“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.
They walked inside. It was even bigger than it appeared from outside. Rows and rows of appliances and equipment lined up under bright lights, taking up one side of the store. Just inside the door was the parts department, and rows of other supplies like linens and china.
“CB McIntyre called in about a part for Main Street Diner,” Andrew said.
“Yes, he sure did. I’ve got it right here.” The bearded man put the box on the counter. “You got lucky. It’s not something we usually stock. I’d ordered it for another fellow, then he went and bought a new oven instead.”
“That’s probably exactly what my dad should be doing,” Kelly said. Hopefully she’d win that competition and be able to buy him one.
Andrew compared the one in his hand with the one in the box. “Yes. This is the right one. Thank you.”
The man rang up the sale, and Kelly paid with the credit card.
“I wish we hadn’t been in such a big hurry,” she said. “That looked like a neat store to browse around in. I can’t believe I never even knew it was here.”
“We could have wasted a day in there.”
“Easily,” she agreed.
As they walked back out to the car, Andrew said, “I should have your dad back and baking in no time.”
“Thanks for looking at the oven. I really appreciate it.”
He studied her. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for him.” He got in the car. “Your dad wasn’t only my boss when I worked at the diner. He was my mentor. I have a ton of respect for him. I’d do anything to help him out.”
She’d never even considered that. “That’s really kind of you.”
“I’m a little put out that you’re surprised.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
He started the car and drove away. “I’m not insulted, really. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I probably did do this a little bit because of you too. I did want to spend time with you.”
As they crossed the county line back into Bailey’s Fork, Andrew said, “I noticed the new fancy sign when I came in the other day. Is that our tree on it?”
The artsy rendering of a huge pine tree was encircled by pine roping and a pinecone border with Welcome to Bailey’s Fork in forest-green and gold writing. Bragging rights of the tallest loblolly pine in the Carolinas and Established in 1801 scrawled across the bottom.
“It’s not our tree. It’s a landmark.”
“Well, our names are on it. My heart used to race when I saw you standing under that tree waiting for me. The prettiest girl in town.”
She didn’t respond.
About two miles up the road, he pulled over on the side of the road.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He turned off the car and turned in his seat to face her. “These past couple of days, have you thought at all about how things might’ve been if we’d stayed together seven years ago?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“That’s not an answer.”
She sat there, looking into his eyes. They held as many questions as hers did. “I have. I’ve wondered for seven years.”
“I’ve never met anyone who made me feel the way you did. The way you still do. What about that ‘if you love someone let them go’ quote? Maybe there was a reason we were apart for a while.”
“There was. You chose to pursue education and a career in another country instead of marrying me.”
“That’s not exactly how it was.”
“Fine. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. You may have only planned to go for a while, but in the end…you didn’t come back.”
“If I stayed, could we try to explore things between us?”
Her mind reeled. “You know I’m going
