“But what about Alec,” Mackenzie broke in, still holding the stupid tray out in front of her like an outdated carhop.
Angie looked at John. John looked back at Angie.
“Alec left the restaurant right after you did last night, Mackie. He said since he’d have to take medical leave until his foot healed, he was going to see his parents for a few days, and then said something about going out to Oregon to see his brother.”
Mackenzie more or less stumbled in the direction of the bed, then sat down beside Angie, still holding the tray. She didn’t even object when Angie picked up the fork and helped herself to the eggs Benedict. Mackenzie absently placed the tray in the middle of the bed between John and Angie, poured coffee from the carafe into the two cups that she’d meant for her and Alec, and motioned for the two new lovebirds to help themselves. They didn’t hesitate to oblige her.
“Did Alec say when he was coming back?” Mackenzie asked, still stunned.
John cleared his throat and remained staring into his coffee cup when he said, “Alec gave us the impression that he might not come back, Mackenzie. His older brother in Oregon is a pilot too, and he’s trying to get a struggling air freight business off the ground. Alec said Josh has been begging him to come and work for him for months, and…”
“And so he plans to stay in Oregon,” Mackenzie said to no one in particular.
“That’s a good possibility,” John said. “He gave me the key to his condo and asked me if I would take care of things for him here if he needed me to sell the condo and ship his things out to Oregon.”
Angie reached out and patted her hand, “But you can always call him, Mackie. John knows how to get in touch with his parents, and…”
“No,” Mackenzie said, standing up. “It’s better this way. Really. If Alec didn’t even bother to tell me goodbye, then he’s already made up his mind.”
“Don’t run off like this,” Angie called out as Mackenzie started out of the room. “I’m worried about you, Mackie. Are you going to be okay?”
“Enjoy the breakfast,” Mackenzie called back over her shoulder, but by the time she reached the safety of her own condo, Mackenzie was crying so hard that even Marmalade took pity on her and rubbed against her legs, offering what little comfort she could.
MACKENZIE THREW HERSELF into her work like a demon possessed after Alec left Charleston. Angie complained about Mackenzie reverting back to her old lifestyle, but Mackenzie didn’t care. Her work was the only thing that helped keep her mind off Alec. Work had always been her solace but this time she hoped her work would somehow eventually heal her broken heart.
Angie, on the other hand, was practically walking on air. She and John had become inseparable over the last six weeks, and despite Mackenzie’s own woes in the love department, she couldn’t have been happier for both of them. They were actually the perfect couple when you thought about it. John had money, and Angie knew exactly what to do with it.
Of course, both John and Angie didn’t help matters with the contradicting advice they kept giving her.
“I know Alec, Mackenzie,” John kept insisting. “He’s stubborn. And if he said he’d never bother you again, he’ll stick by his word regardless of how badly he’s hurting. Make the first move. Call him and tell him how you feel.”
Unfortunately, Mackenzie had a stubborn streak of her own, and she was inclined to agree with Angie when she would always argue, “Don’t be ridiculous, John. A man doesn’t declare he’s crazy about you one day and move across the country the next. Unless, of course, he didn’t mean what he was saying in the first place.”
“But don’t you see?” John always protested. “Alec’s running scared. He’s always envisioned himself as this invincible bachelor. It had to throw him for a loop when he realized he’d fallen in love with Mackenzie.”
“And what about Mackenzie?” Angie would wail in response. “Don’t you think Mackenzie’s going through her own emotional turmoil over this?”
And that’s exactly how Mackenzie felt about the situation. She was in an emotional turmoil. Sadly, one of her own making. She’d given Alec mixed signals from the first moment she met him. She’d even tried to seduce him one night, only to tell him a day later that she wanted him to forget about her.
Who could blame the guy for throwing up his hands and moving as far away from Charleston as possible?
