“You’re probably working too hard. Every time I talk to you, all you talk about is work. Don’t you do anything for fun anymore?”

“I don’t have much time for anything else. Ever since Francois gave me the signature restaurant, it seems like I do everything. Hire, fire, prepare the menus, and cook. It’s exhausting. Last week I got stuck finding a new company to do the table linens.”

“Why on earth would you have to do that? Seems like they’d have someone to handle that.”

“Francois fires people faster than they can learn the jobs. I had to fill the gap to keep things going.”

“He’s lucky to have you. I guess that’s a small price to pay to be the chef at one of the most famous restaurants in France.”

There was a time when he’d thought that too. “I do love being a chef.” Only it wasn’t as fun as it used to be. Having to follow Francois’ recipes to the very letter was getting old. He yearned for the days when he could create something new in the kitchen for fun. Things like ordering linens and playing mediator between Francois and the employees, or soothing egos when Francois popped in on one of his surprise visits only to wield fury on Andrew’s team, was exhausting. He needed a psychology degree, not a culinary one. Not one to complain himself, he let Mom’s comment go.

“Dawn texted me earlier. She wants me to come over and see all the renovations they’ve done at the house.”

“It’s beautiful.” Her smile broadened in approval. “I’m so glad you’re making time to spend with her. She’s really missed you. We all have.”

“I’ve missed you too.” He grabbed his keys from the counter where he’d left them last night.

“Do you remember how to get there?”

“Things couldn’t have changed that much.”

“You might be surprised. If you have one of those fancy GPS in that car, you might want to use it.”

“I’ll call if I get lost,” he said, joking.

“I’ll see you later.”

He drove down the long lane that led to his folks’ house, then through the center of town.

The Main Street Cafe was bustling with customers. His first and only job in this town had been there.

It was where he’d fallen in love with cooking, and Kelly.

As he got closer, he noticed the cafe had tables out front now, not so much unlike a bistro back in France. A nice addition.

The old factory building next to it had been empty for as many years as he could remember, but now the brick facade had been spruced up with a new glossy white exterior extending both sides of the corner, boasting glossy white painted pillars. It brought a cheery brightness this end of the street had always needed.