The Art of Starting Over

The rain stopped before the kids took the field. Devy groaned when she saw Maren step in a puddle. This girl was going to be the death of her. She loved her daughter fiercely but wanted to wring her neck for getting her shoes and socks wet.

“Put newspaper in her shoes when she gets home.”

The voice behind Devy caused her to turn around. Beatrice Sherman sat behind Hayden and her, dressed from head to toe in Oyster Bay baseball gear. She pointed toward the field. “My grandson is out there,” she said.

Beatrice was part of the Crafty Cathys and one of the women who helped Crow out after Devy’s mother died. Each day, Beatrice would come over with some type of casserole or roast and make sure everything was okay. This lasted a month until Crow told her to never come back.

Beatrice looked at Devy, who hadn’t taken her eyes off the woman. “It’s good to see you again,” Bea said. “You need to stop by the office and visit Theo. He’ll help you file your divorce papers.”

“I—uh—” She planned to say she hadn’t thought about filing any papers, but the fact was, it was all she thought about at night. Devy had visions of a process server showing up at Ester’s house, with Chad answering the door buck-ass naked. In her mind, the process server laughed at Chad and slapped the papers against his chest. Also in her mind, Devy got everything—the house, the money, and the satisfaction of knowing she was the one who’d filed first.

“You will divorce that disgusting man, and Theo will take care of it for you. Don’t you worry about the money, sweetie. Your mom was one of us. We’ll take care of it.”

Bea left Devy speechless. She turned back around and caught Hayden looking at her. He winked. “See, not all are bad.”

“One good apple doesn’t give you a viable orchard,” she said.

“We have two apples. My mom and Bea.”

“Still not enough to make apple pie.”

Hayden scoffed lightly. “Just think, if he ever returns to town, the Crafty Cathys will filet him alive.”

“I’d like to see that.”

“Me too,” Hayden mumbled.

He leaned closer to Devy, their shoulders touching. Instead of moving over a smidge to put space between them, she stayed where she was and watched as the group of kids did as the coaches instructed.

“Who’s the coach?”

“Dalton Noble. He’s two years older than Colt and me.”

“I don’t remember him.”

“Really? He played baseball with us and definitely hung out at your house.”

“Hmm, my mind must’ve been elsewhere.” She looked at Hayden and grinned, even though she felt like a fool. She had no right, at least in her mind, to flirt with Hayden. The last thing she wanted was to lead him on or let him think she was interested.

I was interested back in the day, but then Chad . . .

Devy angled her head to get a better look at Dalton but still couldn’t recall him. Some faces and names were lost on her. It was like she had forgotten almost everyone when she moved away, but the truth was, she hadn’t taken the time to remember people. She wanted to blame Chad and his narcissistic attitude, where he thought he was better than everyone else. Devy supposed that was how he achieved what he had in business, but now it left a sour taste in her mouth. She should’ve been a better person in high school and not followed everything he’d said.

She had been in love with him and wondered now how’d she feel if he walked up to her and said he wanted her back. A small part of her wanted that to happen—to give Maren the family she deserved—while the rest of her wanted to kick him in the balls and tell him to rot in hell. Maren didn’t need a father who’d openly cheated on her mother. No one needed that type of role model in their lives.

Across the field, she saw her father holding court with a group of men. They were undoubtedly chatting about any petty crime happening in town or whatever game was on television the night before. That was one thing about small-town folks—they loved their sports, local and professional. Everyone in Oyster Bay were die-hard New England sports fans, and those who weren’t were the outsiders who had moved there. Like Chad’s family.

The Campbells moved to Oyster Bay the summer before Devy entered her freshman year of high school. Chad was a skinny teen and then had come into his own the summer before their junior year. That was when he and Devorah really noticed each other. They were the talk of the town, the young man from the big city dating Oyster Bay’s Pearl of the Ocean. Everyone in town gushed, while Crow seethed because he didn’t care for Chad. Their classmates were indifferent. Lifelong friends of Devy’s were no longer her friends because she had given them up for Chad. Something she regretted now.

