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)
“Your dad is one of a kind,” Dev said as she sat back down. “I’ll never be able to thank him for filling the void Crow left.”
“He’d never accept it.”
After the game, in which the Oyster Bay squad won the championship thanks to a home run by Conor, everyone met at the Lazy Lamb, where Colt made every video game free. Parents clogged booths and tables, while some of the dads took turns showing they still had what it took to be the pinball wizard.
Devorah helped put food out, while Hayden assisted with drinks, and then everyone sat down to eat.
Dalton Noble stood and tapped his fork against his glass to get everyone’s attention. “I want to thank all the parents for a successful year. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what they really mean is it takes a village to raise an athlete. Every one of you stepped in when one of our players needed help. We all appreciate you.”
Everyone applauded.
“Like last year, I handed out three awards. These are not indicative of how I feel but how the team feels. The players voted. The best defensive player of the year goes to our catcher, Charlie Street.”
More applause.
“Our best offensive player goes to our first baseman, Conor McKenna.”
Hayden, Devorah, Lee, Darcy, and Colt cheered loudly for Conor, who looked embarrassed as he walked up to accept his award.
“And finally,” Dalton said and then inhaled. “When I asked the team to write down the player who exuded the best qualities when it came to sportsmanship, leadership, and all-around team play, each member wrote the same name. I’m happy to give the most valuable player award to Maren Campbell.”
Devorah was out of her seat instantly, cheering for her daughter. The others followed, but Dev and Maren needed this moment. They hugged tightly. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
When Maren reached Dalton, he stood there for a minute. “You are the first female baseball player I have ever coached. I’m thankful you joined our team this year and am looking forward to next year.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
Maren took her trophy back to where her family sat and then posed for an ungodly number of photos.
Later, when they got home, Maren put the trophy on her shelf.
“It’s funny, that’s where I put my first Pearl of the Ocean tiara,” Dev said from the doorway.
“Yeah, I figure I can move this one when I get my first tiara.”
Devorah pushed off from the door casing and went into Maren’s room. “You want to be a Pearl, huh?”
Maren nodded. “It’s tradition, isn’t it?”
Dev shrugged. “Maybe.” She put her arm around Maren’s shoulders. “We’re gonna be okay, kiddo.”
“Yep, we are.”
Epilogue
On the night before the Oyster Festival officially kicked off, Hayden called and asked Maren and Devorah to meet him at his new house. There was something he wanted to show them.
Due to parking restrictions in place because of the festival, Dev and Maren walked to Hayden’s property. It wasn’t far, but far enough that driving would’ve been easier. But like he had with Crow’s funeral, Hayden had offered his land for parking.
As soon as Devorah and Maren stepped onto the property, Hayden turned on all the lights and sat down next to Conor. Dev had picked out a bench for the front porch on one of their many trips to the “city.”
“Hey, we’re glad you ladies could come over,” Hayden said as he stood and reached for Devy’s hand. She climbed the couple of stairs and linked her fingers with his. Over the past week, they had decided to give their relationship the green light but had yet to tell the kids. The progression seemed natural, and both were happy with their lives.
“What’s going on?”
“Conor and I want to show you something.”
Hayden had spent every free moment he had working on his house, on top of the normal crew during the day. He’d also been offered a job with Link Blackburn, doing construction, which Hayden absolutely loved.
He had yet to accept.
After Crow passed, the obvious choice to replace him as sheriff was Miller Farnsworth. When the town council approached him, he’d passed, saying he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to fill Crow’s shoes.
The council planned to open a state- and nationwide search for a sheriff. That was until someone from the CC Club casually mentioned that Hayden had been a deputy in Wyoming, and Oyster Bay wouldn’t want an outsider.
Without even asking if he was interested, the council had offered him the job.
Now, he was faced with a conundrum. While he loved working with his hands, being the new guy meant he’d be laid off first once the season slowed down. But taking over as sheriff had its pros and cons.
The pros were easy. Hayden had loved being a deputy and serving the community he lived in.