Page 36 of Mack

“Give me time, Mack.”

He nodded and let the silence settle. She was tired, the evening had been a lot, and he didn’t need to fill every quiet moment with words. He just drove, the mountains dark against the sky on either side of them and let her rest.

Running a shop almost alone and raising a three-year-old had to wear on a person. He was starting to understand just how much she carried, and how little she ever asked for help with any of it.

A few minutes later he pulled into the driveway. Mallory sat up, unbuckled her belt, and reached for the door handle.

Mack touched her arm. “I’ll get it.”

“I can get a door, Mack.”

“I’ll get it. My mom would kick my ass.”

They looked at each other until she sighed and nodded.

He got out, walked around the front of the truck, and opened her door. He held out his hand, and she put hers in it and stepped down.

“Go inside,” he said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“His car seat—”

“I’ll get it.”

“Mack.”

He kissed her quickly. “Damn, you are hardheaded,” he said against her lips, then kissed her again. “Go inside. You’re dead on your feet.”

“Alright.” She pulled back.

He was still registering that when she stood on her toes, kissed him once more, then turned and headed for the porch. He watched her unlock the door and go in.

He removed the car seat and carried it into the house, nudging the door shut behind him. He looked around the entryway. He had no idea where she wanted it for now.

Mallory appeared in the hall and waved him over, then disappeared into a room. He followed and stopped just inside the doorway.

“I wanted you to see his room,” she said.

He grinned, shook his head, set the seat down and looked around.

Dinosaurs. Everywhere. Curtains, bedspread, sheets, rugs, shelves lined with them in every shape and size. Even the nightlight was a dinosaur.

“He’s got a thing,” Mack said quietly.

Mallory smiled. “Just a small one.”

“You can go to the living room. I’ll be right out.”

Mack nodded and slipped back down the hall to the living room, settled onto the sofa in the quiet of the house.

****

Mallory entered T.J.’s room again. She missed him when he stayed with her parents, but they loved having him. She stood there for a moment. Thinking.

Her son needed a man in his life. She’d known that for a while. What she hadn’t let herself think about too carefully was whether Mack was that man, because thinking about it meant thinking about what happened if he wasn’t. If he walked away. T.J. had already attached himself with his whole heart, the way three-year-olds do, without any of the self-protection that came later. If Mack left, her son would feel it. She would feel it. She walked out.

Mack was on the sofa where she’d left him, turning the brim of his hat in his hands. He got to his feet when he saw her.

“You okay?”