Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(30)
Jessica had known Charlie O’Brien, now Sherbrooke, all her life. They’d become friends in preschool and had remained best friends all through school. They’d slept over each other’s houses and played soccer together. After high school, though, they’d gone their separate ways. Jessie had stayed in North Salem while Charlie became a doctor and joined the Navy. Two years earlier, they’d reconnected and their friendship was like it’d been back in the day.
“I figured I’d find you here when you didn’t answer your cell.” Charlie entered the office.
Jessie had left the cell behind when she’d gone into the store to help customers and hadn’t bothered checking it since. “Annette called in this morning, so I was on the floor.” She put aside the brochures she was holding. “I’m glad you stopped in. You didn’t say you were coming up this weekend.” Distance might keep them from regular visits, but they exchanged text messages all the time and spoke on the phone.
“Jake and I decided at the last minute.” Charlie took a seat on the other side of the desk. “I left him at Sean’s. They’re gutting one of the upstairs bathrooms.”
Sometimes Jessie still found it unbelievable that Charlie had married Jake Sherbrooke, a man once known in the media as Prince Charming. Almost as unbelievable as that was what a nice guy he was. From the very first moment she’d met him when her grandfather fell and needed help, Jake had been kind and compassionate. Nothing at all what she’d expected from someone from such a wealthy and powerful family.
“I think he loves tearing things up more then he does putting them together.” Not only did Jake run a disaster relief foundation, he often worked alongside his employees when his team went in.
Jessie could picture Jake and Sean tearing apart one of the out dated bathrooms in Sean’s old house. “How is Jake?”
“Busy. He spent last week in Kansas after that tornado hit,” Charlie said. “What about you? Anything new and interesting?”
“Same old things. You know me.”
“You should come visit us more often. Get away from here.” Charlie grew serious. “You’re always welcome.”
Jessie appreciated Charlie’s concern. She’d never discussed with anyone her intentions to take control of her life and move it in a direction she wanted. However, Charlie had noticed and once commented on the changes she saw in Jessie. “I’ll visit soon,” Jessie answered and not just because it was the answer Charlie wanted. She’d never traveled much. In fact, she’d never been any farther south than Virginia and no farther west than New York City. Her grandparents had been too busy running the store when she was younger and her father spent so much time on the road for work, he considered staying home a vacation. While she couldn’t imagine living anywhere but North Salem, she did want to see more of the world.
Charlie didn’t push for an exact date; instead, she moved to the edge of her seat. “I’m heading over to pick up Taylor and bring her to Sean’s,” she said, referring to her younger half-sister. “He’s having a cookout tonight and told me to invite you. Tony and Striker will be there, too.”
Any other time she’d say yes. She thought of Sean as the brother she never had. While Tony had been driving her a little crazy the past few months, he was an okay guy. She didn’t know Striker as well, but when he and Tony got together, things got entertaining. “I’m going to Mack’s after work.”
Charlie leaned forward, her brow wrinkled with confusion. “Mack as in Mack Ellsbury?”
Jessie nodded.
“Wow. I haven’t seen him in ages although Sean stays in contact with him. Didn’t he move to Worcester or Boston?”
“He lived closer to Boston for several years. A few weeks ago, he and his daughter moved back here. He bought the house next to Mrs. Mitchell.”
Charlie sat back in her chair again. “Daughter? I didn’t know he ever married.”
Sometimes, Jessie forgot how out of touch with the town her friend had become after graduation. “He was married to Bethany Lewis. They got divorced a couple years ago. She used to be on channel 7 news. Now she’s on USA This Morning.”
“I didn’t know any of that.” Charlie paused and Jessie could see her friend’s brain processing their conversation. “How long have you two been together?”
The question made sense considering what she’d shared so far. “We’re not together.”
“Then he’s having a party? I’m surprised he didn’t invite Sean and the guys.”
Was Charlie searching for information? That wasn’t her typical way. Charlie tended to be straightforward. If she had a question, she asked it. Then again, they didn’t usually discuss Jessie’s love life or, better put, lack of a love life.
“No, it’ll just be the three of us.”
The corner of Charlie’s mouth inched up. “But you’re not together. Come on, Quinn. Out with it.”
“I’ve helped him with his daughter a few times when he needed it and stuff.” She thought about her interactions with Mack since his return. “Yesterday, he needed a sitter after school, so I watched Grace until he came home. Then I stayed for dinner.” The memory of their kiss rose up and her body temperature spiked.
“And I’m guessing you did more than eat dinner,” Charlie said, sounding almost happy about the fact.