“I see your face. You’re thinking it has to be one or the other: career or love. Why do you think you have to choose?”

“Mom, I can’t see where things go with Noah and be traveling for the next however many years.”

“You film how many months out of the year? And with the school, aren’t you looking for a more permanent place?”

“The network made me an offer,” Cat confessed. “A really good one.”

Angela lifted the green beans out of the water and drained the pot. “What kind of offer?”

“They’d invest in my school. Set it up in L.A. Base a show around it. I could still do my show, too. But I’d be based out of L.A. and traveling the rest of the time.”

“Los Angeles?” There was clearly an opinion behind the near shriek. Her mom wasn’t one to withhold her opinions. So Cat waited her out. “What would you be giving up by taking the deal?” Angela finally asked.

“The network would want to make certain calls on staffing. They want to pick the students, too because of the show, but Marta drew the line in the sand there. I hadn’t considered the west coast. It’s not ideal. But the money they’re willing to throw at this? It would mean better equipment, maybe more qualified staff. Both could impact the learning experience for students.”

“And Noah?” Her mother prodded.

“I’d be living in L.A. It wouldn’t be fair to ask him to come with me or wait for me.”

“So, either this opportunity or this relationship?” Angela sighed. “You think you can’t have both, but you’re wrong. You’re smarter than that Cat.”

“I don’t even know if things would work out between us. I mean, we’re so different. He’s got a kid, a great one. But he can’t just pick up and fly to Texas or Washington or Idaho with me.”

“Do you love him?” Angela asked again.

“Geez, Mom. Don’t you think that’s something I should talk to him about first?” Did she? Was that the feeling that kept fluttering through her chest? She wanted to protect him from his past, wanted to make him laugh every day, wanted to go to him for advice and to tell him good news. She wanted to lean on him when she was tired and wanted to cook more barefoot dinners with him and Sara. Was that love?

“Do you want to know what I think or not?”

“By all means. Tell me,” Cat said, frustrated.