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)
“Let’s go find the ladies,” Hayden said. He carried a bucket of balls and the glove he’d chosen for Maren. He wanted her to try it on first to make sure it fit. He and Conor found them in one of the clothing sections, looking at sweatshirts. When Conor approached, Devy took one she had draped over her arm and held it to Conor’s chest.
Even if Hayden hadn’t wanted to buy it for his son, he would now. The motherly side of Devy shined, and she made his son smile.
“Maren, can you try this on for me?” Hayden asked as he approached the group. Maren came over, took the glove, and slipped her hand inside. Hayden asked her questions about comfort and flexibility and to see if anything pinched.
“Nope, it feels good. Thanks, Mr. Hayden.”
“You know, you can call me Hayden. No need for the ‘Mr.’ in front of it.”
Maren smiled, and when she did, she looked exactly like Devorah had at that age, which was right about the time when he’d started hanging around with Colt and teasing the crap out of Colt’s little sister.
Nah, he wasn’t teasing Devorah. He was flirting with her. He did it then, and he was about to do it now. This time, he’d make sure she knew exactly how he felt.
Eleven
Devorah
There was a time in her life when Devorah had wanted four children. Ideally, two boys and two girls—in that order—and no less. She’d loved having a big brother, someone to stand up for her and be her protector, even though she and Colt fought like cats and dogs at times. It didn’t matter if they were mad at each other or if he (in her opinion) had done something incredibly mean; he’d always have her back. He was the only one she allowed to torment her.
Until Chad came along.
During high school, Devy and Chad had had what every high schooler in love called the perfect romance. They never fought, at least nothing to cause a breakup over. They always laughed. They had the best time whenever they went out. He loved her and she him.
Chad would hold Devy’s hand everywhere they went, even when he was driving. At times, he acted possessively over Devorah, something Colt and Crow had an issue with and expressed many times. But Chad never said a thing if Devy wanted to hang out with her friends, and no one noticed that by the end of her senior year of high school, she only had Chad. Any girlfriends were long gone because she had constantly chosen him over everyone else.
By the time she realized what had happened, they were off to college. There, they hung out with Chad’s friends and their girlfriends. Those women became Devy’s friends, at least while they were still a couple.
When Chad and Devorah married, it was at the courthouse. Simple and easy, the way Chad wanted it. When they had Maren, Chad declared their family complete without even consulting Dev. She was heartbroken and yearned for another child. Begged him to reconsider, but he was adamant.
Now, as she helped Conor tie his cleats, made him stand, and did the thumb test to see where his big toe was, it hit her how manipulative Chad had been throughout their relationship. Devy never had a say in anything. Not about where they went out to dinner, where they lived, where they went to college, their marriage—nothing. He controlled every aspect of her life.
You should volunteer. So she did.
You should join the PTA. She did that as well.
You should . . . do this, that. Go here, go there.
“Why don’t you walk up and down the aisle. See how they feel,” she said to Conor as she fought the urge to cry. She cleared her throat, hoping to ease the ache she had there. Conor did as she suggested and even stutter-stepped, as if he were fielding a ball, or maybe he was trying to run.
“Thank you, Miss Devy,” Conor said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a squeeze.
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you go show your dad.”
Conor nodded and headed toward Hayden. She watched his son and didn’t turn away until she heard Hayden greet him. As odd as it was, because she barely knew the boy, she felt comfortable about him. Proof to her that she was meant to be a mom of many, not only Maren. Chad had taken that away from her.
She then turned her attention to Maren, who had her cleats tied and ready for the thumb test.
“Are you sure about this?”
Maren nodded. “It’ll be fun, and Conor’s my only friend. Maybe Daddy will come to my games.”
Devorah ignored the reference to Chad doing anything involving Maren. “You know if you try out for the girls’ team, you can make some new friends.”