Page 19 of The Art Of Starting Over

“Yeah, she has a funny name. Some of the kids were making fun of her.”

“I saw you wave at her,” Hayden said to Conor.

“She’s nice,” Conor said. “Mr. Raze said we had to be reading partners.”

“What were the other kids saying to her?” Darcy asked.

Conor shrugged. “Something about her mom being on a video. I don’t know. I wasn’t listening because I don’t know her, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m a mean kid.”

Hayden happened to glace at his mom, who eyed him warningly; she then looked to Conor. Hayden understood.

“Hey, bud, why don’t you run upstairs and do your homework. Grandma is going to need the counter to make dinner.”

“Okay,” he said as he climbed down and grabbed his backpack. Hayden waited until he heard stomping overhead before saying anything to his mom.

“You know?”

She nodded. “Everyone knows.”

“How?”

“According to the gals at the coffee shop, the video went viral. Whatever that’s supposed to mean.”

“But she doesn’t even live here.”

Darcy shrugged. “How do you know about it?”

“I ran into Devorah outside the kids’ school this morning. It was raining, so I offered her a ride. We chatted for a bit, and she told me.”

“You haven’t seen it?”

Hayden shook his head. He wasn’t sure he wanted to see it.

“Probably for the best,” his mom said. “It’s not good, and there’s a follow-up. This woman ...” Darcy paused and turned the mixer off. “I don’t know what on earth possesses a woman to be as catty as this one on the video. Her parents should be ashamed. Just horrible what they’ve done to our Devy.”

“Your Devy?”

Darcy held a spatula in her hand, covered with vanilla frosting. “Oyster Bay takes care of their own.”

“Right,” he said, shaking his head. “Spreading rumors and gossip like wildfire in the ‘He said, she said’ narrative isn’t considered taking care of its own, Mom.”

“That woman on the video will get hers. You just wait and see.”

Hayden scrubbed his hand over his face and groaned. “Devorah is a grown woman. Let her take care of her home, while you take care of yours. She doesn’t need a group of Crafty Cathys coming to her rescue,” he said, referring to the town’s long-standing social group to which his mother belonged.

“She might.”

“Believe me, what Devy needs is support. She’s going through a tough time. If you want to help, give her a shoulder to cry on. It’s not like Crow is the type of guy to lend an ear.”

“You can say that again.”

Hayden opened his mouth and then thought better of it. “I’m going to go check on Conor, then I’ll be back down, and you’ll have a list of things for me to do.” He kissed his mom on her cheek and went upstairs.

He paused when he came to Conor’s door and smiled as he heard his son reading to himself. This move would be good for them. Hayden would make sure of it.

Seven

Devorah

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