The Art of Starting Over

Hayden took everyone out to lunch at the Lazy Lamb, mostly because he didn’t want to drop Devorah off yet, and he couldn’t think of an excuse to see her later in the evening or tomorrow. The best excuse he’d have to see her would be Monday, when the kids went back to school, and frankly that would be too long for him.

The kids ran into the pub and went to the end of the bar and waited for Colt to follow them to the game room. He was going to lose a fortune on video games where these kids were concerned.

With his hand on the small of Devy’s back, Hayden directed them to a booth. They sat across from each other and waited for one of the staff members or Colt to come over to them.

It was Colt who graced them breathlessly as he sat down next to his sister. “How do you keep up with them?” he asked.

“They have a lot of energy, which is shocking, since they just had baseball tryouts,” Devorah said.

“I heard some shit went down with Noble’s kid?” Colt shook his head. “He’s such an ass when he’s in here. I’ve had to call Dad or one of the deputies a time or two. And don’t get me started when his ex is here. They’re oil and water but volatile. I don’t know how they survive each other.”

“Sapphire Fleming being the ex?” Hayden asked.

Colt shook his head. “No, believe it or not, she’s the sane one. Dalton messed around on his wife with Sapphire, got her pregnant twice. They had an off-and-on thing in high school. I guess they never got over it.”

“That’s rich,” Devorah said. “Now she likes Hayden.”

Hayden’s eyes went wide. “Believe me, the feelings aren’t reciprocated.”

“Stay away,” Colt said. “You don’t want to get involved with her kind of drama.”

“I’d like to live a drama-free life,” Devy added. “But it doesn’t look that way.”

Colt put his arm around his sister. “The ship will sail soon. Small-town drama comes and goes like the weather.”

“Well, this has been the longest five minutes of my life,” she said.

“Anyway, what happened?” Colt asked.

“DJ pulled Maren’s hair and touched her when she asked him not to. Crow was there and told Dalton to bring his kid to the station after tryouts,” Devy said, summing everything up for Colt.

Her brother shook his head again. “Crow’s going to show the boy the jail cell. He may even lock him in it for a minute, since the kid messed with his granddaughter. Dalton should’ve taught him better.”

“Well, Sapphire is more than pissed at me for being back, so I’m sure there’s more drama heading our way.”

“Not if Crow has anything to say about it,” Colt told her. He slapped his hand on the table. “All right, enough of the whatever this is.” He waved his hand in front of them. Devy smiled at her brother. “What can I get you to drink? Eat?”

Hayden placed his and Conor’s order, and then Devy did the same for her and Maren. Hayden waited for Colt to be out of earshot before he spoke.

“I meant what I said under the tree, Devy.”

She smiled softly. “I know you did. I just—”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He cut her off, unwilling to hear how she needed time or wasn’t looking for anything right now. He wasn’t, either, but he also couldn’t ignore the strong pull he felt toward her. Seeing her at the school was a sign. He was sure of it.

“I think I need to find a job or a hobby. All this sitting around with my thoughts isn’t helping.”

“Estate curating, right?”

The small smile turned into a wide grin. “Yes,” she said with a shake of her head. “Impractical here, though. I was thinking of asking Colt if he’s hiring, or maybe my dad needs someone down at the station.”

“I’m sure either are viable. What are you going to do about Bea Sherman’s offer?”

“Are the Crafty Cathys really still a thing?”

Hayden nodded vigorously. “My mother is still a proud member. I believe they meet here.”

“I think I’m supposed to join or something,” she said. “My mom was a member, and so was her mom.”

“I bet this is why my sister moved away.”

“Where does Allie live?”

“Los Angeles,” he told her. “Entertainment law.”

“Well, that’s about as anti–small town as one can get.”

“That’s what she wanted. To be far away from here and doing her own thing. She likes it. Conor went to her place last year for a week. She took him to the beach and Disneyland and did the whole Hollywood tour thing. He was only interested in seeing the Angels baseball team and, of course, Disney.”

“We were supposed to take Maren to Florida for her birthday this year. I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t tell her.”

“It can still happen. Something tells me the parks are never going away.”

“True. I don’t know how Chad would feel. I know I shouldn’t care, but I’m afraid he’ll take things out on Maren because of me.”

Colt returned with their drinks and said he’d be back in a few with their food.

Hayden held his soda between his hands, and his temper increased. He would never ever understand parents who used their children to hurt their former spouses or took things out on their kids.

“Do you think Chad would do that?”

Devy shrugged. “Right now, I’m more concerned with him taking her away from me.”noveldrama

“He wouldn’t,” Hayden guessed.

“I can see him saying I can’t support her. Not the way he can. She wouldn’t have the same lifestyle here as he can provide her in Chicago.”

Hayden bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying something someone might overhear and then tell Chad. He might not live in Oyster Bay, but he knew people. “You should go see Theo Sherman tomorrow.” Theo Sherman, Bea’s husband, was the town attorney who specialized in everything. There wasn’t a case he couldn’t or wouldn’t take. Hayden remembered one case that made national news when a young girl wanted to sue the convenience store on the corner because the owner refused to stock cherry slushies. She threatened to sue him, he dared her, and Theo Sherman filed the lawsuit. It was frivolous, of course, but Theo meant business. The owner relented and stocked the cherry flavor, which sold out every week, much to his surprise.

