92 Pacific Boulevard - Debbie Macomber [72]
It was 4:00 p.m., and the shift change was taking place as they spoke. Mack waved to his friends, cell phone to his ear, and started out of the station house. “Wait!” Not until he was close to his car did it hit him. “Are you saying you have a job here—in town? In Cedar Cove?”
“Yes.” She sounded surprised by his question, as if he should know. “I’ll be working for Allan Harris.”
“Where are you now?”
“Mocha Mama’s,” she told him. “I’m celebrating with a latte.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Five, if he could manage it.
Mack snapped his phone shut and trotted the last few steps to his car. He’d had plans but they could wait; seeing Mary Jo was more important. His next shift at the fire station wasn’t until Friday, which gave him two full days to finish painting both units. Once that was accomplished, he’d be all set to rent out the other half of the duplex. He’d already moved in, but for the moment was more or less living in chaos.
He knew exactly who he wanted as a tenant. Mary Jo would need a place to live—and what better place than right next door to him? He’d mentioned it once but in a vague way, not identifying himself as the owner. He didn’t feel completely comfortable with the deception, but wasn’t sure how she’d react if she knew. Mary Jo was cautious and uncertain about men, all men. Given her history, Mack could understand it. He’d like to meet David Rhodes in a back alley someday, but that wasn’t likely to happen; for one thing, the guy was obviously avoiding Cedar Cove.
Mack drove down the hill to Mocha Mama’s and parked nearby. As he hurried inside, through yet another light rain, he saw Mary Jo sitting by the window, sipping her latte. She smiled when he walked in.
“Hi,” he said, brushing the moisture from his coat and hair.
“Hi!” she returned, grinning widely, her happiness unmistakable—an uncomplicated joy he hadn’t seen since the night Noelle was born.
He suddenly realized Noelle was nowhere in sight. “Where’s the baby?”
“A friend of mine is watching her this afternoon. This is the first time I’ve been away from Noelle, and I feel like part of me is missing. Jenna said I have to stop phoning, because whenever I do I wake the baby.“
Mack glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll get an espresso and join you in a minute.”
The young man he recognized as Shaw was behind the counter. They exchanged greetings, then Shaw brewed Mack his double shot. Back at Mary Jo’s table, Mack sat across from her, draping his coat on the empty chair beside him.
“So,” he said, leaning toward her. “Tell me how you came to hear about the job with the attorney.”
“Kelly Jordan told me Mr. Harris was looking for an assistant and—”
“Sorry, who’s Kelly Jordan?”
“Grace Harding’s daughter. Don’t you remember, Grace was the one who suggested Kelly as a possible day-care provider? It was the day we met at the library.” She smiled. “Kelly’s little girl, Emma Grace, is starting to walk now.”
“Oh, yeah.” He had a dim memory of the conversation; he’d been too occupied with Noelle to pay much attention. “So you found someone to do day care before you had a job? That was smart.”
“Well, yes. I had to be okay with whoever was going to be taking care of Noelle before I could even think about employment.”
He nodded.
“Men just don’t consider things like that,” she went on. “I know Linc didn’t, but then my big brother can be pretty dense.”
“Oh, yes, your big brother. How’s Linc doing these days?” Mary Jo’s brother was overprotective to the point of obtrusiveness, and she resented his domineering attitude. Mack sympathized with her, but he also understood Linc’s point of view.
Mary Jo stirred her latte. “As you might’ve guessed, Linc’s not very happy with me at the moment.”
“Why not?” But of course he had guessed…With a job in Cedar Cove, she’d presumably be moving away from her brother’s house—and his control.
“He doesn’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave Seattle,” she said wryly. “According to him, family should stick together.“