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)
He’d hoped to give her that time, but with Chad in town and showing everyone at Crow’s funeral that they were a family, Hayden’s time was running out. Taking most of Lee’s advice, Hayden hopped into his truck and sped over to Crow’s. He parked in what he considered his normal spot along the curb and stared at Chad’s car, nestled behind Devorah’s. They matched with their Illinois license plates, which squeezed Hayden’s heart a bit. He also wondered why the busy hotshot finance guy had driven all this way from Chicago rather than flying.
After getting out, he walked around the fence, avoided the gate, and climbed the steps, only to pause when he heard raised voices. The right thing to do would be to turn around and head back to his truck, call Devy, and plead his case, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave.
Hayden sat in one of the white rockers and eavesdropped, waiting to hear the words that would send him back to his truck. If Devorah chose to go back to her husband, then Hayden would respect her decision, whether or not he agreed with it. They had years of history and a daughter together. Devy and Hayden had a couple of moments and one fabulous night, which had ended up being the night her father passed away.
He sighed and felt what little energy he had left dissipate. Even if Dev stayed, their night of passion would be marred by the passing of Crow. Devy would never forget the aftermath, no matter how hard she tried. Hayden either.
Maybe their short-lived relationship was all that was in the cards for them.
Maybe there was a reason their middle and high school make-out sessions had gone no further.
Maybe you need to stop looking for excuses and give her a chance.
Hayden could come up with an entire list of maybes when he was desperate, but the one that kept nagging him was that if Devorah didn’t want to be with him, she wouldn’t have been.
Voices rose, and he didn’t even attempt to ignore them. If Devorah got mad at him for sitting there, he’d take the punishment. Besides, he had a few things to say to Chad, and he’d use that as an excuse to sit there and wait.
What he heard made his stomach turn and revolt. It threatened to heave its contents all over the porch. Chad wanted—no, he demanded—that Devorah and Maren return to Chicago with him to be a family while he continued his relationship with Ester.
Hayden’s blood boiled. He gripped the side of the rocker, the whites of his knuckles painfully exposed. It took everything in him to not go into the house and confront Chad. This wasn’t the time nor the place, nor was this his battle. It was Devorah’s, and from what he could hear, she was holding her own.
Each time Devorah told Chad to sign the divorce papers, Hayden smiled. This was a victory for her. Not for him. As her friend, Hayden wanted Devy as far away from the man who’d cheated on her as possible. Crow would want that as well. He realized then that Chad had ignored the papers Theo Sherman had sent until now.
Why not tell Devorah all this over the phone? Why show up to Crow’s funeral and make these demands? Was it because Chad felt Dev would be vulnerable and cave?
Hayden would call Colt home before he allowed that to happen. Her brother at least could reason with her, show her how Oyster Bay was a great place to raise Maren.
When Devorah asked Chad if he was still sleeping with Ester, Hayden stood. He was ready to barge in and . . . do what? Protect Devorah from the truth? She was doing a stand-up job on her own.
“You disgust me,” Devorah said. Hayden sat down, having his answer. Chad the Cad hadn’t changed a bit. He was the same guy he was in high school, only with even more money in his pocket.
Hayden had heard enough and started regretting being there. He shouldn’t be listening in, not to something like this. If Devorah wanted to, she’d tell him later.
He stood and was walking toward the stairs when he heard Maren. Where had she been this entire time?
“Are you leaving now?” Her sweet voice cracked, and another jolt shot straight to Hayden’s heart. What came after would live with Hayden for a very long time. He witnessed the agonizing cry of a child needing and wanting a parent she couldn’t have. He’d lived it when he’d had to tell Conor his mother had passed away, that she wouldn’t be there in the morning for breakfast. Hayden had been there through the sleepless nights filled with gut-wrenching sobs because all his son wanted was for his mom to tuck him in.