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)
The one person who knew Chad was responsible was Sheriff Crowley. He was onto Chad’s bullshit.
The waitress stopped by the table and took Hayden’s order and then returned a few minutes later with his beer. Hayden took a long sip and then studied the label.
“I can’t believe you have your own brew.”
Colt smiled brightly and let out a little chuckle. “It’s a dream come true.” Colt looked at his sister and shook her shoulder. “Right?”
“Yeah,” was all Devy said.
“Devy, what do you do for work?”
She shook her head and readjusted in her seat. “I organize estate sales.”
“That’s a thing?” Her profession shocked Hayden.
“It’s a lucrative thing,” Colt said. “You wouldn’t believe some of these people, just handing their keys over to her.”
“It’s not like that, Colt.” Devy looked up and met Hayden’s gaze. “People don’t want to deal with their parents’ belongings. They go in, take what they want, and the rest is up for sale. That’s where I come in. I’ll go in, organize the house, and make sure everything is out in the open and marked. I’ll advertise the estate sale and run it. Then, whatever’s left over gets donated to people in need. I make sure to focus on women’s and children’s shelters, veterans.”
“I’ve seen signs for estate sales, but I had no idea that’s how they worked.”
Devy nodded.
“And this pays well?”
She shrugged. “It’s enough, or it was. Chad took care of our finances and often made comments—”
“Snide ones?” Colt interrupted.
Devorah nodded. “I know I made good money in Chicago, but it isn’t going to be enough to maintain the lifestyle Maren and I had there.”
“Don’t worry, the old man isn’t going to kick you out.” Colt bumped his shoulder into hers and then looked toward the bar when his name was called. “Be back.”
As soon as Colt left, silence fell upon Devy and Hayden. She barely looked at him, choosing to keep her eyes on the table.
“You know, not all men are like Chad. Most men worship their spouse and treat them like queens. They don’t cheat, and they definitely don’t do so with the best friend,” Hayden said before he could stop the verbal vomit.
She glanced up, and he saw the tears build in the corners of her eyes. Instantly, he hated himself for bringing it up. He had no right. He and Devy were barely friends.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “You’re not wrong, but it doesn’t take the sting out of things. I just . . .” She took a deep, shuddering inhale and shook her head. “I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“Probably nothing.”
“Clearly something, if he cheated.”
Hayden wanted to tell her men like Chad did whatever they wanted without consequences. He bit his tongue instead. Devorah would believe whatever she thought about Chad, regardless of what Hayden or Colt said about him.
Conor and Maren returned, both red faced and out of breath.
“Dad, they have the Whac-A-Mole game. Maren and I tried to get the high score, but we couldn’t do it.”
“I’ll ask my uncle to make it so we can have unlimited play,” Maren said proudly.
“Every kid’s dream,” Hayden said, and then he looked at Devy. “Do you remember the arcade?”
She nodded. “Friday night was unlimited night. We used to spend all night there, just being kids.”
“And your dad would circle the parking lot every thirty minutes.”
Devy chuckled a bit. “He was spying on me.”
“Grandpa spied on you?” Maren asked.
Devorah nodded at her daughter. “Yep, and he’s going to spy on you too.”
“Ugh, no way. I’m going back to Chicago.”
Devorah’s reaction was slight, but Hayden saw the grimace.
“I’ve never been to Chicago. Right, Dad?” Conor asked.
“Nope, sure haven’t, bud.”
“You can come to my house in Chicago,” Maren told him. “My dad will say so.”
Hayden watched the back-and-forth between the kids, all the while trying to gauge Devy’s reaction to Maren talking about her dad.
“Are you going back to Chicago?” Conor asked. If Hayden wasn’t mistaken, he sensed some desperation in his son’s voice.
“Yep, my daddy said I can come live with him when I tire of small-town life.”
This got Devy’s attention. “He said that?” she asked her daughter.
Maren nodded and smiled brightly, as if everything was okay.
Devorah said nothing. She picked up a paper napkin and began shredding it into small pieces. Thankfully, they were saved when Colt and the waitress appeared with their food. For the most part they ate in relative silence, with only the kids talking or Colt occasionally asking Hayden about his return to Oyster Bay.
“Permanent,” Hayden told him. “I liked Wyoming, but it was time to come home.”
“I’m sorry about your wife,” Colt said.
“Thanks. I wasn’t sure if people knew around here or not.”
Colt nodded. “Your dad comes in a lot. He mentioned it when he said you were moving back,” he told Hayden. “You know if it wasn’t for your dad, I’m not sure my home brew would be so successful. He’s one of my best customers. Always has been.”