Misery Company

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Mackenzie moved in that morning during a break between Dean’s classes. She didn’t have to start work until Monday and had enough time to move in, unpack and finish hammering out their lie before then. It was weird, she couldn’t find another word to describe how crazy it felt to be moving in her personal belongings to Dean’s bedroom. Her clothes hung across from his in the small walk in closet, her toothbrush between his and Megan’s in the shared bathroom. The scenes felt ripped right out of a nightmare.

“You look ready to vomit.” Megan said as she caught Mackenzie staring at the closet.

“You have always been too smart.” Mac muttered, turning away from the closet that symbolized the changes in her life; it was now Mac and Dean, sharing and together. Of course she wanted to vomit. “Where’s your dad?” she asked and plastered on a smile. Megan couldn’t suspect that the arrangement was for her benefit and completely fake.

“Cooking.”

“Let’s go find out what.” She took Megan’s hand and led the way down the small hallway and the few steps to the first floor. “What’s cookin good lookin?”  

It was Dean’s turn to wear the vomit look and he quickly tried to hide it, good for him Megan was preoccupied with the flowers on the table. “Cheeseburgers.”

“Cool.” She said while playing with Megan’s hair. They had explained to the little girl that yes Mac was going to marry her daddy and be around a lot more, she didn’t seem to mind at all and was glad she had someone new to watch her instead of old boring Judy.

Ten minutes later they sat around the table, Dean served the food while Mac poured the drinks. They ate as a family. After their early lunch Dean left to his next class and Mac drove Megan to her preschool/day care.

Once at the apartment alone Mac was able to exhale and not worry about how it could be mistaken by little watchful eyes. It didn’t take long to move in because she didn’t have much, she had just left her aunt’s house the month before and only last week settled into town and accepted the job offer.

This was now her home; Dean Chandler’s apartment. She sank into the couch and reminded herself there was no going back. Last night she stayed awake restless in bed because of her choice. Yes it was a good thing and if it worked, which it had to, the torture would be worth it. It wasn’t as if she was giving much up; just her whole identity. Soon she would be Mrs. Dean Chandler and Megan’s step mother.

It wasn’t the choice that weighed heavy on her mind, oh no. It was what came next day to day; could she and Dean really survive this thing? Mackenzie wasn’t so sure.

While she was alone Mac decided to get all her freaking out over and done with. She walked back to the bedroom and sat on the bed. It smelled like Dean and tonight she was going to have to share the queen size mattress with him. She shuddered at the thought and involuntary images.

Next the fun kept on coming as she called her Aunt Kate. She and Dean agreed they had to tell their family and soon, they had to make them believe this was real too. The court could never suspect otherwise. “Hey, are you busy?” she asked her aunt on the other line.

“Not right this second, why?”

“Gee I’ve missed you too.” Mac rolled her eyes and fell back onto the bed.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I won’t keep you long. I’m calling to let you know I’m getting married.”

“WHAT?”

“Relax you don’t have to pay for the thing.” Mac joked and explained the well thought out lie. She moved to town and found Dean, they reconnected and the rest was history. Mac made it sound like she and Dean were dating for the last month and decided to get married because why wait? They were in love after all.

Kate sounded wary. “Does this have anything to do with the custody battle coming up?”

“Not fully, it does help getting married quicker but this is something we want to do. I know how crazy it sounds and if you think of our past I don’t blame you but Dean and I are older now and we’ve talked about this a lot.” Mac started to believe it the more she tried to convince her aunt. It wasn’t too far fetched, she and Dean knew each other more then half their life time, they were involved daily in each other’s life until the last few years, she had helped with Megan and kept the truth about her hidden until Dean was ready, some might consider that friendship.

“I hope you know what you are doing.” Kate cautioned, there was no point in trying to talk Mac out of it, after years of living together Kate knew better.

“Don’t I always? Should I try and get you to drive up here for the wedding?”

“I know I work a lot but I’ll be there.”

Mac smiled. “There’s hope for us being a real family yet.”  She hung up the phone and was relieved she only had to do that once. Dean had a whole lot of family to call and inform of his good news. Mac never thought she’d ever be happy to have such little family. Times really could change.

She was vegging in front of the TV, remote in hand when Dean returned two hours later. “Do you come home every break you get?” she asked, making a mental note, she wanted to avoid him any chance she got.

“Normally no. I came now because we have to talk and it’s easier with Megan gone.” Dean explained, hanging his keys on the hook by the door then taking a seat on the couch with Mac.

“That makes sense. I called my aunt and told her what we discussed. She’s gonna come for the wedding and I’m done with my list of people to tell.”

Dean studied her face, he opened his mouth then closed it as he continued to mull over his thoughts. “Why did you lie about your parents being dead?”

Mac visibly tensed and kept her eyes on the TV. “Saying they were dead sounded much better then explaining I have no idea who my father is and my mother couldn’t be bothered to raise me. And why give everyone including you more ammo to trash me with?”

“I wouldn’t have used that against you.”

Mac met his eyes then turned away. The past wasn’t that easy to push away after all. “You did.”

“I didn’t,” he clamped his jaw shut then sighed. “I’m not fighting with you about this anymore.”

Mac shrugged. Before finally parting ways and Dean leaving to school he had tried many times to explain his point of view and how her mother ended up in town, Mac didn’t want to hear it. He hurt her and nothing could change that. “Whatever. I can’t think of anything we have to discuss.”

“I guess I should call my parents.”

“Guess so.” Mac stared at the TV and after two minutes and Dean didn’t move she looked at him, irritated. “Well?”

Dean shrugged and sat back on the couch. “I’m not going to tell them.” He didn’t give any explanation as to why.

“Tell them now or at all?”

“I haven’t seen them or spoken to them much since I left town. No one would be surprised if I got married and didn’t tell them.” It was obvious Dean wasn’t happy about his relationship with his parents.  Mac decided not to poke and prod for answers. They sat and watched TV together.