“Kelly, come to Paris. We’ll get married on June fourth just like we’d planned. Only here instead of in Bailey’s Fork. We can save money to help fly our parents over for the wedding. You’re going to love it here. The cafes. The food. The bakeries,” he rattled on with the enthusiasm of a mariachi band. “You could land a job in a bakery here in a hot second. It’s amazing. We’ll be so happy.”

His words came like missiles, ripping gaping holes in the life she’d dreamed of. She went numb. For the first time in her life, she was truly speechless. He has to be kidding.

“I have it all figured out,” he went on. “We’ll stay in the carriage house here at Aunt Claire’s until we get on our feet. I already checked with her. She’s fine with it.”

Not only was he serious, he had their lives all planned out, and this didn’t look anything like what they’d talked about. She’d never in her wildest dreams entertained leaving Bailey’s Fork.

“Stop!” She couldn’t listen to it another second. “Andrew, I’m not fine with it. I’m not moving. That was never the plan,” she said quickly over her pounding heart. A tear slipped down her cheek.

“But I miss you.” There was surprise in his tone.

“I miss you too. It’s an amazing opportunity for you, but we’re going in different directions. I’ve waited over six months for you. I’ve been patient. But this is twice you’ve pushed aside our plans.”

“I know, but this—”

“Is not for me,” she said. She wouldn’t keep him from chasing his own dream, but hers wasn’t to work for someone else in a country four thousand miles away from her family. The knot in her chest was so tight she couldn’t utter another word.

She wasn’t even sure how long she’d been standing there next to the cafe phone when Mom came up and placed a gentle hand on her arm. “What’s wrong, honey?”

Kelly gave a choked, desperate laugh, but that didn’t fool her heart. Her spirits sank lower. “He’s not coming back.” Reality swirled around her. She’d had her life planned out—a good life—but now every single thing about that future seemed to be falling away.

“Andrew?”

She turned and looked into her mother’s eyes, and the tears fell. She flung out her hands in despair. No way could she utter those words again.

“Oh, Kelly. I’m so sorry.” Mom held her close. “Honey, things happen for a reason. You’re going to have to trust me on this. I know you’re hurt now and you feel like you’ll never love another—”