Page 71 of The Art Of Starting Over

Devorah sighed. “Chad’s parents moved to Chicago, and there was no need. He knew Crow didn’t like him, so to him, there was no point in coming back, and you know Chad couldn’t live without us.” Devy made the gagging motion, which caught her off guard. Her eyes widened as she looked at Laila, who stood there shocked. “What was that?”

“Maybe your mind finally coming to the conclusion that Chad is such a ...” Laila trailed off, looking at the ceiling as she thought. “He’ssuch a Chad!” she said gleefully. “You know the way he is isn’t normal, right?”

Devorah nodded. Each time anyone talked about Chad, she saw just how narcissistic he was. As much as she hated seeing the person she had become because of him, she needed the slap in the face to see the error of her ways.

She would come out of this mess as a better person, just to spite him.

“I wish I had seen him for what he was back when we started dating. I think even then I knew, but he was Chad Campbell, and everyone wanted to date him, and he chose me.”

“I didn’t.” Laila lifted her shoulder and straightened a piece of paper on the table in front of her. “He was always such a pompous ass. It was a major turnoff.”

“Why didn’t I see him like that?”

Laila let out an exaggerated breath. “In my most humble opinion, I think it’s because of Crow and how strained things were between you. Colt was gone to college. Hayden too. No one was left to protect you from Chad.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“No, there’s no guessing. He’s a dick.”

“Pretty much,” Devorah said as she inhaled. “But here I am, making amends for the person he changed me into.”

“Have any of your friends from Chicago called?”

She shook her head. None of the other moms from the PTA or any of the clubs she was involved with had reached out. Nor had the neighbors she’d organized block parties with. Not a single woman she had considered a friend. “I’m not surprised. Most of their husbands know Chad. They either all work or play golf together. Just a bunch of Stepford wives.”

Laila came around the table and hugged Dev. “You don’t need them.”

“Nope. I’m a Pearl of the Ocean.”

They snorted and laughed hard. A clearing of a throat had them turning around. They found the Crafty Cathys coming in, led by Hayden’s mother, Darcy. Laila went about greeting everyone and told them all to take a seat.

Darcy came over to Devy, followed by Beatrice Sherman. “How are things, dear?” Bea asked.

“I’m good,” she said. “I’m finding my footing.”

“Theo’s waiting for you to file those papers.”

Devy wanted to roll her eyes. Everyone knew everything in this damn town. “I know. Soon.”

“We’d love to have you and Maren over for dinner soon,” Darcy said when it was her turn.

“We’d like that,” Devorah said.

Up until this morning, when Hayden and Conor had surprised Devorah and Maren, Hayden hadn’t been around a ton, not since construction had started on his home. Part of Devy was relieved because her feelings for him confused her. She was already mixed up enough about life; adding the little butterflies she felt when Hayden was around only complicated her thoughts.

The rest of her missed his company. She enjoyed having him around, and the brief moments, like the coy hand-holding when walking the kids to school, left her longing for more. She could always put herself in his path a bit more, but she’d never been one to put herself out there. Maybe that needed to change.

A handful of locals came to the meeting. They talked about fundraising, volunteers, and how all float entries needed to be in by July 1, along with their entry fee.

“Also, the young women in our community need to submit their applications for the Pearl of the Ocean. Remember, it’s one girl from each grade. Ninth through twelfth.”

“I vote to have Devorah on the float this year.”

Devy looked up from her notes to the audience but didn’t see who’d spoken out, and the voice wasn’t from someone she recognized.

Laila looked at Dev, who shook her head and mouthed, “No.” She had zero desire to be on the float and much preferred being behind the scenes.

When the meeting adjourned, Dev gathered her things and was on the way out when Maureen Stark approached her. She was one of the Crafty Cathys, who, if Devorah remembered correctly, always had something wrong with her, and she always sent out a monthly newsletter recapping Oyster Bay business, her various ailments, and what Dr. McKenna was doing for her.

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