Hometown Love (19 page)

Mack didn’t hesitate. “That didn’t help, but it wasn’t the reason. A bunch of things contributed to our divorce.” He accepted the plate she offered him before he continued. “Our relationship changed after she got pregnant. I started to notice things about her that I’d either missed or just overlooked before.” He took the second plate and carried them over to the table. “Things went downhill after Grace was born. She complained how it was Grace’s fault she now had stretch marks and couldn’t shed the last five pounds she’d gained while pregnant. She missed going out with her friends or us just taking off for the weekend at the last minute.”

The woman he described sounded more self-absorbed than Jessie had first thought. How had Mack ever fallen for her in the first place? She didn’t sound at all like the type of woman he’d want.

“Before we got married, I only saw the fun we had together. Only afterward when I saw the real her, did I realize we were wrong for each other. We started couples’ therapy right before she got the offer for the job in New York. That finally killed our marriage.” He stated it as if their breakup was a simple story, without bitterness or disappointment.

“Bethany agreed that I could have sole custody before we ever stepped in a courtroom. She’d never wanted to be a mother so she was content with visitation rights. Then, about six months after we separated, she moved in with someone she met in New York.”

A mother who would willing give up custody told her a lot about Mack’s ex-wife. “I think Grace is better off without her mom around much.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Mack reached over and squeezed her hand. “Let’s talk about something more enjoyable.”

He didn’t need to ask twice. With her curiosity satisfied, Jessie squeezed back. “Tell me more about this trip we’re going to take. Did I tell you I’ve never been to Florida? Actually, I’ve never been any farther south than Virginia.”

Mack latched onto the topic and ran with it. Just by the way he discussed the parks and what he remembered as a child, she could tell he was looking forward to the trip and not merely because Grace would enjoy it. The more he told her, the more excited she became as well. In fact, by the time they finished breakfast, she wanted to hop on a plane and fly down today.

The week dragged on. In fact, Jessie couldn’t remember the last time a week took so long to end. Part of it stemmed from issues at work. Two large special orders—one for Phil Larson and another for Brendan Michaels—came in damaged. Thankfully, Phil was a regular customer and easy to work with, but still, dealing with the manufactures had been a major pain. Brendan, on the other hand, was—and always had been—a jerk, and when he’d discovered the problems, he’d stormed into the store pissed off. Then, on Wednesday, her assistant manager, Ty, had come down with the flu and she’d been forced to cover his hours in addition to her own.

All of that would have been bad enough, but on top of it, she’d seen Mack only once. And it was only for a short time. Tuesday, her only day off, he’d called around six and asked if she could pick Grace up at his sister’s house. Some case he was involved in had made it impossible for him to leave work before Erin had to leave for her moms’ night out with friends. By the time he arrived home that night around eleven, Grace had been tucked into bed, asleep, for hours. She and Mack had talked for a few minutes, but then Jessie had left for her place. Since then, they’d only talked on the phone.

Today, they both had the day off, and in another hour, Grace’s birthday party was due to start. As Jessie searched through her closet, her own excitement grew. When Grace found out what they had planned for her, she was going to go crazy. What little girl wouldn’t? A whole week in Florida, including lunch with her favorite fairy tale characters. Jessie was ecstatic about the trip herself.

She grabbed the plain yellow top, held it up, and then tossed it back onto her bed. She loved the color, but it didn’t love her. Any other day, she might not care how it looked on her, but Mack’s ex-wife would be there today. Bethany had called Mack during the week to confirm she’d be at the party. With Bethany there, Jessie wanted to look her best. She skipped over the striped shirt and the bright orange one she’d picked up for Halloween. The last thing she wanted to look like was a giant pumpkin. Then her gaze settled on the dark gray sweater she’d grabbed on clearance at the end of last winter. 
This will do.

Jessie finished dressing and then spent a few extra minutes doing her hair and makeup. Most days she only wore a touch of eyeliner and lip-gloss. Today she added some blush and eye shadow. When she was satisfied with her appearance she drove to Peggy Sue’s.

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 piñata 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.

“It must be exciting living in New York City.” Jessie heard one parent say to Bethany. She recognized the woman from around town, but until today hadn’t known her name.

“There’s always something to do,” Bethany answered before going into more detail.

