Chapter 60

When he dropped the boys off at school Monday morning, Jack hugged him as usual, but Eddie got out of the truck and walked away without so much as a backward glance.

When Tyler arrived at the mill he felt a sense of relief. Here at least there weren’t many who were aware of his turmoil. Yes, his father would be in later, and Ward was somewhere on the grounds, but at least for now, no one was in his face about Ward and him.

Sarah Anne and Nancy greeted him in their usual jovial, flirtatious way. He did his best to respond as he usually did, asking them about their weekends and telling them about how great his was. Only today, his description of the last few days was a lie.

He went from the store to the office and shut the door. It would just take time, he told himself. As he went to his desk he wrestled with the thought that at some point a face to face with Ward was inevitable. In fact, it was a necessity. As hard as that would be, he owed Ward that much at least.

He had barely sat down when Sarah Anne knocked and stuck her head in.

“Sorry to bother you, but Avery Horton is here to see you.”

Avery Horton? Tyler could barely remember who that was.

Reading the expression on Tyler’s face, Sarah Anne said, “The guy you and your dad hired last week.”

“Oh, yeah. What does he want?”

“I don’t know. He just said it was important that he see you this morning.”

“Okay, send him in,” Tyler said, now wishing the elder Hughes were here to deal with whatever issues this new guy was having.

Tyler stood and walked around the desk as Avery came into the office.

“Hey, Avery,” Tyler said with a forced smile. “What can I help you with?”

“I came to talk to you about Ward.”

Avery’s words hit Tyler like a bucket of ice water. “Ward?”

“Yeah, Ward, and how you’re throwing away the best thing that could ever happen to you.”

Tyler was stunned. How did this guy know about what was going on? “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”

“The hell you don’t. Ward’s a great guy and he’s head over heels for you and you’re turning your back on him.”

Why was this stranger here lecturing him on how to live his life? “What the fuck do you know about it?” Tyler asked, irritation and anger creeping in.

“I know plenty. I know the two of you love each other, but you’re dumping him like a sack of rotten potatoes cuz of what a jerk like Erlich said.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but you don’t have the whole story. There are people involved that could get hurt by me and Ward being together,” Tyler said, thinking of Eddie and Jack.

“And there are people who will be hurt if you keep on with pushing Ward away. Ward’s told me a lot about the two of you. And you’re a fool to walk away from this. I know because I’ve walked away from plenty of relationships not half as solid as yours is, and no one wins. You got a chance to form a real family, have a wonderful life, but you’re too scared to fight for it. If you don’t want him, I’ll gladly take him off your hands I’d give anything to find a man as good and true as Ward.”.

Tyler just stared at Avery. “Did Ward ask you to come and talk to me?”

“Hell, no! He’d bust my balls if he knew I was here. He said the whole decision’s yours, He’s willing to let you break his heart, rather than put pressure on you to do anything that you ain’t comfortable with. He loves you that much. But I couldn’t just let you do this without letting you know what a fool you are. You don’t find guys like him sitting under every tree. There, I’ve said what I come to say and, if I’m not fired, I’ll get back to work.”

Avery waited a minute. When Tyler didn’t say anything, he turned and left.

Tyler slumped and sat on the edge of his desk.

Sarah Anne poked her head around the door. “You okay? Avery seemed really ticked off. What did he want?”

“Water coolers and air conditioning installed in the grinding room.”

“What?” Sarah Anne asked, looking puzzled.

“Nothing, never mind. I took care of it. It’s all good.”

Sarah Anne, looking skeptical, left the office.

Tyler got up and looked out the window at the mill. Somewhere out there Ward was working. Tyler’s last words to Sarah Anne played on his mind. It’s all good. He shook his head and sat back down at his desk. He wondered if it would ever be good again.