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CHAPTERTWO
Hayden
My stomach sinksas I watch the taillights from his Jeep disappear into the darkness down the hill.
“Why’d you have to tell him who your dad is?” I berate myself. “You know he’s got all his men scared to talk to you, much less let you take them to lunch.”
Sighing, I walk around to the driver’s side of my Toyota. This Camry has taken me a lot of places. From this little Tennessee town, all the way across the country to the University of Wisconsin, and now back again. She and I, we’ve been through a lot, and she’s seen more than her fair share of my anger and tears.
The chill in the air makes my body shiver. Burrowing down, I realize I still have his jacket. The one he’s not supposed to lose since it’s a part of his uniform. Ramirez is embroidered into the left side as well as the back.
Racking my brain, I try to think of who this could be when it hits me. Dad’s been talking about a rookie. One who has a good work ethic, but feels as if he’s looked down upon because of who his family is.
This has got to be him.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket. Fishing it out, I roll my eyes when I see a text from my dad.
D: You’ve been gone a while, is everything okay?
H: Yeah, just lost track of time. Be home ASAP.
D: You know I worry about you.
H: I’m good. Heading out now.
Sliding into the seat, I buckle myself in before pressing the start button. Keyless start and entry are my favorite inventions ever.
Truth be told, I wanted to drive around a little longer, but dad worries more than he should. In third grade, he and mom got divorced. Something I blame myself for. After all, they decided to do it after I was born.
She started a new life, out in California, and he stayed here where everyone and everything he knew was. Which, I guess, is why I’m back. Regardless of what’s happened in the past, this is home.
Turning around at the pull off, I head back the way I came, sad that I won’t be able to do more exploring before I start my job tomorrow morning.
Driving back down into Bradford, I breathe a sigh of relief. Being up there by myself and not being able to change the tire was stressful. Helpless is a feeling I don’t give into very often and, as I realize how close I came to not being able to change my tire, the shakes go through me.
Turning on my blinker, I hit the gas station right at the edge of town. The one I worked at as a teenager. Getting out of my car and heading inside, I’m hit with nostalgia. It still smells the same as it did when I turned in my notice.
“Hayden Hudson? Is that you?”
“In the flesh,” I answer, a grin on my face. Nancy has worked here for as long as I can remember. She was the manager even before I started. Judging by the name tag, she still is. “How are you?”
“Living,” she smiles back, coming around the counter, her arms open wide.
I fall into them, holding on tightly when she wraps me up in a hug. “You sure are; you look good.”
“Trying.” She pulls back. Without turning around she keeps talking. “Donavan, put that candy bar back.”
“Damn, how did you see me?”
“Because you’re messing with my profits. Put it back.”
Tilting my head to the side, I purse my lips. “Your profits?”
Strong and proud, she nods. “I bought the place last year. So now I’m working for myself. It’s not been easy, but at least I’m doing it for me, and not someone else.”
“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you. If the job I got doesn’t work out, maybe I can get this one back?”
“You don’t even have to ask. You were one of the best cashiers I had. You were always on time and would stay until your stuff was done, and all the customers loved you. I heard you were coming home.”