So far this afternoon, Bethany had spoken with almost everyone but her. In fact, after that curt
hello
, she’d not said another word to Jessie. Not that Jessie wanted a long conversation with the woman, but her behavior stood out.

Not that Jessie really minded. She wasn’t interested in Bethany’s stories anyway. Mack on the other hand…

She was definitely interested in him.

She headed toward the grill where Mack was flipping some mean burgers. Without any thought to the people around them, she slipped her arm around his waist. “I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice low.

“I’ve missed you, too. This week was crazy.” Satisfied with the food’s progress, he closed the grill cover and turned his attention to her. “Do you need to be anywhere tonight?” He kissed her before she could answer. Not one of the hot passionate kisses like he’d given her the weekend before, but a soft tender one.

“Nope.”

“Good. I thought we could give Grace our gift after her friends leave.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Did you know about the dog?”

When they’d first moved in, Grace had told her she wanted a dog. She’d mentioned it several times since, but Mack had never hinted at wanting one.

“They checked with me beforehand. I told them it was fine as long as it wasn’t a puppy and not over thirty pounds.”

Jessie watched Grace scratch the dog’s belly. “You’re never going to get her into bed tonight. She’s going to want to play with him all night.”

Mack’s cheek brushed against hers as he leaned in to her ear. “I know the feeling. I’d love to play with you all night long.”

Heat scorched her face, and she prayed no one had heard him. “Not tonight with Grace around.”

He tugged her earlobe. “That doesn’t mean I can’t wish it.” He pulled away then, his attention once again on the food, leaving her to wish for the very same thing.

Although a little chaotic, the party went smoothly considering the children and the dog running around. The only real disaster occurred when Mack left a plate of hot dogs unattended and Socks decided they looked good for lunch. Even with that little mishap, everyone had plenty of food and fun, including Jessie—despite the evil daggers Bethany threw her way all afternoon. Like Mack, though, she silently rejoiced when everyone except his parents and Bethany left. Finally, they could give Grace their birthday gift. Jessie doubted it would trump the dog from her grandparents, but she thought it would earn a close second.

As a team, everyone worked to clean up the backyard. While the children and their parents had been good about throwing away their trash, uneaten food remained out. “If you don’t mind bringing in the cake, I’ll handle the trash,” Mack said. Two large trash bags sat near the deck, overflowing with everything from wrapping paper to unfinished hamburgers.

Jessie grabbed the cake and headed inside while Mack’s parents closed up the folding tables.

“Mack mentioned you and he got Grace a joint gift.”

Jessie looked up when she heard Bethany. She hadn’t realized the other woman had followed her inside, but there stood Grace’s mom with extra party plates in her hands.

“We’re going to give it to her as soon as we’re done with this.” Jessie put the cake into its original box and then stored it in the refrigerator.

Stone-faced, Bethany advanced on her. “Word of advice, Jessica. Stay away from my family.”

Jessie stared at the woman, shocked by the animosity she heard. “Excuse me?” Had Bethany just told her to stay away from Mack and Grace?

“You heard me just fine.” Bethany crossed her arms. “Mack and Grace are not your family, they’re mine.”

Jessie understood Bethany claiming Grace as her family. Grace was her daughter and Bethany might feel threatened. Mack, however, was not her husband and hadn’t been for a while. He could spend time with whomever he wanted.

“Grace is your daughter, I get that.” Jessie didn’t want a scene in Mack’s kitchen, but then again, she didn’t want Bethany pushing her around. “I’d never do anything to interfere in your relationship with her. But you and Mack are divorced now. Whether we spend time together or not is none of your business.” She managed a calm, cool voice although, inside, her blood boiled with anger. Who did Bethany think she was?

The woman took a step closer. “People make mistakes. We have history together and a child. That supersedes any little fling he’s having with you now. Besides, do you really think he’d prefer you to me? Just look at the two of us.” A smug conceited expression settled on Bethany’s face and Jessie’s hand itched to slap it away.

While she’d never deny that Mack and Bethany would forever be linked because of Grace, Jessie didn’t think for a second that he’d pick Bethany over her. “Think what you want, but you’re wrong.”

“He might call you when he needs a babysitter or a night of sex, but he’d never settle for you when he can have me.”

Before Jessie could respond, the sliding door into the kitchen opened and Mack appeared with his parents, Grace, and Socks. “We’re in good shape out there. It’s time to give Grace the rest of her presents.”