Title: Beauty & The Beast
Chapter 2 – A Feeling Inside
A/N: Hey thanks so much everyone! Alice was just soooo delighted for all the positive feedback for this story (as we didn't know what to expect). Well we hope you continue to read and of coruse review and enjoy each chapter going forward as much as you have the first chapter.
"Can't believe he wouldn't even let me use a phone," Stella grumbles as she clears the estate boundaries of Mac's home. "Unbelievable. Hope he never needs help one day," she utters bitterly and then gives her head a shake, trying to calm her nerves and just focus on getting home. Oh Stella you know you wouldn't return the favor and be mean in return, you never were that way, you would help him if he needed it. And that was the truth and she wasn't able to refute it, she would help Mac Taylor if he needed it.
"Who is he? Oh it doesn't matter, it will never come to that."
Stella reaches the outskirts of the town when suddenly she's bathed in bright lights, quickly stepping out of the way just as a dark sedan pulls up beside her.
"Goodness you're soaked, can I give you a lift?"
"Please I just need a phone," Stella nods, a bit uncertain of getting into the car of a strange man. "My car broke down and I have to get home to my family."
"I live in town, please get in and I'll give you a ride to your home. My name is Don Flack and I'm a Detective," the dark haired man pulls out his badge.
Stella looks at the badge and finally gets into the warm interior of the car. "Thank you. I tried to call from…well someplace over there."
"Where?"
"That large dark mansion that should be a mausoleum."
Don Flack looks out into the darkness and then back at his soaked passenger with surprise. "You tried to seek help at Taylor manor?"
"Yeah I guess…so was that wrong?"
"Did you see anyone?" Flack asks slowly as he heads toward Stella's home.
"A very angry man that threatened to call the police. I told him I just needed to use the phone to call my family but he wouldn't let me. Who is he by the way?"
"Mac Taylor and that's his…well home. It's a long story but…but he's not doing to well which is why the place is in the shape it is; hasn't been worked on in about five years."
"Well not doing well was obvious. But thank you for stopping," Stella offers kindly. "What is it?" She asks when she notices the strained expression on his face.
"Just surprised he even came to see you. Outside of a few close friends and his mother he never lets anyone near; at least not for the past five years, much less talk to anyone."
"I guess I kinda forced my way into his house. I am very sorry and no I didn't steal anything."
"I believe you," Flack assures her with a smile. "Well maybe tonight wasn't just a chance meeting."
"I don't believe in fate Don Flack. I am a science teacher, I believe what I see."
"I do too," Flack mutters under his breath as they pull up to Stella's modest home. "Ah you guys bought the Holmes house. That is a good investment. Well hope you're happy here."
"I'm sure we will be. Thank you again," Stella offers as she quickly gets out of his dark police cruiser and rushes for the front door of her modest two story, heritage style home. She gives him a small half wave and then darts inside, shaking the coat off her before hanging it up and heading for a phone.
"Mummy! Mummy!" The voice of five year old Isabella Bonasera is heard as she rushes toward her mother with open arms; just as Stella finishes her call.
"Mummy's home baby belle," Stella smiles as she wraps her arms around her daughter and gathers her into her embrace, lifting her into the air and kissing her warm cheek.
"Your hairs wet," Isabella wrinkles her nose as her small fingers gently tug at the curls.
"Mummy!" Another small voice is heard, prompting Stella to bend back down to offer her son, Isaac Bonasera just as warm a hug as his twin sister Isabella.
"Mummy's home sweet boy."
"Well took you long enough," an older male voice teases, forcing Stella to look up and frown.
"Car broke down. And yes before you lecture me, I know I should have listened."
"Well I am not going to say I told you so. I'm just glad you're okay," he offers warmly.
"Thanks dad," Stella accepts the half hug from her adopted father Sid Hammerback. "I just called for a tow. I need that darn thing fixed before Monday."
"Well at least the school is just one that offers all grades including pre-school for the two terrors."
