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By Root 831 0

’d stopped by for her weekly visit. He’d felt David should be held financially accountable for his daughter. The fact that David had denied any responsibility disturbed Ben, and he’d urged Mary Jo to file for support. She’d promised to consider it. She hadn’t discussed any of this with Mack, but had been quietly contemplating a course of action. Her biggest fear was that if she did file, David would insist on visitation rights, and he seemed to be implying that he would. She couldn’t bear the thought of handing Noelle over to David, since she didn’t trust him.

“I won’t,” she blurted out.

A slow smile appeared on David’s face. “That’s a wise decision.”

Mack took a menacing step forward.

David held up one hand. “Mary Jo can make her own decisions,” he said calmly. “She doesn’t need any help from you.”

“I plan on marrying her,” Mack told him.

David shrugged. “Well, good for you, but don’t forget I had her first.”

For an instant Mary Jo felt as if she was going to be sick. “Stop it!” she shouted. “Just stop it.”

Noelle woke with a piercing cry. Mary Jo and Mack reached for her at the same time, bumping heads in the process. Mary Jo grabbed her daughter, turning her back on both Mack and David. She was shaking so badly it was almost impossible to walk.

This confrontation was horrible. Every fear she’d ever had regarding David seemed to be staring her in the face. For the second time since leaving Seattle she had the strongest desire to move back to her family home.

Mack caught up to her a moment later, touching her shoulders. “David’s gone,” he said quietly.

She nodded, unable to speak.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his face concerned.

Mary Jo wasn’t sure how to answer him. Every part of her trembled with shock and reaction. She never wanted to see David again as long as she lived. As for turning Noelle over to him—she’d rather die. His threat was all too real, and Mary Jo refused to take chances with her daughter. The less Noelle had to do with her biological father, the better.

“Mary Jo?” Mack’s hands tightened on her shoulders. “Answer me. Are you all right?”

“I…I don’t know.”

“You’re shivering.”

Perhaps because she sensed her mother’s tension, Noelle began to cry. Mary Jo bounced her baby gently in her arms and whispered words of reassurance.

Mack took control then, getting Mary Jo and Noelle back to the car, then dealing with the stroller. Once inside, he started the engine.

“I want to go home,” she whispered.

“That’s where I’m taking you,” Mack said soothingly.

“I mean Seattle.” She gazed straight ahead.

“Mary Jo—”

“Noelle and I will be safe there.”

“You’re safe with me,” Mack countered.

“David’s never been to the house in Seattle. He…he doesn’t even know where my family lives.”

“You’re not thinking clearly,” Mack said urgently. “He could get their address, no problem.”

Although she knew he was right, Mary Jo didn’t care. Every instinct she possessed told her to run and hide. She didn’t want to risk running into David ever again and if she remained in Cedar Cove that would always be a possibility.

“I’m calling Troy Davis,” Mack told her.

“The sheriff? Why?”

“I want you to file a restraining order against David Rhodes.”

“On what grounds?” she asked.

“There must be something,” he said stubbornly. “We can look into it.”

Still, she didn’t know if that was the best way to handle the situation.

In what seemed like only a minute, they were back at the duplex. But when Mack pulled into the driveway, he made no move to leave her car.

“Will you get a restraining order?”

“That won’t stop him.”

“Maybe not, but it gives the sheriff the authority to arrest him. I refuse to allow this man to threaten you and Noelle.”

“I…I—”

“We’ve come too far to let him stand between us now,” Mack said.

Wiping her face, Mary Jo felt torn by indecision. Her afternoon had begun with such promise, meeting special friends, seeing her brother and Lori—and now this.

She looked at Mack. “Hold me. Please, just hold me.”

He wrapped his arms around her, and Mary Jo buried her face in his chest. Closing her eyes, she