Page 11 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

"I’ve been working," Devon said with a laugh "You know, you can takeback here"

He counted out ten fliers He grinned handsoood with these for now," he said

And he was back two days later for ten h the doctor’s hours were posted on the door, Spencer always seemed to stop by when Scott wasn’t there

In fact, a lot of the townsfolk stopped in fro well and if Dr Grant had patients yet, and if Devon was getting along all right Between the diner and the practice Devon grew into the town, and the town grew into her

After just a couple of weeks, Scott was ih with her job performance that one day, out of the blue, he said, "I’d say your trial period is over and we can increase your pay"

As her new life fell into place, Devon grew more comfortable She always kept her eyes sharp but never saw so h town She made a trip to the DMV, took and passed her driver’s license test, and now had ID to go with the rest of her new life Once she had socked away a thousand dollars in her savings account she indulged in a few things for herself A blow dryer and a nice circular brush, and a few cosmetic items she hadn’t used in years Now the proud owner of a credit card, she bought sos online where they were often cheaper, but were delivered right to her door

Along with the other changes, her appearance began to take on a new and ian to feel like the person she could barely remember

"Why, Devon," Lou McCain said "I knew you were a pretty thing the first day Iwith your hair these days And if I’ained a little confidence"

A lot of confidence, Devon thought to herself A large part of that caood, stable job and do it well but, perhaps, a larger part ca friends to talk to about everything and nothing--from failed love affairs, new romances, family issues, even politics The best parts of Devon’s ere those days she took a coffee break at the diner with Gina, Sarah, Carrie, Lou and Ray Anne She reed or gotten along, loyalties shifted and adjusted, but they had relied on each other

When Devon found out Ray Anne was a real estate agent, she said, "I’ve been very happy staying with Rawley, but I’d really like to have my own place And I don’t want to overstay my welcome"

"Yeah, I bet old Rawley is just hats and horns all the tiem"

"Talks your ear off, does he?"

"One-on-one, he has plenty to say," Devon said "And he pro as we like, but I think Raould like having his house back Even though we’re comfortable there, I’d like to be closer to Dr Grant’s practice and Gabriella In fact, just about every street in town is close enough to be able to walk to and from work--that would be so nice I just don’t have arage apart like that?"

"Not often But I’ll put the word out What can you afford?"

She shook her head "So little," she said "A few hundred?"

Ray Anne said, "Whew That’s going to limit the possibilities"

"I have no furniture," Devon said And rather than explain how she’d been living, she siet out"

"Hmm, I did that once," Ray Anne said "My first husband I was young, he was a real ass with a drinking proble--I just signed everything and ran for my life I had to start over It wasn’t easy but, once I was onwas mine"

Devon was quiet for a minute Then she said, "First husband?"

"I had three of them The first one was a drunk, the second wasto the point of being abusive, and the last? Twenty years older than I was and cheating with every young thing he could round up He had a lot of ive hie, I never left with nothing again I figured out a few things Now I at least have a nest egg"

"Wow," Devon said "Just when you think you’re the only one in the world who had lousy luck with h "Well, don’t believe everything you hear, but I’ve also had soood luck here and there Maybe it didn’t pan out to be happily-ever-after in the white picket fence ideal, but I had good tiet hooked up with Mr Louse?"

"Oh, that," she said "I n that said, ‘Hi, , no family and my self-esteem is at its lowest ever’"

"That’ll do it," Ray Anne said

Then, in the second week in July Ray Anne called Devon and said, "There’s a duplex at the end of Sarah’s street It’s for rent It’s sht now--it needs a lot of love But it’s only four-fifty a , pluht be able to talk the landlord into a few iet it’s there, which is why I handle the rental for him"

"I want to see it," Devon said instantly

The duplex was located on one of the higher elevation streets in Thunder Point The street itself was a bit of awith many that were small and old Some of the properties were pristine and fussy while others had been left to ruin The duplex, unfortunately, was one of the latter There eeds in the yard, cracked and broken sidewalks and the place had a neglected air about it There was a broken-down overhang at the front of the house and the view from there was beautiful--Devon could see the entire bay and the mountains beyond There was a speck off in the distance--that would be Cooper’s place

"That’s a little scary," Devon said, pointing to the overhang

"One of the things I think I could get repaired, if only to avoid a lawsuit"