Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(21)

“You’re my father, you have to say that.” Jessie cut another slice of pie and added it to her dad’s plate before he could ask. “Do you want some coffee?”

“I can take a hint. Yeah, I’ll have a coffee, thanks.”





Chapter 4




Mack never considered himself the type to get teary-eyed and emotional. Even still, that morning when he’d watched his little girl climb onto the school bus, he’d gotten choked up. Time was flying by and she was growing up so much faster than he’d thought possible. His own parents had warned him that would happen, but he’d blown off their comments. He’d assumed it was just another line older people told you. As he watched the bus drive away that morning, he’d realized just how true the statement was.


Now, as he headed for his sister’s house, he couldn’t wait to hear how Grace’s first day had gone. He hoped it had gone well because, even now, he remembered his first day of kindergarten and how embarrassing it had been. First, he’d missed the bus because he couldn’t find his sneakers and arrived at school late. Then, when he’d walked into class, all the other students stared at him when Mrs. Truman stopped circle time to get him settled. Later, during lunchtime, he’d spilled his entire thermos of milk on himself and Striker. Perhaps all that wouldn’t have been bad if he hadn’t fallen asleep on the bus ride home and the bus driver had to wake him up. Mack couldn’t imagine a worse first day.

His niece’s and daughter’s voices reached him when he opened his car door. Rather than head into the house, he went around to the backyard where he found the girls in the sandbox while his sister sat on the patio.

Engrossed in whatever they were working on, neither girl said hello, so he took the opportunity to watch them work together. When they’d managed to get the bucket tipped over, Grace glanced up. Without any hesitation, she jumped up and sprinted across the yard toward him, her lopsided pigtails swinging as she ran.

“Daddy!” she shouted, throwing her arms around him. “Come see what Brianna and I built.” Letting go of his waist, she grabbed his hand and tugged.

With a wave in his sister’s direction, he allowed Grace to lead him over.

“Do you like it, Uncle Mack?” Brianna asked, looking up from where she was making a path in the sand.

Although parts were crumbling and other areas did not connect, it still resembled a castle. Crouching down so he could get a better look, he said, “Let me guess. Cinderella’s castle.” Cinderella was one of Grace’s favorite princesses.

“No. This castle is for my horse, Stormy.” Brianna pulled a gray plastic horse from the sand.

“And her sister, Cloud.” Grace held up a white plastic horse.

“It looks great, ladies. Are you all set to go, Grace?”

“Can we finish? We are almost done.”

“Please, Uncle Mack.”

“You have to be careful when those two gang up on you,” Erin called from the patio.

Mack looked from one expectant face to the other. “Tell me about it,” he answered. “Ten more minutes, then it is time to go.”

Happy to have won some more time, the girls went back to work, dismissing the adults while Mack joined his sister.

“They got off the bus talking nonstop about their day. It sounded like they loved school.”

“Good. I’m glad she didn’t have a first day like mine.”

“The school sent home all the emergency paperwork. It is in Grace’s folder. They want it back by next week.”

At least he didn’t need to do it all tonight. He’d spent enough of his day on paperwork already.

“They ask for three emergency contacts besides myself. I added you as one. Hope you don’t mind.” Erin reached for her glass of juice.

“Why am I not surprised you already filled yours out?” His sister never put things off. “Yeah, of course that’s fine.”

“Before I forget, I can’t watch Grace on Friday. I’m having another ultrasound that afternoon.”

Mack ignored the first part of her comment. “Is everything okay?”

Erin waved a dismissive hand. “It’s more a precautionary thing. The doctor says I’m measuring a little smaller than normal and he wants to play it safe.”

Erin’s response didn’t cancel out all of his worry, but since she didn’t seem concerned, he accepted her answer. “Don’t worry about Grace. I’ll figure something out. Who’s watching Brianna? Mom?”

“Mom has an administrators’ meeting after school and Dad is doing interviews at the station. Brianna will go home with her friend, Melanie. They went to pre-school together.”

Okay, that crossed his parents off his list. “Like I said, I’ll figure something out.” Mack checked his watch. “Time to go, buddy. Say goodbye and grab your stuff.”

In the sandbox, Grace stopped but didn’t make a move. “But we’re not done.”

“You can finish tomorrow.” Mack used a sterner tone, one that Grace didn’t argue with.

With a sigh he heard from across the yard, she gave her cousin a hug and stood. “Bye Auntie,” she said as she walked toward door.

“Just a little bit of a drama queen.” Erin laughed as Grace disappeared inside the house.