Chapter six:
The way we werea week later…
The residential part of the White House. Early in the morning.
Mackenzie entered in the kitchen where Rod, Kate and Amy were having breakfast… it was the first time Mac actually saw Rod in a week. When he wasn't in New York, he spent his time with the kids or in the Guest room… He avoided Mackenzie as much as he could. It was clear that when he said: "we are done" he meant it…
Mac- good morning, everybody…
Amy- morning mom…
She kissed Amy and Kate in the cheek, and then she shared a very awkward look with Rod.
Mac- hi Rod…
Rod- hi…
Rod stared at his plate uncomfortable; Mac took a sit and started eating her breakfast wishing that someone had managed to poison it somehow. Kate desperately tried to break the silence.
Kate- Did you sleep well, honey?
Mac- yes… I did…
Actually, she didn't. She hadn't slept well in months but she couldn't say that to her mother. Then Horace and Becca entered in the kitchen. They were arguing.
Becca- I do have a terrible stomachache…Horace- liar! You are a big fat liar…
Becca- are you calling me fat?
They took they sits at the table. Mac looked at Becca worriedly.
Mac- are you feeling sick?
Becca was about to say "Yes" with a fake sad expression meant to win her parent's sympathy, but Horace interrupted her.
Horace- no! She is fine… she just doesn't want to go to school…
Mac- is that true Becca?
Becca- no… I'm really sick…
But she was a terrible liar, plus, her parents were too smart to fall for that.
Rod- very mature, Becca!
Mac- aren't you to old to do that?
Becca decided to throw the act, she rolled her eyes and started eating a muffing.
Rod- why don't you want to go to school?
Becca- because I hate school…
Amy- school is boring! I hate it too…
Becca- see? I'm not alone in this… Amy aggress with me…
Mac- Amy is seven….
Becca rolled her eyes….
Becca- I just don't wanna go… can I just not go for one day?
Mac- no…
Rod had always had a better relationship with Becca, so he simply asked.
Rod- What's wrong Becca? You have always hated school… but, somehow, you managed to go everyday…
Becca didn't say anything… but Horace explained to his father.
Horace- she likes her new lab partner, but he has a girlfriend… and today she has chemistry, witch means that she has to sit next to him… and that makes her uncomfortable.
Karen remembered Becca's lab partner coming to the White House once…
Karen- oh! Is that guy, Jess, who came once to study?
Becca nodded, and then Karen nodded understanding everything. Mac and Rod were paying a lot of attention to this chat… it was the first time they heard about that Jess guy.
Kate- you really have a cute lab partner…Horace- no grandma, you don't get it… see… she wants him, but she can't HAVE him… because he has a girlfriend.
Becca punched Horace in the arm…Becca- shut up!
Horace- hey! Don't punch me! It's not my fault that your crush is taken…
Rod- well, Becca… you should know that I was happily involved in a very serious relationship when your mother decided she wanted me all for her self...
Mac rolled her eyes…Mac- oh Rod… that big ego of yours… I swear…
Rod- it's the truth! I was engaged with Christina Macalister.
Mac continued her denial with a "Get out of here!" tone of voice… while the other heard everything amazed… They had never heard the story before.
Mac- you weren't really engaged with that stupid little mouse…
Rod- that "little mouse" and I had set a wedding date… invitations had been send…Mac was forced to admit that Rod was right.
Mac- well… but I couldn't let you marry Chris Macalister anyway… that woman needed directions and a flashlight just to get to a point…
Rod smiled widely… It was nice to see Mackenzie jealous of Christina again, it remind him the old times… memories of one of the happiest days in his life flashed in his head…
22 years ago… Yale University. Rod's room.
Rod Calloway was in his bedroom, studying for a big test. He wasn't alone… he was studying with another girl from his class, Mackenzie Allen. Rod and Mac had met in New York six months ago and became very good friends when they realized that they were both in the same college. They were both 23 years old, they were both very into politics, and even when they argued about it very often they loved having those arguments and exchanging different ideas. The fact that Mackenzie was really beautiful didn't go unnoticed to Rod… but he was engaged and he was sure that he loved his fiancé. He had convinced him self that Mac and him were only good friends.
Mac- Come on Rod! I think we are done studying for today… we've been reading those books for six hours… Rod- but I'm worried… I this is a really important test…Mac- you shouldn't be worried! We studied more than any human been can possibly study… we know absolutely everything we need to know… we are more than ready for this test…
Rod looked at Mac amazed… She was always full with an incredible self-confidence.
Rod- how can you be so sure?
