The Art of Starting Over

In the month since Crow had passed away, life moved faster than Devorah thought possible. The dreary spring days turned into beautiful, almost summer days, with the nights getting longer with each passing day.

Maren counted down the days to summer break and had a list of activities she wanted to do with her mom—everything from taking a cruise on the big giant ship (according to Maren) to camping on the beach. Devorah would make sure they checked everything off the list, even the trip to the zoo that Maren had learned about in school one day, and they would head back to the Pizza Palace so she and Conor could play all the games while their parents munched on cardboard pizza.

They were surviving. Devorah and Maren.

Devy finally put her estate sale knowledge to good use when she cleaned out Crow’s house. It was hers and Colt’s to do with as they pleased, and since neither of them wanted to move, they decided to keep it. At least for now.

A week after he passed, Dev opened his closet door and groaned. Her father hadn’t gotten rid of anything in all his years, including his first sheriff’s uniform, which was, by all accounts, five sizes too small for him. Room by room, box by box, she went through her parents’ things. On some days and nights, Colt would help her. He’d often come across something he thought would be perfect for the Lazy Lamb and take it to the bar. Other times, Maren sat on the bed and helped her mom sort old clothing, books, and jewelry.

The day Devorah came across her mother’s wedding dress, she sat on the floor and cried. She had very few memories of her mom, and any photos had long since faded with time. Still, when she opened the box and softly touched the silk, she knew she’d never part with the gown. It was her hope that Maren would want to wear it someday, and if not, then Devorah would keep it in the box, tucked in the corner.

After everything had been gone through, she invited people into their home. This was the first time she’d done an estate sale while someone still lived in the home, and she hoped people would respect the Do Not Enter signs she had posted. Unlike her previous sales, she offered cookies from the local bakery.

Most everyone in Crow’s generation had been through the house, but this time it was different. His booming presence, while Dev still felt it, was absent. As was his ratty recliner, which Colt had put out front with a Free sign on it. He hadn’t even made it back to the house before it was gone.

Still, having people go through their things and second-guessing whether she should sell them unnerved Devorah. With this sale, she had attachments to the items, whereas before, she’d had a job to do. One she did very well.

What surprised her was the number of people who came to the sale. When she helped someone she didn’t recognize, she asked where they were from. She couldn’t believe when they told her they’d come from New Hampshire or Vermont.

What really threw her for a loop was when someone asked if she could hire her to do an estate sale on a home once it cleared probate. The only issue Devorah saw was the location. Setting up took time, sometimes days on end. Then there was the sale and the cleanup afterward. Traveling out of town would be a big ask, and a costly one for some people. Colt and Hayden had a solution. Colt would make sure he was home to take care of Maren, and Hayden told Devorah he would help when he could, but that she could use his truck.

Without even trying, she was back in business, and now she was the head of the local church’s annual tag sale fundraiser.

As well as cochair of the Oyster Festival, a title handed to her by Laila, who had retaken her rightful place as Devorah’s best friend.

When all was said and done, Devorah and Colt stood in the living room of their childhood home and grimaced. The walls, the floors, and everything in between needed a deep clean and a good paint job.

During what spare time she had, Dev got to work.

Devorah filled Maren’s water bottle, tightened the cap, and then set it in her bag. “Maren, are you ready?”

“Yes,” she yelled from upstairs. Within seconds, the thumping sound of her cleats hitting the wooden staircase echoed. Devorah rolled her eyes. It was pointless for her to say anything about Maren wearing them in the house; after today, the season would be over.

“Okay, I’m here,” Maren said as she came into the kitchen. “Did you make my water?”

Devy nodded.

“Thank you.” Maren came over to her mom and hugged her. They’d hugged every day since Chad walked out. He paid support monthly, not only to Maren, but to Devorah as well, and that was because Theo had asked the court to set up an automatic withdrawal from his paychecks. If Chad were to quit his job, his retirement would pay. Chad was on the hook for support until Maren turned twenty-two. Theo was adamant and the judge agreed that support wouldn’t end until Maren graduated from college. All the support in the world wouldn’t make up for the fact that he never called.

