Page 49 of The Art Of Starting Over

Her brother shook his head again. “Crow’s going to show the boy the jail cell. He may even lock him in it for a minute, since the kid messed with his granddaughter. Dalton should’ve taught him better.”

“Well, Sapphire is more than pissed at me for being back, so I’m sure there’s more drama heading our way.”

“Not if Crow has anything to say about it,” Colt told her. He slapped his hand on the table. “All right, enough of the whatever this is.” He waved his hand in front of them. Devy smiled at her brother. “What can I get you to drink? Eat?”

Hayden placed his and Conor’s order, and then Devy did the same for her and Maren. Hayden waited for Colt to be out of earshot before he spoke.

“I meant what I said under the tree, Devy.”

She smiled softly. “I know you did. I just—”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He cut her off, unwilling to hear how she needed time or wasn’t looking for anything right now. He wasn’t, either, but he also couldn’t ignore the strong pull he felt toward her. Seeing her at the school was a sign. He was sure of it.

“I think I need to find a job or a hobby. All this sitting around with my thoughts isn’t helping.”

“Estate curating, right?”

The small smile turned into a wide grin. “Yes,” she said with a shake of her head. “Impractical here, though. I was thinking of asking Colt if he’s hiring, or maybe my dad needs someone down at the station.”

“I’m sure either are viable. What are you going to do about Bea Sherman’s offer?”

“Are the Crafty Cathys really still a thing?”

Hayden nodded vigorously. “My mother is still a proud member. I believe they meet here.”

“I think I’m supposed to join or something,” she said. “My mom was a member, and so was her mom.”

“I bet this is why my sister moved away.”

“Where does Allie live?”

“Los Angeles,” he told her. “Entertainment law.”

“Well, that’s about as anti–small town as one can get.”

“That’s what she wanted. To be far away from here and doing her own thing. She likes it. Conor went to her place last year for a week. She took him to the beach and Disneyland and did the whole Hollywood tour thing. He was only interested in seeing the Angels baseball team and, of course, Disney.”

“We were supposed to take Maren to Florida for her birthday this year. I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t tell her.”

“It can still happen. Something tells me the parks are never going away.”

“True. I don’t know how Chad would feel. I know I shouldn’t care, but I’m afraid he’ll take things out on Maren because of me.”

Colt returned with their drinks and said he’d be back in a few with their food.

Hayden held his soda between his hands, and his temper increased. He would never ever understand parents who used their children to hurt their former spouses or took things out on their kids.

“Do you think Chad would do that?”

Devy shrugged. “Right now, I’m more concerned with him taking her away from me.”

“He wouldn’t,” Hayden guessed.

“I can see him saying I can’t support her. Not the way he can. She wouldn’t have the same lifestyle here as he can provide her in Chicago.”

Hayden bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying something someone might overhear and then tell Chad. He might not live in Oyster Bay, but he knew people. “You should go see Theo Sherman tomorrow.” Theo Sherman, Bea’s husband, was the town attorney who specialized in everything. There wasn’t a case he couldn’t or wouldn’t take. Hayden remembered one case that made national news when a young girl wanted to sue the convenience store on the corner because the owner refused to stock cherry slushies. She threatened to sue him, he dared her, and Theo Sherman filed the lawsuit. It was frivolous, of course, but Theo meant business. The owner relented and stocked the cherry flavor, which sold out every week, much to his surprise.

“An attorney costs money.”

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