"Hey!" Isaac tries to protest, casting his warm hazel green eyes up at his grandfather. "Gampa be nice to mummy," he puts his hands on his hips and frowns, drawing a small chuckle from Sid before he scoops up the small boy and carries him back into the warm living room; a tickle fight ensuing.
Both Isaac and Isabella had hazel eyes, a mix of their mother's green and their father's brown. Both had dark hair with flecks of gold; Isabella's hanging in usually messy curls like her mother's and Isaac's shorter but you could still detect a wave; their father also had a touch of wave in his dark hair. Their father had left them when Stella was pregnant, telling her that he didn't want to be a father; that he wanted to enjoy their rich, childless life and that she had tricked him into settling down even more by getting pregnant. He then became mean and she feared for her children, taking up residence with the man that had adopted her after her mother was killed when she was a small child.
"I'm hungry mummy."
"Me too sweetheart," Stella stands up and takes Isabella's hand and heads into the kitchen.
The house was mostly unpacked and furnished from their move from Long Island in lower state New York two weeks earlier. Stella had loved her job teaching high school science on Long Island but the city was cutting back due to budget constraints and Stella just couldn't see moving them all into a jammed apartment in downtown Manhattan just for a few dollars more and a job that wasn't even that certain. Plus she would have to have a longer day if she took the subway and that would have cut into precious time with her children; something she wasn't willing to sacrifice. So when she got the call for a very nice job offer in a small but growing town in upstate New York, she readily took it.
When she had first told Sid she was taking the job, they packed up the kids and did a road trip to check out what was soon to become their new home town. The area was not too small but lacked that big city hustle and bustle that the city of New York was known for. The area they would live in had one nearby school with a preschool attached and that would help since she didn't want to saddle her father with the care of her children full time. He taking a part time job with the city as assistant to their over worked Medical Examiner.
They had stopped by one of the more popular diners for dinner one night a few weeks back and were told about the area; except one very large missing detail. Taylor Manor. It seems that bit of information was only briefly mentioned but skipped over. 'It's a long story but he's not doing very well.' Was all the kind Detective Flack would offer on her less than friendly host, Mac Taylor.
"I wonder what his real story is?" Stella ponders as Sid comes into the kitchen to help, Isabella now in the living room with Isaac and playing together as they normally do.
"Wonder who who's real story is?" Sid inquires as he starts to set the table.
"No one really."
"A man?"
"Doubt you could call him a man. A grump or a beast is more like it."
"Really? You had a chance to make friends tonight?" Sid smirks.
"Trust me, that…man…is the furthest thing from a friend as I could get," Stella sighs as she hands Sid two placemats for the hot items that are coming.
"You know…" Sid pauses as he leans against the kitchen chair. "Speaking of men…"
"Please dad not this talk again," Stella groans with a slight smile. "I'm done dating."
"I just want you to be happy and it would be nice for the two munchkins to have a real father figure in their lives."
"Just like that last one?"
"He was a selfish ass," Sid curses in anger; remembering his ex-son in law. "I was glad when he divorced you. Of course I was more than bitterly angry when he left you nothing but…"
"But we made it work and I'm glad he's gone as well."
"Did you ever find out where he moved?" Sid asks in wonder.
"Well he had told me upstate New York one time, but I can't see him settling in a place like this, so I'm glad I'll never have to deal with him again."
"Me too," Sid nods in agreement as he takes the first pot.
"Can you make sure they wash their hands and then come for dinner?"
"Of course," Sid answers warmly as he hurries off to find the twins. "Supper time munchkins!" Sid calls out as he heads into the living room to gather up his grandchildren at her request. One of the things she won't admit to Sid but she does long to have a loving and doting man in her life; one that will love her children just as much as her. One she can come home to at the end of the day, talk about their days, enjoy the children and then cap the evening with some hot sex. Stella! Her mind scolds. I know, it'll never happen. When her ex husband first left and she was pregnant she had told herself that most men wouldn't want to be saddled with twin newborns; that was a large responsibility to inherit. So she had resigned herself to being alone.
