“Am I a Lucky Falls-ian now?”
“As long as you want to be. I’ve heard you’re doing a great job managing Stewart’s old garage.”
I flinch at the reminder that my shop is still called that.
“It’s actually ‘Lucky Falls Auto’.”
“Huh. That doesn’t roll off the tongue the same.”
I chuckle. “In any event, I appreciate that you didn’t doubt me.”
Mauve gives my hand a squeeze. “That’s what life’s about ain’t it? Giving people grace? Giving them the benefit of the doubt?”
“Right,” I say hesitantly. My thoughts go to Nat. “Mauve, what if extending grace hurts that person more than it helps?”
“I don’t know what you’re referring to right now, so without details…”
Mauve waits, but I duck my head and drink my root beer like a coward.
She smiles in understanding. “In my many years of marriage and life, I learned this important principle about relationships.”
I lean in, ready to soak up every word.
“If two people are determined to work things out, they will, but it can’t be one-sided. It can’t be one partner trying and trying. A relationship will die the moment one person takes their hands off the wheel. You need two pairs of hands all in to steer the ship.”
Mauve’s words unlock something in my brain. I close my eyes and I’m back in that hallway, watching Natsufferfrom the pain in his leg. I see myself panicking and blurting out an ultimatum.
From this perspective, I realize that I might have been taking my hands off the wheel a bit.
Not because it’s my decision or even my fault.
I still don’t think Nat should take the pills and push himself to keep playing. He’s hurting himself every day that he steps onto the ice and I just can’t be a part of it.
But maybe we could have had a mature conversation about what he’s been through, instead of me lashing out and threatening to leave him in order to get him to do what I want.
“Two hands on the wheel, huh?” I muse.
“Two hands.”
“Mauve?”
“Yes?”
“I need to go.”
I’m halfway to the door when I realize with terror that I haven’t paid. I spin back around.
“My bill.”
“Go, go. I’ll start a tab for you,” Mauve says with a delightful laugh.
The sun is starting to set, and I know it’s a long shot that the team bus will still be there, but I drive to the stadium as fast as I can.
The parking lot is empty except for a few parked cars.
To my surprise, I notice Cordelia hustling out of the stadium with a purple jacket folded over her arm.
“Delia!” I sprint toward her. “Has the bus left?”
