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)
Six
Hayden
Hayden pulled in behind the last car in the school pickup line, and within seconds other moms—not parents—were out of their cars and coming toward him. This was his personal brand of hell, and he wished Oyster Bay had a busing service.
“Shit,” he muttered as a mom approached the driver’s side of his truck. He didn’t have enough time to determine if he knew her from way back when or not. Thankfully, the rain had stopped. He pushed the button, and his window went down.
“Hayden McKenna, I heard you were back in town.”
Any news traveled fast in Oyster Bay.
He made eye contact with the woman and then briefly looked around. Other moms lingered, some in pairs and others in groups. Were they all waiting to talk to him? Did he need to hold court or something?
“Yep, I’m back.” He cringed at his wording and the inflection his voice did at the end. It was as if he thought he was the Terminator, who promised to always return. This wasn’t Hayden’s first time back to his hometown, but it was his first as a single man. That made a difference.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
He shook his head slowly while he studied her face. She seemed familiar, but he had a hard time placing where he’d know her from, other than school.
“Sapphire Fleming.”
As soon as she said her name, he remembered both her and her sisters. They all had gemstone names, which stood out among their classmates. If he recalled correctly, she was one of four sisters, along with Ruby, Opal, and Amethyst. Amethyst was in his class and was memorable because she had worked in his father’s office as an aide.
“How’s it going?” he asked, even though engaging in a conversation in the school dismissal line didn’t seem like the right time. The car in front of him inched forward, which confused him since the bell hadn’t rung yet. He didn’t know what the etiquette was—did he move up as well, or wait?
“Things are well, just picking up the kiddos. You know,” Sapphire said in the same bubbly tone he remembered her having back in school. “You’re back for good?”
He nodded.
“That’s fantastic.” She placed her hand on the door, her fingers grazing his arm. “We’ll have to get together for a beer and catch up.”
They had nothing to catch up on, but he agreed anyway because he didn’t want to be rude. The bell rang, saving the day. He caught a glimpse of the others as they looked at him talking with Sapphire, then slumped their shoulders and turned toward the double doors and their cars. Something told him he’d experience this again tomorrow.
Sapphire made her way back to her car, pausing to turn and give him a wave. Someone honked and she scowled. Hayden watched the double doors he’d gone into and come out of when he was in elementary school. His mom would pick him and Allie up, and then they’d go sit in the back room of their father’s practice until their mom had wrapped up work for the day. Darcy McKenna never let her children stay home longer than an hour by themselves. Small town or not, things happened when adults weren’t around. By the time Hayden was in high school and playing sports after school, Allie went with him, choosing to sit and watch, then being treated like she wasn’t responsible for his well-being.
Kids filed out in small groups. Girls talked animatedly, with their little arms and hands flying in every which direction, and boys laughed at something their friends had said. Hayden wanted this for his son. He wanted him to find a good, solid group of friends he could grow up with. Hayden had, until they all went away to college and lost touch over the years. Most of his friends wanted to get the hell out of Dodge and never return. Move to the city and live. Hayden had done the same thing until he’d met Sofia and followed her back to Wyoming. He’d intended to go to law school, but that never seemed to pan out. He ended up putting his criminal justice degree to work by becoming a deputy in the county sheriff’s department. He’d never truly found his way once he left Oyster Bay.
But Sofia had made him happy, and that was enough.
Hayden spotted Conor before his son saw the truck. He studied his son as he stood there under the awning with his backpack slung over his shoulder and his sweatshirt tied around his waist. Conor looked left and then right, spotted the truck, and gave his dad a little wave. The gesture brought a much-needed smile to Hayden’s face.
He saw Conor wave to a classmate. A girl, with a long brunette ponytail. She reminded him of someone else he knew, someone who had recently spent time in his truck. Hayden would ask Conor later, if only to appease his own curiosity.