Page 50 of The Art Of Starting Over

“Theo will let you make payments, Dev. Besides, the sooner you get something in the works, the faster Chad will have to pay support to you and Maren. And I imagine after what he did to you, Theo will make him pay your fees. If anything, go talk to him.”

“Talk to who?” Colt asked as he brought their food to the table.

“Theo Sherman. Bea was at the tryouts today and suggested it.”

“The Shermans are good people, Dev. You know this. You should go see him. Take Dad with you.”

“Why would I take Crow with me?”

“To get the Crow discount,” Colt said with a shrug.

Colt had a point, but even Hayden knew Devorah wasn’t looking for a handout.

“I’ll go get the kids.” Devy excused herself from the table. As soon as she was out of the booth, Colt sat down.

“I want to fly to Chicago and hunt the asshole down,” Colt said under his breath. “I can’t believe he did this to her. He all but alienates her from her family and then pulls this shit. His ass needs to be kicked.”

Hayden leaned forward. “Is this how you truly feel? Because my tolerance for Chad Campbell is out the window. He shut off her credit card.”

Colt’s mouth dropped open. He closed it and shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “I have a colorful list of things to say, but I own this place, and the last thing the patrons need to hear is me going off on my piece-of-crap brother-in-law.”

“What does Crow say?” Hayden was curious how their father felt. He was really an enigma unless the situation had something to do with the law.

“He’s angry, of course.”

“How does he feel about Devorah and Maren being at the house?”

“He loves it. Told me the house hasn’t felt like a home since Dev left for college.”

“Then ask him to tell her, because he makes her feel unwelcome.”

Colt’s eyes widened. “Shit, really?”

Hayden nodded. “Do your sister a solid and tell Crow to tell her how he feels. She needs to know she’s welcome and that he wants her there. Also, she needs a job. I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but Dev needs one thing to go her way right now.”

Colt leaned back and sighed. He started to open his mouth to say something, but Devorah had returned with the kids. He smiled at his sister and then Maren. “Did you clean me out?” he asked the kids.

“I’m a whiz at pinball, Uncle Colt.”

“I expect nothing less,” he said as he slid out of the booth. He pinched her cheek lightly. Maren scrunched her shoulders, squealed, and then took his seat. “Lunch is on me,” he told Dev.

“Why, what do you want?”

Hayden laughed.

Colt ran his hand through his hair. “I sort of need a bartender a few nights a week and someone to make desserts.”

Devy leaned to the side. Hayden refused to meet her gaze.

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s it? Don’t you want to know how much you’re going to make?”

Instead of speaking, she wrapped her arms around Colt’s waist. If they exchanged words, they did so quietly. To busy himself, Hayden made sure Maren was all set with her burger and fries.

“Can you make me fancy sauce?” Maren asked Hayden.

“What’s that?”

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