Page 8 of Goalie Interference

She smiled softly, understanding my fear. “I’m getting older, but otherwise I’m fine.”

My shoulders relaxed. “Good.”

“But Iamgetting older. And this job is taxing. It’s time for me to retire.”

And there came the tension again. “Retire? You’re closing the shop?”

It was hard to imagine Austin without String Theory. Austin was a music city, and Diane was an icon.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’d like you to consider taking it over.”

I choked on air.

Diane had a faint smile on her face as I caught my breath. “Thought that would surprise you.”

I rubbed my hand on my chest. “Obviously. Why me?”

“Because I believe you can keep String Theory one of the best shops in the city. Because you’re a woman, and we get short shrift in this business. I’d like to think women could continue to learn and create in the place I built.”

I agreed with her one hundred per cent. My experience with Conrad was typical of a lot of the established luthiers. Teaching an apprentice often used time that could be spent earning money, but it was important to pass on the craft—not just what you could learn in courses, but the knowledge only years of hands-on work could provide.

“I’m confident you’d give other women a chance to apprentice. You know almost everything I do.”

That was an overstatement. “I’ve never built my own guitars—I mean, in the course I took, but not seriously.”

“I’ve been cutting back on the custom jobs I do, and I’m not retiring immediately. Say, two years and I’d be done and the place would be yours. You can help with the customs I work on and decide if you want to keep that part up, but even just maintaining the repairs and restorations would keep the spirit of String Theory going.”

The server came to take our orders, and Diane let the topic drop while we chose our favorites.

“Maybe the timing works out well—I was going to ask if I could do some work at your shop.”

“Absolutely. Is there something wrong at your place?”

“Dad talked Cash into letting a tenant stay in the apartment upstairs.”

“Without asking you?”

“It’s not my property.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re taking care of the place, so it would have been considerate. But anyway. Who is it?”

“I didn’t have a chance to even ask his name. Dad called to ask why Cash wasn’t answering, then Cash took about thirty seconds to tell me someone was moving in upstairs. The guy arrived just before I came over.”

“A friend of your dad’s? Someone he’s recording or touring with?”

I laughed. “He’s a lot younger than Dad, more my age, and has a thick mane of hair and a full beard. He says he has weird hours and travels… You could be right. He might be a musician. And he apparently has a dog, which will begreatwith Goober. In any case, when he’s home in the daytime I can’t make too much noise, so I hoped you’d let me work here till I find another place.”

“It plays right into my plan. You do what you need to, then we can talk and see how this might work out.”

For the first time since Cash had mentioned renting the apartment, I could relax. I’d meet my obligations and spend more time with Diane, so win/win.

After we’d split the bill and returned to String Theory, she brought retiring up again. “Please think over what I said. You’re talented and I’m always impressed with what you do. I’d feel good, passing the business on to someone who would keep the spirit going.”

I promised to think it over, but realistically, I couldn’t do it. I had a small clientele, often referred by Diane, and an arrangement with a couple of stores locally. I was busy, but not a well-known name. How could Diane believe I was ready to step into the big leagues?

Chapter 5

Every one of us could be an Ace

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