Page 24 of The Art Of Starting Over

“Where are you building?”

“Do you remember the orchard?”

Devy nodded.

“I bought a couple of acres there.”

“And you’re building your house?”

“Not exactly. I’ll be there to hold a nail or two. I hired a contractor. I’m good with a hammer, but even I have to draw the line somewhere.”

“Where did you live before coming back here?”

“Wyoming. I was a deputy in a town smaller than Oyster Bay. When I wasn’t chasing horse thieves, I worked on a ranch for Sofia’s family.”

The waitress returned with her dinner, followed by Colt, Maren, and Conor.

“Mom!” Maren’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright with excitement. “This is my friend Conor. We’re in class together, and he just moved here too.”

Devorah smiled. “Maren, this is Hayden, Conor’s dad and Uncle Colt’s best friend.”

“So cool. Can they have dinner with us?”

Before Devy could say no, Colt spoke up: “Sure they can!” He moved a table next to their booth and sat down. The waitress came over, took Hayden’s and Conor’s drink orders, and said she’d be right back. Devorah wanted to go home and crawl into bed.

“Mr. Hayden, do you think Conor could come over this weekend? My grandpa won’t mind.”

Devorah opened her mouth to tell Maren they had plans. Before she could find the words, though, Conor spoke up. “I would love to.”

Despite wanting privacy, Devy wouldn’t tell her daughter no. She caught Hayden staring at her and offered him her weakest smile.

“Mom, can Conor and I go back to the arcade?”

Devorah nodded. “Go have fun.”

Eight

Hayden

Colt sat down next to his sister, slung his arm around her shoulder, and sighed happily. Hayden noticed Devorah shrink into herself, almost as if she didn’t want the attention from her brother. Her fingers played with the condensation on her glass, and she kept her eyes on the table.

Hayden had never considered himself a violent man, but he wanted to maim Chad Campbell for what he was putting his wife through. No one, not even the vilest people in the world, deserved to be treated the way Chad and his mistress had treated Devy.

Chad’s attitude or disposition was par for the course. Back in high school, he was a jerk. A rich prick who thought he owned the school and never got in trouble for any of the shit he pulled. One time, he and most of the football team TP’d the trees in front of the high school. Everyone in town knew it was Chad, but the administration refused to believe he would do anything of the sort. Instead, the entire team received marks on their school discipline records. Hayden had a hard time explaining it on his college applications. Had he come forward, he would’ve been branded a narc and would’ve been the pariah of the school. Since he didn’t come forward, he was branded a disobedient student. He couldn’t win.

The one person who knew Chad was responsible was Sheriff Crowley. He was onto Chad’s bullshit.

The waitress stopped by the table and took Hayden’s order and then returned a few minutes later with his beer. Hayden took a long sip and then studied the label.

“I can’t believe you have your own brew.”

Colt smiled brightly and let out a little chuckle. “It’s a dream come true.” Colt looked at his sister and shook her shoulder. “Right?”

“Yeah,” was all Devy said.

“Devy, what do you do for work?”

She shook her head and readjusted in her seat. “I organize estate sales.”

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