But as the twins came into the world and started to grow up she had had several eligible suitors from around the area; but most were only attracted to her beauty and her brains but weren't really interested in becoming instant fathers to two albeit good children but very young children at that. She hears the two of them in the bathroom with Sid, laughing and playing; the sounds of their cheery voices warming her heart. Her children are her life and she knows that any man would really have to prove his love for them in order to win her heart completely. So far no man has even wanted to take that challenge and so again she tells herself she'll always be alone. But still when she is alone it's hard sometimes to quell the harsh voices her ex left her with.
'You got pregnant on purpose.'
'We talked about having a family,' she had tried to argue.
'I might have said it was an okay idea but I never expected you to…'
'They'll be wonderful children.'
'They'll be a burden and I'm not going to put up with it. Either you get an abortion or put them up for adoption.'
'I'm going to do either and how on earth could you even ask that. Abortion is murder and you know how I feel about adoption! Look maybe we both just need to cool down on this. I wasn't expecting we'd have twins either.'
'I don't want children Stella.'
'A family would…'
'Tie us down to a home. I liked the fact that we were able to travel at a moment's notice.'
'We still can.'
'I liked going to Sandals for Adults only not Disneyworld!'
'We have been married for…'
'Me or them Stella – you choose.'
'You can't be serious.'
'I am. Now choose!'
'Fine. I choose them.'
'Fine. I'll send you the divorce papers. And if you think I'm giving you a dime for them, forget it! Let's see how well you do without me, caring for them.'
'Them? These are your children! Your own flesh and blood.'
'Not anymore. I don't want them. To me they are just a bunch of bastards.'
And with that he stormed out into the night; sent the movers the next day to collect virtually everything, leaving her with nothing and forcing her to move into her adoptive father's cramped apartment until they were able to pool their resources and buy a small home for when the twins finally arrived.
'Aren't they beautiful dad?' Stella gushed the day of their birth; when it was just her and Sid in the birthing room, the twins, wrapped in soft pink and blue sleepers – respectively.
'Some day Stella you will find a man who will not only love and devote his life to you but love and cherish these two as if they were his very own.'
'I think I'm going to do this on my own dad. I don't believe in fairytale endings and I'm okay with it as long as I have you and them. We will make this work. I'll never let him win. Never.'
'Just don't give up on love Stella, please for me?'
'I…I don't know right now. But for now I just want to devote my life to these two.'
Stella's hand quickly comes away from her belly, her thoughts rapidly diminishing as the two twins bounded back into the room with Sid in tow. They took their places around the table and sat down to their modest meal. Over the years Stella and Sid had pooled their money, enough to live on, buy with and put away for the children's future. It wasn't much but it would ensure each of them knew that they were loved and would be taken care of; the rest they would have to follow her example and earn the old fashioned way – by working for it.
'Happiness does take hard work Stella,' Sid had told her one time so many years ago. 'But when you finally have it, hold on to it, because it is worth more than all the money in the world. It's one valuable thing that money can never buy.'
Her ex had always told her that money bought him happiness; however, when he finally left, she started to realize what happiness really was and now as she sits looking at the two adoring faces looking back at her with love she knows that Sid's were true.
"Mummy," Isaac pipes up, drawing her gaze to focus on him.
"What is it sweetie?"
"Can I have some more peas pees?"
"He said pees!" Isabella teases her brother, causing him to pout and Stella just to shake her head and cast her daughter a warning glance.
"Isaac you can have as many peas as you like," Stella looks at Isabella who slightly shrinks down in her chair. Stella never liked the TV on during dinner time unless she was overly tired, Sid wasn't around or it was a special occasion. Regular days she would insist they would sit as a family and talk about their day and what they did; always believing it would foster a happy family and strengthen their bonds. After dinner Stella would insist they help with the clean up, which they now willingly did and then leaving her and Sid to linger over the dishes and some end of the day 'adult' conversation.
"So what is occupying your mind? You have been distracted ever since you came home. The car will be fine. If it's a money thing…"
"It's not the money," she insists. "It's…"
"Ah that man that turned you away."
