Page 24 of Mack

“Then don’t mess it up.”

He laughed despite himself. “Thanks for the advice.”

“I mean it.”

“I want to see the ranch sometime this winter. It’s been too long.”

“Anytime. You know that.”

“Maybe I’ll get to meet Mallory while I’m there.”

“Jules.”

“I’m just saying.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Goodbye, Mack.”

“Bye, sis.”

Mack shook his head. His sister, his little sister, thought she could help him with his love life. He didn’t mind though. She liked doing it and whatever made her happy was fine with him.

****

Monday morning came in cold and clear, the snow from Sunday having left just enough to dust the rooftops and window ledges white without making the roads difficult. Mallory unlocked the front door of Festive Finds, flipped the sign to open, and stood for a moment in the quiet of the shop before the day started.

She hadn’t slept well. For some reason, Troy invaded her dreams. She could see it all happening in front of her and could do nothing about it. He got angry when she handed him a beer bottle with the cap still on…

“What have I told you, Mal? Always remove the cap when you hand someone a beer. Are you so fucking stupid that you can’t remember that?”

“I’m s-sorry. I forgot.”

When he stood up, she instinctively stepped back, ready for his wrath and he didn’t hold back. He threw the bottle at her and when it shattered, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pushed her onto her knees.

“Clean this fucking mess up and get me another beer. Now,” he snapped.

She used her hands to clean the mess up. She knew he’d make her do it that way, then she got up, threw the glass out, and got another beer for him. Making sure to take the cap off first, she walked back toward him, held the beer out and tried to stop her hand from shaking. He took the beer, nodded, then waved her away. He was never going to leave her alone and she knew that better than she knew her own name.

Coming back to the present, she got the coffee going in the back office, straightened a display of advent calendars that didn’t need straightening, and turned the music on low. By eight thirty she had her first customer, a woman from out of town looking for a tree topper, and by nine the shop had found its Monday rhythm.

She wasn’t sure why she’d had the dream, but it was so vivid that it scared her. Although she knew nothing about where he was now, she still knew, deep in her heart, that he would never stop coming for her. Even though she hadn’t seen him since before T.J. was born, he was waiting for the perfect opportunity.

She was wrapping a set of hand painted ornaments for a regular customer when the bell above the door chimed.

She knew before she looked up.

Mack stepped inside, hat in hand, cold still coming off his coat. He scanned the shop. She’d noticed he always did, taking everything in before settling on her. A habit from the job, she suspected. His eyes found her and he nodded once.

“Morning.”

“Morning.” She finished tying the ribbon on the package and handed it across the counter to her customer, who glanced between the two of them with undisguised interest before taking her bag and leaving.

Mack waited until the bell chimed behind her. “How was your Sunday?”

“Good. We went to my parents’ place. T.J. got to ride Marty.” She leaned against the counter. “How was yours?”

“Quiet.” He turned his hat in his hands once. “I stopped in here actually. Ruth said you were off on Sundays.”

“She mentioned a very tall deputy came asking after me. She told me she knew you.” Mallory kept her face neutral.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Small town.”