Misery Company

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Mackenzie drove her Aunt to the airport, she'd be able to use the car as her own until Kate returned next week. Home alone Mac threw herself down on the sofa, her eyes landed on the pictures along the mantel. "That's why I avoid this room." She stood and laid the picture of her mother smiling down on the wood. The sight of them made her heart ache in the most unbelievable way. It was the loss a person faced that made them into who they were. Mac wondered who she'd be if her mother didn't leave or Kate hasn't taken her in. Was she ever destined to be that good girl who enjoyed life, who wanted to help people rather then push them away? "Whatever." She moved to the kitchen to find something for dinner.

IIII

Dean's father; Greg Chandler spoke to his son for the first time in nearly two days. "This is unacceptable. Let's put aside the fact you got a girl pregnant at seventeen but you tossed her aside like trash. You didn't stick around for two seconds to see if this baby was yours." He didn't raise his voice; the deep disappointment delivered enough of a blow. "She looks just like you, like me. She's family." anger soared along his veins. It was a good thing Dean was telling folks the baby was a cousin, there was no mistaking the resemblance, The Chandler green eyes.

Dean stayed silent, what the hell could he say? He hadn't seen Megan until Caroline showed up after all this time and dumped the baby in his arms. Now he knew he was wrong but past mistakes couldn't be rewritten. "Now what?" he asked, softly.

"This is what's going to happen. You're going to finish school and practice every moment you have free. The minute you graduate and secure a scholarship you tell everyone the truth, you claim your child." Greg was a proud family man but he knew what this; an unwed teenage father, could look to the scouts. "One more thing, the girl next door I saw her leaving."

"She's helping me with Megan. Caroline for some reason told Mackenzie the truth. She's agreed to keep it a secret as long as I help her around school."

"That's all?"

Dean knew what his father was asking, the thought made his stomach turn. "Nothing more."

"She's a troubled girl; I don't want you getting mixed up into her problems. I want your attention on practice, school and the baby." With nothing more to say, nothing up for discussion; Greg stood from his seat in the living room and walked away.

Dean looked down at Megan in her playpen. "That was unpleasant. It's time for you to be in bed." he grabbed her under her arms and hauled her up, clutching her to his chest.

IIII

Frozen pizza, dinner of champions. Mac ate in her room; it was the only place she didn't feel out of her skin; a stranger visiting an unpleasant relative. After dinner then homework the only option left was TV. Mackenzie spent her days mostly the same, she liked it that way. With Dean's father home he could help his clueless son and Mac's extra time was hers again. Although to be honest she missed the kid. Megan could lift anyone's sprits, she was so darn cute.

The sound of the doorbell grabbed her attention. "What the hell?" she wondered who would be at the door, visitors weren't frequent. She opened the door and Dean stood with Megan on the other side.

"I had to get out of there." He pushed Megan into Mac's arms and stepped inside.

"Why?" she made an ugly face, she loved to see Megan it was just too damn bad Dean was apart of the package.

"My dad finally started talking. He's given me about three speeches and the next is only in a matter of time." He glanced around the living room, it was nice, a simple furniture set and pictures scattered around.

"Well good, someone should give you grief and a lot of it. You got a girl pregnant then ditched them both. That's shady shit." She bounced the baby in her arms. "Your girlfriend didn't show up today, I was really looking forward to seeing her turn red." Mac reminded herself to stick to the facts of their relationship; blackmail and driving each other nuts. She didn't want him to confide to her about his problems at home.

"She's not going to. My dad's making sure I focus on practice, school and Megan. Plus we broke up."

"Christy gained enough brain cells to dump you?" Mac asked, amused.

Dean gave her a stone faced look, the sad part was the fact he offered himself up to the abuse. He should've taken a walk, a long one. "I dumped her."

"Why? She was such a sweet gal; I thought you two knuckleheads would make it. Wait," she snapped her fingers. "You don't do commitment."

"You don't know me Mackenzie."

She looked down at Megan. "She's proof you dumbass."

"You know before we used to banter and offend each other but it was just that. Now I really hate you."

"Good you caught up."

He examined her face and saw that she gave nothing away; simply neutral. Dean believed she'd throw him in front of a moving train if she could; there was no love loss between them. His dislike had never been as serious but now he did fantasize about throwing her somewhere painful. He used to think she was weird, now he knew she was weird, maybe even crazy. "Alright I'm out of here." he moved to grab Megan.

"She doesn't like you too much." Megan laid her head on Mac's chest, her little fist clutching her shirt. "She's a smart kid."

"She can't be she likes you."

Mackenzie used her free hand and slapped his arm. "Don't offend your kid."

"Hey! Now we're crossing the line into violence?"

"I cross it every night in my dreams." She smiled. "Get out of here, I'll drop her off within the hour."