helped her find a new job, and Graceâs younger daughter, Kelly, provided day care for Noelle.
Once sheâd secured employment and child care, all Mary Jo needed was an affordable place to live. She knew housing costs would be significantly lower than Seattle prices, and sheâd been delighted that rent on a refurbished duplex was so reasonable. No wonder. Mack couldâve rented it for twice what he charged her. Well, sheâd taken care of that, although it put a serious strain on her budget. Sheâd checked with a real-estate agent Grace recommended and come up with an appropriate amount. Mack obviously saw that she wasnât changing her mind on this, since he hadnât argued when sheâd insisted on paying full rent. She also planned to repay him the balance for the months sheâd already lived there.
At one point after sheâd been confronted by David, Mack had offered to marry her, which had feltâ¦weird, but sheâd said yes, anyway. Fortunately, theyâd both recognized what a mistake that was and called it off before theyâd made any family announcements. She could only imagine how Linc would react if heâd learned about that.
Linc.
Thinking about her brother, Mary Jo smiled as she rolled onto her side and punched her feather pillow toreshape it. She couldnât remember ever seeing her brother this happy. She wouldnât have guessed it, but marriage suited him. He and Lori hadnât known each other longâa shorter time, even, than sheâd known Mackâbut they seemed to complement each other well.
Linc wasnât an impulsive man, but in the past couple of months heâd made two drastic changes to his life. The first was marrying Lori Bellamy. The second was moving to Cedar Cove and starting a branch of the auto body and repair business their father had established more than forty years earlier. Mel and Ned, the two younger brothers, were now in charge of the Seattle shop.
The fact that Linc had handed over the business to his siblings said he believed they were capable of handling it without him. Apparently he, too, had felt the restraints imposed by family and was ready to move ahead with his life. Good for him!
At first Mary Jo had suspected that Lincâs reason for coming to Cedar Cove was to stand guard over her. That, however, didnât appear to be the case. The truth was, she rarely saw him. He was busy setting up his business, equipping and renovating the commercial garage heâd purchased, and enjoying married life.
Mary Jo must have fallen asleep again because the alarm woke her abruptly at seven. Immediately Noelle woke up, too, hungry and badly in need of a diaper change. Mary Jo gave her a bath, fed and dressed her and took her to Kellyâs house on her way to the office.
Mary Jo was tired all day, no doubt because of the hours sheâd lain awake, thinking about Mack and David Rhodes and Lincâ¦. âWell, at least itâs Friday,â she muttered to herself as she corrected a document for the third time.
When she finally got home that afternoon, she saw Mackâs truck in their shared driveway. He mustâve beenwaiting for her because he came onto the porch as soon as she climbed out of the car. She gave him a cursory wave, then lifted Noelle from her carrier in the backseat.
âHi,â he said, looking unsettled and yet eager to talk. Heâd slid his hands in his hip pockets, a habit that signaled he was ill at ease.
âHello, Mack.â
âAre you still angry?â he asked.
âI donât think angry is the right word. I think disappointed says it better.â
He took a moment to consider her reply. âI really am sorry.â
âI know.â Mary Jo had sensed his guilt and regret the minute heâd confessed. âI just wish youâd been honest with me from the beginning.â
âI will from now on.â
Mary Jo nodded. She really didnât
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