Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(14)

“Just okay?”

“Daddy promised he’d paint it soon, and I picked out some decals to decorate with. We’re going to buy them tonight.”

“We’ll stop at Quinn’s tonight after the grocery store. We can get paint while we’re there, too. This weekend while you’re with Gram, I’ll paint. Does that sound like a plan?” He couldn’t deny that his daughter’s bedroom was a rather ugly color.

Across from him, his mother signaled to Nicole that she wanted more coffee. “I have an even better idea. I’ll stop at Quinn’s and pick them up. Text or call me when you get home and I’ll bring them over. That should save you some time tonight.”

He appreciated his mother’s offer, but he didn’t want to make more work for her. As a high school guidance counselor, the start of school was already a busy time for her. “I got it, Mom.”


“Please,” she said with a wave of her hand. “It won’t take me long and it’ll give me a chance to see this cutie again.” She squeezed Grace’s shoulders.



***



Hanging up the phone, Jessica rubbed her forehead over her left eye. Of all the distributors she worked with, Jansen was the worst. They often didn’t get her orders when promised and their sales staff had no clue. Unfortunately, they were the only company in New England that carried the line of light fixtures Mrs. Osborne wanted. If the company still didn’t get the order in by the end of the week, maybe she’d just call other stores in the area and buy them. For now though, she’d leave things as they were.

After grabbing two aspirins from her desk and washing them down, she left her office. So far, she’d spent most of the morning and early afternoon cooped up at her desk. Although she had employees who stocked shelves and helped customers, she liked to spend time in the store itself. She found the time not only let her make sure things got done the right way, but also allowed her to connect with her employees and customers. One of the reasons people came in was because they liked Quinn’s welcoming atmosphere as opposed to the impersonal environment found at the box stores.

“Can I help you find something, Mrs. Rizzo?” Jessica asked the high school principal’s wife when she came around the corner.

“I need two things. Some mousetraps, but not the ones that kill the mice. Do you have any of those?”

“We have both the catch-and-release kind and the more traditional type in aisle three.”

“And something Donald can use to mount my new mirror in the bathroom.”

“You’ll find mirror-mounting hardware in aisle five.”

“Great. Thanks.” Mrs. Rizzo headed toward aisle three.

Jessica stopped once more to chat with a customer before making it to the registers. Prepared to start a conversation with Patti, a long time employee, she paused next to the battery display she restocked. Before she could utter a single word, Mrs. Ellsbury entered the store.

“Jessie! Just the person I wanted to see.”

She couldn’t guess what Mack’s mother needed. “What can I help you with?”

“Grace mentioned you were holding some things aside for her. I want to pick them up along with the paint.”

Before they’d left the store, she’d placed the packages on her desk. It had been the only way to reassure Grace they’d still be available when she came back. “There in my office.” Jessie gestured for Mrs. Ellsbury to follow. “Did Mack and Grace decide on a color?”

Judging by Mrs. Ellsbury expression, that tiny detail had slipped her mind. “Come to think of it no, but I think I can manage. Do you know what they were thinking?”

Jessie grabbed the items Grace picked out as well as the color samples she’d left behind. “This is what she liked. Mack was trying to convince her to go lighter.”

Mrs. Ellsbury looked through the various shades. “Maybe I better let Mack get the paint.” She looked back up. “I will take these now.”

Together, they headed for the front registers again. “I had breakfast with Grace this morning. She couldn’t stop talking about you. She wanted Mack to let her stay with you again.” Mrs. Ellsbury placed the items she held on the counter.

“She’s a sweet little girl. I told Mack anytime he needs help to just ask.”

The smile on the other woman’s face broadened. “I’ll remind him.” Mrs. Ellsbury leaned forward a bit and dropped her voice. “He’d never admit it, but sometimes I think he finds being a single parent difficult. I’m so glad he has good friends like you to help him out.” She patted Jessie’s hand as she spoke.

Heat burned the back of her neck at the compliment and she wanted to contradict the woman. They were more like friendly acquaintances than friends. “That’s the great thing about this town,” she said. “Everyone helps everyone else.”

Mrs. Ellsbury stood upright. “Perhaps, but Mack wouldn’t trust his Grace with just anyone in town.”

Without a good response, Jessie handed Mrs. Ellsbury her change.

“Mack will be in later this week for paint. He told Grace he’d paint this weekend while she sleeps over my house.”

Once again, Mrs. Ellsbury’s comments left her at a loss for words.

“When you see your grandmother, tell her I said hello. I’m going to try to make it for quilting club on Sunday. Will you be stopping in?”