“Not while we’re driving,” she said.

He handed her the phone. “Quit worrying.”

“It’s against the law to text and drive.”

“I wasn’t texting. I was looking for a picture.”

“Same thing.” The car was parked in front of a pretty white house with lots of flowers in front. “Nice. It looks fast sitting still. Is this in front of your aunt’s house?”

“Mm-hmm. In front of the carriage house.”

If she’d gone to Paris, she’d have been living in that pretty little place.

“What are you thinking?”

She moistened her lips. “Just how different your life must be there.”

“What do you see next for yourself?” he asked.

“Wow. Good question. I think I’m doing everything I want with the business. I’d like to just continue to create a strong brand that’ll solidify the jobs in Bailey’s Fork. Stay on top of the trends. Maybe start spending some time going to some of the trade conventions. Travel a little.”

“Do you still want kids someday?”

“Can’t do that alone.”

“You can. People do it all the time.”

“I’d never. Besides, I have Gray. He’s like having a permanent toddler in the house.” But that wasn’t entirely true. “I would like to have children of my own someday. It would be nice to have a family, and someone to carry on the business I’ve worked so hard to build.”

Andrew nodded. “That makes sense.”

“How about you? We used to always talk about having children as part of the plan.”

“We did. I always thought that was a sure thing, but then I got busy, and I haven’t thought about it much. Maybe with the right person.” He turned and held her gaze.

“Right. The right partner is key. There are too many children in split homes these days. I’d never want that for my child.”

“No one sets out to end up that way,” he said.

“I know, but it seems like people quit easier these days too.” No sooner had the words come out of her mouth did she find herself judging her own past actions. Just today, Mom was talking about how compromise was easy when you were in love. Had Kelly not been in real love? Or had she just given up too soon?

He’d gotten quiet too, but there was no way she was going to ask what he was thinking about.

She glanced down at her phone. “Turn left two miles ahead, then the building is on your right.”

For the rest of the ride, there was an awkward silence. She stared out the window, but twice when she looked in the reflection of the side glass, she caught him looking at her, too.

“Here we are.” He pulled into the parking lot of Carolina Restaurant Equipment & Service, which took up nearly half of the warehouse-sized brick building.