Carrie: Hey, Mike. My boyfriend is here right now, so unfortunately I can't have you come over. He'll get the complete wrong idea about us just being friends for Mackenzie. If you want, I'm going out to dinner tonight and Mackenzie will be here alone with the baby. I can tell her I have you babysitting Isaiah as an excuse if you want to spend some time with them. Let me know soon so I can text her!
I read Carries message as I was driving over to her house, only to feel disappointment and having to turn around to go back home.
I thought of what to text back and began to answer her message.
Mike: Sure, no worries. Let her know I'll be there around 5.
Carrie: Actually, I'll still be home at that time. Tony is supposed to pick me up at 5:30, but I'm sure he'll be here around 6. He's always late, as usual. So can you come at 6:15? If timing changes I'll let you know. Thanks!!
Mike: No problem.
I sighed as I sat back against my trucks seat. Quickly, I had an idea and drove off towards the school again. I went inside and decided to pull Mackenzie from school early.
"Hi, I'm here to pick up Mackenzie Underwood." I stated to the lady in the front office.
"Sure. Your relation?" She asked.
I lied, knowing whose name would be on the emergency contact list, "Mark Childers."
The lady checked online and smiled, "I'll have her come down. Just sign here please!"
Quickly I scribbled on the paper and wrote down the time, "9:27"
Within a few minutes, Mackenzie came waking down the hallway. I left the office and met her in the hallway in case she started to say my name and ask questions. I didn't want the lady in the office to know I lied to her.
"I figured I'd pick you up early from school today. You can't tell your mother though." I stated as we walked outside and straight for my truck.
"My mom doesn't know?! Oh my gosh, Mike. Do you know her??? She's going to freak if she ever finds out! You have to clue how strict she is with school and she...." Mackenzie trailed on as I interrupted.
"Relax, kid. She won't know." I chuckled.
"You aren't even on the emergency contact list. How did they let you take me out of school?" She asked confused.
"I figured Mark would be on that list. So today, I'm Mark Childers." I told her as we got into the truck.
"You know Uncle Mark?" She wondered.
"One of my best friends." I stated.
"So, we obviously can't go to my house because mom can't find out. What are we going to do? This seems a little weird ya know..." She told me.
"Well I was thinking about what you said to me earlier about your mom. I was gonna go back over to the house after taking you to school but her boyfriend is there. So your mom told me I can't come over because he'll get the wrong idea. I've thought about what I want and now I know I have intentions on winning your mom back over and I think it's best to do it sooner than later as you suggested." I said with sweaty palms.
"Really? So she just pushed you away for him? How could she be so blind?" Mackenzie rambled as she rolled her eyes. "If she's this clueless, how do you plan to win her over? She's madly in love with him. Stupid in love."
"Well uh, that's what you're for. Ya see, I used to know your mom and what she liked. I don't know what she likes now or even much about her anymore." I admitted.
"She's simple, very easy to please. My mom doesn't need much in life from someone. Just respect, love and loyalty." Mackenzie said.
"Well I guess that makes it easier." I smiled as we finally drove off.
Mackenzie and Mike drove around the town of Nashville, going in circles and having no destination. They both felt dumbfounded.
"She's so simple I have no idea what to do." I laughed, scratching my head.
"Yeah, how exactly are we going to kill close to 6 hours?" I was asked.
"We can get lunch? Are you hungry?" I wondered.
"Are you crazy? People will see me and instantly, something will be posted on social media. My mom would be all over us. How about somewhere that we don't have to get out of the car?" Mackenzie suggested.
"Okay, where to?" I asked.
"Well I don't eat fast food. Only place I can think of is Starbucks. I know it's not much of a lunch, but it's kind of all we got." Mackenzie giggled.
"It'll do for a snack. A man like me needs a meal." I joked.
"You may not have thought this idea out, but thank you for stealing me from the place I refer to as 'hell on earth'." My daughter joked.
"Don't you know that hell is technically only for the dead?" I raised my eyebrows, pretending to be serious.
"Well school is hell for the people who live! We live to be taught all of these skills in which, we will rarely use. My mom even admits to that!" She giggled.
Even though we were technically stuck in the truck with not many places to go, I enjoyed it. This little stunt meant I could spend time with my daughter.
"I know somewhere we can go!" I said excitingly.
Mackenzie smiled and responded with a simple, "Okay" and we were off.