No, it was better if they left things status quo, Mackenzie told herself repeatedly. Her safe, predictable life was back to normal now. Her heart didn’t stop every time she drove into her parking space for fear of running into Alec. She could even enjoy the peace and solitude of her movies and her popcorn. And it certainly didn’t seem likely that Alec was going to return any time soon and send her life back into chaos again.
Not only had he not cared enough to say goodbye, but not once in the six weeks since Alec had left Charleston had he tried to contact her. And did that sound like a man who was stark-raving, crazy mad about her?
Of course, it didn’t.
Which is exactly why Mackenzie was determined to put Alec behind her and stop pining away for what might have been.
MACKENZIE’S PARENTS WERE married in a ceremony to end all ceremonies on the fourth of June. Angie and John had been kind enough to fly to Indianapolis with her to attend the gala event. And if Mackenzie threw her share of birdseed a little too forcefully, especially at the effervescent bride, no one seemed to notice.
“I’m still surprised someone from the Jerry Springer Show hasn’t jumped out from behind the bushes to offer you a deal for this story,” Angie commented as she and Mackenzie waved a final goodbye to the gleaming white limousine that was whisking the happy couple away for their honeymoon in Hawaii.
“Yeah, I can see the caption now,” Mackenzie agreed. “Soon-to-be thirty-year-old spinster serves as maid of honor at her own parents’ wedding.”
Angie laughed as she linked her arm through Mackenzie’s. They headed for the church’s parking lot where John was already waiting in a rental car that would take them to the airport. “Well, at least you’re able to joke about it now. For a while there, I was worried that you might go berserk and murder both of them.”
“Mother was the only one in real danger,” Mackenzie insisted. “Although I probably should have put poor Daddy out of his misery. Spending the rest of his life with Mother is going to be a long, hard death sentence.”
Angie laughed again. “So, can I breathe a sigh of relief and cancel that private room I reserved for you in the mental ward?”
Mackenzie nodded. “Yes, I guess you can. If I can survive my parents’ wedding, then the rest of my life should be an absolute breeze.”
“Good,” Angie said, then pulled Mackenzie to a stop. “Because I’ve been dying to show you this all week. I just wasn’t sure you were mentally stable enough to handle it.”
Mackenzie gasped as she looked at the huge diamond twinkling back at her from Angie’s ring finger. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Five carats. Perfect stone. Eighteen carat gold band with platinum prongs,” Angie said proudly.
“Which you picked out, of course.”
“Damn straight,” Angie said. “I intend to wear this ring for the rest of my life. Why wouldn’t I pick out exactly what I wanted?”
When Mackenzie didn’t answer, Angie reached out and grabbed her hand. “You could have an engagement ring of your own, you know. And maybe I’ve been too harsh, Mackie. Maybe John’s right. Maybe you should give in and call Alec.”
Mackenzie snorted. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I need to do. I haven’t heard from Alec since he left Charleston, but if I pick up the phone and call him, he’ll rush back to Charleston and drop on his knees and ask me to marry him.”
Angie let out a sigh, but Mackenzie took Angie by the shoulders and gave her best friend a gentle shake. “Now, stop this. Understand? I won’t have you walking around on eggshells because you’re getting married and I’m not. This is going to
be the happiest time of your life.”
Angie forced a smile. “And the busiest,” she added. “And that’s the other part I wasn’t sure you could handle. John’s idea of the perfect wedding would be for us to run off to Las Vegas tonight and get married in one of those tacky little wedding chapels. But you know that’s as ridiculous as me purchasing my wedding gown off the rack.”
“Las Vegas doesn’t sound so bad to me,” Mackenzie mentioned, trying not to show the dread she was already feeling now that another damn wedding was looming in her near future.
“The only problem is that John hates the idea of all the planning that goes into a big wedding.”
“And who could blame him?”
“But we’ve finally reached a compromise,” Angie said with a grin. “I promised John he wouldn’t have to do a thing but show up at the altar.”
“Smart move.”
“Save that opinion until I tell you the date.”
Mackenzie sent Angie a puzzled look.
“July fourth,” Angie added before Mackenzie could ask.