Mac- because I am… plus, we have weeks before the test… now let me open the beers and the chips I brought so we can take a break…
Rod putted away the books and let Mac bring some chips and two cans of beer…Rod- if I fail the test you will suffer the consequences…
Mac- you won't fail… even if the test were tomorrow, we both would get an A+…
Rod laughed and shook his head in disbelieve…Rod- you are gonna get an F in "modesty"…
Mac- if I get and f in "modesty" then you get a Z
Rod- Z is not a grade…
Mac- yes it is… is the grade you get in modesty…
Rod laughed harder and Mackenzie punched playfully his shoulder.
Rod- you really are something… aren't you?
They looked at each other's eyes for a few seconds and smiled. Mac got suddenly serious…Mac- Rod… can I ask you something?
Rod- yes, sure…
Mac- How came you came you are studying with me?… Where is "Miss. Personality"?
Rod gave her a warning look… Rod- you know her real name…Mac rolled her eyes.
Mac- sorry… Where is Christina? Why aren't you studying with her?
Rod- she is visiting her parents… she had some wedding stuff to take care off…
Mac suddenly regretted bringing up Rod's fiancé. She tried to cover her disappointment over Rod's wedding with another woman… Mac- of course… the wedding it's only in two months and it takes a lot of planning…Rod nodded, organizing the wedding had been a nightmare. And suddenly he wasn't so exited about marring Christina like he had been at first… He thought it was the usual fear of commitment.
Rod- Did you get your invitation, by the way?
Mac was surprised… she hadn't gotten the invitation and she assumed she wasn't invited.
Mac- no… I didn't… am I invited?
Rod- of course… I know we have only been friends for a few months… but you are my friend and I would like to have all my friend there…
Mac looked down a little embarrassed. If she was his friend, she was very crappy one… because se was secretly I love with him and she couldn't see him being happy with another woman.
Mac- I'm sorry… but I'm not gonna go… I can't…
Rod- but why?
Mac- I have stuff to do…. in my hometown…. So…
She was obviously lying… and she was doing it terribly. Rod could totally tell something was wrong.
Rod- Come on, Mac! Tell me the truth…
Mac- I can't go to your wedding…. That's the truth… I really can't go…
Rod- and why is that?
Mac- just because! Stop asking me or I'll go to my room…
Rod was beginning to suspect the reason…
Rod- please… just tell me…Mac- I mean it Rod… I just can't go… don't ask me the reason..
Rod- please tell me… I want to know if what I think is the reason you are not going to my wedding is really the reason you are not going to my wedding…
She really didn't want to tell him… especially when she thought it was very obvious. She hated that Rod was forcing her to say the words out loud. Mac stood up really angry and took her purse.
Mac- I warned you, Rod… She walked quickly towards the door, but Rod stopped her taking firmly her arm… Rod- just tell me why you can't go to my wedding and I'll let you go…Mac- you know it, Rod... deep down you know it… so let me go…
Mac tried to reach the door but Rod stood in front of it before she could open it.
Rod- I want to hear it from you… I want YOU to say it…Rod had his body against the door while Mac was trying in vain to open it.
Mac- let me open the door!
Rod- Why can't you come to my wedding?
Mac was very frustrated… she had ran out of patience and yelled:
Mac- Because I love you, you idiot!
Rod was stunned, he thought Mac simply liked him, or had a crush on him… he never expected Mackenzie Allen to be in love with him… Mac was in the edges of tears.
Mac- can I go now?
Rod- no…
Saying nothing else, Rod kissed her very softly in the lips. The kiss became more passionate with each second… and it felt really good. It was exactly what they both wanted.
Rod- I love you too, Mac… Back to the present… Inside the residence's kitchen.The kids were astonished…
Horace- you said to me that dad had a girlfriend when you met him… you never said you broke an engagement two months before the wedding!
Becca- Mom, You stole dad from another woman!
Mac protested, feeling offended by the way the kids saw the whole thing… Mac- I didn't steel your father… I simply gave him a choice…Rod smiled remembering something else…
Rod- well, Mac… I really had no choice since the day you showed up in my fraternity party wearing that red "Oscar de la Renta" dress…
Mac smiled amazed at Rod…Mac- I can't believe you remember the dress…
Horace- I can't believe you were "the other woman"!
Mac slapped playfully her son's hand…Mac- Stop that!
Rod- there is a lesson to learn in all this Becca…
Becca- yes… don't let Mackenzie Allen be anywhere near your fiancé…
Mac rolled her eyes while the others laughed… and then she corrected her daughter.
Mac- no! The lesson is that when two people are really meant to be together nothing can get in their way… So… if you are truly destined to be with that guy it will happen, even if now he has a girlfriend.
After that, Mac and Rod made eye contact and smiled at each other. Mac was thrilled. For a moment it was like if they were together again… they felt close and in love again.
She had not idea that the same past that now seemed to get them closer, was about to come back and became another threat for the marriage she was desperately trying to save.
To be continued…
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! thanks again to all of your for reading this, and special Thanks to those who reviewed the previews chapter! You made my day!