1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [49]
Mack raised both hands as though to avert their thanks. “I didn’t have anything to do with that.”
“No, but your father did. I appreciate everything you’ve done. If anyone’s paying for dinner, it’ll be Lori and me.”
Mary Jo released a pent-up sigh. That sounded much more like her take-charge brother.
“We’ll settle up later,” Mack said. “Come on. Let’s order.”
After they’d finished their meals, they chatted over coffee and dessert. Noelle had eaten at home but Mary Jo spooned some plain spaghetti, cut up and sprinkled with cheese, into her mouth. Soon after, Noelle fell asleep. Mack cradled his daughter in his arms; every now and then he’d bend his head and press his lips against her soft curls.
Mary Jo loved watching Mack with Noelle. He was her father in every way that mattered, every way except the biological. How fortunate she was to have met and married such a decent, honorable man, especially after falling for a jerk like David Rhodes. Thanks to Noelle’s grandfather, Ben Rhodes, David was completely out of their lives. She’d never learned precisely what agreement Ben had struck with David, but whatever he’d said or done convinced David to sign the paperwork allowing Mack to legally adopt Noelle. They’d already started the legal procedure.
“I’m going to miss living in Cedar Cove,” Lori murmured.
“You’re leaving?”
“Looks like it,” Linc said without elaborating.
Mary Jo made eye contact with Mack.
“We can’t seem to find a place that—” Lori began.
Linc put a restraining hand on her arm.
“Linc,” Mary Jo said. “Tell us what’s going on.”
Her brother remained stubbornly quiet.
“Listen, you two, we’re family,” Mack told them. “As soon as I heard that you and Lori were looking for a new apartment, I told Mary Jo. We’ve come up with an idea we wanted to present to you.”
Linc and Lori exchanged a puzzled glance.
“Before you say anything,” Linc said, holding up his hand. “Lori and I have decided to move back to Seattle. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on to the business. I’ve had one good week—thanks to you, Mack—but there’s no guarantee it’ll continue… .”
“Why go all the way to Seattle?” Mary Jo asked. “The commute will take hours out of your day.”
“We were going to move in with Mel and—”
“No way!” Mary Jo couldn’t see that happening in a million years. It was a setup for disaster. Her two brothers, both younger than Linc, were terrible slobs, and Lori would be miserable.
“Mary Jo and I would like to offer a solution,” Mack said.
Mary Jo smiled. “We’d like to rent you the other half of the duplex.”
Linc stared at them, while Lori’s eyes widened.
“But…I thought you’d rented it out?” Linc said after a moment.
“We had a couple who was interested, but it fell through,” Mary Jo explained. “They decided to stay in Seattle.”
“So, the other half of the duplex is still vacant?”
Mack nodded. “It sure is—vacant and available.”
“You could move in anytime,” Mary Jo said. “Really. We mean it. We want you to.”
Linc slowly shook his head. “I’m honored that you’d offer, but we can’t accept.” His jaw had that stubborn set Mary Jo knew so well.
“We can’t?” Lori looked as if she was about to break into tears.
“We can’t,” he repeated emphatically. “We’d be trading one charity situation for another.”
“Now just a minute,” Mack said, raising his voice. “I didn’t say we wouldn’t be charging rent.”
Mary Jo placed her hand on her husband’s thigh. Mack had to know that Linc and Lori could barely make it without paying rent.
“I’ll charge you the same as I did Mary Jo,” Mack said. Beneath the table he put his hand over hers.
“How much?” Linc asked.
Mack named the figure he’d first charged Mary Jo, which was a greatly reduced rate. When she’d learned what he’d done, she’d been outraged; it’d been a source of major conflict. Mary Jo was more like her older brother than she’d realized. She hoped he wouldn’t object to paying less than market value.
“That’s the same amount Mack charged you?” Linc asked, eyeing her closely.
“It is.”
“That’s incredibly reasonable,” Lori told her husband.