Belle's plan was nuts. Devon couldn't believe she was even suggesting such a thing. Or that she thought he might agree. He argued. He pointed out all the reasons it was a bad idea, and that she was playing with fire. All he managed to accomplish was distancing his wife even more. He was in a no-win situation and he knew it.
Dana agreed with Devon, but the carrot being dangled was huge. Her problem was her lack of knowledge and experience. Knowledge of Devon, and experience in what her agreement would mean. She couldn't do anything about the latter, but she could meet Devon.
Devon knew immediately why Belle described Dana as eighteen and thirty. She was a tiny thing and obviously just a woman, yet her eyes told a different story. There was knowledge in those. Determination. And yes, indecision. It was enough to tell him if she agreed, so would he. He loved his wife and was happy in his marriage, but Belle was not dealing well with things at the moment and he was willing to do almost anything to help her, and ultimately them.
Devon and Dana's time was limited, not only in years, but in days each week, and the tone was set early. Devon simply could not go into this as the women viewed it. The main role subsided as the years passed and a deep bond formed. A deep love.
The hardest day either of them had ever known was the day it came to say good-bye. Devon prayed he'd done enough for Dana to soar. It was really all he'd ever wanted for her.
Liam was thrilled when he saw the work being started on the dump down the street. He was even happier when he met the flipper. She was the tiniest thing he'd ever seen and he pissed her off immediately. Still, he was determined and was even having some success. He was completely entranced and utterly fascinated.
Until his father showed up.
That they knew each other was obvious. The shock, the draining of color from their faces, his father crumbling… crumbling before his eyes. Dana's coolness. Her utter lack of any other emotion. Neither of them was what he knew them to be and his confusion lasted only until his father spoke. Then came the rage and disbelief in what he knew he was hearing.
But none of it was directed toward Dana. Oh no, it was all for his parents. His moral, upstanding parents.
Devon knew the fire he'd predicted all those years ago had finally caught and feared it was about to become an inferno.
