Hometown Love (11 page)

Jessie spent much of the morning assisting customers. Annette, who worked Saturday mornings, called in sick, and Jessie couldn’t get anyone to cover Annette’s shift until eleven o’clock. With Brian there now, Jessie could retreat to her office and finish the schedule for the rest of the month. With the kids back in school, and high school sports back in full swing, her summer schedule no longer worked. The same thing happened every year. While the store did have regular full-time employees with set schedules, it also had a number of part-timers some of whom were students or parents who worked there for additional income. It was these part-timers that messed with her well-ordered schedule.

Jessie opened up the spreadsheet program she used for the schedule. Much of the month was done. If she didn’t have any more interruptions, she could get it wrapped up in another hour or so. Distractions from the store she could block out without a problem. All she had to do was close the office door. It was the mental distractions she couldn’t shut out.

Thoughts of Mack and the night ahead plagued her. Would he kiss her again? Grace would be there for some of the time and she doubted he’d kiss her then. But what about afterwards?

At some point Grace would go to bed. She hoped he kissed her then. Or should she make the first move this time? This was the twenty-first century. Women could let a man know how they felt.

Jessie’s mind wandered away from the schedule and she pictured them outside again. This time, however, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. In her vision, they kissed, his fingers sinking into her hair.

“You’ll never do it,” she muttered under her breath and wished she was a little more like Charlie or Mia. Both women were very sure of themselves. If they wanted something, they went after it.

The vision evaporated and Jessie looked back at the computer screen. She’d scheduled herself until three o’clock. That gave her three more hours. If she remained on task, she could get everything done by then.

Once Jessie finalized the schedule, she moved down her To-Do list. She was still reviewing the materials she’d received from a new manufacturer of eco-friendly cabinetry when Charlie appeared on the other side of the window. Before she could even knock, Jessie gestured for her to enter. She’d last seen Charlie over the Fourth of July weekend.

Jessica had known Charlie O’Brien, now Sherbrooke, all her life. They’d become friends in preschool and had remained best friends all through school. They’d slept over each other’s houses and played soccer together. After high school, though, they’d gone their separate ways. Jessie had stayed in North Salem while Charlie became a doctor and joined the Navy. Two years earlier, they’d reconnected and their friendship was like it’d been back in the day.

“I figured I’d find you here when you didn’t answer your cell.” Charlie entered the office.

Jessie had left the cell behind when she’d gone into the store to help customers and hadn’t bothered checking it since. “Annette called in this morning, so I was on the floor.” She put aside the brochures she was holding. “I’m glad you stopped in. You didn’t say you were coming up this weekend.” Distance might keep them from regular visits, but they exchanged text messages all the time and spoke on the phone.

“Jake and I decided at the last minute.” Charlie took a seat on the other side of the desk. “I left him at Sean’s. They’re gutting one of the upstairs bathrooms.”

Sometimes Jessie still found it unbelievable that Charlie had married Jake Sherbrooke, a man once known in the media as Prince Charming. Almost as unbelievable as that was what a nice guy he was. From the very first moment she’d met him when her grandfather fell and needed help, Jake had been kind and compassionate. Nothing at all what she’d expected from someone from such a wealthy and powerful family.

“I think he loves tearing things up more then he does putting them together.” Not only did Jake run a disaster relief foundation, he often worked alongside his employees when his team went in.

Jessie could picture Jake and Sean tearing apart one of the out dated bathrooms in Sean’s old house. “How is Jake?”

“Busy. He spent last week in Kansas after that tornado hit,” Charlie said. “What about you? Anything new and interesting?”

“Same old things. You know me.”

“You should come visit us more often. Get away from here.” Charlie grew serious. “You’re always welcome.”

Jessie appreciated Charlie’s concern. She’d never discussed with anyone her intentions to take control of her life and move it in a direction she wanted. However, Charlie had noticed and once commented on the changes she saw in Jessie. “I’ll visit soon,” Jessie answered and not just because it was the answer Charlie wanted. She’d never traveled much. In fact, she’d never been any farther south than Virginia and no farther west than New York City. Her grandparents had been too busy running the store when she was younger and her father spent so much time on the road for work, he considered staying home a vacation. While she couldn’t imagine living anywhere but North Salem, she did want to see more of the world.

Charlie didn’t push for an exact date; instead, she moved to the edge of her seat. “I’m heading over to pick up Taylor and bring her to Sean’s,” she said, referring to her younger half-sister. “He’s having a cookout tonight and told me to invite you. Tony and Striker will be there, too.”

Any other time she’d say yes. She thought of Sean as the brother she never had. While Tony had been driving her a little crazy the past few months, he was an okay guy. She didn’t know Striker as well, but when he and Tony got together, things got entertaining. “I’m going to Mack’s after work.”

Charlie leaned forward, her brow wrinkled with confusion. “Mack as in Mack Ellsbury?”

Jessie nodded.

“Wow. I haven’t seen him in ages although Sean stays in contact with him. Didn’t he move to Worcester or Boston?”

“He lived closer to Boston for several years. A few weeks ago, he and his daughter moved back here. He bought the house next to Mrs. Mitchell.”

Charlie sat back in her chair again. “Daughter? I didn’t know he ever married.”

Sometimes, Jessie forgot how out of touch with the town her friend had become after graduation. “He was married to Bethany Lewis. They got divorced a couple years ago. She used to be on channel 7 news. Now she’s on 
USA This Morning
.”

“I didn’t know any of that.” Charlie paused and Jessie could see her friend’s brain processing their conversation. “How long have you two been together?”

The question made sense considering what she’d shared so far. “We’re not together.”

“Then he’s having a party? I’m surprised he didn’t invite Sean and the guys.”

