Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(57)

Peggy Sue’s Coffee Shop and Bakery made the best sweets on the entire North Shore. Everyone in town ordered their cakes for special occasions and Grace’s birthday was no different. “I’m here to pick up a birthday cake,” Jessie said when it was her turn. As usual on a Saturday morning, customers sat at every table and a steady line of people remained at the front counter.

“For the Ellsbury party?” Skye Hogan asked. Jessie’s age, they’d gone to high school together. Skye worked as an office assistant part-time during the week for a lawyer in Salem and helped her parents out on the weekend.

“That’s the one,” Jessie answered, not at all surprised that Skye knew of her and Mack’s relationship. By this point, Jessie doubted anyone didn’t know.

“Be right back.” Skye disappeared into the back room.

While she waited, Jessie looked around the crowded shop until she noticed Tony Bates at the table in the far corner. The fact that Tony was drinking coffee and eating didn’t surprise her, but the person with him did. Catrina, Striker’s younger sister.

With Skye still in the back room, Jessie crossed to the table more to appease her curiosity than anything else. Sure enough, when she reached them, Tony and Catrina were talking about something as they drank their coffee.

“Hi, Tony. Cat.”

They looked at her. “Hey, Jessie. Shouldn’t you be at Mack’s for his daughter’s birthday party?” Tony asked.

“Heading over there now. Just grabbing the cake. You guys have anything special going on today?”

Tony raised his coffee as Cat answered, “I’m meeting Kelsey here. She’s late.”

“And I was just leaving when Cat walked in. I told her she could have the table.” He pushed back his chair. “Have a nice weekend, ladies.” And just like that, the town’s resident playboy left.

“You’re all set, Jessie.” Skye appeared at the counter with a large cake box.

“Have a nice day, Cat, and say hello to Kelsey for me.”

When Jessie got back outside, she placed the large cake box in her trunk and drove toward Mack’s house.

Rose and Matthew Ellsbury’s sedan and another car with New York plates were parked in the driveway when Jessie pulled up. She’d hoped to get there before Bethany, but unless Mack had another friend who lived in New York, Bethany had already arrived. Jessie didn’t know how that was possible unless Bethany had left her place ridiculously early or driven down yesterday and stayed in a hotel.

With a gift bag hanging from her arm, Jessie carried the cake up the front walk where purple and pink balloons swayed near the stairs. Resting the cake box on the railing, she managed to ring the bell. Mack had given her a key the previous weekend, but with his parents and ex-wife there, she figured the doorbell was a better option.

“Jessie, come in. Do you need help with that?” Mack’s mom opened the door.

“I’ve got it. Do you know where Mack wants it?” She looked around, but didn’t see anyone other than Rose.

“Outside. He has most of the food out there.”

That made sense. The weather forecast called for sun and ten kindergarteners were expected today; nobody in their right mind would want that many children running around the house.

Outside, Mack had set up several folding tables. Pink and purple balloons were tethered around the deck and a pi?ata in the shape of a castle hung from the swing set. Mack’s dad worked on filling up a cooler with juice boxes, and when he saw her, he took the cake from her hands.

“Grace has been waiting for you. She’s excited to show you what we got her.”

Jessie didn’t see Grace anywhere, but she did see Mack and Bethany by the swing set. With his back to her, he hadn’t yet noticed her arrival.

The clubhouse door attached to the swing set opened, and Grace’s head popped out. When she spotted Jessie, she pushed the door all the way open. A fury creature darted out first, followed by Grace.

“Jessie look what Grammy and Grampa got me!” She ran as fast as her little legs would carry her past her parents, the dog running alongside her.

At Grace’s outburst, Mack turned. When he saw her, he smiled then headed her way—with Bethany right behind him.

“They got me a dog!” Grace stopped inches away from her, the dog stopping right next to her. “And they got him some toys and a bed.” She paused as if trying to remember if the dog had come with anything else. “And some bowls for food and water. His name is Socks.”

Jessie held out her hand for the dog to sniff. “Did you name him?” When the dog approached she scratched him on the head.

“Nope. He came with that name. Isn’t he cute?”

All brown except for his four white paws, the dog was one of the cutest she’d ever seen. On the small side, it reminded her of the fox terrier she’d had growing up, but its ears were a little longer and his snout a little shorter. “He’s very cute. Do you know how old he is?”

“Grammy said he’s almost three, and he already knows how to do lots of things.”

As Grace proceeded to demonstrate, Mack joined them, giving her a hug and a kiss. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered.

Across from them, Bethany gave her a dirty look, but she followed it with a curt hello before disappearing into the house. Not long after, the guests arrived, and Grace no longer had time for the adults. Instead, she and her friends set off on a game they concocted with Socks chasing after them, while the rest jumped into the bounce house Mack had rented. While the children did that, the adults congregated on the deck. With the exception of Bethany and two other parents there, everyone had grown up in North Salem and knew each other.