Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Mr. Raze says he knows you.”
“I’m not surprised. Oyster Bay is a small place. Everyone knows everyone. You’ll figure it out soon enough, especially since you’re Crow’s granddaughter.”
“Do I have to try out for the Pearl of the Bay pageant?”
“Pearl of the Ocean.” Devy rested her hip against the sink and shook her head as she appraised her daughter. She looked a lot like Devy had at that age but was much wiser. “You have a lot of years before you have to even think about the pageant. It all starts when you’re in the ninth grade. Unless it’s changed.”
“Will we still be here?”
Devy’s shoulders lifted. “I don’t know, Maren. Probably not. We’re just here . . .” Dev trailed off and then added, “Come on, we should go.” She went back to the bedroom, slipped into some shoes, and looked around her room for her purse. When she didn’t see it on her dresser or the pile of crap on the chair, she lifted the blankets off her unmade bed.
“Where in the hell is it?”
“What are looking for?”
“My purse. Did you take it?” She dropped to the ground to look under the bed.
“I saw it downstairs,” Maren said as she headed toward the door. “I believe on the table.”
Devorah couldn’t recall leaving it down there, but she also couldn’t remember bringing it upstairs or taking it out of her car.
Downstairs, she followed Maren to the dining room, where Devorah found her purse. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
She smirked at her daughter. “Come on, let’s go see Uncle Colt.”
The walk from Crow’s house to the Lazy Lamb took a whole five minutes. Devy held the door and motioned for her daughter to go in first. As soon as Maren stepped in, Colt let out a very loud welcome.
“My niece is finally in my bar!”
“Pub,” Devy said. “You told me it was a pub.”
“Same thing to me.” Colt came around the bar and pulled Maren into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground and swinging her around. After he put her down, he went to his sister. Devy braced herself for the same level of attention, but Colt simply brought her into his fold and hugged her tightly. “If you had called, I would’ve come and got you,” he whispered in her ear.
Devorah knew this, which was why she hadn’t called her brother. If she had, Colt not only would have come to get her and Maren, but he also would’ve made sure that Chad knew how badly he’d messed up.
“Uncle Colt, can I go behind the bar?” Maren asked, getting his attention.
Colt turned and shook his head. “No, ma’am. Come on, let’s sit down and order food. I’m starving.” He draped his arm over Devy’s shoulders and guided her to a table. “This one works.”
As they sat down, Devorah looked around, remembering the Lazy Lamb from when she was a teen. Not much had changed, except Colt owned the place now. The seating area was still a mix of tables or booths, and thankfully the vinyl on the booth wasn’t cracked or peeling. The walls were still adorned with an array of Oyster Bay memorabilia, from photographs of all the high school teams to various bowling, dart-throwing, and fishing competitions. Of course, somewhere on the walls were Devy’s photos from being Pearl of the Ocean four years running. She couldn’t wait for Maren to find those.
People she probably knew sat at the bar, drinking beer, cocktails, soda, or water. Some munched on appetizers, while others ate full meals. A few watched the television in the corner, while others chatted to their stool neighbors. The Lazy Lamb was busy, and seeing this warmed Devy. She wanted her brother to succeed.
They sat down, and a waitress brought them menus.
“Wow, you have staff?” Devy said as she opened the menu.
“I do. It’s strange. I never thought I’d be able to have my own place. My own beer is on tap. People come in all the time. They love the food. The atmosphere. The live music on Friday nights.”
“I’m proud of you.” Devy reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Does Dad come down?”
Colt nodded. “Yep. He’s a regular. Sits at the bar, in the same spot.”
“Can I have a spot?” Maren asked.
“You can only sit at the bar if your mom sits there with you.”
Maren’s eyes widened, and she glanced at her mom. “Can we?”
Colt laughed. “I’ll bring you down when we’re not open and teach you how to make your own Shirley Temples.”
“Can I put the cherry in?”
“You can have all the cherries you want.”
Later, when they were home, Devy would tell her brother that, in a matter of minutes, he’d managed to make her daughter smile brightly for the first time since everything with Chad had gone down. Devorah was grateful for him.