"No," Stella insists in haste. But a small smirk expression tugging on her face tells the man beside her that she is thinking about him.
"Can you at least say his name?"
"I didn't ask but …well that Detective Flack said it might have been Mac Taylor himself."
"The guy that lives in that huge rundown mansion on the hill?"
"I guess so. Anyway it doesn't matter about Mac."
"Well it's obvious he made some kind of impression. What is it?"
"He seemed so…so sad. Why won't anyone tell us about him?"
"Maybe he's like a reformed mass murderer or something," Sid suggests with a small shrug. "Why else would he lock himself away as you so eloquently put it and no one want to talk about it? Maybe he killed his family?"
"Maybe he just hates people," Stella tosses in her own suggestion just as Isabella comes walking into the room with a teary face. "What is it Belle?" Stella bends down to her daughter, using her pet name of affection.
"Isaac broke Cindy," she holds up her Barbie in one hand and its head in the other.
"Oh dear," Sid laments as the little girl looks up at her grandfather with a sad face. He bends down to her and smirks. "But now the headless horseman has a date he can relate to."
"Not funny dad," Stella groans. "Isaac!" Stella's voice growls as Sid quickly gathers the little girl into his arms and tries to soothe her. Stella takes Isaac by his arm and ushers him into his room and closes the door. "What did I tell you about playing with your sister? Or girls in general?"
"But mummy she…" Isaac pouts, knowing his punishment is forthcoming.
As much as Stella hates to spank her children she knows that sometimes strict discipline is needed. After explaining, yet again, to her son why he has to be gentle with his sister, she gives him a small bare bum spank and tells him to get ready for bed, he's not allowed to play anymore. Then she heads back into the living room to get her daughter. After telling her she can play for another thirty minutes only, she settles into her favorite chair and picks up the local paper, finally getting a chance to read some more about their new area; discussing various articles with Sid.
However, her mind was still pondering the real reason Mac Taylor had shut himself away in that large dark mansion; determining in her mind to discreetly ask on Monday. I wonder what his real story is? What really happened to Mac Taylor to make him like that? And as much as she tells herself that could care less about Mac Taylor, inside she does wonder if she'll see him again.
Jessica and Millie reach Mac's estate and Jessica looks at Millie in surprise. "When you said he had let it go I had no idea it was this bad."
"Now you know why I need help."
"I do."
"I have tried to keep it up over the years but he won't pay for help and I can't do it on my own. And I can't burden Danny, he's got a family and is doing enough already in keeping Mac's end of the business still going. McCanna I'm home," Millie calls out; once again getting only silence in return.
"Let me try," Jessica nods as she dumps her coat and suitcase and takes a deep breath.
Jessica slowly heads for the grand staircase to go upstairs, climbing with some nervous hesitation and a rapidly beating heart. She did regret the harsh words she had spoken to Mac five years ago in the heat of the moment before they parted but knew inside her heart that Millie was right, her half sister wouldn't want Mac to become this miserable hermit; she would have wanted him to remember her with love but move on with his life. She reaches the top and cringes at the faint smell of mildew in certain areas. Most doors were closed and the furniture in the rooms now covered with white sheets to protect them from the elements and decay. She makes her way down toward the room where Millie said Mac spends most of his time now and stops just as she approaches. She hears some grunting and then slowly opens the door.
What greets her is a sad sight indeed, causing her to stifle a small gasp.
"Mother I'm not hungry," is Mac's weak reply.
"Mac, it's me…Jessica," she states softly.
She watches Mac turn to her and feels her heart sink instantly. His face was indeed slightly haggard as Millie had described but also withdrawn and sad looking. He had lost weight and was thinner and his once vibrant sapphires, that had gleamed with hope and promise, now were dull and almost lifeless discs. He indeed was slowly dying of a broken heart.
"I just want to be alone," he offers in defeat.
She feels her stomach tighten as she takes a step into the dimly lit room. "I've come to live here Mac. I got a job at the hospital and your mother…she has to go back to Chicago."
