The warm aroma of baked bread and roasted chicken wafted through the Carter family home as I arrived for our weekly dinner. It was a family tradition, one that had started long before I took the helm at Carter Wave Solutions. Every Sunday, my parents, sisters, and their growing broods would gather at the house, catching up on each other's lives over a meal that always felt like a small feast.
As soon as I stepped inside, the familiar chatter of my family surrounded me, along with the squeals of Savannah's twins, Peter and Paul. At five years old, they were a bundle of energy, always running, laughing, or causing some sort of mischief.
"Olivia! Olivia!" They ran to me as soon as I closed the door behind me, their little faces lighting up as they clung to my legs. Their sister, Annie, a shy three-year-old, peeked around the corner with her usual timid smile. I waved to her, and she ducked back behind Savannah's skirt.
"Look who's finally here," Savannah said, her arms crossed, but a warm smile still on her face. Her husband, Ben, was already settled at the table, helping my dad set up for dinner.
"Traffic," I said with a shrug, bending down to scoop up the twins in each arm. They giggled as I spun them around.
"You always say that," Avery said, entering the kitchen with her husband, Justin, and their three kids following behind. Allison, their eldest at ten, was busy helping Mom in the kitchen. Joe and Jeffrey, younger and rowdier, were already eyeing the dessert tray.
"You know how it is," I said, putting the twins down gently before taking a seat at the table. "Running a company and battling the traffic gods at the same time."
"Speaking of running things…" My father's voice boomed from across the room, where he was carving the roast chicken. "How's everything at Carter Wave , Liv? Business good?"
"Better than good," I said, a bit of pride seeping into my tone. "We just closed a major deal with a renewable energy firm in Germany. It'll put us ahead of the competition in Europe."
Dad's face lit up with pride, but before he could respond, Avery chimed in from the other side of the table.
"All that success and yet…" She paused, exchanging a glance with Savannah. "Still no man in your life?"
Here we go again. I rolled my eyes, trying to laugh it off. But the sting of her words lingered. It was always the same conversation every time we gathered. My sisters, with their perfect families, couldn't understand why I didn't settle down. To them, love and family were the ultimate accomplishments. But to me, my career was everything.
"I'm married to the job," I said, offering a half-smile as I grabbed a piece of bread from the basket. "No room for anything else."
Savannah, ever the softer one, leaned in. "But you've tried, right? I mean, what happened with, what was his name? Matthew?"
A flood of memories washed over me, all at once. Matthew, with his easy charm and promises of forever. And then, like the others before him, it ended. Messily.
"Matthew was great…until he wasn't," I said with a shrug, trying to mask the discomfort. "We just wanted different things."
"And before him, there was Luke," Avery said, counting on her fingers. "And Adam. And—"
"All right, all right," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "We get it. I'm not great at relationships. But maybe I just haven't found the right guy yet."
Dad looked at me, concern etched on his face. "You don't have to rush, Liv. You've always been the one to forge your own path. You'll know when the time is right."
Mom nodded in agreement from the kitchen. "Besides, with everything you've accomplished, it's no surprise you're focused on the company. It's hard to find a man who understands that."
"That's because she keeps dating guys who can't handle her success," Savannah said, shaking her head. "Men like to be in charge, and Olivia, you don't let them be."
I smiled at that. "Why should I? I'm perfectly capable of running my life, just like I run Carter Wave."
"I don't know," Avery said, her tone teasing but laced with a bit of seriousness. "Maybe you just need to find someone who's as strong as you. Someone who won't be intimidated."
"Yeah, well, good luck finding that," I said with a smirk, leaning back in my chair.
The conversation moved on to lighter topics, with the kids arguing over who would get the biggest slice of pie and Mom fussing about the state of the kitchen. But my mind was still on what Avery had said. Maybe I did keep breaking up with guys because none of them were strong enough to handle me. Maybe I wanted someone who could meet me at my level, someone who wouldn't flinch at my ambition, who could stand toe-to-toe with me.
But where the hell would I find a guy like that?
After dinner, I slipped outside for some air, the evening breeze a welcome relief from the warmth of the house. I stood on the porch, looking out at the garden my mom had spent years cultivating, the flowers swaying gently in the wind.
Despite the love I felt for my family, there was always that nagging feeling that I didn't quite fit. Avery and Savannah had chosen the path of family, of marriage, of kids, and they were happy. Genuinely happy. But that kind of life never felt like mine. I didn't want to be just someone's wife, someone's mother. I wanted to be someone in my own right.
I took a deep breath, pushing the thoughts away. Maybe love wasn't for me. And if it wasn't, I'd be okay with that. I had Carter Wave,and that was enough.
Wasn't it?