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)
“You know we could’ve bought everything premade and gone to the mall,” Darcy said.
She was right, but Dev needed this, and Maren needed to see what it would be like to have some type of family around. Even if nothing came of her and Hayden, Devorah knew in her heart that Darcy and Lee would always be a fixture in Maren’s life. That was a benefit of small-town living.
“I’ve never cooked with anyone before.”
“Not even your mother-in-law?”
Devy shook her head. “She likes to have things catered, and the few times we hosted holiday dinners, she sat in the other room. It’s always just been me in the kitchen.”
“Your mother loved to cook,” Darcy said. “The CC Club should’ve done a better job filling in for her after she passed, but your dad . . .” Darcy sighed. “He’s a stubborn old man who said you kids were just fine.”
“I’m not surprised. He’s very private.”
“Yes, he is. But that doesn’t excuse us from not stepping up and doing right by your mom. She was one of us. We owed it to her to make sure her children were taken care of.”
“I think I turned out okay.”
“You did, despite your father. I swear, that man.” Darcy shook her head. “If it wasn’t the sheriff’s department, nothing else mattered.”
Devy couldn’t disagree.
“This is nice,” Devorah said, moving the subject away from her dad. “Thank you for teaching Maren how to cook from scratch.”
“It’s a grandmother’s job to teach. Where did you learn?” She motioned toward the batter coating Devorah’s hands.
“Betty Crocker. All the cooking shows. Chad isn’t big on mindless television, so I’d leave it on educational programming. Cooking is educational.”
“He’s a boob.”
Devorah laughed. “He certainly is.”
“Bea Sherman likes to gossip.”
Devy snorted. “You all like to gossip.”
“True,” Darcy said with a sigh. “Bea’s concerned for you, though. She said you haven’t filed your paperwork yet?”
Devorah stabbed another skewered hot dog into the batter. She let it drip and then put it into a pot with hot oil. The sizzling sound was a bit too satisfying for her as she pictured Chad’s face in the pot.
“I haven’t, because I’m nervous. I’m afraid Chad will do something rash, like try to take Maren away from me. He already wants us to move back to Chicago to make things easier for him, and he says Maren doesn’t like it here. I fear if I file the paperwork, he’ll come get her, and then what?”
“Your father will not let him take Maren away.”
“No, I’m sure he won’t.”
“Hayden won’t either,” Darcy said as she moved around the kitchen. “He likes you.”
“I like him too.”
“No, Devorah. My son likes you, and if you tell him I said as much, I’ll deny it.”
How could someone who liked to gossip deny the truth? Devorah laughed at her thoughts. She liked Hayden. More than she probably should for a woman going through the shitstorm she called her life. They both danced around their feelings for each other, although in the past couple of days, Hayden had been very brazen with his intent. The kiss in front of the Lazy Lamb and holding her hand during the baseball game. This was the Hayden she had longed to have back in high school. The one who wasn’t afraid to show people he was interested in her. His actions spoke louder than words, and Devorah found comfort in them.
She had also bonded with Conor from the moment they met. It was like he filled a void she didn’t know existed, and the thought of leaving him and returning to Chicago weighed heavily on her heart. Still, she had to do what was right for Maren.
“I enjoy spending time with Conor and Hayden,” she finally said. It was the truth. Both had come into her and Maren’s lives when they needed a friend, someone they could lean on. Lord knows, Devy had leaned on Hayden a lot already.
“Please don’t hurt my son or grandson,” Darcy said quietly.
“Wh-what?”
Darcy stood next to Devorah. “They’ve been through a lot. The fact that Hayden is putting himself out there with you speaks volumes. After Sofia died, I didn’t think he’d recover. And Conor. He’s young and has lost so much. You know what that’s like.”
“I do. Believe me when I tell you this, Darcy, Conor is a sweet boy, and as long as I’m in Oyster Bay, he can depend on me.”
Darcy smiled. “And Hayden?”
“Anything going on between Hayden and me needs to stay there.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I’m meddling. I just want what’s best for my boys.”
“I understand. I’m sure Crow’s on the boat saying the same thing to Hayden.”
“Lord, help my son,” Darcy said with laughter.
When the men returned, Crow fired up the grill, while Lee and Hayden gutted and fileted their catch. Conor wrinkled his nose at the smell and swore he’d never eat fish as long as he lived.