Erma swallowed the pill, then leaned back in the wheelchair. Bea was Erma’s closest friend, but Myrtle came in second. Shewas grateful for their offers of help, but she needed to refuse them this time. “It’s high time Riley came home for a visit.Nine years is too long.”
“So you took advantage of your injury to get her back here.” Myrtle gave her a reproving look. “You know why she left.”
Erma lifted her chin. “She can have an art career here.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
She knew exactly what Myrtle was referring to—her no-good daughter who hadn’t returned since she disappeared fifteen yearsago. Riley still carried the burden of that rejection, even if she stuffed it down behind a facade of small-town girl turnedbig-city artist. “I just want her home, Myrtle. Is that too much to ask?”
Her friend’s blue eyes softened, the creases in the corners deepening. “It might be.”
Erma didn’t want to hear that.
The bell over the door chimed, and both women turned to see Hayden Price walk into the store. If Erma were fifty years youngerand hadn’t known not only Hayden’s parents but also his grandparents and great-grandparents, she wouldn’t mind taking a crackat the handsome young man. As it was, she could still appreciate his fine form, which looked even better in a baseball uniform.He wasn’t as winsome as her Gus had been in his day, but he was definitely easy on the eyes. I might be old, but I ain’t dead.
“Hi, Hayden,” Myrtle said, casually patting the back of her short gray hair. “What brings you by?”
Erma smirked. Seemed like she wasn’t the only senior woman who thought Hayden was the bee’s knees.
“I came to check on our center fielder.” Hayden walked over to Erma and crouched in front of her. “How’s the leg?”
“Tolerable.”
“She just took a pain pill,” Myrtle blurted.
Erma shot her an annoyed look. “Don’t you have a cruise to pack for?”
“I guess I do.” She grabbed her pink purse, which looked big enough to house half the contents of the yarn store, and headedfor the door. “Hasta la, um, whatever.”
“You might want to brush up on your Spanish for Jorge,” Erma called out.
“It’s Javier!” The door shut behind her.
Hayden chuckled. “You two are a mess.”
“Sugar, you have no idea.”
He stood, still smiling, a shock of his thick blond hair falling over his forehead. Then all traces of humor disappeared.“I’m sorry about what happened.”
She waved him off. “Not your fault.”
“I was the third base coach. And I’m the head coach. I should have told you to stay on second.”
“I wouldn’t have listened to you anyway.” She looked up at him, smiling as she remembered the split second before her legended up going in a direction God never intended. “Did you hear the crowd cheering?”
“They were yelling at you to go back.”
“But I was already committed—”
He held up his hand. “Let’s not go down that road again. I came by to take you to lunch if you’re so inclined. Today’s specialat the Sunshine Diner is liver and onions.”
“Ugh, who likes that?”
“I do.” He looked slightly offended.
“You’re too young for old people food.” Erma tried to move toward him and knocked over a display of T-shirt yarn. “Oh, forgoodness’ sake.”
“I’ll fix it.”
She watched as he made a valiant attempt to put all the skeins of yarn in the cube she’d knocked over. They had been neatlystacked—one of the few displays that was—but now they were being haphazardly squished into the space.
“There,” he said, cramming the last skein of yarn into the box. “No harm done. So, are we on for lunch? I only have forty-fiveminutes, and then I have to get back to the store.”
Erma was about to tell him she wasn’t hungry when an idea jumped into her mind. Erma Jean, you’re a genius. “I’m not all that hungry, but there is something you can do for me.”
“Name it.”
She wished there were a way to convince him not to feel guilty over what happened. Truth be told, she should have known betterthan to attempt that slide. The accident brought home the fact that she wasn’t as fit as she used to be, which was anotherreason she wanted Riley back. Although she’d never admit it out loud, Myrtle was right—she was taking advantage of her accidentto coax Riley back to the fold. She was worried about her granddaughter. The child had always been a loner, and that tendencyhadn’t changed since her big move to New York. Riley needed fresh air and companionship. And potential companionship was standingright in front of Erma, wrapped up in a charming and attractive package.
“I need you to pick up someone from the airport for me,” she told Hayden. “Either tonight or tomorrow, if you’re free.”
“Just so happens I am.” He grinned. “All you need to do is let me know when.”
“I’ll send you a text.” As the creator and coach of the newly minted church softball team, he had given all the players hiscell phone number. For years Erma had been resistant to texting, preferring to pick up the phone and call whoever she wantedto talk to. But she acknowledged that sometimes it was convenient, especially if you wanted to avoid any unwelcome questions.
“That works.” He put his hands into the cargo pockets of his shorts. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat? I can bringyou something if you don’t feel like going to the diner.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“All right. Rain check then.” He headed for the front of the store, then turned around and looked at her, smiling again—HaydenPrice’s typical expression. Not only was he handsome but he was unfailingly optimistic and had been since he was a young kid.The perfect contrast to her serious but sweeter than peaches-and-cream granddaughter. He waved at Erma, then left for thediner.
She smiled, steepling her fingers. Erma couldn’t believe it—a broken leg might be just the thing she needed to help her granddaughter.