Was Charlie searching for information? That wasn’t her typical way. Charlie tended to be straightforward. If she had a question, she asked it. Then again, they didn’t usually discuss Jessie’s love life or, better put, 
lack
of a love life.

“No, it’ll just be the three of us.”

The corner of Charlie’s mouth inched up. “But you’re not together. Come on, Quinn. Out with it.”

“I’ve helped him with his daughter a few times when he needed it and stuff.” She thought about her interactions with Mack since his return. “Yesterday, he needed a sitter after school, so I watched Grace until he came home. Then I stayed for dinner.” The memory of their kiss rose up and her body temperature spiked.

“And I’m guessing you did more than eat dinner,” Charlie said, sounding almost happy about the fact.

“We kissed nothing else.” Jessie’s lips tingled with the memory. “Then he invited me—well actually, he said his daughter and he wanted me to come over again tonight.” Jessie reviewed his exact words in her head. Yes, he’d said that Grace wanted her to come back when he returned from tucking her in. Then he’d continued by saying he wanted her there, too.

“You look confused or worried. I’m not sure which.” Charlie broke into her thoughts.

Even though they’d reconnected and their friendship was much like it had been, Jessie had never told Charlie about her last relationship. Rather than share anything now, she shook her head. “Neither. I’m just not going to assume anything. One or two kisses don’t always mean something.” It was true. During her first semester at college, she’d met a guy at a freshman get-together. They’d kissed a few times that night and then gone on two dates. After that, she never spoke with him again.

“But sometimes it does.”

Charlie hadn’t dated a lot in high school, either. Jessie had a feeling that had been because most guys hadn’t wanted to get on Sean’s bad side. Even before Charlie’s dad walked out on them, Sean had been protective of her. Once their dad left, though, he’d taken over the roles of both protective brother 
and
father. She assumed Charlie had dated a lot in college as well as in the Navy, which meant she had a lot more experience with men.

“I guess.”

Once again, Charlie moved to the edge of her seat. “I have to go, but are you around tomorrow or Monday? Jake and I are here until Tuesday morning.”

“I’m off Monday, but I have to work tomorrow morning.”

Charlie stood. “Perfect. Do you want to plan on meeting Monday around noon? I can come to your place if you want.”

“Sounds good.”

“Have fun tonight.” Charlie picked up the keys she’d placed on Jessie’s desk. “See you on Monday.”

Jessie watched her friend walk back into the store, again wishing she were a little more like Charlie. People had often wondered about their friendship. On so many levels they were complete opposites. Charlie was tall and one of the prettiest girls in their class, confident, driven, and she never backed down. All the things Jessie wasn’t. Somehow though, their similarities had over-shadowed their differences. Right now, however, Jessie wished for just a touch of her friend’s confidence. Heck, she’d like to have a bit Charlie’s height as well.

With Charlie gone, Jessie picked up the brochure she’d been reading and checked the wall clock. Another hour until she called it a day. Mack had said to come over after work, but she planned to stop home first. When she’d left this morning, she’d dressed for a day at work, nothing else. Regardless of whether Mack kissed her or not tonight, she wanted to look nice. She didn’t want to show up in the Quinn’s hardware golf shirt she’d thrown on or the jeans she managed to get paint on while mixing a can for Ray Larson.

At the last minute, Jessie made a small detour on her way to Mack’s. While he told her not to bring anything, her upbringing told her something else. Since she didn’t have time to make anything, cupcakes from Peggy Sue’s would have to do.

“I’ll take three chocolate and three vanilla cupcakes,” Jess said and watched the high school student behind the counter fill a box.

“Anything else?”

Jessie accepted the box and handed over a ten-dollar bill. “That’s it.”

“Jessica?” an unfamiliar voice said from behind her.

Accepting her change she turned and found Sharon Pelletier behind her. She’d tried calling the other woman twice now and had even left a voice mail, but Sharon had never called back. Now here she stood and the words she’d prepared vanished from her head. “Hi Sharon.” 
I can do this.
“How are you?”

“Busy. The wedding is in a week and there are a million things left to do.”

Jessie leaned against the counter for support. “You’re getting married?”

Sharon shook her head. “No, Keira,” she said, referring to her older sister. “Edward and I only got engaged last month.”

Edward.
She’d said Edward. Not Jeremy. Then she wasn’t dating the monster.

“Sorry I didn’t call you back. I meant to. When you said you needed to talk, you made me curious.”

Now that Jessie no longer had to share her secret, she struggled for an answer. “I saw you with someone I thought I knew the other day at The Coffee Press. I wasn’t sure if it was him or not.” As far as on-the-spot excuses went, it wasn’t bad.

“You must have seen me with Jeremy. We stopped in on our way back to the office.”

She almost hugged Sharon. “You work with him?”

“For a little longer anyway. He’s transferring to the Worcester office. Would you like me to tell him you said hi?”

“No!” Jessie shouted and a few customers looked in her direction. “I was just curious. I thought he moved after we graduated.” She couldn’t recall the last time she’d improvised like this. “We weren’t close friends or anything.”

“I’m not surprised. He’s a bit of a jerk.”

You don’t know the half of it.
“I’ll take your word for it. It was nice seeing you.” Jessie took a step backward. “Congratulations on the engagement.”

“Bye.”

Back outside, Jessie got in her car, feeling a thousand pounds lighter. The weight that she’d carried since seeing Sharon and Jeremy no longer existed, and best of all, she didn’t have to tell Sharon her secret.

***

Through his upstairs bedroom window, Mack heard a car stop in his driveway. Pulling his t-shirt on, he opened his bedroom door as Grace’s voice floated up the stairs.

“Daddy, someone’s here.”