At first, his meaning wasn’t clear, and then Gloria understood that he was asking if she wanted him to confront the baby’s father. “Everything’s fine.”
He frowned. “Are you sure about that?”
“Very sure.”
He returned to the computer screen. “It’s been a lot of years since we’ve had babies in this family,” she heard him say. “High time we did again.”
Twenty-Eight
“I think taking your parents to dinner is a lovely idea,” Mary Jo said as she slid into the booth across from Mack at D.D.’s on the Cove. They’d arrived first and been seated.
Linc and Lori had agreed to watch Noelle for the evening. The baby, familiar with her aunt and uncle, had gone to them without a fuss.
“Aren’t you the one who said we should tell them about the engagement over dinner?” Mack smiled. He picked up the wine list and began to study it while Mary Jo read over the menu.
“When I suggested dinner, I assumed I’d cook.”
“This is a celebration,” Mack said. He reached for her left hand, and she flexed her fingers, showing off her diamond ring. “I didn’t want you to have to do all that extra work.”
This man who would soon be her husband was considerate, thoughtful, loving. As it stood now, Mary Jo wasn’t sure what they were going to do regarding David. His presence in their lives hung over them like a storm cloud. Either it would eventually blow past or it would rain down upon them in torrents. Mary Jo was braced for whatever happened, whatever the future held. One thing was certain; she wouldn’t allow David to take Noelle away from her. Mack wouldn’t, either. They’d stand side by side and face any threat from David together.
“Here’s Mom now,” Mack said. He stood to greet his mother as the hostess escorted her to their booth.
Corrie kissed her son’s cheek and smiled down at Mary Jo, who held her left hand under the table, in her lap. “Roy’s parking the car. We got caught in traffic.”
“Traffic?” Mack repeated with a laugh. “You could walk to the restaurant.” The McAfee family home was up the hill, only five or six blocks from the waterfront.
“True,” Corrie admitted, “however, we did drive and we had to wait at the stoplight.”
Mack shook his head. “You’ve been away from Seattle too long.”
Mack’s mother smiled as she pulled a menu toward her.
Mary Jo had already chosen her meal. The fresh Alaskan halibut, steamed and then topped with shrimp, cheese and a dollop of sour cream sounded delicious. Her brothers had always been meat-and-potatoes people and she rarely cooked fish. Now that she was living on her own, she took every opportunity to sample the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.
Roy joined them, sitting in the booth next to Mack. “Sorry we’re late,” he said.
They weren’t, not really. Well, maybe a minute or two. Mack got his promptness from his family, Mary Jo thought. This was another admirable trait he shared with his parents.
“Roy,” Corrie said, glancing up from her menu, “on your way in, did you notice that the special of the day is oysters?”
“Fresh from Hood Canal,” Mack added. “That’s what I’m having.”
Roy didn’t bother to pick up his menu. “Sounds good to me, too.”
Corrie continued to study the offerings. “Everything looks so wonderful, it’s hard to decide.”
“While you’re thinking,” Roy said, “I’d like to say this dinner invitation is a pleasant surprise. It isn’t every day one of our children treats us to a meal out.”
“There’s a very good reason,” Mack said, smiling tenderly at Mary Jo.
“I suspected as much.” Roy leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “You want my help, right?”
“Help?” Mary Jo asked in confusion.
“With Jacob Dennison’s letters. I talked to Mack about it the other day and he said the two of you have hit a dead end.”
“Well, yes,” Mary Jo began, “but that’s—”
“Actually, Dad,” Mack said, gently cutting off Mary Jo’s response. “We could definitely use some help with that if you have the time.”
“I like nothing better than solving a good mystery.” He sent his wife a smug glance as he spoke.
Corrie sighed and directed her question to Mack. “That’s the reason you asked us to dinner?”
“Well, no.” He was about to explain when the waiter came for their drink order.
“I believe we’re all having fish,” Roy said. “So I suggest a white wine.”
“We’ll take a bottle of your best champagne,” Mack told the waiter, ignoring his father’s advice. “It isn’t every day a man gets engaged.”
At his announcement, Corrie nearly flew out of her seat. “I knew it! I just knew it.” Grinning, Mary Jo raised her left hand, and Corrie shrieked with delight. “Oh, Mack, I’m thrilled. And the ring’s beautiful.” She took Mary Jo by the shoulders and hugged her close. “This is absolutely perfect. One day we’re longing to be grandparents and then suddenly we discover we’re going to have three.”
“Three?” Mack said, looking bewildered. “Is Linnette having twins?”
Roy, as usual, got straight to the point. “It’s Gloria,” he said.
“Gloria,” Mack repeated, frowning. “I didn’t even know she was seeing anyone.”
“We didn’t, either,” Corrie told him. “We only just heard the news ourselves…. I probably should’ve let her tell you herself.”