Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(6)

Mack took the items from his mother. “You didn’t need to do this,” he said even though he realized his words were falling on deaf ears. His parents spoiled their two grandchildren and nothing he could say would change that fact.

“I know that.” His mom closed the door then hugged him with her typical kiss on the cheek. “But I wanted to and Grace wants her new room to match Brianna’s.”

Brianna, Grace’s cousin and best friend, seemed to be the defining entity on anything and everything in Grace’s world these days.

“So can we go put it on my bed?”

Mack placed the items on the couch. “I haven’t put your bed together yet. As soon as I do, we make it with all the things Grammy bought you.”

“Let’s put it together now!” Grace grabbed his hand and pulled.

His daughter might have gotten her looks from her mother, but she’d gotten her impatience from him.

“In a few minutes. I’m almost done eating.”

Just as he expected Grace pouted, but didn’t argue.

“Did you get everything moved in?” His mother ruffled his hair something she’d done for as long as he could remember. “If not, I can bring Grace back later.”

“We got everything off the truck. Now it’s just a matter of unpacking.” Grace had spent last night and all day with his parents so he could move everything into their new house. “She’s fine here.”


“If you’re sure. I don’t mind if she stays with me a little longer. Or I can stay and help you unpack.”

“We’re all set, Mom. The guys will be leaving soon and then Grace and I will tackle the unpacking. The two of us can handle it. Right, buddy?” Reaching out, he ruffled his daughter’s hair and instantly a smile replaced her pout.

“Right,” Grace answered with the kind of determination and enthusiasm only a five-and-a-half-year-old could muster.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, call me.” His mom gave Grace a hug and kiss. “Will we see you tonight at the block party?”

“I don’t—”

“I want to go. Please,” Grace said before he could finish his sentence.

“It would be a great way for Grace to meet more children her age before school starts.”

Mack looked from his mother to his daughter’s expectant face. The very face she knew he couldn’t say no to.

With an audible sigh, he nodded. “Okay, but only for a little while. I want you in bed on time tonight.” He looked back at his mother. She always claimed Grace went to bed around her normal time, but he knew better—not that he would ever fault her for it. As a kid, when he’d stayed over his grandparents’ house, he’d never made it to bed on time either.

“Great. Then your father and I will see you there. Don’t forget to call if you need anything.” After giving them both a kiss, Rose left.

Reaching down, Mack scooped Grace up so that their eyes met. “Did you eat already? We have some pizza in the kitchen.”

Grace hooked an arm around his neck. “Grammy took me to lunch. We met Auntie Erin and Brianna.”

“Okay then, let me finish my pizza, and then we can start on your room.” He carried Grace into the kitchen where his friends were hanging out.

“Hi, Sean. Tony.” Grace sat in the seat next to Striker when Mack put her down. “Hi Striker.”

“You remember them?” Although he kept in regular contact with his friends, he could only recall a handful of times when Grace had been around them.

“Your parents take her all over town when she visits,” Sean explained before Grace answered. “She probably knows more than half the people in North Salem already.”

When he’d first decided to move back, he’d worried how Grace would handle it. She’d lived in Watertown in the same condo complex her entire life. Evidently, he’d had nothing to worry about.



***



Music from the Town Common greeted Mack as soon as he pulled open the front door. The town always arranged for live music at each block party. Most of the time they hired local bands, but occasionally they’d pull in someone from Providence or Hartford. At the moment, he was still to far away to see who was in the bandstand tonight.

“Don’t forget. Only one special treat tonight,” Mack said as he and Grace crossed the street. In addition to food from the many grills, there was always an abundant supply of sugary snacks on hand at this gig. As a kid, he’d once managed to consume cotton candy, ice cream, and a bag of mini homemade donuts all in one night. He’d then proceeded to spend the remainder of the night sick in bed with a stomachache.

Next to him, Grace nodded, but although she hadn’t argued with him, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to get more than one treat later on.

Cutting through Saint Mark’s parking lot, Mack led his daughter toward Main Street. As they got closer, the air around them changed as the smell of burgers on the grill mixed with the scent of popcorn in the old-time popping machine the senior center brought over for every town event.

At the edge of the Common, Mack paused, his daughter’s hand still clasped in his, and he took in the view. The scene before him looked like every block party he remembered. Everywhere he looked, people he’d known all his life interacted. Some danced to music performed by Gage Larson’s band while others sat at the tables enjoying food and conversation. A sense of coming home washed over him, and he realized how much he’d missed this place and these people.