter at the furniture store.

“I’ll call you as soon as they notify us it’s shipped.” Nathan was nodding and smiling. “Now, is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Roxie bit her tongue to keep the words from tumbling out. You could fall in love with my daughter and help her build a happy life. She cleared her throat. “Not that I can think of. Oh, by the way, do your stores ever work with Realtors in staging homes for sale?”