Chapter 3
three
C hecking off his to-do list might be harder than David thought because the last twenty-four hours he’d made zero successful phone calls. There were no volunteer options or jobs in sight.
Seth Warner, known as The Storm after his appearance as a Ninja Warrior, had recently opened a gym, and David had been a regular since. “Hey, man. Looks like you need some water.”
“Thanks.” David caught the bottle Seth tossed his way, opened it, and drank half. Then he tucked it in his bag and added another twenty-five pounds to the machine, hoping it might help clear his mind.
His muscles tightened as he gripped the handles of the chest fly machine and pressed his hands closed. Sweat dripped down his face as he finished another set of ten.
“Woah, man. Couldn’t wait for me today?” Nate’s voice echoed through the gym as David relaxed, letting go of the machine.
David grabbed his water bottle and drank some more as he wiped sweat from his face. Nate fell into step beside him as they crossed the room to the free weights. David gripped a weight in each hand and sat down on the bench. “I’ve hit every dead end I can hit today, so I came early.”
“Nothing eases frustration like a good workout, and from the looks of it you’ve been here a while. Are you going to feel up to some basketball?” Nate selected his weights and sat down on a bench across from David.
“I’ll be fine.” Sweat dripped into David’s eye, burning. He had to be involved, and even if he didn’t feel like basketball, he couldn’t turn down Nate’s offer to play. Not again.
“I take it you discovered the lack of volunteer positions available right now?”
“I mean…how is that possible?” Whose bright idea was it to require high school students to volunteer?
“High school service hours. I even have more hands at the church than I know what to do with. Every surface has been scrubbed clean, and the yard looks great. This week they’re deep cleaning the nursery and repainting the Sunday school classrooms.” Nate curled his weights up and down in sync with David.
Once they were done, they placed their weights back on the rack. “The guys will be here waiting,” Nate said. “Let’s go play some ball.”
David pulled out a cloth from his bag and wiped his face.
“I’m waiting for a call from the nursing home, but if they don’t need help, I have no idea where to go.” Cool water ran down his throat as David finished his bottle. He stopped at the refill station.
“Hey, guys.” Austin walked up to them as David pulled the bottle away and drank it down. He refilled it again as Austin and Nate talked.
“I wish I could help you out.” Austin picked up a basketball and they walked into the gym. Jon, Luke, and Thomas were already on the court. “We’ve got our hands full, though.”
“You still looking for work?” Jon caught the basketball Austin passed to him. He dribbled it a few times then spun it on his finger.
“What’s going on?” Luke grabbed the ball from Jon and passed it to Thomas, who dribbled it between his legs before he passed it.
Nate caught the ball. “David here is looking for a job or volunteer work.”
“Sorry we didn’t have a need.” Thomas shook his head.
Jon divided the guys into teams—Nate and David with him against Thomas, Luke, and Austin. The guys lined up at center court, and the friendly game started.
After a while, Jon passed the ball to David, and he made a quick layup. Thomas caught the rebound and tucked the ball under his arm, then walked to the bench. “Water break. You know, I heard Hoover’s Hardware was looking to hire. And the high schoolers can’t volunteer there because of their equipment.”
Of all the places Thomas could throw out, he had come up with Hoover’s? Nate slapped David on his shoulder and water dribbled down his chin. Great.
“I don’t think Hoover’s would be a good fit.” David wiped his chin.
Jon plopped down on the bench. “Why not? Didn’t you used to work there?”
A long time ago. Memories of quick kisses and dreams long forgotten flickered in the back of his mind—he couldn’t picture working in the store without Sadie by his side. It had always been her dream, which eventually morphed into theirs.
“You even dated Sadie Hoover, didn’t you?” Luke. Thanks, man.
David nodded. “That’s why I can’t work there.”
“Breakups happen. Besides, she moved out of town.” Thomas drank some water and tossed his bottle back in his gym bag.
“If I remember right, you guys were serious.” Jon wiped sweat from his face. “What happened?”
David stood and grabbed the ball from Thomas. “I wanted to go to Costa Rica, and she didn’t. She broke up with me when I told her about my plans. Enough talk. Let’s play.”
David dribbled the ball as he walked back out to the court.
“It’s ours.” Thomas stood and motioned to pass the ball back. David did, and the game resumed.
Ten minutes later, David’s phone rang from inside his gym bag. Finally! The call he’d been waiting for. “I gotta take that, guys. Be right back.” He jogged to his bag and dug out the phone, answering it as he stepped outside the gym while the guys continued the game.
“Michelle, thanks for calling me back.”
“Always happy to chat with people who want to volunteer.” Her gravelly voice oozed friendliness. He could picture her relaxed in an office. She probably had succulents on her desk.
