Page 70 of The Art Of Starting Over

Crow turned sharply at the sound of her voice. She saw tears in his eyes. “Hearing you call me that ...” He pushed his fingers into his eyes and shook his head. “After all these years, it does something here.” Crow put his fist over his heart. “I love you, Devorah. I know I haven’t said that nearly enough in your life, but I hope you know that I do. I love you. Maren. I can’t thank you enough for bringing her home to me.”

Devorah somehow managed to get from her seated position and into her father’s arms in a flash. She cried into his shoulder as he wrapped her tightly in his embrace. “I love you too, Daddy,” she said into his neck, wet with her tears.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better father.”

Devorah nodded. “But you’re here now.”

“I am, and I’m not going anywhere.”

After another embrace, they parted and continued to stay on the dock until the alarm on Devorah’s phone sounded. It was time to get Maren up for school and then start her day at the Lazy Lamb.

Crow and Devorah walked through the parking lot and across the street, where they encountered a very angry Maren standing on the porch with her hands on her hips.

“Don’t look at your grandpa like that,” Crow said as he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. “Come on, let’s make pancakes.”

Maren squealed. Devorah followed slowly behind them, loving their bond. It was something she used to have with him until her mother died, and while she had missed it growing up, she was thankful Maren had this side of Crow now.

While Crow and Maren worked on the pancakes, Devorah took stock of her life. In one month, her life had changed for the better. The dark, dreary, never-going-to-survive days seemed to be behind her. Each day when Devorah woke, she vowed to make the day great. Despite her marital woes, she had a lot to look forward to each day. After walking Maren, and sometimes Conor, to school, she came home and showered and then headed to work at the Lazy Lamb. Devy wasn’t killing it in tips, but her weekly paychecks made sure she could buy whatever Maren needed without having to call or depend on Chad.

Dev still hadn’t called him, out of stubbornness. She didn’t want to talk to him and hear about how fabulous his life was with Ester. And as far as she knew, he’d only called once to speak to Maren. Per Theo, Devy kept track. She saw it in her daughter’s face each time the phone rang, and it wasn’t her father on the other end.

After breakfast, Maren got ready for school while Dev prepared for work. When they opened the door to leave, Conor and Hayden were standing at the gate, waiting for them. Devorah smiled and ducked her head, trying to hide her excitement from Hayden.

She followed behind Maren. While she and Conor walked ahead, Hayden fell in step beside Devy and held her hand for a second to let her know he had indeed caught the grin she’d tried to hide from him.

They dropped the kids off and walked toward the Lazy Lamb. Every so often, Hayden would reach for her hand or put his arm around her. They passed by people, saying hi and wishing them a good day. When they came to one of the newer cafés along Main Street, they stepped inside and ordered coffee; he then walked her the rest of the way to work.

Outside the Lazy Lamb, Hayden trailed his fingers along the underside of her cheek to her chin and lifted her head gently so he could look into her brown eyes.

“Have a fabulous day, Devorah.”

The moment Hayden’s head tilted to the side, she knew what was coming. Yet, when his lips pressed to hers, she was surprised. He had kissed her outside, for all to see. And when he pulled away, he had a shit-eating grin on his face. Hayden knew exactly what that kiss had meant, even though it wasn’t much more than a lingering peck.

He walked away, chuckling. She watched him, with her fingers touching her lips. “Evil,” she said to whoever could hear her.

The rest of her day flew by. She had regular customers, could make most any drink they ordered, and had memorized the menu. Never in her life did she think she’d actually enjoy slinging drinks at her neighborhood bar, but there she was, having the time of her life.

After work, Devorah made her way from the employee break room to the room near the arcade. She’d quickly learned that Colt let most of the townspeople use the room for free, unless it was a birthday party. Even then, he kept the fee low. Each day, someone called to book the room, and on Saturdays it was only available in two-hour blocks. Devy couldn’t believe how many calls she’d taken during her shift. The people of Oyster Bay liked to have meetings and parties.

She found Laila rearranging the tables and chairs to give the room more of a board-meeting-type feel. After helping her, Devy set agendas out in front of the five chairs that now faced the audience—not that many people typically showed up—and set the rest near the accordion door on a small table.

“Do you remember when we were in high school, and we had to attend at least one meeting?” Devy asked. “These meetings used to be packed.”

“Yep,” Laila said as she set her laptop up. “The meetings used to be at the library in the room in the basement before it flooded. Everyone came to the meetings back then. Standing room only. It’s only been like this the last couple of years. There was a threat to cancel the entire thing until I took over. It’s been a challenge keeping it afloat. The younger generations really don’t seem to care about it, until I say this year’s event is going to get canceled, then maybe one or two people will step up.”

“Maren wants to be the Pearl of the Ocean. She thinks it’ll be fun.”

Laila giggled. “The day she becomes Pearl, we’re putting you on the float with her.”

Dread filled Devorah. “I probably shouldn’t tell you I still have my dresses in the closet at home.”

Laila’s eyes widened. “You do not!”

Devy nodded. “The tiaras and sashes too. I just left it all when I went to college, and Crow ...” She trailed off for a moment. Things between them were good. From family dinners to him calling to see if he needed to pick up Maren from school or saying he would be late. They laughed at the Crowleys’ now. They hugged, and this morning Crow had told Devorah he loved her. After he said those words, she wept in his arms.

“Well, Crow never went into my room. I swear it was the same as the last time I visited when Maren was about three.”

“How come you guys didn’t come back more often?”

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