“That depends. What’s got you so hot under the collar?”
Hayden ended up telling his father everything but leaving out anything personal about Riley. “I thought she was the one forme, Dad. I really did.”
His father sat back in the chair and stroked the short beard he’d started growing recently. “And now you think she isn’t?”
“She made that decision for me.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“See what?”
Dad leaned forward. “Son, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but this might be the first time something didn’t comeeasy to you.”
Hayden looked at him, incredulous. “Are you kidding me? Do you think playing ball was easy? That getting rejected by the majorsover and over was a picnic?” He clenched his jaw. “That losing my career was fun?”
“Not at all.” His father’s tone was even. “But you have to admit, Hayden, you’re a gifted athlete. You’ve always worked hard,but you had something ninety-nine percent of people don’t have: superior speed, incredible coordination, intense discipline.Those things aren’t taught. And they’ve given you a leg up.”
“All right.” Hayden spun around in the chair and faced his father. “I’ll give you that. I’ve got some talent.”
“Some?”
“A lot.” He threw up one hand. “But that doesn’t negate all the hard work I’ve done in my life. And not just at my sport.I kept up my grades, worked here at the store—”
“And now you own this store.”
“Not without a fight.”
Dad scoffed. “Three weeks of negotiations is not a fight. Hayden, listen to me. Along with strong discipline, you tend tobe impatient. You’re used to getting what you want.”
Hayden was dumbfounded. No one had ever said that to him before. He’d been told he was intense. Competitive. Not a quitter.But I quit Riley, didn’t I?
“There are higher stakes in the world than a career,” Dad continued. He looked around at the office. “I wasn’t ready to giveall this up.”
That surprised Hayden. “What?”
“It’s going to be hard for me to walk away. I’ve worked in this store since I was seven. My dad and grandpop had me unpackingboxes and filling shelves as soon as I was able to do it without knocking things over. I love this store.” His gaze turnedcontemplative. “I would have worked here until my last day, I think.”
“Then why are you walking away?”
“For your mother. For years she’s come in second. Actually, third sometimes, because of you boys. She’s spent her entire marriedlife supporting me and you kids, and I finally realized two years ago that she needed to be first for once. She wants to travel.To see the country and maybe some parts of the world. I want to give that dream to her.” He smiled. “It’s my turn to sacrifice.”
“Harry.” Jasper poked his head inside the door. He was wearing a Price’s Hardware shirt Hayden had given him. The man spentso much time at the store and was so helpful, Hayden thought he needed to make Jasper an official, if somewhat sporadic, employee.“Someone wants to know if you have Allen wrenches.”
Dad laughed. “We’re a hardware store. We have every wrench you can think of.”
“That’s what I told her, but darned if I can find any of them. Did you move them, Hayden?”
When Hayden shook his head, Dad said, “I’ll be right out.” After Jasper left, Dad got up from the chair. “Now, that’s a switch.Usually Jasper is helping me.” He looked at Hayden. “I’m sure you’ll figure this out, son. Just don’t take as long as I did.”
Hayden stared at the empty doorway. Sacrifice. He always thought he’d sacrificed a lot in his life. The future had alwaysheld uncertainty, until he came back to Maple Falls. Then he’d known what he wanted—to work in the store, to rehab an oldhome, to live in his hometown for the rest of his life, and recently, to revitalize it. It wouldn’t be easy and would takesome time, but he was confident he could get it done with a lot of dedication and persistence.
Then there was Riley. He’d thought dedication and persistence would have gotten through to her, but he’d been wrong. Now thatshe wasn’t going along with his timetable, he’d decided to move on. He’d been so deep in his own hurt pride and impatiencethat he forgot the most important thing—she meant everything to him.
Somehow he would find the patience he needed. He would swallow his pride. He would make sure to match her rhythm, not forceher to go along with his. He’d always been a leader, a team captain. The star of his family, the town, his own life. Now hewould have to let that go and put someone else first . . . if she would let him.
He’d have to try.
He shot up from the chair and went to the front of the store. His father was busy with the wrench customer, so Hayden toldJasper to let him know that he would be gone for the rest of the day. Jasper agreed, and Hayden went to the back parking lotand jumped into his car.
Then he stilled. Riley was probably back in New York by now, but on the off chance she wasn’t . . . He got out of his carand headed to Knots and Tangles.
* * *
Erma sat behind the front counter and worked on another chemo hat, this one teal and cream, interspersed with speckles ofpink and pale-gold. She was using a smaller hook and thinner yarn than the pattern required because the hat would be for achild or teenage cancer patient. She smiled as she lifted her gaze and looked around the shop. What would her mother and grandmotherthink of how everything had turned out? They’d be happier than a pig in a muddy wallow. She was sure of that.
The bell rang and Hayden dashed into the store. Erma set her crocheting down and got up from the chair with the help of hercane and plenty of ibuprofen. Her leg was hurting from lack of care the past two days, but she intended to slow down fromnow on until it fully healed.
“Hi, Hayden,” she said, surprised to see him.
“Has Riley