Hope unfurled in David’s chest. This was it. His last hope, and maybe, just maybe, she had something he could do. “That’s great. I have some ideas of ways I could be of use to you.”
A friendly laugh sounded. “That’s great. Really. But we don’t have a need right now. With the high schoolers working to get their hours in, our activities calendar is jam-packed. We don’t have time or space for more activities. And I don’t have any openings for employees—part-time or otherwise. I’m so sorry. Things might open up at the end of October. That’s when the kids have to have their hours turned in by. I am guessing things will drop off after that. I can give you a call then.”
Two months wasn’t soon enough. David’s shoulders rounded, and he rubbed his forehead. “Thanks, Michelle. I appreciate you calling me back.”
David hung up and dragged his feet back toward the guys. He plopped down on the bench as Austin made an easy three-point shot. Jon rebounded the ball and bounced it to Nate to start their trek back to their net. Even three against two, the guys moved quickly.
David sat, watching the game continue. Wasn’t this just like life? He’d been sidelined. Completely useless sitting on the bench, waiting for direction. And like a delinquent player who’d been benched, David waited, hoping God would put him back in the game.
“No luck?” Nate wiped his face as he walked toward David.
“Nope.” How was he supposed to be involved in the community when no one needed help?
Thomas plopped down next to him, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. “I said it before, but Hoover’s. Give them a call.”
Jon slapped David on the back. “It would get you involved in the community. Unless Nate can find some fix-it jobs for some of the older folks around town.”
Nate shook his head. “There aren’t that many that don’t have family looking after them or who would be willing to accept help. A few widows, but not enough for the hours you need. I’ll ask around though.”
That left Hoover’s.
“Call Gary.” Luke zipped up his bag. “It’s time for me to head home. Hannah had a roast in the crock pot. The house has been smelling good all day.” Luke put the ball up as he walked out, Thomas with him. Austin waved as he headed to the other side of the gym, probably to run through the ninja course.
Jon stood and stretched. “You’re coming for dinner tomorrow, right?”
“Leah has texted me eight times today. I’ll be there.”
Jon grabbed his bag and left.
Silence fell in the gym, and David stood to pack up. Nate waited, his gym bag over his shoulder.
“I’m gonna have to call Gary, huh?” David rubbed his chin. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
“You don’t have to.”
But what choice did he have? David had called or talked to just about everyone in town. No one was hiring, and thanks to the new high school community service hours, no one needed volunteers.
David pushed open the door and the cool evening air chilled his damp skin.
He said goodnight to Nate and climbed into his grandpa’s old truck. He started the engine and sat there. It was only six. The store had closed an hour ago. Gary would be finishing up dinner. Years ago, David had saved Gary’s number. It wouldn’t be hard to call and chat with the man. He had said he could use help around the shop.
Before he could lose courage, David pulled out his phone and called him. Gary answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Gary. David Williams here.”
“David. What a surprise. What can I do for ya, son?”
David swallowed at the endearment. It shouldn’t surprise him. Gary had called him son when he’d seen him at the shop.
“You mentioned you could use some help around the store.”
“Ah. About that.” Gary hesitated a moment, and David tightened his grip on the wheel even though he hadn’t moved from his parking spot.
Not the enthusiastic and overwhelming yes David had hoped for, but considering his past with Sadie, perhaps he should expect the hesitation.
Gary cleared his throat. “We, uh, could use some help. But unfortunately, we aren’t in a position where we could pay someone.”
It took a lot for Gary to admit that. David knew how much the man kept his personal business personal. Never in all his years working in the store had he heard Gary mention anything to do with the books. Even when he’d planned to pass the store on to David and Sadie, he said they’d discuss the money issues later. Always pushing the conversation off. Of course, they never got to the point where it had been time to discuss finances, either.
David shifted into first gear but didn’t move the car. “Good news for you, Gary. I don’t need to be paid. I’m looking for something short term. It would only be a few weeks, but I’d be happy to be an extra set of hands.”
“Well.” Laughter sounded over the phone, but then cut off. The line was quiet for a beat, and David pulled the phone down to look at the screen to see if the call had dropped. Gary hadn’t hung up. Another beat, and then he cleared throat. “It would be like old times.”
Not really. Sadie wouldn’t be there. But that would be for the best. “Perhaps.”
“I tell you what, meet me tomorrow at the store around ten. We can talk then. And it gives me time to talk with the new proprietor.”
New proprietor?
But did it matter? There were no other options. He needed a job to show Lance he was willing to be out in the community. Working for free would look even better. He was helping. Giving back. Making connections.
Even if the impossible might happen, David would have to make it work. He’d do whatever he had to in order to get back to Costa Rica.