"Why can't you stay in town?" Mac asks firmly.
"Because I want to stay here."
"I don't need your pity!" Mac growls angrily, causing Jessica to recoil slightly but stand her ground.
"Well good because pity is the last thing you'll ever get from me!" Jessica retorts firmly, forcing Mac to look at her in wonder. "That's right Mac, I don't pity you. I feel sorry for what you have allowed yourself to become, using Claire as an excuse to…"
"Get out!"
"No!" Jessica argues back. "Sorry if the truth hurts but I just had to get that off my chest," she finishes on a calmer note. "But I also need you to know that I don't hold anything against you Mac."
"But she was…"
"My half sister and yes I loved her dearly but I won't allow something that neither of you could control to destroy you like this."
"Why do you even care?"
"Because she did."
Mac hears the words and looks at her in surprise. In the past few hours, two women had forced him to realize that he was no longer alone in the world and two women were able to stand up to him; not shrinking back as so many had in the past.
"Why are you here? I mean really? Just to say that? You could have phoned or emailed even," Mac explains in a softer tone; bordering on veiled kindness.
"I'm here to help. Your mother has to go away for a few weeks and I'm not about to live here with this place looking so…so rundown. It would be too much for her to come back to."
"Why does it matter what it looks like? No one comes here…well tonight someone did but…"
"What? Who?" Jessica asks in haste.
"No one. You want to mow the lawn then by all means go ahead and do it," he sighs in resignation.
"And how long is your sabbatical from work going to last?"
"Jessica what do you want?"
"I know your mother had told you this but maybe you need to hear it from me."
"I am to blame and no I don't want to hear about it," he huffs as he turns away. Jessica takes a few steps closer, forcing Mac's frame to stiffen as she nears. Her hand rests on his shoulder and he feels his face soften.
"Claire would never have blamed you Mac."
"She…"
"Would have wanted you to move on and be happy. That night was an accident that you are not to blame for; she would have left to get some air no matter what. She wouldn't have wanted this for you, you know that. No matter what you two fought about this isn't the fate she would have wanted you to suffer. She would have wanted you to keep her in your heart but to find happiness. You know that."
"I…I don't know how anymore…it's too la…look I don't care."
"I don't hold it against you Mac. I just need you to believe that."
"I…I know."
"Do you?"
"Jessica…"
Jessica slowly moves herself around and sits down to face him, offering him a heavy frown. "Gosh Mac you are almost as thin as I am," Jessica teases, finally drawing a small smirk to Mac's tired lips. But realizing that it was pointless to argue with him, a new plan pops into her head on how to get Mac to at least try to want to get back to work; something he always enjoyed doing.
"Alright well it's late and I'm tired so I'll see you in the morning."
"But…"
"I'll be making an early breakfast if you want to join me."
"Uh…goodnight," Mac utters softly as he watches her take her leave.
Jessica heads back downstairs and into the large kitchen where Millie was preparing some decaf coffee for them to enjoy before bed. Jessica looks at the flyer in Millie's hands with an inquiring glance.
"School fundraiser in two weeks. Mr. Mala is headlining it. Damn I hate that man. He's doing it just to rub it in McCanna's face since it was his idea in the first place," Millie states in disdain. "I just wish that McCanna would come out of hiding and make an appearance; would bring his clients back to the good side and show Frankie up once and for all."
"But…"
"But it's too public all at once. We need…" Millie's voice trails off.
"You know I think we should have a dinner here tomorrow night. It's Saturday and I think it would force Mac to at least come out of his shell. Might be the opportunity he needs and then he might consider the fundraiser."
"Jessica you know he doesn't…"
"Just the Messer's and us and…Danny's friend."
"Ah Detective Don Flack?" Millie mentions and Jessica's face lights up. "Well Lindsay told me about him also and I think that would be a fine idea, might force Mac to at least shave."
"If anything," Jessica sighs.
