“I know you do.” Mimi’s voice grew soft. “But I’m concerned you might also be doing this out of obligation or guilt.”
“I’m not,” Riley said quickly.
“Are you sure about that?” She set her glasses on the table. “You don’t have to feel bad for pursuing your dreams in New York. I encouraged you to do exactly that, remember?”
Riley nodded. Her grandmother had always been her biggest cheerleader, and even though she’d cried all the way from Maple Falls until Riley walked through security at the airport, she never once made Riley feel bad for leaving.“Happy tears,”she’d said before giving Riley a tight, final hug.“They’re happy tears, sugar. I want you to take New York by storm. Just like I would. If I wasn’t terrified of planes, that is.”That had made Riley laugh and given her the freedom to leave.
“I do remember, Mimi.”
“I realize I’ve probably put a burden on you all these years, asking you to come back here for visits. That was selfish of me.”
Now that did bring up some guilt. “Mimi, you’re never selfish.”
“Oh, I am. It was no skin off my nose to come visit you in the big city. Who knew flying could be so much fun? And I enjoyed my visits, actually. Wouldn’t want to live there, but I can see why it appeals to you.” She bent back the corner of the newspaper. “But there’s something else I’ve put on your shoulders, and I should have realized before now that it was wrong.”
Riley stilled. She’d never heard her grandmother speak like this, and she was starting to worry, although that was nothing new when it came to Mimi. “Mimi, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, honey. It’s just that I was never able to give up on one of my dreams... until now.”
It had never occurred to Riley that Mimi had her own unfulfilled dreams. Riley always thought she was perfectly settled and happy with her life in Maple Falls, especially the last two decades or so. If she wasn’t, then she wouldn’t be so insistent on keeping the store open, since it tied her to the town. Then again, when had Riley stepped out of her own self-absorbed world and paid attention to her grandmother’s life?Talk about being selfish.
“What dream?”
“The one where you’re running Knots and Tangles.” Mimi sighed. “I’ve made it pretty clear that I want to keep the business in the family. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the past few days. I think maybe this broken leg happened for a higher reason, not just because I was being reckless. I’d prayed that when you came back, you would want to stay.” When Riley started to speak, she held up her hand. “But I was wrong to think that way. This isn’t your home. I can see that now.”
“It used to be.” Riley’s voice sounded thick. “This was the only real home I ever knew, Mimi. I’m so grateful to you for that.”
Tears slipped down Mimi’s wrinkled cheeks. “Bother,” she said, picking up a paper napkin and dabbing the corners of her eyes. “I told myself I wasn’t going to cry.”
“It’s okay to be upset, remember? A wise woman told me that once. About ten minutes ago.”
Mimi chuckled. “I am wise, that’s true. But I mean it, Riley. I won’t pressure you anymore about coming back here or about the shop. I want you to live your life without feeling saddled with a dream that isn’t yours. The time has come for me to sell my yarn store.”
Riley sat back, absorbing her grandmother’s words. She couldn’t believe how fast the tables had turned. She never expected her grandmother to willfully give up Knots and Tangles.
Somehow Riley didn’t feel the satisfaction she’d anticipated. Getting Mimi to let go of her shop was the biggest challenge on her to-do list, and she had been gearing up for a battle. It never entered her mind that her grandmother would surrender so easily.
“And since I know you so well, Riley Jean, I don’t want you to worry about me or the store,” Mimi continued. “I’ll take care of getting it cleaned up and put on the market. I’ll get Harper to help me when the time comes. That being said, I want you to stay away from the shop for the rest of your visit.”
Shock coursed through Riley. “Why?”
“You need a vacation. I know for a fact you’ve been spending too much time holed up in that apartment.”
“I’ve been working, Mimi.” Riley felt a bit defensive. “The apartment is also my studio.”
“Which proves my point. You’re always either at work or working. That’s no way to live. This is beautiful country here. You can go hiking or go jogging again. I remember you used to like that insanity.”
Riley hadn’t gone on a jog since last week, and her muscles only just stopped hurting two days ago. “I’m more suited for brisk walking now,” she mumbled.
“Exercise is exercise.” Mimi sipped her coffee. “You know, you could also work on your art, just for fun. I remember when you used to do that, and I haven’t seen you drawing or painting since you arrived.”
Riley decided not to tell her about the sketch of Hayden she’d worked on a little more last night before bed. She considered taking Mimi’s suggestions, then changed her mind. The last thing she needed to do was rest right now, even though her grandmother was right, and she did need a vacation. Riley couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken more than a couple days off from her work. And while hiking and jogging and creating sounded appealing, she couldn’t block out her thoughts.
“I appreciate your vacation offer,” she said. “But I’d like to finish what I started in the shop. I don’t like leaving things half done.”
Mimi frowned. “Well, I know it will be done right if you do it. Okay, but promise me you’ll take time for yourself while you’re here.”
“I will. In between working on the shop and the house.”