“An attorney costs money.”

“Theo will let you make payments, Dev. Besides, the sooner you get something in the works, the faster Chad will have to pay support to you and Maren. And I imagine after what he did to you, Theo will make him pay your fees. If anything, go talk to him.”

“Talk to who?” Colt asked as he brought their food to the table.

“Theo Sherman. Bea was at the tryouts today and suggested it.”

“The Shermans are good people, Dev. You know this. You should go see him. Take Dad with you.”

“Why would I take Crow with me?”

“To get the Crow discount,” Colt said with a shrug.

Colt had a point, but even Hayden knew Devorah wasn’t looking for a handout.

“I’ll go get the kids.” Devy excused herself from the table. As soon as she was out of the booth, Colt sat down.

“I want to fly to Chicago and hunt the asshole down,” Colt said under his breath. “I can’t believe he did this to her. He all but alienates her from her family and then pulls this shit. His ass needs to be kicked.”

Hayden leaned forward. “Is this how you truly feel? Because my tolerance for Chad Campbell is out the window. He shut off her credit card.”

Colt’s mouth dropped open. He closed it and shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “I have a colorful list of things to say, but I own this place, and the last thing the patrons need to hear is me going off on my piece-of-crap brother-in-law.”

“What does Crow say?” Hayden was curious how their father felt. He was really an enigma unless the situation had something to do with the law.

“He’s angry, of course.”

“How does he feel about Devorah and Maren being at the house?”

“He loves it. Told me the house hasn’t felt like a home since Dev left for college.”

“Then ask him to tell her, because he makes her feel unwelcome.”

Colt’s eyes widened. “Shit, really?”

Hayden nodded. “Do your sister a solid and tell Crow to tell her how he feels. She needs to know she’s welcome and that he wants her there. Also, she needs a job. I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but Dev needs one thing to go her way right now.”

Colt leaned back and sighed. He started to open his mouth to say something, but Devorah had returned with the kids. He smiled at his sister and then Maren. “Did you clean me out?” he asked the kids.

“I’m a whiz at pinball, Uncle Colt.”

“I expect nothing less,” he said as he slid out of the booth. He pinched her cheek lightly. Maren scrunched her shoulders, squealed, and then took his seat. “Lunch is on me,” he told Dev.

“Why, what do you want?”

Hayden laughed.

Colt ran his hand through his hair. “I sort of need a bartender a few nights a week and someone to make desserts.”

Devy leaned to the side. Hayden refused to meet her gaze.

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it? Don’t you want to know how much you’re going to make?”

Instead of speaking, she wrapped her arms around Colt’s waist. If they exchanged words, they did so quietly. To busy himself, Hayden made sure Maren was all set with her burger and fries.

“Can you make me fancy sauce?” Maren asked Hayden.

“What’s that?”

“It’s ketchup and mayo. My mom mixes it together and calls it ‘fancy sauce.’”

“Sure can,” he said. He took the little cup of mayo Colt had brought with Maren’s food and added ketchup to it. Devorah sat down and offered to finish, but he shook his head, determined to make the perfect sauce for Maren.

“How’s this?” He showed her his creation.

Her grin spread from ear to ear. “Thank you.” She took the sauce and dipped a fry in, swirled it around, and then stuck it in her mouth.

“Can I try?” Conor asked her.

Maren held the dish out for Conor, who dunked and swirled his fry and then stuck it into his mouth. Hayden waited anxiously for his reaction. After a couple of chews, Conor nodded in approval.

“Colt!” Hayden hollered across the bar. “Another side of mayo, please. We need more fancy sauce.”

“You got it.”

“We can share until yours comes,” Maren said. She set her sauce in the middle of the table for Conor to reach.

Hayden appreciated the comradery between the kids. It was nice to see and be a part of. He still needed to speak to Conor when they got home about what happened. Hayden was proud his son had stood up for Maren. It was the right thing to do. Pushing DJ, however, was not, and Hayden needed to find the right way to explain the difference. He didn’t want Conor labeled as a bully or have him be in trouble with Crow. Those days would come. There was no need to rush them.

The four of them made idle chitchat through lunch, and when they were done, they piled into the truck and headed toward Crow’s. When Hayden pulled up to the curb, he put the truck in park, and the kids got out.

Devorah reached for the door handle, but Hayden put his hand on hers to keep her there for a moment longer. She looked at him for what he felt like was the first time. Her brown eyes widened as she waited for him to say something.

“Can I take you out tonight? The drive-in is still showing movies. I thought we could throw a couple blankets in the back and share a bucket of popcorn.”

“Okay,” she said. “But I need to check with Crow and make sure he’s going to be around. I can’t leave Maren home alone.”

“Unless I hear otherwise, I’ll be here at seven.”

Devy nodded and hesitated before she opened the door of the truck. As soon as her feet hit the pavement, she turned and looked at him. “Thank you, Hayden. For everything.”

“It’s been all my pleasure, Devorah.”