“I have a niece named Briley. She looks a lot like you.” Deena signed a page in the book and returned it to the girl.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Briley’s smile went deep.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Briley’s eyes widened. “Ye…yes.”
“I’m out of touch with what girls your age like, but I need to buy a gift for my Briley.” Deena’s expression conveyed the seriousness of this quest. “Do you have any suggestions?”
“Gift cards are the best, especially one to whatever app store she likes. Bath bombs and anything spa-related are always good.” Briley spoke with excitement then ducked her head. “I’m sure she’ll love whatever you choose.”
“Thanks so much for your suggestions.”
“You’re welcome.” Briley returned to her table, still smiling.
The encounter perplexed Phoebe. All her experience with Deena showed a brash, condescending snob. The Deena she’d had contact with wouldn’t have taken the time to make a young girl feel special and knowledgeable. It wasn’t done for the press because there was no one present to take pictures and spread the news of her good deed.
Who was the true Deena? Was it possible that she’d rushed to judgment, and Mac had seen the good in her? The possibility tightened her stomach muscles until her appetite disappeared. If that were true, it meant that there existed a strong possibility for true romance between Mac and Deena—an option she didn’t want to think about.
Chapter Ten
Mac stretched his arms and stared out the window. Cotton soft clouds dotted a warm blue sky. Frost covered the grass but would melt and dry within the hour as the temperature crept into the fifties by afternoon. The cold snap that had covered the region had moved on, leaving behind seasonally warm temperatures.
He couldn’t have ordered a more beautiful Thanksgiving Day.
Mom had gotten up early to start the dinner preparations. He could smell the turkey in the oven and the savory herbs and butter she’d add to bread cubes to make the dressing. His stomach growled. He had to stop thinking about food, or he’d cave and have a snack. It wasn’t worth risking his appetite.
Tamera’s car came down the driveway. He ran downstairs to greet his sister, brother-in-law, and niece outside.
John carried Mercy, and Mac reached for her.
She refused to come to him and buried her head on her dad’s shoulder.
“I feel loved,” Mac joked.
“That’s me every night when John comes home from work, and Mercy only wants him.” Tamera winked at her husband.
“She’ll grow to love her cool Uncle Mac.” Tamera’s words and wink registered, and he backpedaled. “Wait… did you say come home from work?”
John beamed. “I started at the Dolcum factory on the fifteenth. We waited until today to share the news since it is Thanksgiving.”
“That’s awesome.” Mac slapped his brother-in-law’s back. “Congratulations! I’ve been praying for you.”
“Thank you. Those prayers have been felt.”
Tamera pushed between them like the pesky little sister she could be. “Spill it. Is Deena coming to dinner?”
He suppressed a groan. His family’s inquisitiveness knew no bounds. “She’s supposed to.”
“I can’t believe my big brother is datingtheDeena Frasier.” She wiggled her brows. “Why couldn’t that have happened in high school, so I could have been popular by proxy?”
“If I recall correctly, you were prom queen. I don’t think you could have been more popular than that.”
“That’s because I was nice to everyone.” She wore a mischievous grin. “It wasn’t the superficial popular that came with your brother dating a celebrity.”
John wrapped an arm around Tamera. “You’ll always be my queen.”
“Gag me.” Mac rolled his eyes.