“You mean next year, I hope,” Mackenzie said.
Angie laughed. “Try this year. Four weeks from now. It’s John’s favorite holiday. And we plan to take the entire month off and sail his catamaran all the way to the Florida Keys.”
“My God, Angie, why the rush?”
Angie glanced over her shoulder at John who waved at them from the driver’s side of the rental car. “That was another point of contention between me and John. He’s the type of man who’s ready to act on the situation once he makes a decision. So, I assured John it would be no problem to arrange a wedding by next month.”
“But that’s impossible,” Mackenzie argued. “Especially with the type of wedding I know you’ll want to have.”
“Don’t worry, I can pull this off,” Angie said. “I’ve been planning my wedding since the day I got my first period, Mackie. I promise you, I can do this.”
Mackenzie frowned. “But are you really sure you love John, Angie? My God, it’s only been a little over six weeks, and….”
“Time doesn’t have anything to do with this,” Angie interrupted. “I told you when we first met John that he was the perfect man. You accused me of saying that because he comes from old money. But he is perfect, Mackie. He’s perfect for me. And his bank account has nothing to do with it. John doesn’t even want children. And you, of all people, know I’m way too selfish to have kids of my own.”
Would Alec have wanted kids? Mackenzie suddenly wondered. She’d never had the chance to ask him. But she did. She wanted a house full.
“Look,” Angie added, “I just can’t risk dragging things out and have John get so frustrated with the whole mess that he ends up running out on me…”
“Like Alec did on me?” Mackenzie finished for her.
Angie sent Mackenzie an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t take that chance. I know John loves me. And I do love him, Mackenzie. I really do.”
After only a moment’s hesitation, Mackenzie said, “Then if you’re really determined to this, I guess we’d better get busy and plan the biggest wedding of the new millennium.”
Angie hugged Mackenzie to her. “You’re the greatest, Mackie. I knew I could depend on you.”
Yeah, I’m the greatest, Mackenzie thought as she walked over to offer her congratulations to the new groom-to-be. I’m probably the greatest fool in the world for not telling Alec I loved him when I had the chance.
IT HAD BEEN ALMOST three months since Alec left Charleston. While Mackenzie was getting over the fifth wedding she had already attended that year and preparing for the sixth, Alec was burning up the skies with his daily trips back and forth from Portland to British Columbia. Unfortunately, Alec soon discovered that regardless of the vast distance he had put between himself and Mackenzie, all he had managed to change was the scenery.
The situation still remained the same.
Mackenzie still plagued Alec’s thoughts as easily as if he’d remained in Charleston living right across the hall. And even the long line of lovelies his older brother, Josh, continued to steer in his direction only paled in comparison to the woman who had sliced, diced and pulverized Alec’s aching heart.
As hard as he tried, Alec just couldn’t seem to get Mackenzie out of his mind. Like now, he reminded himself on his return flight to Portland. The peace and solitude he’d hoped to find high above the clouds had only given him too much time alone. Time he usually spent agonizing over unwanted visions of Mackenzie and John Stanley, entwined in a steamy embrace behind the sexy netting surrounding Mackenzie’s big bamboo bed.
Alec frowned, thinking how eager his old buddy, John, had been when Alec decided to leave town and asked John to handle his affairs. But thank God, in retrospect Alec had refused to give the jerk that satisfaction. Instead, Alec had enlisted the help of one of his fellow pilots to put his belongings in storage. And just as soon as his real estate agent closed the deal on his condo, Alec’s final tie to Charleston would thankfully be severed.
Forever.
Or would it?
Alec was still pondering the answer to that burning question when a sudden grumble from his right engine jarred Alec from his troubled thoughts. He checked the instrument panel in the small Cessna. Everything looked perfectly normal. They’d been having trouble with this particular plane for a number of days now, but Josh had torn the engine apart several times and had yet to find anything wrong.
