Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(49)

When Charlie passed by, she smiled at her husband, the one simple gesture telling everyone who saw it how much she loved him. Jessie didn’t have to look to know Jake’s face reflected a similar smile.

Once Charlie reached the altar, the music changed and the “Wedding March” started. As a whole, the crowd rose, and beaming with joy, Maureen started down the aisle on Sean’s arm. For a moment, Jessie gaped at Sean. She’d known him all her life and couldn’t remember ever seeing him in a tux.

“He complained all morning about that tux,” Mia whispered to her. “But he looks gorgeous in it.”

While he didn’t hold a candle to Mack, Sean looked handsome today. “He looks great.” She watched as Maureen and Sean joined the rest of the wedding party. Then, after a few words between Ray and Sean, Sean took his seat near Mia.

Mack’s hand settled on her shoulder while Joseph Bates began the ceremony, and gradually the words faded as her mind wandered. Rather than Ray and Maureen standing up there, she envisioned her and Mack in their place. Before her relationship with Jeremy, she’d dreamed of getting married and having children. After Jeremy, the dream disappeared, but since Mack entered her life it had emerged again.

In her mind, she saw them saying their vows before family and friends. Afterward, they, along with Grace, would return to his house and begin the rest of their lives. Could it happen? They’d been together a short time, but they loved each other.

Jessie looked away from the ceremony to Mack. Would he want to get married again? For some people, one try at marriage was enough. What about children? He had a happy, healthy little girl; maybe he didn’t want to start over. During all their time together, they’d never discussed either subject.

Before Jessie looked away, Mack turned his head and met her eyes. The love she saw reflected there sent her previous thoughts from her head. If he loved her that much, the other stuff didn’t matter. Plenty of people spent their entire lives in relationships filled with love and respect without ever exchanging rings. If Mack never wanted to marry again, she’d be okay with that as long as he always looked at her the way he was now.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Joseph Bates said after Ray and Maureen exchanged rings. “You may kiss the bride.”

Jessie looked back to the couple and watched Ray give Maureen a light kiss before they faced the crowd. Amid the thunderous applause, the couple proceeded down the aisle followed by Charlie and Ray’s best man, his brother, Phil.

“We better join your mom and Charlie so they can finish taking pictures, Sean. Jessie, I’ll see you at the reception.” Jake extended his hand toward Mack. “Mack, it was nice meeting you, and Grace, save me a dance.”

Grace’s face lit up. “Okay.”

Throughout the ceremony, Jessie had noticed Grace starring at Jake, something women both young and old did all the time. She suspected Grace had her first crush.

“Jake’s right.” Sean held out a hand to Mia. “The sooner we get the pictures done, the sooner I can get rid of this tie.” He pulled at the offending article of clothing. With that, the three of them disappeared into the crowd.

“Daddy, can I go see Brianna? She’s over there.” Grace pointed across the aisle to where her cousin sat with her parents.

“Go ahead, but stay with them.”

Grace took off as if she wore jeans and sneakers rather than a nice dress and tights. “It’s a good thing her tights are black,” Jessie said as Grace slipped, landed on her knees, then bounced back up again.

“Tell me about it. But she does love that dress. She had to try it on again last night.” Together, they moved toward where Mack’s sister stood with her husband and parents. “My mom asked if Grace could spend the night tonight. Brianna is staying over, too. I told her it was okay.”

Jessie had been looking forward to movie night with Mack and Grace tonight. “I don’t know how those two don’t get sick of each other. They see each other at least five days a week.”

Mack put his arm around her waist and anchored her against him. “Since Grace will be gone, I thought maybe you’d want to spend the night.”

She’d like nothing better. Actually, since waking up in his arms weeks ago, she’d thought of it often and wondered when she might get a chance to do it again. “I’d love to.”

With dinner over and the bride and groom’s first dance out of the way, the musicians invited the wedding guests to dance. Couples of all ages took to the dance floor, but Jessie and Mack remained seated while Grace finished her cake. Much to Jessie’s amazement, Grace had managed to keep her dress clean thus far. If she got through dessert with no spills, perhaps the dress would remain stain-free.


“Why don’t you go dance? I’ll sit with Grace while she finishes.” Rose Ellsbury took the seat next to Mack. “You know your father hates to dance anyway.”

Jessie didn’t dance much, but she enjoyed it. “If you don’t want to, that’s okay,” Jessie said, offering Mack a way out. She didn’t know if he liked dancing or not.

Even with the music playing, she heard the legs of his chair scratch the floor. “I think we should. Afterward, Grace and I’ll have a dance, too.” He took her by the hand before she could protest. “We’ll be back, Mom.”