After he left, Maren had watched the phone like a hawk before gradually stopping. Now, she didn’t even show excitement when it rang. To her, her father had moved on to his new family. She had a strong support system around her and two men who would do anything for her in Colt and Hayden.

Devorah had made out well financially in the divorce. She received the profits from the sale of their home, half of Chad’s investment portfolio, and 40 percent of his retirement funds.

All she wanted was her name back.

After a long talk with Maren, it was her daughter’s suggestion for Devorah to return to the name Crowley. She, too, planned to change hers to Crowley, once she was old enough, and she asked when she could start using her family’s last name. Chad had ruined what was left of his relationship with his daughter.

Devorah had never been so happy to sign the name Crowley on everything.

“Are we walking?”

Devorah nodded. “It’s too nice to drive over to the school.” She shouldered the bag, leashed Cordelia, and picked up her chair from the porch as they left.

They made their way to school and went right to the McKennas’ house. Lee stood and stopped them both in their tracks. Devorah read his shirt and then waited for her daughter to comprehend the words: Proud Grandpa to Conor & Maren. Lee had told Maren after Crow passed that he could fill in for the grandpa role whenever she needed him. Every Saturday since, Maren had gone over for game night with Lee and Darcy.

“Wait,” Maren said as she reread the shirt. “Why does your shirt have my name?”

“Because,” Lee said as he came a bit closer. “As a grandpa, I gotta cheer for both my grandkids.”noveldrama

“But that says you’re my grandpa,” Maren pointed out.

Devorah bit her lower lip to keep from crying.

Lee shrugged. “Yeah, I guess it does. What do you think—are you okay with me calling you my granddaughter?”

Maren looked at Devy, who smiled at her daughter.

“Can I call you Grandpa?”

Lee smiled brightly. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Maren closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around Lee’s waist. When they parted, Darcy cleared her throat to get Maren’s attention.

“And what about me?” Darcy showed Maren her shirt, which was identical except for the switch from Grandpa to Grandma.

Maren beamed. “I’ve never had a grandma before.”

“Well,” Darcy said, as if out of breath. “I’ll have to make sure I’m the best grandma you ever had, then, won’t I?”

Maren nodded and fell into Darcy’s arms. Lee sat down and pulled all three into one giant hug while Devy looked on.

After their lovefest, Maren took off toward the field, where she ran right up to Conor. Dev set her chair up, set a blanket out for Cordelia to lie on, and collapsed with a sigh.

“You guys have no idea what this means to me,” she said to Lee and Darcy. “She’s really missing Crow.”

“Don’t think you’re getting off so easily,” Darcy said as she patted Devy’s hand.

“What do you mean?” she asked as she looked from her to Lee.

“A long time ago, I told Crow I’d always look out for his kids, and I intend to follow through. Sunday dinners start this week,” Lee said.

“And we’ll discuss the holidays later,” Darcy added.

Devorah opened her mouth to say something but closed it. She needed people around her who would help her thrive. Those people were the McKennas.

“Now tell me, what’s this ‘I never had a grandma’ crap?”

Devorah rolled her eyes. “Chad’s mother wouldn’t allow Maren to call her Grandma. It was the most asinine thing in the world. You and Lee have done more for her since we moved here than the Campbells have done her entire life.”

“Grandchildren are a gift,” Lee said. “They have no idea what they’re missing.”

Hayden walked toward them. Devy cupped her hand over her eyes and took him in. He was a tall drink of water, according to most of the women in town, and he only had eyes for Devorah and the patience of a saint.

She had all but put the brakes on where their relationship had been headed. Sure, they still went out on occasion, but it was nothing serious, and they each went home to their own places at the end of the night. There were times when she thought she was ready, but then something would spark a memory and she’d want nothing to do with romance.

Still, she hadn’t given up on falling in love with Hayden.

