Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Maren shrugged. “The girls in class aren’t very nice.”
Devy crouched and pressed her thumb into the front of Maren’s shoe. “Okay, you walk now. Do the stuff Conor did, and make sure they feel good.”
Maren did and proclaimed they were perfect. She didn’t hug her mom or thank her, which bothered Dev. Chad would never thank his wife. Not for keeping the house spotless, not for having dinner on the table each night, not for dropping off and picking up his dry cleaning. Everything she did had been expected of her.
Dev packed up the shoes they weren’t going to get and headed toward the clothing section. The morning tryouts would be chilly, and Maren hadn’t packed all her clothes, and as far as Devy was concerned, Chad could buy his daughter some new things. The thought of going back to Chicago or asking Chad to send her clothes formed a pit in Dev’s stomach. She wasn’t ready and needed more time. To her knowledge, Chad had called only once to speak to Maren. He wasn’t calling Dev’s cell phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at her missed calls.
None.
They needed to talk, but Devorah didn’t have the stomach to initiate anything. Walking away from your life because your husband wanted to live with his mistress was one thing. Taking the necessary step forward to end your marriage was another, and it was a move Devorah wasn’t sure how to navigate.
She looked through the racks of sweatshirts and came across one that matched the cleats Conor had chosen. She found his size and draped it over her arm, as if it was second nature to buy him things. She glanced down at it and smiled. It was odd to think that a sweatshirt for a little boy she barely knew would give her a sense of happiness.
Hayden and Conor came toward them, and she instantly held the sweatshirt against Conor’s chest, lining the shoulders up with the seam. “I think you need a large, especially if your uniform shirt is bulky.”
Devy didn’t ask Hayden if Conor could get it. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. She was in mother mode, and if Maren was getting a sweatshirt to match her cleats, then Conor needed one as well.
She turned back to the rack to find Conor a different size and to hide her smile as Hayden spoke to Maren about the glove he’d chosen for her. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him with her daughter. He was gentle, guiding, and determined to make sure Maren’s hand was comfortable in the glove.
Another smile crept across her mouth when she heard Hayden tell Maren to just call him Hayden. No need for the “Mr.” stuff.
“Can you try this one on for me?” Devy handed Conor the sweatshirt, now in size large. She took his shoes from him and set them with Maren’s. Conor did as he was asked, messing up his hair when he pulled it over his head, which Devy promptly fixed.
“How does this feel?” She pulled, tugged, and yanked the shirt in places.
Conor made funny sounds and acted as if he were falling each time Devy moved the sweatshirt.
“You’re a funny guy, just like your dad,” Dev said. “Is it tight?”
“No, it’s perfect.”
Devy smiled.
“You should smile more,” Conor said. “You’re very pretty.”
She grinned again. “Thank you, Conor. I appreciate you saying so.”
The boy smiled brightly and then ran off toward his dad. Devy watched Hayden as he gave his attention equally to both his son and her daughter. It was weird to her how the four of them flowed. Even though she’d known Hayden most of her life, it was also as if she hadn’t. She had no idea what kind of food he liked or what his favorite color was, and she didn’t remember when his birthday was.
I want to know.
The thought gave her pause. She shook her head, clearing the tangled mess of those thoughts away, and headed toward the three of them.
“Look, Mom!” Maren tossed a baseball into the web of the mitt and closed it tightly. “It’s ready for tomorrow.”
“That’s great.” A thought occurred to her as she saw the excitement on Maren’s face. Had they already missed the sign-ups for the tryouts?
“Hayden.” Devy said his name to get his attention. “Did I have to sign Maren up beforehand?”
“No, we sign up at the park. It’s an open tryout.”
Devorah relaxed. At least she hadn’t messed that up.
“Are we all set?” Hayden asked. He looked at each of them. Dev and Maren nodded.
Conor spoke. “What about socks?”
Hayden put his hand on Conor’s shoulder. “I think the team will give you a pair. If not, we’ll come back once we know your team color.”
“Cool,” Conor said as he fist pumped the air.
As they made their way to the checkout, anxiety stirred in Devy’s stomach. She hadn’t used any of her joint credit or debit cards since she arrived back in Oyster Bay, and being as she hadn’t spoken to Chad about finances, she had no idea if the cards even worked. Sure, some of the money in their bank account was hers, but Chad never saw it that way. He was the breadwinner. The man who “brought home the bacon,” as he often said. Her referred to her earnings as a “pittance,” even though at times during the spring and summer, when estate sales were booming, she earned in the very high four digits. He’d always looked down on her job, calling it a “hobby.”