Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(7)

“Can I try the games?” Grace asked, shaking him from his thoughts. “I won the ring toss with Grammy.”

“Lead the way.” No sooner did he speak the words, then Grace started off as fast as her legs would carry her toward the carnival games the elementary school’s PTA had set up.

“Which one first?” Each one already had a short line of children waiting their turn.

Going by the look on Grace’s face as she considered the booths, one would’ve thought he’d just asked her how she’d solve the government’s national debt.


“The ring toss,” she answered after several moments.

As they joined the line, Mack pulled out his wallet. He knew the PTA used the games as a fundraiser, so dishing out a few dollars didn’t bother him.

“Mack Ellsbury.”

At his name, Mack looked up at Kenny Adams. They’d graduated high school together. Back then, they’d hung out a lot, but had lost contact since.

“I heard you were moving back. You bought the Kerry place, right?”

Mack nodded. “Moved in today.”

“Welcome back. Is this your daughter?”

“This is Grace.” Mack and Grace stepped forward as the line moved.

“She looks about the same age as my son, Gabe. He’s starting kindergarten this year.” Kenny put a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Me, too.” Grace pointed toward herself.

“Then I guess we’ll be seeing you around.” Kenny clapped him on the back and then led his son toward the food tables.

The next hour or so went much the same way as people came up and welcomed him back. Over the years, he’d kept in contact with some of his childhood friends, like Sean and Striker, but others he hadn’t seen in years despite his regular visits back to see his family. Most looked like they did in high school, but there were others he barely recognized.

“So are you ready for a snack?” Mack asked as Grace climbed down from the bounce house the Parks and Recs department had set up. She’d already gone in the thing three times since they’d been there, each time coming out with the name of a new friend she’d made while inside.

“And something to drink,” she answered with a pink face.

Pleased that she’d agreed without any fuss, he took her hand. “Sounds like a good idea. What do you feel like tonight?” Together they crossed the makeshift dance floor, which was empty at the moment while the band took a break. “The ice cream truck is still here.” During the summer the ice cream truck still made daily runs through town. He didn’t think there were many that still did that. At least, he’d never heard one in Watertown.

“Nope. I want a donut.”

He liked the way his daughter thought. The homemade donuts the church sold were better than the ones from the store or popular coffee shops. “A donut it is. Let’s go.”

Weaving through the crowd, they headed for the table where Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Quinn manned the electric pan fryers cooking up homemade doughnuts and fried dough on the spot.

“You did make it tonight,” a female voice called out as he passed a table.

Mack turned, ready to reply, but his daughter let go of his hand and rushed forward before he could speak.

“Jessie!” Grace called out with glee as she rushed toward Jessie, then proceeded to hug the woman.

With no hesitation, Jessie’s smile widened and she hugged Grace. That afternoon, she’d mentioned she knew Grace, but he hadn’t realized they were so friendly.

“Jessie, I live here now.” Grace released Jessie and bounced up and down as she shared her news.

“I know. Your father told me today.”

Jessie smiled at him briefly, but then turned her attention back to Grace, giving him a chance to give her a once-over. Now, like earlier, he was surprised by how much he liked what he saw.

“How do you like your new house?” Jessie asked.

Grace shrugged her little shoulders. “It’s okay. I don’t like the color of my room. It’s light green.” She pouted before she continued. “Daddy promised we’d paint it.”

“Let me guess. You want it pink?”

“Or purple. Daddy said we’d see.”

Grace sighed and Jessie looked back up at him as she tried to hold back a laugh.

“I promised we’d stop in the store and decide on a color we both like.” Mack put a hand on Grace’s shoulder

Jessie turned back to Grace again. “We have a lot of nice colors at the store. You’ll find something you both like.”

“Will you help us look?” Grace asked. “Daddy’s not a girl, and girls are better at picking out colors.”

“You got it.” Jessie gave one of Grace’s pigtails a playful tug. “What do you think about the rest of the house?”

“It has a big backyard.” Grace’s voice went up an octave. “Daddy promised to get me a swing set and a dog.”

Grace had been asking for a dog since her fourth birthday, and he kept telling her a dog needed a yard, something they didn’t have in Watertown. When she’d seen the backyard of their new house, it had been one of the first things out of her mouth. “I said I’d think about the dog.” He didn’t want Grace getting her hopes up.