"There is a young university student, Adam Ross, who lives in town, I think I might invite him to come and at least attempt at some yard work tomorrow. He's always looking to make some extra money. You can also invite your boss, Dr. Sheldon Hawkes and his wife and their daughter to come as well. Mac might take it more seriously with a few extra guests around? And Lucy always enjoys playing with Maya."
"Okay so when is your flight?"
"I'll leave Sunday night," Millie tells her. "Okay so what do we do first?"
"Well…"
Mac, who had neared the stop of the large staircase, hears the light laughter and talking in the kitchen and feels his lips curl in spite of his own inner bitterness. In truth he had feared ever seeing Jessica again; not having spoken to her since the funeral and telling himself that she hated him because of what he did. But his mother had, over the years kept in touch, always telling him the latest gossip as if he cared.
Mac slowly turns his weary frame around and heads back toward the large picture window that overlooks his estate and part of the road that the strange woman he met tonight must have been stranded on. He catches a glimpse of his hardened reflection in the mirror and sighs; he did look scary to those that didn't know him. And of course his demeanour tonight was unacceptable. All she needed was a phone to call for help and you turned her away. You should be ashamed, his brain chastises. But he knew his brain was right; he had never before, not even once, turned away a person in need. He had now become the very thing he had feared and he hated himself for it. How could he make amends? Would she even want that?
He slowly wanders back toward his bedroom, pausing to study his reflection in the mirror and offering a small wince as he ponders Jessica's comment about his weight. He was thin. But in truth, meal times just didn't hold the same enjoyment they did when Claire was around.
"I am thinner," he shakes his head as he slowly heads back into the hallway. He pauses in the same spot he did earlier, unable to get the face of the green eyed beautiful stranger out of his head; burned into his mind after only a few minutes of contact. Mac gives his head a small shake, praying for the face to disappear and end his mental torment. Finally it does and he's once again confronted with the dimly lit hallway; eerie shadows taunting his solitary state. She only needed help, is the last thought his brain leaves him with.
Mac's senses pick up the tempting aroma of the coffee and for a split second he's tempted to go downstairs and join them for a cup. But he dismisses that notion, and heads toward the master bedroom and then stops; his heart beating rapidly as he slowly pushes the doors open. The room is draped with white sheets, casting a ghostly glow as he enters. After the funeral, Jessica and Lindsay had taken care of Claire's clothing and other personal effects, donating some to charity, giving some to higher end consignment stores and keeping some for themselves; Millie included.
The room was devoid of her material presence except for a jewelry box that contained their rings, marriage certificate and a few other precious items he just couldn't bear to part with. Mac wanders past Claire's now empty large walk-in closet and stops once again, his mind picturing it full of clothing. However, when he closes his eyes only one face pops into his mind. But it isn't the face of his deceased wife; it's the face of the green eyed stranger that had taken a chance to offer a kind word despite the fact that he was so mean to her in return. He finally feels himself being watched and turns to lock eyes with his concerned mother.
"You can always move back in here you know," Millie comments.
"Too many memories I'd rather forget."
"McCanna you can't just pretend that the past ten years didn't exist," Millie states, referring to their five years of marriage and five years since she passed.
"Why not?" Mac asks firmly. "Forgetting is less painful."
"Is it really? Has it been less painful trying to forget for the past five years?"
"That isn't fair," Mac protests.
"Now who were you just thinking about?"
"Pardon?"
"Well you have ventured into this room on a few occasions and stood in the same place but I have never seen a smile appear until now, even a small one. Jessica said you told her that someone was here? Was it a woman?"
"It was no one."
"She must have made quite the impression, if even for just a few seconds to make you smile, if even for a few seconds. Want to tell me about her?"
"There is nothing to tell mother. I doesn't matter," he sighs as he by passes his well stocked walk in closet and heads for the door his mother is standing in the middle of. But Millie blocks his path and gently rests her hand on his chin, drawing his gaze upward.
"I don't know what to say my son, to prove my love for you or to get you to come out of this shell."
"There is nothing. I wanted nothing more than to marry the woman I loved more than anything and have a family; filling this house with happiness and joy."
