Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(33)

Her plans foiled by two adults, Grace reached for her pizza again. “Daddy promised he’d get more houses for me to paint after work this week.”

Why, he’d never know. He’d rather arrest members of a drug ring than walk into a craft store. The smell alone was overwhelming, not to mention, the crowded aisles and little old ladies with blue hair moving slower than snails. Maybe he could just build her some instead. How hard could it be? He’d once built a doghouse with his father. A fairy house just needed to be smaller.

“I can stop by the craft store and pick more up,” Jessie said.

Wondering if he’d somehow given away his feelings, Mack looked at Jessie.

“But if you’d rather have your dad pick them out I understand.” She smiled at him. Not a tentative smile like before, but one filled with humor that let him know she’d guessed his thoughts about the craft store.

“You know, Grace, it might be better if Jessie does it. She knows what a fairy house should look like.”

Grace finished her mouthful, unaware of the unspoken conversation going on. “Okay.” She reached for her milk. “But can you get some different kinds?”

“I’ll see what they have,” Jessie answered.

Saved from the dreaded trip into the craft store, Mack went back to eating his pizza as Grace filled Jessie in on all the items she’d added to her village. Every once in a while, Jessie would ask a question or make a suggestion, but for the most part, she listened while Grace rattled on. Once again, Mack noted how good she was with his daughter. He knew for a fact that if Bethany sat in Jessie’s seat, their dinner conversation would be much different.

Regardless of who else was in the room, Bethany liked to take center stage. He hadn’t noticed it that much when it had been only them, but once Grace began talking, he’d noticed it. Sure, Bethany spoke to Grace but she always tried to monopolize his attention.

Jessie, on the other hand, let Grace dominate the conversation. Not once last night or tonight had she tried to change the subject, even though he couldn’t imagine she found fairies interesting.


She’d also painted and baked with his daughter, two rather messy projects. He’d once baked a box mix of brownies with Grace so he knew what a fun but hazardous endeavor it could be. To the best of his knowledge, Bethany had never done either activity with Grace.

“I’m done. Are you, Jessie?” Grace held up her empty plate. Tonight, she’d finished everything, including the pizza crust.

Jessie’s soft laugh made him smile. “I think so. I want to save room for a cupcake. But maybe we should help your dad clean up first.”

“All set. You two can go out and then we can decide on a movie.” He still had a slice of pizza to finish.

Grace leapt from her chair. “Come on, Jessie. Let’s go.”

Through the French doors, he watched Grace take Jessie by the hand and lead her over to what he guessed had once been a garden and listened as she described how the various sticks around the houses were a fence and the rocks she’d placed inside them were benches. She’d used a bunch of leaves to create a pond and pinecones acted as trees. When she’d showed him, he’d been impressed with her imagination. Judging by the comments he heard Jessie making now, she was impressed as well.

“Maybe you can use one of the new houses I buy as the village school,” Jessie said once Grace finished pointing everything out. “Fairies need a school.”

“Or maybe a library,” Grace said with enthusiasm.

“They need that, too.” Jessie stood. “Ready to go back inside?”

Grace stood, too. “Just one more thing.” She took Jessie’s hand and walked her toward the area he’d cleared for her new swing set.

He could no longer hear every word she said, but once Grace had given Jessie the whole scoop, they returned to the house, where he still sat with half a slice of pizza. He’d been so enthralled watching the two of them that he’d stopped eating.

“Grace created quite the village out there.” Jessie stood behind his daughter her hands on her shoulders. “I’m impressed. She’s got a great imagination.”

Like it would for any father, pride filled him at Jessie’s words. “That she does.” Done with his food, Mack stacked the dirty plates. “I’ll take care of this. Why don’t you two go pick out a movie?”

After putting the dishes in the dishwasher, Mack switched off the kitchen lights and joined Grace and Jessie in the living room. They had already picked a movie, and the opening scene was frozen on the television screen.

“Good. You found a movie.” Mack sat and put his arm around his daughter and pulled her close. They were both in their normal spots on the couch, Mack at the end, near the table, and Grace right up against his side.

“Jessie needs to sit over here.” Grace looked at him when she spoke. “You can’t see the TV from over there.”

Jessie sat in the chair near the windows.

“If you want her to move ask her, Grace.” The chair was fine for watching television. He’d sat there several times and watched the news.

“You’ll miss all the good scenes if you don’t sit on the couch, Jessie.”

Jessie smiled at him. “I don’t want that to happen, so I guess I better move.” She stood and crossed the room.