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 what?”
He turned his back against the tree and pressed into it. “And then I still walked to my grandma’s, only I didn’t go in because she wasn’t there, and my grandpa was working. I think I stood there every day for two weeks, just waiting for her to come back, even though I knew she wouldn’t. Finally, I started going to my parents’ office, but it was never the same. It took me a long time to understand how much life changes from day to day.”
“My daddy left.”
“I know,” Hayden said. “I saw.”
“He’s not very nice.”
“Being an adult can be confusing, especially for kids. We make decisions, and not everyone will understand them. Heck, sometimes we don’t even understand them.”
“He has a new family.”
That hurt Hayden to hear. He took a deep breath.
“You’ve got your mom,” Hayden said. “She’d move heaven and earth to be with you. And you’ve got your uncle Colt.”
“Yeah.”
“Know who else you have?”
Maren finally looked at Hayden and shrugged.
“You have me and Conor. My parents. My dad told me he had so much fun with you when you were at the house. He can’t wait for you to come over again.”
“Really?”
Hayden nodded. “Yep. He really likes you, Maren.”
“He’s pretty funny.”
“You’ll have to tell him that when you see him at your next game.”
She shrugged.
Hayden pushed away from the tree. “If you’re hungry, there’s lasagna on the table. Your mom’s in the kitchen, and I think she misses you.”
“Daddy made her angry.”
“Well then, I bet a hug from you would make her happy.”
Hayden went into the house and sat down. Devorah had added a garden salad and garlic bread to the table.
“This looks like the best impromptu lunch I’ve had in a while.”
“For all their faults, the CC Club knows how to take care of their own.”
“That’s for sure,” Hayden said as he raised his fork, pausing when the back door opened. Cordelia came in first and went to her water dish. Maren followed, shutting the door behind her.
Devorah turned in her chair and welcomed her daughter into her fold. They hugged for a long time, both sniffling. When they parted, Hayden put some bread on Maren’s plate and got up to get her some juice.
“Thanks for lunch, Hayden,” Maren said as she sat down.
“Thanks for joining us,” he said as he retook his seat.
While the three of them ate, Hayden’s thoughts drifted. He was in love with Devorah and already looked at Maren as part of his family. Now, he just had to find the right time to tell Devy about his feelings. Unless he was too late.
Twenty-Seven
Devorah
In the month since Crow had passed away, life moved faster than Devorah thought possible. The dreary spring days turned into beautiful, almost summer days, with the nights getting longer with each passing day.
Maren counted down the days to summer break and had a list of activities she wanted to do with her mom—everything from taking a cruise on the big giant ship (according to Maren) to camping on the beach. Devorah would make sure they checked everything off the list, even the trip to the zoo that Maren had learned about in school one day, and they would head back to the Pizza Palace so she and Conor could play all the games while their parents munched on cardboard pizza.
They were surviving. Devorah and Maren.
Devy finally put her estate sale knowledge to good use when she cleaned out Crow’s house. It was hers and Colt’s to do with as they pleased, and since neither of them wanted to move, they decided to keep it. At least for now.
A week after he passed, Dev opened his closet door and groaned. Her father hadn’t gotten rid of anything in all his years, including his first sheriff’s uniform, which was, by all accounts, five sizes too small for him. Room by room, box by box, she went through her parents’ things. On some days and nights, Colt would help her. He’d often come across something he thought would be perfect for the Lazy Lamb and take it to the bar. Other times, Maren sat on the bed and helped her mom sort old clothing, books, and jewelry.
The day Devorah came across her mother’s wedding dress, she sat on the floor and cried. She had very few memories of her mom, and any photos had long since faded with time. Still, when she opened the box and softly touched the silk, she knew she’d never part with the gown. It was her hope that Maren would want to wear it someday, and if not, then Devorah would keep it in the box, tucked in the corner.
After everything had been gone through, she invited people into their home. This was the first time she’d done an estate sale while someone still lived in the home, and she hoped people would respect the Do Not Enter signs she had posted. Unlike her previous sales, she offered cookies from the local bakery.