Mackenzie packed Alex's bag while she waited for Howie. Alex stood at the window, staring at the road. He was eager for Howie to get here too, she knew. Suddenly he let out a yell and raced to the front door. Mackenzie laughed and went to open it for him.
"Hey, little man," Howie said, bending down and scooping Mackenzie's son up in his arms. He held him up over his head, making the child squeal with laughter. "You get bigger every time I see you, boy," Howie told him.
"Da, da," Alex cried.
"McDonald's?" Howie asked. "Yeah, we can go to McDonald's today," he told the baby, glancing over at Mack.
"Like father, like son, I guess," Mackenzie said wryly.
"Mack," Howie began.
"Howie, don't," she said. "I don't want to have this argument with you again." Howie had been trying to convince her ever since she had told him she was pregnant to tell AJ about their child. "I don't want to argue about it today either, not on little Alex's first birthday," he told her, bouncing the little boy up and down. "I just didn't want you to think I had given up," he said.
"So, you're going to McDonald's today?" she said, changing the subject.
"Da, da," Alex squealed. Howie laughed at the child's eagerness. "Come on, then Alex. Hey," he asked the baby, "you ever been cruisin' in a Corvette? It's a great chick magnet." Mackenzie rolled her eyes. As if with his father's genes, she thought, he would ever have to have a fancy car to attract women.
"Oh," she said, as a thought suddenly struck her, "have you had any luck finding Janice?" Janice had been the woman who had taken her place briefly at the office. Mackenzie knew Howie had developed a crush on her before they had left on tour. He had been looking forward to getting to know her better when he got back to Orlando. Unfortunately, by the time he made it back home, Janice had disappeared. Denise thought she had went back to London and Howie had been trying off and on for the last year to find her.
Howie shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "But I've got the name of a detective agency in London," he told her. "Maybe by the time we start the European tour, I'll know where to look." Mackenzie looked at him sympathetically. "Howie," she said, "you didn't know her very long or very well. Why all this trouble just to find her?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "She left so suddenly. I just need to know she's all right." He shrugged. "And then I'll put her behind me." Mackenzie hugged him and kissed her son, ruffling his hair. "While you guys are pigging out at McDonald's and cruising for chicks," she laughed, "I'm going to run down to the grocery and pick up Alex's cake." She sighed. "I wish your mom and dad and the others could be here today," she said.
"Oh, don't worry," Howie told her, "Mom and Polly have got a big shindig planned for tomorrow for the birthday boy." Mack had to go out of town on business the next day and Alex was going to spend a few days with Howie's family. Howie kissed her cheek before he carried Alex to his car. Mackenzie laughed. Her cousin had to be the only single man in Florida who kept a child's car seat in his Corvette. She waved at them as they headed down the street towards McDonald's.
As Mackenzie came back into the house she realized that Howie had forgotten Alex's diaper bag. Well, she knew they would be at McDonald's for a while and she would drop it off on her way to the store.
* * * * *
Mackenzie pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. She grabbed the diaper bag out of her car and headed inside to find the guys. She was surprised to see Howie sitting at a table by himself, Alex nowhere in sight.
"Howie?" she said puzzledly. Howie jumped at the sound of her voice. He turned towards her, a guilty look on his face. "Mack! What are you doing here?" he asked. She held up the diaper bag. "You forgot this," she told him. "Where's Alex?"
"He's in the PlayLand," Howie said, watching her intently.
"Damnit Howie," she said, "you can't leave a one year old in there by himself." She started towards the PlayLand to rescue her son when she stopped short. She felt the blood drain out of her face. Alex was sitting in the ball pit, tossing balls at a basket and being cheered on by AJ. She took a step towards them. Howie stood up and touched her arm. "Mack, let them have this time with each other," he pleaded.
Mack looked up at him, the hurt and betrayal she felt evident on her face. She nodded. "I'll be at the house," she said shakily.
*******************************************
Mack was still numb with shock when she reached the house. She sank down on the couch in the living room and leaned her head back. Closing her eyes, she let the memories into her consciousness.
*************************************************
"Marissa's pregnant."
Mackenzie's mouth fell open. "Oh, Alex," she said. "Are you sure?" He wiped the tear from his face. "That was her on the phone," he said.
"Are you sure it's yours?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "She says it is," he answered.
"She's lied before," Mack reminded him. Alex stood up and walked to the window, leaning up against it. "She wouldn't lie about this, Mack, not about this," he said despairingly. "She knows how my dad left us when I was little. She knows how I feel. . . ." he said choking up.
"That's right," Mackenzie said, "she knows how you feel. And she's used your feelings for her before to come between us," she said desperately. Alex shook his head. "I know you don't like her, Mack," he said. "But she's always been a good friend to me and she wouldn't lie about being pregnant. Not to me," he said.
Mackenzie felt her world begin to crumble at his words. "What are we going to do, Alex?" she said softly.
Alex drew in a deep breath. "I'm going
to
marry her."
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