this good since the day Jeff and I sold it to the Pattersons.”
“They really did let it fall apart,” she said. “But thanks to you, it had good bones. Most of what I’ve had to do is cosmetic.”
“I’d like to see what you’ve done inside, if you have time to show me around.”
She looked surprised by that. “Really?”
“Why not? I’m here. Unless you don’t have time.”
“No, come on,” she said, though she seemed to be struggling to balance her eagerness to show off what she’d accomplished with her fear of his reaction. “I can at least take time for the fifty-cent tour.”
Mick followed her inside, reminding himself to keep all of his comments positive and superficial, no matter how badly he wanted to give advice. By the time they’d reached the third floor, though, he realized that his mental warning had been unnecessary. She was doing a great job without any input from him. She had her uncle Jeff’s intuitive sense of style. Mick could design a structure that would last, a development that could become a community, but it was Jeff who’d given each home its individual character.
“I’m impressed,” he said when they’d toured all of the rooms, including the kitchen where every stainless-steel surface gleamed. The old appliances looked a little time-worn by contrast. “You really do have a knack for this, Jess.”
To his surprise, she blinked back tears. “Thanks,” she murmured, then turned away, busying herself by pouring more tea.
He rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’m really proud of you.”
She turned slowly, her eyes welling up with tears. “You’ve never, ever said that to me before.”
“Of course—”
Her jaw set stubbornly. “No, Dad, you haven’t.”
“Then I’m sorry. This is certainly not the first time it’s been true.”
The smile that broke slowly across her face made his heart ache. How had he not seen how much she needed a simple thing like him voicing his approval? He vowed to be more generous with his praise. Right now, though, he had another issue that needed to be dealt with, and he was wise enough to know he had to tread cautiously, even if that wasn’t his usual blunt style. Still, he hesitated about bringing up the meeting at the bank and ruining this moment of hard-earned peace with his youngest child.
In the end, because the outcome of that meeting still stuck in his craw, he couldn’t stop himself. “Jess, how do you feel about what happened at the bank?”
She frowned and backed away, ending their rapport and literally putting distance back between them. “I’m not happy about it, but I guess I see Trace’s point. Abby’s better at finances than I am, and it’s not like she’s going to take the inn away from me. She’ll just stay involved until I’m on a solid financial footing.” She met his gaze, worry in her eyes. “Why? Did she say something? She’s not going to back out, is she?”
“No, she’s determined to see this through. I just wanted to be sure it wasn’t going to cause problems between you, because I could call Lawrence Riley and put an end to Trace’s plan.”
“How?”
“I’ll cosign your notes.”
“Absolutely not,” she said at once. “I don’t want you to bail me out.”
“It wouldn’t be a bailout. It would just make me your backup, so your sister could get back to her life. It’s my signature on a few papers. That’s it.”
She gave him a wry look. “That wouldn’t be it, Dad, and you know it. You’d think your signature entitled you to make a few suggestions and the next thing you know you’d be running things.”
“I won’t even be around,” he protested. “I’ll be heading back to California in a few more days. Come on, Jess. Let me do this for you.”
“Why are you pushing so hard for this?”
“Because you’re my daughter. I want to help out with something that matters to you. You’ve finally found the one thing you really seem to care about. I don’t want that taken away from you.”
“Abby will see to that, Dad. She’s always been there for me. And having her here again, that’ll be great for both of us. Maybe she’ll actually learn how to relax. And it’s going to be wonderful for Caitlyn and Carrie, too. This will be a win-win, Dad. I’m sure of it.”
He sighed. “I hope so.”
“Look, I appreciate the offer. I really do, but it’s better this way. Abby won’t boss me around.”
Mick gave her a disbelieving look. “Have you met your sister? She grew up bossing people around.”
Jess laughed. “True, but she doesn’t scare me.”
“And I do?”
“More than you know,” she admitted.
That was another thing he’d have to live with and figure out how to change.
“Okay, then, I’ll back off,” he said, brushing a strand of hair back from her cheek. “But if things get tense between you two, remember that the offer’s on the table. I don’t want anything to come between you and Abby, okay? Promise me you’ll call me if you think that could happen.”
“I will,” she said. “I’m glad you came by.”
“Me, too. Is there anything else I can do for you? I’m still halfway decent with a paintbrush. I could help with the last of those rooms upstairs.”
He saw her struggling with herself. She was too bloody stubborn to admit she could use any help at all, even from him. Maybe especially from him. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Never mind. I know you want to do every single thing yourself. But that offer’s on the table, too, if you change your mind.”
“Thanks for understanding, Dad.” To his surprise, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “Love you.”
“Right back at you,” he said. “You coming over for dinner tonight?”
“I might.”
“I should warn you that Caitlyn and Carrie have the measles.”
“Oh, my gosh, Abby must be beside herself.”
“She has Gram and me for backup.”
“Then you all have more than enough to do. I’ll skip dinner, but call me if any of you need anything.”
“Right,” he said. He was halfway down the walk when he called back, “By the way, I noticed that rhododendron in back of the porch could use trimming.”
To his surprise, Jess laughed. “I knew it. I knew you couldn’t get away from here without finding at least one thing to criticize.”
He silently cursed
