Page 38 of It Started With a Scarf

"Something small."

"Fine."

"I feel like it's driving better. Did they do something with the tires?"

"Yes," he said simply.

I didn't even ask. I figured I would later. I didn't know how to respond other than to thank him again. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's my pleasure, honestly. You're following me to Northbrook right now, and you might have to take a trip to Milwaukee soon. I like knowing you're safe on the road."

My heart ached at the words. I loved that he wanted me to go to Milwaukee and that he was protective of me. I wanted him to always feel that way, but that was asking too much. It was sweet of him to look out for me, but I couldn’t expect him to stay in my life and continue acting like this. I had to keep things light and non-committal even though I very much wanted heavy and committed. I knew I had to be cool.

"That is just incredibly sweet," I said reasonably. "You're too much. This day. I'm sorry that I'm going to have to still destroy you and your brother at Super Smash Bros. tonight."

He laughed. "I don't mean to kill your enthusiasm, but there is just no way. And I'm telling you right now… I might be a little different, but my brother is not going to take it easy."

"He won't have to," I said confidently. "Ada and I used to go over to our neighbors' all the time to play that game. I would compete with them, and they were actual gamers. I promise I can destroy your brother. People who are athletes in real life can't touch gamers." He laughed because he knew I was joking around. "Also, my knitting bag is in my backseat if you want me to take it in and show you my latest scarf."

"Definitely. My mom will want to see it and hear the whole story. I told them the whole Mariam Waterson stuff when I first got it, but they didn't know I was meeting you today. I was planning on catching them up at dinner."

Chapter 13

Eddie Decker was one of the most famous American football players of all time. I knew they would have a nice house. Dominic had told me a story or two that took place there, but I didn't have enough of the details to picture anything.

The family property was in a gated subdivision and their house was surrounded by trees, making it impossible to see from the road. The house itself was sizeable and nice, but it was cozier and more comfortable than I expected for someone like Eddie Decker. He was totally approachable. Sure, he was a natural-born leader and larger than life, but his big smile was warm and welcoming, and he leaned in when he spoke to me.

He and his wife, Caroline, were both so down to earth and easy that I forgot to be intimidated by them or the fact that Eddie was next-level famous. I wondered if maybe he had gotten famous because he was so cool and easy to be around. He definitely had magnetism.

All this to say that meeting the Deckers was way less intimidating than I ever thought it would be. My first twenty minutes had passed in a fun flash where we told them about the scarf. They knew how Dominic had rescued it for me. They knew more about me than I thought they would. We told them about our meeting today. Dominic did most of the talking. He added parts like the way I stared at the scarf when he gave it to me. He enjoyed my reaction to receiving it, and I thought it was sweet when he told those sorts of details from the story.

"What'd I miss, and what's for dinner?" EJ said, coming in with one of his friends. "I smell home cookin' in here."

We were all situated in the big family room. "That's Thad. He plays for the Phillies," Dominic said turning to me and filling me in quietly. "He also played baseball at Northwestern with my brother," he added, speaking a little louder.

"Chicken and rice," Caroline said. "Benny cooked veggies, too."

"I smelled that broccoli! P.U. Hit me right when I came in. It smells like dad's lettin' em rip in here."

"EJ!" Caroline said, scolding her son, but everyone was laughing.

EJ looked at me as he crossed through the living room. "I'm joking, it smells good. Marley, this is my buddy, Thad," he said. I smiled and looked at the guy who came in behind EJ. We gave each other a wave. He was a muscular athlete just like Eddie and his boys.

"When are you leaving for spring training, Thad?" Caroline asked as she gave him a hug.

"I leave tomorrow," he said.

Dominic and I were situated on bar stools at the counter, and EJ walked over to that end of the kitchen with us. Thad followed. The boys shook hands.

"This is that famous scarf," EJ said, looking at me. Dom told me you were coming over here, and I was telling Thad about it."

I tried not to be nervous, but I was on the spot and I felt myself shaking a little as I took the scarf from the counter and held it up. I had the other one with me, too, but I kept it folded and on the side. The current work in progress had a needle and a ball of yarn attached to it, but the original one was unhindered, and I spread it onto the bar in front of me.

It was an interesting scarf, and Thad smiled and came over to it, checking it out. He leaned over and really stared. "EJ said it was made by that lady who played in Stonehollow Bridge. That's one of my favorite movies. Robert Redford."

"Mariam Waterson," I agreed, nodding at him. "It's funny that you said that movie because that one's my Pa Frank's favorite. He was the one who first met her. She gave this scarf to my grandma years ago when I was a baby, and then I got it as a gift on my tenth birthday. Mariam knitted while she traveled and made movies."

"Dom found it last year, and he didn't know how to get in touch with her… no last name or anything. He had it in his closet this whole time," EJ said to Thad.

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