If that meant facing the new proprietor of Hoover’s Hardware—whoever that might be—he could do that. He had to.
David nodded. “Okay. See you in the morning.”
Why had Sadie told her dad she’d deal with the bank?
She stared down Eddie Fry who sat across the desk in his plush office. His freshly pressed suit and neatly styled hair. How could her high school classmate have grown up and become so put together? And old?
His thick-rimmed glasses perched precariously on his nose, in no way hiding his woolly eyebrows in need of a good plucking. “I understand your concerns, Ms. Hoover, but there’s very little I can do. I’m sorry.”
Well, she was too. Sorry for jumping into a family-run business after her husband up and died on her and after her dad had surgery. Sorry she’d let herself get carried away without looking at all the little details before uprooting her entire life.
Maybe she should have let her dad deal with the bank. He could have gotten a meeting with Bo Mackers, since they were friends, rather than her waiting two days for a meeting with Eddie.
And what was with the Ms. Hoover ? Formal. Aloof. No small-town closeness here. The words sucked the hope right out of Sadie’s lungs. She ran her thumbnail along a cuticle. She really needed to file her nails and put on some lotion.
“I’m sure your hands are tied, Mr. Fry.” She could be formal too, even though he’d been her study buddy in advanced chemistry. “But I just took over the hardware store, so if I could have a few more months, I’m sure I could pay the amount the bank is seeking.”
Eddie folded his hands on top of the desk and let out a sigh. Perhaps she was wearing him down, and he’d give her some more time.
Eddie looked up, adjusting his glasses. “I want to help you. I do. But it’s not my call to make. I tell you what, though. I will talk to Bo Mackers and see what he says. I can call you later this afternoon with an answer.”
“Thank you, Eddie.” Sadie stood up and quickly left the bank. As soon as she made it outside, she leaned against the brick wall of the building, the rough texture scraping through her forest green sweater.
She pulled out her phone and opened up her banking app, looked at the numbers. Jeremy had left her with money. She’d set aside a huge chunk into a CD for Lottie’s college fund. Untouchable now, and secure for Lottie.
But with the remainder…she’d hoped to buy a house. Have some cushion for the what-ifs in life. If she poured it all into the store, there would be no cushion left. No house. But if she didn’t and it went under, where would she be? Living off the cushion, which wouldn’t go far. And even if she gave everything she had for the store, she still needed several thousand more to save it.
Sadie stood up and tucked her phone into her pocket. She had to find the positives.
She took a few steps forward into the sun, the warmth heating her body. She hadn’t even realized the brick had been cool, chilling her. Normally she hated being cold. Living in Michigan, she had to laugh through the winter months. At least she had a warm apartment and a comfortable place to sleep.
And her rent was free.
Wait.
Sadie’s steps faltered. If the store was foreclosed, she’d lose more than her job—she’d lose her apartment over the store, too.
“Morning, dear!” Margret Bunting called as she walked past Sadie toward the diner. Sadie’s stomach growled, but no food would be entering the tempest of coffee sloshing in her gut. Not until she had direction. Or money.
Maybe it would be a winning diet plan and she could drop the few pounds she’d gained since Jeremy died.
Sadie sidestepped Otis, who still sat in front of the window of the hardware store, and rounded the corner to the front door. The familiar jingle welcomed her, and her dad stood up from behind the counter, his gaze shifting to an aisle—his unspoken way of letting her know they weren’t alone.
“Didn’t go well?” Her dad’s soft voice rolled over her.
He could say that. She nodded toward her office. “Can you meet me when you’re done?”
A look crossed her dad’s face, almost sheepish. “Well?—”
Oh no . “What now?” She couldn’t handle too much more—the loan was more than enough.
His eyebrows dipped so low a V formed between his brows. “You said you wanted to hire someone, so I did.”
They couldn’t afford to pay their loan. How on earth could she pay an extra employee, no matter how much she needed one? “You know I can’t pay anyone.”
Her dad wrinkled his nose. The last time Sadie had seen him this hesitant, he had to fess up to her mom that he’d dropped her favorite crystal bowl—which had originally been Sadie’s great-grandma’s. “That’s not a problem, because he doesn’t need paid.”
“You know we can’t have the high school students volunteer here.”
“What if I told you he wasn’t in high school…” Her dad looked over her shoulder and beckoned someone closer. Sadie looked behind her, but no one was there. Her dad pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed his face before tucking it away. “It’s temporary. A few weeks. And the best news? You already know him and work well with him.”
That narrowed down the choices. There were only two him s she had worked in the store with over the years. Her brother and…David. Toby wouldn’t come all this way from Florida to help for a few weeks. He had his own job and a wife.
Oh no.
No. No.
No. No. No.
