Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(22)

“Tell me about it. See you tomorrow. Bye, Brianna.”

Too busy with her castle, Brianna only waved in his direction.


Mack started his car and backed out of his sister’s driveway once Grace buckled herself in the back seat. “I thought we could go out for dinner to celebrate your first day of school.” For better or worse, his daughter loved to eat out. “Does that sound good?”

“Yes,” Grace answered with no hesitation. “Can we go for Chinese?”

He’d had his heart set on something Italian, but since this was her celebration, he’d do Chinese instead. Besides, The Jade Orient was closer to their house than Tuscany. “If that’s what you want.” Mack turned onto Highland Street, which would eventually bring him to Pleasant Street where the restaurant was located. “Tell me about your first day. What was the best part?”

From the back seat, Grace started to fill Mack in on all the details starting with the bus ride, which in her opinion had been the absolute best thing ever. By the time they pulled into the restaurant’s lot, she’d made it up to their morning snack.

“You got to play at the sand table and do an art project, but the bus was the best part of the day?” he asked while Grace got out of the car.

Grace slipped her hand into his and nodded.

“What was so great about the bus?” His own memories of the school bus were less than exciting. He remembered them as noisy and hot in the summer and cold as hell in the winter.

“We didn’t have to wear any seatbelts or sit in car seats.”

Rather than say anything, he pulled open the door for Grace. After all, how could he argue with logic like that? Besides, he assumed that, in time, the novelty of riding the bus would wear off and she’d find another aspect of school to fall in love with.

“Someone will be with you in a moment,” a waitress carrying a full tray said as she passed Mack and Grace.

Mack nodded, his attention more on Grace. “How was lunch? Did you like eating in the cafeteria?”

“I got to sit with Brianna and her friend Melanie. Melanie is in our class, too. Her sister has Mrs. Hockner,” she explained. “Brianna said they’re twins but they don’t look alike.”

Before Mack could explain that not all twins looked alike, an older woman approached them with menus. “This way, please.”

Still holding hands, they followed the woman around the half wall that separated the waiting area from the main dinning room. Being a Monday night, much of the restaurant remained empty.

“Daddy, look. Jessie’s here.” Grace tugged his arm and pointed to a booth along the wall. “Can we say hi?”

The hostess stopped at an empty table feet from where Jessie sat. “She probably already heard you.” In fact, he assumed everyone in the restaurant had heard her.

Taking that as a yes, Grace bypassed her own seat and went to Jessie’s booth. And much like she had every other time she’d seen Grace, Jessie gave his daughter a warm smile. “Hi, there. What are you doing here?”

“Daddy said we could celebrate my first day of school with dinner.”

Jessie looked at him, giving him a smile as well. “Sounds like fun. And how was your first day? Who do you have this year?”

He assumed Jessie was waiting for someone since there were two glasses of water and two menus on the table, yet she didn’t give any hint that she wanted Grace to buzz off. He’d discovered since becoming a parent that sometimes people without children wanted to be left alone when they were out. Even people with children got that way if they didn’t have their own around. Jessie, though, didn’t give him that impression, at least not during any of the times they’d met since his return.

“It was great. Brianna and I have Mrs. Wilks and you know what the best part was?” Before Jessie could guess, Grace continued, “The bus. I can’t wait to go on it again tomorrow.”

Looking up, Jessie caught his eye and smiled.

“You know what else, Jessie?”

Jessie’s lip twitched as if she wanted to laugh, but didn’t when she glanced back at Grace.

“I love my room. Daddy painted it when I was at Grammy’s and I put up the princesses and puppies. Can you come over and see it?”

“I’d love to, but not tonight. I’m meeting a friend for dinner.”

He’d only been half-listening to the conversation, but her admission caught his full attention. He’d guessed she was waiting for her dad. She’d mentioned they met for dinner once a week. For some bizarre reason, when she stated otherwise, he couldn’t help but wonder who she was meeting. While it was none of his business, he wanted to know who the friend was. Had Tony ignored Sean’s warning and asked her out? He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of Tony and Jessie together.


The friend could be female. Why had he immediately assumed she referred to a guy? And why did he care anyway? She had the right to see whoever she wanted. Until last weekend, he hadn’t seen Jessie in months. Despite knowing it was none of his business, he wanted to ask.

“Can you come after dinner?” Grace asked.

“Afterward Maryann and I are going shopping. But I promise I’ll stop by soon and see your room.”

The unease in his chest evaporated when she mentioned Maryann. “Let’s sit, Grace, and leave Jessie alone.” Mack dropped his hand onto Grace’s shoulders. About to turn her to head toward their table, he stopped as an idea came to him. Maybe Jessie could watch Grace after school on Friday. He did need to find a solution for the afternoon and Grace liked her a lot. Not to mention, Jessie had told him to just ask if he needed help.