Misery Company

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Over the last few weeks Mackenzie kept having the urge to throw up. Minutes before the wedding that urge came strong and there was no fighting it. She rushed to the church bathroom and heaved up her whole breakfast.

“Mac?” Jake called out. “I saw you running, are you ok?”

She was supposed to walk down the aisle in less then ten minutes, she couldn’t be late. Making sure to be careful with her dress she flushed the toilet and left the stall. “Last minute nerves I guess.” She moved to the sink and rinsed her mouth and hands.

“Are you ok?” he asked again as he stepped closer to where she stood.

Mac glanced his way and noticed how handsome he looked in his tux. “I’m marrying Dean no matter what.” She said it more for herself. “I’ll be fine.”

“I thought I was seeing things that first night when we all had dinner but it’s in your eyes again, something isn’t right.” Jake said firmly.

She stepped back as he neared closer. “Don’t, please. You know what a social outcast I am, I just don’t deal with this stuff good but I’m ok.” She held her fists tight at her side with the urge to strangle herself. Why was this happening? Why couldn’t once she do the right thing and be happy? Dean could make her happy and yet she was risking it all because of the fear of it actually going good and then breaking her heart in the long run. She still felt like the little girl her aunt had to take in that didn’t deserve anything good. Tears burned her eyes as she thought of the woman that left her damaged.  “I’m scared Jake.” She confessed.

He bent slightly to see her face. “Of what?”

“Failing. I’m scared I’ll end up hurting Dean and Megan, I keep thinking maybe they’d be better off without me.” Over the last few days her second thoughts about the marriage kept getting stronger. She wondered if Dean would be better off facing the judge alone. She couldn’t handle it if he lost Megan because of her. “Nothing has ever gone good for me before. They don’t need my bad luck.”

Jake smiled and cupped her chin. “You’re still your own worst enemy. I always wanted you to see yourself through my eyes. They love you Mackenzie, leaving would only hurt them. You make Dean happy and Megan already sees you like a mom. I know you could never abandon her the way your mom did with you.” He explained softly.

“Leave it to you to hit the nail on the head.” She moved away from his touch and went to get cleaned up. “If all this blows up in a bad way I owe you a big fat told you so.”

“Just because you didn’t grow up the way people perceive normal and just because it didn’t work between us does it mean you have bad luck. You’re already good for them.” he walked over to the sink where she dried her tears, he bent down and kissed her cheek. “A lesser man would’ve offered to run away with you.”

She managed a faint smile. “No one could ever accuse you of being a lesser man. Thanks for helping me through my mini-mental break down. Tell your aunt not to freak out, I’ll be out in a minute.”

“I’m glad I could help. You look beautiful by the way.” He said on his way out.

For a split second Mac wished they lived in another time where she could have two husbands, would Jake and Dean mind? She laughed at her own twisted train of thought and finished wiping the smudged make-up from her eyes.

Her eyes were a little pink but not too red that anyone would notice she had been crying. She stepped back and examined her appearance. The wedding dress really was amazing. The strapless bodice top fit snuggly against her chest making her breasts look very pretty in her opinion, the skirt hugged her hips then widened on the way down into a full gown. The beaded detail gleaned beautifully in the light. She felt beautiful for the first time she could remember and couldn’t think of a more perfect dress, she owed that to Dean.

The thought of him sent the butterflies back up in her belly. She was nervous but also excited to go see how he looked in his tux. She might be scared and a big chicken but deep down there was no way she could walk away from him.

Mac adjusted her hair over her shoulders; made sure her veil was clipped correctly behind her then opened the bathroom door. It was show time.

“You’re two minutes late.” Mrs. Chandler was not going to let that slide.

“I had to throw up. I’m here now, let’s get started.” She plastered a smile on her face that she didn’t let fall. The music started and everyone started down the aisle in the order they rehearsed last night.

Her heart began to race wildly when the wedding march began. It was her turn to take the walk down the aisle which looked like it grew a mile. She clenched the bouquet so tight she hoped it survived the journey.

Then something strange happened; she locked eyes with Dean and she wasn’t so nervous anymore. Her heart rate calmed down and she started to believe she could do this; she could get through this wedding with all the watchful eyes on her.

As kids Dean Chandler used to be the boy that she liked to avoid and when she couldn’t avoid him she made sure she made him suffer double for the suffering he put her through with his teasing. As they got older they became infamous for their verbal and sometimes physical fights. Never in a million years could she have imagined marrying him, never could have guessed he’d be the person she needed all along.

She wasn’t sure what came next or if their plan would work but walking toward him felt right. She didn’t feel betrayed anymore when she looked at him, she felt a wave of peace she couldn’t explain, a burst of emotion she never thought would be in store for her.

“Are you ready?” the Priest asked softly after she passed her bouquet to Kira. The couple nodded and the ceremony began.  It went off without a hitch the way he walked them through it last night. They repeated the vows he spoke after declining to write their own then came the rings. With a polite smile he announced. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your wife Dean.”

After getting caught by his mother numerous times in compromising positions Mac was ready for him to kiss her in a room full of people. She had expected him to take advantage and really lay one of her but being a gentleman he placed a small closed mouth kiss on her lips.

It was Mac that grabbed him by his jacket and made it more. She was on an emotional rollercoaster and wanted nothing more then the release his soft mouth provided. It didn’t take long for Dean to wrap his arm her waist and deepen what she started.

The crowd behind her laughed and then cheered.

“Ok let her go!” Mrs. Chandler called out. “Let’s get to the reception and celebrate this joyous occasion.” 

Mac laughed loudly and pushed him away. “Your mom is about to have a heart attack.” She took his hand and together then walked down the aisle followed by the wedding party. She stopped before they reached the waiting car and faced Jake. “Thanks for helping me see what was right in front of me.” she didn’t care who was watching, she gave him a hug.

Dean waited until they were alone in the car to ask, “What was that?” he was curious rather then upset. The limo started up and the driver headed to the reception hall. Megan was riding with her grandparents.

“He’s been a really good friend.” Not only was she involved with the last man she expected, it was her first love that was helping her figure out just how strongly she felt for Dean.

Dean nodded and let the subject go. “So…we’re married.”  

“Yup,” she turned in the seat and faced him. “Did you actually think we’d do it?”

“I knew once you agreed we’d follow through with it but I never thought everything else that’s happened from when you said yes to right now was ever possible.” Dean explained gently as he took her hand between his.

“Me either.”