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)
“We were supposed to take Maren to Florida for her birthday this year. I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t tell her.”
“It can still happen. Something tells me the parks are never going away.”
“True. I don’t know how Chad would feel. I know I shouldn’t care, but I’m afraid he’ll take things out on Maren because of me.”
Colt returned with their drinks and said he’d be back in a few with their food.
Hayden held his soda between his hands, and his temper increased. He would never ever understand parents who used their children to hurt their former spouses or took things out on their kids.
“Do you think Chad would do that?”
Devy shrugged. “Right now, I’m more concerned with him taking her away from me.”
“He wouldn’t,” Hayden guessed.
“I can see him saying I can’t support her. Not the way he can. She wouldn’t have the same lifestyle here as he can provide her in Chicago.”
Hayden bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying something someone might overhear and then tell Chad. He might not live in Oyster Bay, but he knew people. “You should go see Theo Sherman tomorrow.” Theo Sherman, Bea’s husband, was the town attorney who specialized in everything. There wasn’t a case he couldn’t or wouldn’t take. Hayden remembered one case that made national news when a young girl wanted to sue the convenience store on the corner because the owner refused to stock cherry slushies. She threatened to sue him, he dared her, and Theo Sherman filed the lawsuit. It was frivolous, of course, but Theo meant business. The owner relented and stocked the cherry flavor, which sold out every week, much to his surprise.
“An attorney costs money.”
“Theo will let you make payments, Dev. Besides, the sooner you get something in the works, the faster Chad will have to pay support to you and Maren. And I imagine after what he did to you, Theo will make him pay your fees. If anything, go talk to him.”
“Talk to who?” Colt asked as he brought their food to the table.
“Theo Sherman. Bea was at the tryouts today and suggested it.”
“The Shermans are good people, Dev. You know this. You should go see him. Take Dad with you.”
“Why would I take Crow with me?”
“To get the Crow discount,” Colt said with a shrug.
Colt had a point, but even Hayden knew Devorah wasn’t looking for a handout.
“I’ll go get the kids.” Devy excused herself from the table. As soon as she was out of the booth, Colt sat down.
“I want to fly to Chicago and hunt the asshole down,” Colt said under his breath. “I can’t believe he did this to her. He all but alienates her from her family and then pulls this shit. His ass needs to be kicked.”
Hayden leaned forward. “Is this how you truly feel? Because my tolerance for Chad Campbell is out the window. He shut off her credit card.”
Colt’s mouth dropped open. He closed it and shook his head, muttering something under his breath. “I have a colorful list of things to say, but I own this place, and the last thing the patrons need to hear is me going off on my piece-of-crap brother-in-law.”
“What does Crow say?” Hayden was curious how their father felt. He was really an enigma unless the situation had something to do with the law.
“He’s angry, of course.”
“How does he feel about Devorah and Maren being at the house?”
“He loves it. Told me the house hasn’t felt like a home since Dev left for college.”
“Then ask him to tell her, because he makes her feel unwelcome.”
Colt’s eyes widened. “Shit, really?”
Hayden nodded. “Do your sister a solid and tell Crow to tell her how he feels. She needs to know she’s welcome and that he wants her there. Also, she needs a job. I know I probably shouldn’t say anything, but Dev needs one thing to go her way right now.”
Colt leaned back and sighed. He started to open his mouth to say something, but Devorah had returned with the kids. He smiled at his sister and then Maren. “Did you clean me out?” he asked the kids.
“I’m a whiz at pinball, Uncle Colt.”
“I expect nothing less,” he said as he slid out of the booth. He pinched her cheek lightly. Maren scrunched her shoulders, squealed, and then took his seat. “Lunch is on me,” he told Dev.
“Why, what do you want?”
Hayden laughed.
Colt ran his hand through his hair. “I sort of need a bartender a few nights a week and someone to make desserts.”
Devy leaned to the side. Hayden refused to meet her gaze.
“Okay.”
“Okay? That’s it? Don’t you want to know how much you’re going to make?”
Instead of speaking, she wrapped her arms around Colt’s waist. If they exchanged words, they did so quietly. To busy himself, Hayden made sure Maren was all set with her burger and fries.