As his first casual meeting morphed into a second business meeting, Kevin soon found his suspicions correct.

“I’m sorry I have to do this.”

Kevin nodded and took a sip of cold coffee and then took in the moment. Shouldn’t I be the one letting him go?

But instead, Zack, his most talented and hardworking designer, was leaving him.

As if he didn’t have enough things to worry about.

But this could be a blessing in disguise. Now I don’t have to worry about Zack finding a job.

But Zack was always going to find another job. Kevin had already encouraged two of the designers, Pete and recently hired Samantha, to start looking around at prospects. But he hadn’t been able to encourage Zack to do the same.

Because you’re stubborn and you want to always do things your way.

“I know that Pete and Sam have started sending out résumés.”

Kevin couldn’t really say much except “Yeah.”

“Landmark is going to pay me a lot more. The benefits are better too. I just had to . . .”

Again, the nod and the sip.

Ten years of hard work, scattered on this table like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that I have no time to put together.

“There’s not a lot I can say,” Kevin said. “I mean, I don’t want you to go. But I have no idea—I can’t promise any of you anything.”

“Yeah, I know. I just—I can’t afford to be out of work.”

And why’s that? Need to keep making payments on that sporty new SUV you just got?

The guy was twenty-five, Kevin reminded himself. Give him a break.

He’d worked hard at making Precision the kind of company where young guys like Zack, who drove sporty VW SUVs and wore cool glasses and did amazing, irreplaceable work, would want to work.

“If things were different, I’d make a counteroffer,” Kevin said.

“I know.”

“When things get a little more stable, I’ll be calling you. Okay?”

Kevin glanced at the late-morning sun spilling into the Starbucks and the shadow from an armchair reaching out and touching his feet. The day had started so brightly, with so many opportunities and ideas. Now it felt like someone was running away with all of them.

Staring at the guy across the table, he knew that Zack really was irreplaceable.

“So when do you start the new job?” Kevin asked.

“First of January.”

“Ouch.”

“I know, man. I’m sorry.”

He recalled the last time they were in this Starbucks. Kevin had talked to Zack about how things were going to be when the twins came, about the adjustment and how that might mean more responsibilities for his up-and-coming designer.

Every man, woman, and child for himself.

Kevin had tried to make the point that more responsibilities meant more opportunities for Zack.

There it was again. That word. That wonderful little word that felt more elusive with each passing day.