Page 34 of The Art Of Starting Over

“They were okay,” she said. “I started looking for a job.”

“Oh yeah? Doing what?” Hayden turned at the corner and again a block later, then drove straight on until they arrived at the school. He got behind the last car and waited in the pickup line.

“I’m not sure,” she said, answering his question. “When it comes down to it, I don’t have a whole lot of experience doing much of anything except organizing. And it’s not like there are a ton of estate sales around here or I have the clientele to get a business off the ground. I can’t wait for someone to hire me.”

“I hear ya.”

“What about you?”

“Well, right now I’m living off life insurance and parents. I don’t know if I want to go back into law enforcement or go to law school like I’d originally planned. Until then, I have a camper on the land I bought that I’m supposed to be living in while my house is being built. But I have yet to stay in it. My mom likes having me in the house.”

“I wish Crow felt the same.”

“He does,” Hayden said. “He just has a hard time showing his soft side.”

Devy choked on a laugh. “There is nothing soft about Crow.”

“Has he always been this gruff?”

“No.” Devy sighed. “He changed after my mom died. She was the love of his life, and ... I don’t know, I think he figured if he loved Colt and me like he loved her, he’d lose us too.”

“He’s a good dad, though?”

Devorah shrugged. “In comparison to who? Your dad?”

“Valid point.” Lee McKenna was everyone’s favorite. Being the longtime doctor in town, he knew everyone, and they knew him. It didn’t matter what time it was; Dr. McKenna would make a house call. “I’m not sure it’s fair to compare the two, though.”

“Maybe not.”

Hayden inched forward, even though the line hadn’t moved. He looked out the window at the parents who’d parked in the pickup laneand then got out of their cars to chat. He scanned the other cars and groaned when he saw Sapphire Fleming heading his way.

“Shit.”

“Is that—”

“Sapphire Fleming? Yep.”

Sapphire smiled when she got closer to the truck. She stopped at his window, leaving him no choice but to push the button to put the window down. “Hey, Hayden.”

“Sapphire.”

She put her hands on the truck and leaned against the door. “I didn’t know you were doing the carpool thing. I can put you on the list if you want.” Sapphire looked at Devorah and said nothing.

“Nah, I’m good. I think Conor will walk home most days, unless it’s raining.”

“Oh, I see. What about you, Deborah?” she asked, mispronouncing her name.

“Devorah,” Hayden corrected her.

“Oh, right. I must’ve forgotten.”

Devorah barely acknowledged Sapphire. Hayden suspected there was some history there. “No thanks.”

“You sure?” Sapphire asked.

“Positive. Thanks for the offer, though.”

“So, listen,” Sapphire continued, attention solely fixated on Hayden. “I was wondering what you’re doing tomorrow night. How about dinner at my place? My ex will have my kids.”

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