You’re just being paranoid, Alec told himself, but when a second sputter shook the plane, Alec grew concerned. He tried to increase the gas flow, but the right engine only coughed and sputtered again. When the engine suddenly ground to a complete halt, Alec knew he was in serious trouble.
The plane made several dips. Alec pulled back on his control yoke trying to keep the nose of the plane up, but he couldn’t compensate for the lost engine. When the plane took another dive, his only resort was to search the carpet of earth directly below him for a place to land the plane. As luck would have it, the Olympic National Forest stretched out before him as far as the eye could see. The only thing below him was a thick cover of trees.
Alec already knew there wasn’t another airport for at least fifty miles, and in such a small aircraft there wasn’t any such thing as a parachute jump. The altitude was much too low.
He kept searching for a break in the canopy, knowing he could set the plane down on a dime if he had a flat place to land. And then he saw it. A small meadow up ahead in the distance.
Leveling the plane, Alec took the Cessna down with a prayer on his lips. He thought he was home free until his remaining left engine failed and ground to a halt. In an instant, the nose of the plane took a dive forward and plummeted downward toward the earth below.
Alec fought the plane, holding tightly to the control yoke and trying to stay on course for the meadow and away from the trees. He’d almost made it when the plane’s left wing suddenly crashed against a tall spruce, instantly throwing the plane sideways. Alec braced himself, watching in horror as the ground rose up to meet him.
The last thing that flashed through his mind before his head smashed against the instrument panel was the beautiful face of Mackenzie Malone.
ALEC’S PLANE CRASHED ON Thursday afternoon at around two o’clock Pacific Standard Time in Oregon, which was around five o’clock Eastern Standard Time in South Carolina. And as Mackenzie straightened her desk and slipped several folders into her briefcase, she felt a cold shiver run up her spine. Rubbing the gooseflesh on her arm, Mackenzie shook off the eerie feeling that something was wrong, and focused instead on the chaos that stretched ahead of her for the remainder of the week.
“Don’t worry, Mackenzie, you and Angie can count on me,” Karen said from the doorway as if she’d read Mackenzie’s mind. “I promise, I have everything under control.”
Mackenzie nodded, satisfied that she’d already given Karen such detailed instructions, she didn’t see how Karen
couldn’t keep everything under control in their absence.
“Thanks Karen,” Mackenzie offered. “I know you’ll hold down the fort until I get back on Monday.”
“Want me to lock up?” Karen asked as she looked down at her watch.
“No, you go ahead,” Mackenzie told her. “I have a few things I need to finish here first. I’ll lock everything up before I leave the office.”
“Okay, then I guess I’ll see you guys at the wedding rehearsal tomorrow night,” Karen said.
Mackenzie nodded again. “Just remember, don’t even think about calling me tomorrow unless it’s an absolute emergency. I’ll have my hands full trying to keep Angie cool and collected.”
“Got it,” Karen insisted. “As far as I’m concerned, it would take an act of Congress to make me interrupt you guys tomorrow.”
After Karen left, Mackenzie finished up a few loose ends, then walked through her office suites straightening chairs and flipping off lights. After locking the front door to the office, she started to her car, stopping only when a group of teenagers on in-line skates sped across her path. Glancing at their youthful bodies, Mackenzie tried to remember if she’d ever been that young and that carefree. And when she couldn’t, Mackenzie suddenly felt as if she were a hundred years old.
Reminding herself that even a teenager would have been haggard after the schedule she’d been keeping the last few weeks, Mackenzie opened her car door and slid behind the wheel. Not only had she been running the business single-handedly, she had also been Angie’s gofer on the side, while Angie pulled together the wedding of all weddings with a guest list that now tipped the scales somewhere between five and six hundred honored guests.
Mackenzie’s parents were even flying in from California for the big event, though Mackenzie had tried to discourage their attendance. As usual, her mother had finally won the argument with the statement that “It would be positively rude of us not to attend Angie’s wedding when she and John were sweet enough to be present for ours.”
Driven to Distraction & Winging It Page 27
