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)
And then the visits stopped altogether, right around the time she’d started dating Chad. When the anniversary date flew by without a second thought, Devorah mentioned it to Chad, stating that she needed to go visit. He told her it was stupid and that her mother wasn’t really there, and she was just making a fool of herself.
Devorah believed him. She stopped going and even left for college without saying goodbye to her mom.
Now, she sat there, with her knees pulled to her chest and tears trailing down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. Devorah was angry. At herself, at her father, at life and how unfair it could be. But mostly she was mad at Chad for what he’d done. Not only now, but when they’d started dating. He should’ve been accepting of her need to talk to her mother, even though her ashes were long gone. If Chad had truly loved her, he would’ve been supportive.
Instead, he’d mocked her.
It wasn’t the first time, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.
Devorah sat there with the pink-and-orange morning sky guiding the boats out of the harbor. Silently, she wished them well and recited the fisherman’s prayer. Around her, the sounds of Oyster Bay soothed her. Birds squawked overhead, following the boats as they motored away. The seafood market opened its bay door, and she could hear the hum of the ice machine. Behind her, she heard footsteps and prepared for the dock to wobble from someone stepping on it.
What she didn’t expect was for her father to sit down next to her. His woodsy scent, mixed with the lingering tobacco of his cigar, was a smell she’d never forget.
Crow sat as close to Devorah as he could get. She was tempted to lean into her dad, but she resisted. Since their family dinner, a few weeks back, Devorah and Crow had turned a corner. Things were good between them. Better than before.
They sat for a bit until he broke the silence. “Does she ever answer you?”
Devorah shook her head. “Nope. I haven’t been a very good daughter for the past two decades. I wouldn’t talk to me either.”
“That’s so far from the truth, Devorah. You were and still are the best daughter. Your mom and I were very proud of you, and I have continued to be since the day she passed. I . . .” Crow took a deep inhale. Dev glanced at him. He gazed straight ahead. “I failed you and Colt after your mom died.”
“You didn—”
Crow stared at her sharply. “I did. I didn’t handle your mom’s passing well, and the only thing I knew to do was bury myself in work and try to make things seem as normal as possible. I thought if everything stayed the same, life would go on. By the time I realized it, you were walking out the door for college. That day, I sat in my chair and stared out the window, wondering if you forgot something and you’d be back so I could tell you how proud I was of you and how I wished things could’ve been different.
“I failed you as a parent. I was supposed to be there for you, to love and protect you from the likes of Chad Campbell. I’ll never forgive myself for not stepping in. I wanted to forbid you from seeing him, but by the time he’d wormed his way into your life, I’d lost you.”
“You didn’t lose me.” Devorah hugged her knees tighter to her chest.
“Short of putting you in jail, you would’ve continued to see him.”
He wasn’t wrong. Devorah nodded. “He made me believe he was all I needed.”
Crow sniffled. Dev looked at her father, and her heart broke instantly. He had tears in his eyes. While they were reconnecting, she still didn’t feel they were close enough for her to show him much affection, so she sat there.
“As much as this is going to hurt to hear, he’s done you a favor, Devorah. You’re far too good for the likes of him. The best thing is to get him away from Maren. Give her a chance to grow up without him manipulating her.”
“I think I want to stay in Oyster Bay.” Devorah shrugged. “It’s still small-town hell, but since reconnecting with Laila, she’s been showing me that living here isn’t all that bad.”
“And Hayden?”
She shrugged again. “He’s a bonus, for sure.”
“He’s sweet on you.”
Devorah looked out at the water before Crow could see the smile form. “You’ve said that before.”
“I mean it. He’s a good man. Comes from a great family.”
“Yeah . . . ,” she said, trailing off. Hayden had so many positives. There were two things holding Devy back. First, she could still see a faint line where her wedding ring used to be. She tucked her hand inside her sweatshirt to avoid looking at her finger. Second, she’d been down this road with Hayden before and wasn’t willing to do it again. While the sneaking around and secret make-out sessions had been exhilarating as a teen, they were adults now, and no one had time for those shenanigans.