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)
Devorah breathed in and out, working to slow her heart rate and curb the anger she felt. She told herself she was pissed off at Chad, not Maren. That he’d likely prodded their daughter for information. He was the one who’d fucked up. Not Devorah. Chad was the one who’d cheated, who’d destroyed their marriage.
She turned to find her daughter standing there with tears in her eyes. How much of the conversation had she overhead? Behind her, Crow stood, scowling. Was his look one of warning to her to tread carefully with Maren? Or was it a result of the one-sided conversation he’d heard?
Devorah took a deep breath. “Did you tell your father I went on a date with Hayden?”
Maren nodded as tears fell from her eyes.
She’s innocent in all of this.
Another deep breath. Inhale. Exhale.
“Look—”
“Devorah.” Crow’s booming voice was full of warning. She glanced at her father and saw the slight shake of his head.
Devy crouched, putting her below her daughter’s eye level. Her watery eyes matched Maren’s. She clasped hands with her daughter.
“Did Daddy ask you questions about me?”
Maren nodded.
“I’m not mad at you, sweetie. I’m angry at your dad. He shouldn’t put you in the middle of what’s going on here. I’m sorry he did that.” Devorah partially stood and kissed her daughter on her forehead, and then pulled her into a hug as she righted herself. Maren’s arms wrapped around her waist as Devy looked at her father.
Mother and daughter parted. Devorah cupped Maren’s cheek. “Do you want to go back to Chicago?”
Maren shrugged. “I miss my friends.”
“I know you do. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through all of this. We can go back if that’s what you want.”
Maren shrugged again.
She’d thought about whether she wanted to stay in Oyster Bay, and as of late the answer was yes, but not at the expense of her daughter’s happiness.
“Devorah . . .” The deep gruffness of her father’s voice was gone, replaced with sadness. She couldn’t look at him. She didn’t want to see the heartbreak on his face. She felt it, and that was enough. They had finally reconnected, and now she was going to leave him behind. She would leave everyone she loved behind because her daughter wanted to go back to Chicago.
“I can’t, Dad. I’m sorry.” She swiped her hand across her cheek, smearing makeup and tears across her face. She left her dad and Maren in the kitchen, grabbed her purse, and walked out of the house. She needed to be alone.
Twenty
Hayden
Hayden had all but fallen asleep when his phone startled him. He answered groggily and rubbed his eyes clear.
“Hey, it’s Colt. Can you come down to the pub?”
“Uh, what time is it?” Hayden pulled the phone away from his ear and looked. It was almost midnight. He had fallen asleep after spending all day working with Link. They were close to finishing the framing on Hayden’s house. It had also been hot out earlier, and he was certain he hadn’t drunk enough water. After his shower, he’d collapsed on his bed and fallen right to sleep.
“Late. Look, my sister’s down here, and things aren’t pretty. I’d call my dad, but he’s with Maren, and I don’t want to call one of his deputies.”
“What’s wrong with Dev?”
“I’m not exactly sure. She said something about a piece of shit and started drinking. I’m assuming this has something to do with Chad.”
Hayden groaned. He liked Devorah. A lot. He was ready for more, but she wasn’t, and he wasn’t willing to push her. Devy didn’t even have to tell him. He could sense it from her. And he was okay with that. Besides, he had enough things to keep his time occupied with building his house and making sure Conor was fitting in.
“Yeah, I’ll be down in a minute,” he told Colt and then hung up. Hayden sat, ran his hand through his hair, and sighed. In the time he’d spent with Devorah, she hadn’t drunk a thing other than water and soda. He figured she didn’t drink or didn’t want to give Chad something to use against her. Hayden respected her choice. Applauded her for it.
After Sofia passed away, Hayden had spent three nights on a bender, trying to numb his thoughts. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his wife, the tree, the damage it had done to her, and Sofia’s cousin, standing on the side of the road, sobbing. If it wasn’t for Conor, Hayden would still be drunk.
He pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, slipped on his cowboy boots, and hopped into his truck, only to get out and decide to walk to the Lazy Lamb. If Devorah was drunk, he’d prefer to walk her home from the pub so she could get some fresh air.