“It is. My mind has been reeling with possibilities.” A true statement. He’d been in dessert recipe mode for thirty-six hours straight now. “There’s no way I was traveling this close to home and not coming to see you. How are things here? Where’s Dad?”

“Oh, honey, he’s in Pennsylvania for the annual farm equipment show with Jeff.”

Andrew’s brother-in-law, Jeff, had stepped into the role Dad had always hoped Andrew would fill. He’d hoped Dad might lighten up once Dawn’s husband started working in the family business, but instead it seemed to add salt to the wound.

Mom’s lips pulled into a tight line. “Kind of wish I’d known you were coming so he wouldn’t think we planned this for while he’s gone. You know how he is.”

“Well, you didn’t know, and I didn’t know he’d be gone.” He couldn’t win when it came to Dad. He was sure either way he’d have something snarky to say about the timing. “When will he be back?”

“On Sunday night.”

“Perfect. I’ll be in town until Monday night. That’ll give us enough time to visit and maybe not get into an argument.”

“You two are so much alike. That’s why you butt heads so much.”

“I’m nothing like him. I can safely say that I’ll be okay with whatever career choices my kids make and not hold it against them.”

“I think he’s finally over that.” She sat down in her favorite easy chair. “We’re both very proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” She was the one who was proud, and that was enough. He’d come to terms with that a long time ago.

“You’ve matured. Filled out. You’re not a lanky boy anymore.”

He hadn’t been out of high school but a few years when he’d left town. “I work out. Have to, with all the rich foods I’m always tasting.”

“You’ve turned into a handsome man. You look a lot like my daddy did at your age.”

“Really? I’ve never seen pictures of Pop when he was young.”

She got up and walked over to the bookcase and came back lugging a thick green photo album over to the couch. She sat next to him and started flipping through the pages. “Oh my gosh, this is my mom and dad when they got married. Look how much you look like your grandfather. He’s younger than you here.”

He leaned in. They had the same coloring, light brown hair and light eyes. “Were his eyes green too?”

“Yes. Just like mine. Momma’s eyes were blue.”

“I remember that.”

Mom flipped through the pages. Pictures dangled from the little paper corners where the glue had lost its stick over time. “This is the picture I was thinking of. Look at this.”