Hometown Love (Love on the North Shore #2)(75)
“Your grandmother told me about the way he looked at you when she ran into the three of you at The Jade Orient. He has no plans of letting you go,” her grandfather said, adding his two cents to the conversation.
“And did Jessie tell you she’s going on vacation with him and his daughter next month?”
She hadn’t told her grandmother not to tell anyone, but she’d hinted in that direction. Both her grandfather and father held somewhat old-fashioned views about sex and marriage.
“Separate hotel rooms, right?” her grandfather asked before reaching for a lemon pastry. He hadn’t even finished his lunch, but the temptation proved too much for him.
Her dad grabbed a pastry from the box too. “What did I tell you? A man doesn’t invite just anyone on vacation with his daughter. I won’t be shocked if next year at this time I have my first grandchild on the way.”
Between her father’s talk of children and her grandfather’s question about separate bedrooms, today ranked as the most uncomfortable lunch ever. “Did you hear about Gage Larson?” If she hoped to survive lunch, another topic of conversation was required.
Chapter 17
Jessie had never understood why so many people came to this theme park year after year. She even knew a few people who came more than once a year. Now, she understood. She’d visited theme parks before, but none had prepared her for this place. Here, everything right down to the most miniscule detail was seen to. Heck, yesterday, she’d seen a park employee wiping down the trashcans after a short afternoon rainstorm.
Inside the park, wasn’t the only place that got special attention. Their hotel rooms were cleaned daily, the sheets changed, and towels shaped like animals or objects left on their beds. So far, she’d found a swan, a butterfly, and a monkey. She couldn’t wait to see what showed up tomorrow. Maybe the housekeeper would make an elephant like the one Grace discovered today or a sailboat like they had placed on Mack’s bed.
Whatever she found, this vacation would go down as the best ever in her book. In fact, she could say that about the past several months. Ever since Mack and Grace had entered her life, it had been one joyous occasion after another. The only dark spot being the day Grace had run away and the few days that followed. Sometimes, that day seemed like a lifetime ago.
The Sunday after her dad announced his desire for grandchildren, the three of them and Socks had gone hiking together. Later that night, after she’d helped Mack tuck Grace in, the little girl had told her she loved her for the first time. It had taken a lot of willpower to hold back her tears that night.
The weeks between that night and Thanksgiving had flown by in a blur as Jessie had prepared the store for holiday shopping and helped decorate Sean’s house for Mia’s return. Thanksgiving turned into a huge event, with Mack’s parents inviting her grandparents and father over so they could all celebrate together.
Perhaps best of all, Bethany had moved on just like Mack predicted. Not long after the incident with Grace, they drove her up to New York for a weekend visit and met Bethany’s new boyfriend, a sportscaster for one of the major networks.
Yup, life doesn’t get much better. Jessie checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. So far they’d kept to the same schedule: they got up early, grabbed a quick breakfast, and hit one of the parks where they stayed until one or so. Then they’d come back and take a quick swim. The idea of swimming outside in December still boggled her mind, but that was Florida. After their swim, they’d grabbed a quick lunch before going back to another park.
Today, though, Mack insisted on changing the routine. They’d still arrived at the park early, but they stayed through lunch. Around four, they returned to their rooms, but skipped the swim. Instead, he’d ordered Grace to nap before they went back for the fireworks later. Considering everything else she’d seen here, she knew tonight’s fireworks would be extraordinary.
“One more minute, I promise,” Jessie called through the door that connected their rooms as she picked up her earrings. Tonight, they had dinner reservation at an Italian restaurant, and he’d promised there would be no fairy tale characters joining them. As much as she loved seeing Grace get so excited every time a favorite character passed by, it would be nice to make it through a meal without the little girl needing an autograph.
Anyone who passed them would’ve thought they were just another family on vacation when they headed out. While they weren’t—at least, not officially—in Jessie heart they already were.
***
He watched Grace fidget from one foot to the other. Anyone passing by would assume she was anxious for the parade and fireworks that would start soon. He knew the truth. She knew what he planned to do tonight. Before he’d purchased the ring now in his pocket, he’d sat Grace down and asked her how she felt about him marrying Jessie. He’d assumed a positive response because the two of them had developed a strong bond over the months. Happy didn’t adequately describe Grace’s response.
Together, they’d gone ring shopping. He wouldn’t trust such a secret with any other six-year-old, but Grace could keep a secret better than anyone he knew when she wanted to. That shopping trip had happened three weeks ago and tonight he and Grace would give it to Jessie. It seemed appropriate to include Grace since, if Jessie agreed to marry him, Grace came along with the package.