"You can still have that."
"I killed that future."
"Claire never wanted children McCanna. Now you know I'll never speak ill of the dead, but that was your dream not hers. If anything she'd tell you to go out and find that dream and make it happen; if anything she'd tell you to get back to work and kick that Frankie Mala's ass for stealing all your clients away."
"I know and I…I just can't," Mac stops as he turns and looks back.
"What color where her eyes?" Millie asks gently.
"Emerald," Mac turns back with a soft whisper and Millie knows she has one the first small battle. If there was even the slightest chance that someone had fixed themselves into his brain; forcing him to remember even small details like that, then where was hope that he was finally starting to fight his way back. Come back to me my son, please, her mind begs.
"I have to go back to Chicago and help Pauline with her estate before she passes. Jessica is…"
"I don't need…"
"I told her she could live here until she finds her own place. Goodness knows we have the room," Millie huffs. "Besides I think she's interested in that new Detective, Don Flack."
"He's a good man…from what I have heard."
"He is that," Millie agrees. "Well we are having a dinner here tomorrow night and Don, as well as Jessica's boss, Dr. Sheldon Hawkes will be here and it would be nice if you joined us. I called Dr. Adams but he and Wendy are going to be out of town this weekend."
"What? I can't. I…" Mac stammers in anxiety. That is until her hands rests on his cheek and he stops his speech.
"No one is going to be grilling you McCanna, you know that, but you need to come back to us, back to society; I refuse to let you just waste away here, you know it's not what your father would have wanted."
"I feel like I let him down."
"That could never be possible," Millie smiles as she draws him into her grasp. "I love you my son and I want you to have the best as you deserve."
"I deserve to be alone."
"And what about me? Do you ever think about how this is also tearing me apart? You know in the past five years that I have not laid my own guilt upon you due to your mental…anxiety. But I am going to say my piece now. In truth, I'm glad to be going to Chicago. Mac this house is stifling with sadness and it's eating away at me as well. Can't you see that? I need to be happy and for that I need my only dear, precious son; my baby boy to be happy. I need you to come back to me; out of this tormented emotional prison you've locked yourself away inside. Please?"
Mac looks at the pleading expression on his mother's face and feels his heart starting to sink but his head nodding involuntarily in agreement with her request.
"It's just dinner and that's all. Jessica is already making the arrangements."
"I…I don't know what to do anymore."
"You just need to shave properly and show up, if even for a few minutes, we'll do the rest," Millie states happily as she gives her son a squeeze before pulling back. "And when you are ready you will tell Claire that you need her forgiveness; she'll give it as the rest of us have and then you'll move past this and start to enjoy life again as you did before. No regrets McCanna. Not anymore. Life is too precious and short to allow the past to destroy our future."
Millie places a kiss on her son's cheek before she turns and heads down the hall to her own generous sized bed chamber; Jessica taking the small guest house attached to the main house but just off the entrance to the large back patio. Mac heads into the master bedroom and over to the window overlooking the garden once again, casting his gaze down at Claire's gravesite and feeling his heart starting to ache.
With one last glance he turns and leaves the room and wanders back into his own small bed chamber, closing the door and offering one small prayer before he closes his eyes. Tonight however, his prayer is for strength and the willpower to at least grant his mother's wish tomorrow night. To make - hopefully the first of many public apperances.
His mind starts to ponder what the next evening would hold but as he falls asleep, the green eyed beauty pops back into his head, settling his heart a little and forcing him to realize that maybe there was something else out there waiting for him. At least one person worth finding to at least offer a simple apology to. Who is she really?
A/N: Okay so they both made an impression on the other and a few more details about Stella's life was given and Mac is coming out of his shell. Hope you are all still liking it so far and hope you like their next meeting in the next chappy and the rest to come. How do you also like the rest of the cast? Please review as I would love to know your thoughts on this as well. I know this is angsty but much like my other stories you know happier times, intrigue and action are all coming up as well as lots of smacked fluffiness. Thanks again smackies and stay tuned for more!