Shouting tore Devy’s gaze away from her father and to the field, where she saw Conor push another kid. She was up and running toward the group without even thinking, with Hayden hot on her heels.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked Conor and Maren, ignoring the snickering of the group of boys around them.

“He said some really mean things to Maren.”

“Okay, but we don’t push, bud,” Hayden said.

“He pulled her hair first,” Conor said as he pointed toward one of the boys. “Then he kept touching her back. Even when Maren said ‘stop.’”

“Okay,” Hayden said as he put his hand on Conor’s shoulder. He crouched, making himself level with his son. “You did the right thing by protecting Maren. I’m not mad at you. I’m proud of you. With that said, we don’t push others. But I get it. You know right from wrong, and you did what you felt was right.”

“Maren, did he touch you?” Devy pointed at the boy who seemed to be in charge of the posse around him.

Maren nodded. “I said ‘stop,’ but he didn’t listen.”

“You have no right—” Devy stopped when she saw the coach running toward them.

“What’s going on?” Dalton Noble ran over, seemingly out of breath, while Crow also came toward the gathering. Devy looked around as a quietness fell over the other parents. She knew, deep down, that Maren would somehow get blamed for everything. She kept Maren glued to her side, trying to keep the mama bear in her tame, when she really wanted to demand why the kid’s parents hadn’t taught their son better.

Devy looked down at her daughter. “Are you okay?”

Maren nodded. “He’s not a nice boy.”

“Yeah, I agree. Do you want to stay or go home?”

“I’m staying.” Maren pointed at the boy. “He’s jealous because I can run faster than him.”

“Am not.” The boy stuck his tongue out at Maren.

To be nine again.

“What seems to be the trouble?” Crow asked.

Maren went right to her grandfather and buried her head in his torso. Devorah’s heart sighed. Crow would protect his own.

“Grandpa, that boy kept pulling my hair and touching me, even though I told him to stop.”

“Is that true, Noble?” Crow directed the question at Dalton, who set his hand on the boy in question’s shoulder.

“DJ?” Dalton asked. Of course the kid would be the coach’s son.

DJ shrugged. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “My hand just touched her.”noveldrama

“How many times?” Crow’s voice boomed and caused Devy to shrink back. She wasn’t needed right now, and she was okay with letting her father handle it all.

“Dunno, but he pushed me.” DJ pointed at Conor.

“Only because you wouldn’t listen to Maren.”

“All right, enough,” Crow said as he looked at Dalton. “Keep your son away from my granddaughter, Noble, and Conor McKenna. I expect you and your boy to be in my office within a half hour after these tryouts are over.”

“Sheriff, they’re kids.”

“Lessons are taught every day, Noble. Either you teach them or I do.”

Crow leaned down and whispered something in Maren’s ear. She nodded and then grabbed Conor by the hand and ran off.

Crow sauntered back to the group of men waiting for him. Dalton shook his head and tsked. “I don’t understand why she’s trying out anyway,” he muttered as he walked away.

Devy opened her mouth to say something, but Hayden took her arm and led her back to the bleachers. After they sat down, she leaned into him. “What in the hell just happened?”

“If I had to guess, Crow has a bone to pick with Noble and just used his son to do it.”

“And Maren is in the middle.”

“Right along with Conor,” Hayden said with a sigh. “I need him to make friends, not enemies.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told Maren she couldn’t try out.”

Hayden looked at Devy so fast she thought his head was going to spin around. “Absolutely not. She shouldn’t have to sit home because some boy can’t keep his hands to himself. It’s common courtesy and good parenting.”

“Well, you’re back for what, like, five minutes and already causing problems?”

Devorah looked over her shoulder and found Sapphire Fleming standing next to her.

Hayden groaned.

“It’s none of your business, Sapphire.”

“It is when it involves my son.”

“You’re married to Dalton?” Hayden asked, turning around to face her.