Her dad nodded, and his face looked anything but apologetic.
He cleared his throat behind Sadie. She closed her eyes and rubbed her head.
A loud ringing split the air, and Sadie pulled her phone from her back pocket. Saved by the bell. Literally. She held up her phone. “I need to take this.”
Sadie made a beeline for her office, not looking at him . Maybe if she didn’t actually see him , she could ignore his presence. She closed the door of the office and answered her phone. Eddie jumped right to business.
“I talked with Mr. Mackers, and he has agreed to extend your loan.”
Air rushed out of Sadie as she let go of the breath she’d been holding since picking up the phone. She straightened her back, her shoulders popping. She’d not realized how much tension had gathered. “That’s great. Thank you!”
“Well.” Eddie hesitated. “There’s more. Mr. Mackers says he can extend the loan until October 31, but…”
Her shoulders tensed. There was always a but.
“You’ll need to pay half the amount due today.”
“Today?” Sadie sat down in the chair behind the desk.
“I’ve told Cindy, our teller, to be on the lookout for you. We’re open until five.”
Sadie thanked Eddie and leaned back in the chair. It creaked under her weight as she closed her eyes.
Half the amount?
Running the numbers in her head, she pressed her hand against her forehead. She already knew how much she’d have to cough up—it didn’t matter how many times she calculated everything. She’d be out almost everything in her savings account. She’d have a tiny bit left but not much. Not enough to live on if the store went under.
Jeremy had wanted to make sure she and Lottie were cared for. He hadn’t seen a failing store in their future. If she parted with what remained of his life insurance, would she even be able to save the store?
Sadie leaned forward and let her head thump on the desk. An extra month would give her a total of seven weeks to scrounge up the funds. But how could she do that, run the store, focus on Lottie, and prep for the adoption hearing? Without help, she’d never pull it off.
He flashed in her mind. Once upon a time, they’d been a good team. David had always been an incredible salesman.
Why, God? Why him?
It would be easier if she could refuse his help. Tell him she didn’t need him, but the reality was…she did need him.
Oh, that burned to admit. But if she was pouring just about everything she had into this store, she couldn’t afford to be prideful.
She needed help, and David was the only one offering.
Sadie sat up and unbraided her hair. Pulled the hairbrush she’d stored in the top drawer out and ran it through her hair and rebraided it. Ready to swallow her pride and face David, she added a fresh coat of lipstick. If she had chocolate, she’d eat a piece, but since she hadn’t replaced her dad’s stash, she dug out a breath mint.
Because there was no way around it. She had to face him. Had to accept his terms of unpaid employment.
Sadie stood, rolled her shoulders back, and took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
As she walked back to the front of the store, her dad and David stopped speaking as she approached. David dipped his chin. A shock ran through her spine as his mocha brown eyes met hers. His deep voice rolled over her like hot chocolate. “Hi, Sadie.”
Okay, when she’d wished for chocolate, she hadn’t meant his alluring gaze. From now on she’d make sure she had some in her desk. “David. Why would you work here unpaid?”
He nodded, his hands sliding into his pants pockets. His arm muscles tightened, straining against his sleeves as he moved. Why didn’t he have a jacket, and how did he manage to have such incredible biceps? “My mission board wants me to be working in the community while I’m here. Every other place in town is full of volunteers.”
Well, at least he didn’t want to work with her any more than she wanted to work with him. That probably shouldn’t sting…but it did.
At least he wouldn’t be here long. And the looming end date would stand as a good reminder that no matter how good looking he still was, no matter how much physical appeal he still had, he’d leave again. Just like before. At least this time she would have all her guards up, her walls in place, and her heart would stay intact.
Small mercies.
“Perfect. Do you have days and times you prefer to work?” Sadie stepped behind the register next to her dad. The pride that filled his gaze confirmed her decision.
“My schedule is pretty open. I can work as much or as little as you need.” David lifted his chin, his eyes flashing.
Maybe when they were together, she could have identified those emotions in a single glance, but Sadie couldn’t allow herself to think about David’s feelings in this matter. In fact, she’d work to ignore his feelings altogether.
Her dad wasn’t wrong—they had been a good team. And for the sake of the store, her future, and for Lottie, she’d figure out how to work with him again. But she’d take some time to mentally prepare to be in such close proximity. “Why don’t you start Monday at ten.”
Sadie made sure her dad could cover the store a few more minutes and stepped outside.
She needed air. And she needed to visit Cindy at the bank to pay off part of the loan and say goodbye to her savings.
She would take the weekend to collect her thoughts and prepare to work with David. She’d do anything to save her store. Empty her savings account? Check. Work with the man who broke her heart? Check.
Hopefully it would be enough.
It had to be, because she didn’t have anything left to give.