Hometown Love Read Online Free Page B

Mrs. Quinn manned the electric pan fryers cooking up homemade doughnuts and fried dough on the spot.
    “You did make it tonight,” a female voice called out as he passed a table.
    Mack turned, ready to reply, but his daughter let go of his hand and rushed forward before he could speak.
    “Jessie!” Grace called out with glee as she rushed toward Jessie, then proceeded to hug the woman.
    With no hesitation, Jessie’s smile widened and she hugged Grace. That afternoon, she’d mentioned she knew Grace, but he hadn’t realized they were so friendly.
    “Jessie, I live here now.” Grace released Jessie and bounced up and down as she shared her news.
    “I know. Your father told me today.”
    Jessie smiled at him briefly, but then turned her attention back to Grace, giving him a chance to give her a once-over. Now, like earlier, he was surprised by how much he liked what he saw.
    “How do you like your new house?” Jessie asked.
    Grace shrugged her little shoulders. “It’s okay. I don’t like the color of my room. It’s light green.” She pouted before she continued. “Daddy promised we’d paint it.”
    “Let me guess. You want it pink?”
    “Or purple. Daddy said we’d see.”
    Grace sighed and Jessie looked back up at him as she tried to hold back a laugh.
    “I promised we’d stop in the store and decide on a color we both like.” Mack put a hand on Grace’s shoulder
    Jessie turned back to Grace again. “We have a lot of nice colors at the store. You’ll find something you both like.”
    “Will you help us look?” Grace asked. “Daddy’s not a girl, and girls are better at picking out colors.”
    “You got it.” Jessie gave one of Grace’s pigtails a playful tug. “What do you think about the rest of the house?”
    “It has a big backyard.” Grace’s voice went up an octave. “Daddy promised to get me a swing set and a dog.”
    Grace had been asking for a dog since her fourth birthday, and he kept telling her a dog needed a yard, something they didn’t have in Watertown. When she’d seen the backyard of their new house, it had been one of the first things out of her mouth. “I said I’d  think about the dog.” He didn’t want Grace getting her hopes up.
    “But Da—” Grace started.
    “We’ll talk later, Grace. Besides, I thought we were getting donuts.” Perhaps a minor distraction would get her mind off a dog, if only for the night.
    Grace’s pout disappeared as if just remembering their initial destination. “Oh, yeah. Can I wait here with Jessie while you get them? My feet are tired.”
    He didn’t believe her feet were tired for a second. She just didn’t want to wait in line. “As long as Jessie doesn’t mind.” They would have to sit down and eat somewhere anyway.
    Jessie pulled out the seat next to her. “She can stay. I don’t mind.”
    “Can I get you anything?” Mack asked as Grace zipped into the chair.
    “Just finished some popcorn, but thanks.”
    “Okay, I’ll be right back.” Alone, Mack joined the line for donuts. Every once in a while he glanced behind him to check on Grace—not that she noticed. His daughter was too busy talking Jessie’s ear off. The little girl loved to tell stories. And she’d talk to just about anyone, even complete strangers in supermarket checkout lines.
    “Decided to join everyone tonight?” Striker asked as he joined the line.
    “Yeah, Grace wanted to come.” The person in front of him at the concession table moved and Mack stepped forward. He glanced over the freshly-made donuts. “I’ll take two of the apple cider and two of the powdered, please, Mrs. Mitchell.”
    “I was so glad when I heard you were moving in next door, Matthew,” Mrs. Mitchell said.
    Although everyone else in his life called him Mack, Mrs. Mitchell insisted on calling everyone by his or her true name.
    “Where’s your daughter?” she asked, looking around.
    “With Jessie.” He pointed in their direction.
    “Grace does love my