“We coparent, but that’s beside the point,” she said. “The point is, you come back to town because Chad came to his senses, and now you’re making trouble for everyone else.”

“She—”

Devorah held up her hand to cut Hayden off. She took a deep breath and glanced up at Sapphire. “I’m sorry there was an incident with your son, my daughter, and Hayden’s son. Crow will sort it out this afternoon, and I’m sure all will be just fine.”

“If my son is removed from the baseball team because of your daughter, there will be hell to pay.”

Hayden shook his head. “You’re unbelievable, Fleming.”

Devorah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stood and didn’t fight Hayden when he grabbed her arm. “Your son touched my daughter when she asked him to stop. Maybe he shouldn’t be on the team.”

“I’m sure that’s what happened. Go back to Chicago, Pearl. No one wants you here.” Sapphire smirked.

“I do,” Hayden said to Dev. “Crow and Colt do. Don’t listen to the petty high school jealousy, Dev.” Hayden shook his head and muttered under his breath.

The “Pearl” reference was a slap in the face to Dev. It wasn’t her fault the people of Oyster Bay crowned her Pearl of the Ocean four years in a row. But others didn’t see it like that.

“Oh, wait. Come to think of it, no one wants you in Chicago either.”

Sapphire didn’t walk away after she made the comment. Instead, she sat down right behind Hayden and leaned toward his ear.

He flinched and gave her a dirty look. “Get the hell away from me.” He batted at her like she was a fly.

Devorah wanted nothing more to do with her or the tryouts and walked to the other side of the field, away from everyone.

She took her jacket off, spread it over the freshly laid mulch, and sat down, resting against the trunk of an oak tree. Devy pulled her knees to her chest and let the tears flow. People had rushed to take care of whatever had happened on the field, which she understood and knew her dad would resolve later, but the entire incident made her feel more vulnerable than she already felt. Did DJ pick on Maren because she was the new kid? Conor was new as well. Or had DJ singled her out because she was the only female trying out for a male-dominated sport? Most of the girls Maren’s age cheered and attended competitions. Devy had asked her daughter if she wanted to do that instead, but Maren had chosen baseball. It would be nice for kids to be able to live in a world where sports weren’t divided up by gender.

Hayden made his way over to where she sat or hid. She had expected him to follow her right away, and when he hadn’t, she was relieved. Devorah needed a moment. Or ten. Hayden laid his sweatshirt next to hers and sat down with a sigh. Instead of saying anything, he reached for her hand. She gave it to him freely.

His large hand was warm and tender. His thumb lazily rubbed the spot between her thumb and index finger. The motion soothed her. Hayden didn’t ask her what was wrong or bring up the fact that she was crying. He just sat there with her.

They had their own demons they were dealing with. Hers were just out in the open for everyone to see and watch, on repeat, whenever they chose.

When the whistle sounded and tryouts ended, Devy stayed where she was.

“You can’t let what Sapphire said get to you.”

“Why not? She’s telling the truth. No one wants me.”

“I do,” Hayden said. He reached over and gently pulled her chin toward him. His gaze met hers. “I, for one, am damn happy you’re here. I’m not happy with the circumstances, but Chad’s mistake is my gain, and I fully intend to make the best of it.”

Hayden got up and hustled toward the kids, leaving her there, speechless. She swallowed hard as she watched his swagger in those too-kind-for-the-eyes joggers men wore. Hayden was a whole lot of trouble she didn’t need right now, but turning a friend away would be a mistake. He was right, though; she couldn’t let what others thought of her bring her down. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Chad had. If people couldn’t see that cheating was wrong, that publicly humiliating someone you said you cared about was wrong, then they were the ones with the issue. Not her.

“I can do this,” she said to the birds. Devy stood, picked up her jacket, and draped the clean side over her arm while she waited for Hayden and the kids. As they walked toward her, Hayden had a hand on each of them. Maren and Conor chatted animatedly, while Hayden stared at Devy with a grin on his face.

One that meant something . . . she just had to figure out what.