Hayden never pressured her and let her dictate their path. She wondered when he’d give up on her and was thankful each day that he hadn’t. Devorah liked him and wanted to be with him, but she worried about Maren.

He set his chair up next to hers, squatted to pet Cordelia, and sat down, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Dev watched him and then laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Devorah said as she tried to hide her grin. Her eyes told a whole other story, though, as they went from him to the group of the opposing team’s mothers.

“I’m afraid to look.” Hayden grimaced.

“But then you’d miss the blatant gawking.”

“They’d stop looking if you kissed me,” he said quietly. She wouldn’t, not with Maren in the vicinity. Knowing this, Hayden leaned toward her and acted like he was about to whisper in her ear, only to place his lips there instead.

The best she could do in public was hold his hand. She reached for it and set their conjoined hands on the armrests of their chairs.

True to his word, Lee stood up when Maren came up to bat. “Let’s go, Maren. Keep your eye on the ball,” he yelled as she stepped up to the plate.

“You know,” Hayden said so only Dev could hear him. “Christmas is going to be nuts.”

Devorah looked at him sharply and then directed her attention to Maren. “What do you know? Your mom mentioned something about the holidays earlier after she all but told me I had to be at dinner on Sunday.”

“Just that Lee’s been going on and on about a promise he made to your dad years ago.”

“Which I get, but I’m an adult now.” She gritted her teeth.

“I don’t think it matters to Lee,” Hayden said.

“Well, I . . . let’s go, Maren!” Everyone stood as Maren smacked the ball toward center field. Devorah jumped and clapped as her daughter rounded first base and headed toward second, where she stopped.

Devy turned to Hayden, and they high-fived each other.

“That’s my granddaughter,” Lee said to anyone who would listen as he clapped loudly.

“Your dad is one of a kind,” Dev said as she sat back down. “I’ll never be able to thank him for filling the void Crow left.”

“He’d never accept it.”

After the game, in which the Oyster Bay squad won the championship thanks to a home run by Conor, everyone met at the Lazy Lamb, where Colt made every video game free. Parents clogged booths and tables, while some of the dads took turns showing they still had what it took to be the pinball wizard.

Devorah helped put food out, while Hayden assisted with drinks, and then everyone sat down to eat.

Dalton Noble stood and tapped his fork against his glass to get everyone’s attention. “I want to thank all the parents for a successful year. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what they really mean is it takes a village to raise an athlete. Every one of you stepped in when one of our players needed help. We all appreciate you.”

Everyone applauded.

“Like last year, I handed out three awards. These are not indicative of how I feel but how the team feels. The players voted. The best defensive player of the year goes to our catcher, Charlie Street.”

More applause.

“Our best offensive player goes to our first baseman, Conor McKenna.”

Hayden, Devorah, Lee, Darcy, and Colt cheered loudly for Conor, who looked embarrassed as he walked up to accept his award.

“And finally,” Dalton said and then inhaled. “When I asked the team to write down the player who exuded the best qualities when it came to sportsmanship, leadership, and all-around team play, each member wrote the same name. I’m happy to give the most valuable player award to Maren Campbell.”

Devorah was out of her seat instantly, cheering for her daughter. The others followed, but Dev and Maren needed this moment. They hugged tightly. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

When Maren reached Dalton, he stood there for a minute. “You are the first female baseball player I have ever coached. I’m thankful you joined our team this year and am looking forward to next year.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

Maren took her trophy back to where her family sat and then posed for an ungodly number of photos.

Later, when they got home, Maren put the trophy on her shelf.

“It’s funny, that’s where I put my first Pearl of the Ocean tiara,” Dev said from the doorway.

“Yeah, I figure I can move this one when I get my first tiara.”

Devorah pushed off from the door casing and went into Maren’s room. “You want to be a Pearl, huh?”

Maren nodded. “It’s tradition, isn’t it?”

Dev shrugged. “Maybe.” She put her arm around Maren’s shoulders. “We’re gonna be okay, kiddo.”

“Yep, we are.”