Chapter 7

MacKenzie

My cell phone begins buzzing at 9:01 a.m., and I grab for it, knocking a glass of water to the floor. The caller ID tells me it’s Margaret. I sit up and quickly try to clear my throat so it doesn’t sound like I’m sleeping at nine in the morning, although anyone in their right mind should be.

“Hello? This is MacKenzie Duncan.” I try to sound formal and professional.

“Mrs. Duncan,” she begins, and it takes me a second to realize why she had addressed me as Mrs. Duncan. Naturally, she thinks Michael is my husband and that his name is the same as my last name. But she is still speaking.

“A few members of the board and I would like to meet with you today for a quick cup of coffee to go over a few details. Would you happen to be available?”

I sit up straighter. These people make up their minds fast! “Yes, I believe I’m available. What time?”

“We thought 2 o’clock might be convenient. That way, we would miss the lunch crowd, and it may be quieter there.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll be happy to meet you there at 2 o’clock. Thank you for calling.”

I almost miss that she hasn’t stopped talking yet. I put the phone back up to my ear and hear her last words. “Your husband with you …”

“I beg your pardon? You cut out for a moment. What is that last thing you said?”

She repeats herself. “I was saying that we look forward to seeing you and your husband.”

Oh, shit! How am I going to pull this one off? I’ll have to figure something out.

“Of course, I’ll see to it.”

“See you then,” she says at last, disconnecting the call.

Now what am I going to do? I suppose I could call her back and tell her that Michael’s been suddenly sent out of town on business and that I would have to make it alone. But she might already be suspicious with the ring thing and decide not to hire me after all. My next choice is to come clean and tell her I’m not married at all because like it or not, there would be occasions when I needed to have my “husband” with me, and of course, Michael couldn’t be expected to do that every time. Or, could he? The idea intrigues me. Maybe I could hire him? No, he didn’t look as though he needed the money. Maybe I could ask him out as like a date, and the fun part would be the charade? No, he looked to be kind of a serious type. Well, hell, now what am I going to do?

I roll out of the bed and into the shower. When I come out of the bathroom, I’m startled to see Mom in my room, sitting on the foot of my bed waiting for me.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mac, certainly you know by now that I know everything that’s going on, or at least everything that’s worth knowing.”

“What are you talking about?” How could she find out about Michael? I didn’t even know his last name, and I don’t recall anyone asking me mine—at least no one except Margaret. Michael had already been gone by that time.

“I understand you’ve applied for a job as a fundraiser for a small local museum?”

I feel a flush of relief at the realization she isn’t talking about what I’m afraid she is going to talk about. My mother is no one’s fool. I know eventually, she will figure it out. But in the meantime, I need all the wiggle room I can manage, and having her on my back isn’t going to help things. “Yes, it is one of the jobs I applied for yesterday. They called, well, emailed me, immediately and asked for an interview. I really didn’t have a chance to discuss it with you, and I didn’t have the details. I was going to surprise you, assuming I get the job.”

“You’ll get it.”

“Mom, you haven’t interfered, have you? I asked you and Dad to stay out of it, remember? How can I learn to be independent if you’re always stepping in to rescue me?”

“No, we didn’t say anything. I just know you’ll get the job because you’re perfect for it, Mac.” She smiles and stands up to give me a hug before she leaves.

I sigh with relief. What is it Shakespeare said about tangled webs and lies? I should know that, but at the moment, I couldn’t care less.

I sit down at my vanity to freshly do my nails. There isn’t time to go to a salon. When they are dry, I head downstairs and pour a small glass of juice and pop a slice of bread into the toaster. Dad is nowhere to be seen, and I’m a little relieved. I want to keep my story straight, so the fewer times I tell it, the greater the likelihood I won’t get caught. I go back to my room and text Abby, letting her know that I got a call back on the job. She is obviously occupied because she doesn’t answer. I’m a little disappointed. I want to celebrate with someone. That’s when I remember the complication of having Michael come along.

I dress quickly in the second most appropriate outfit I can pull from my closet, leave the house, and sail into town in my car. I find the building matching the address on the card that the older gentleman gave me. I park and go inside. To my surprise, I run into, almost literally, Michael, in the lobby. “Hey!” I greet him.

“Well, hello there. How did you find me?”

“Who said I’m here to see you?” The words are out in my usual smart-ass style before I think them through. “Hey, listen, I didn’t mean that. Actually, I did come looking for you. I wanted to thank you for helping me out yesterday.”

“You are quite welcome. I will admit, I’ve never pretended to be a husband before. Not that there was much to the role, but it was sort of fun.”

“I thought you did great. Especially covering with the ring thing. I wouldn’t have ever thought of it that quickly. I’m grateful. As a matter of fact, I wanted to invite you to lunch with me so I can properly thank you today.”

“Today?” He looks at his watch, and I guess he probably has a full schedule.

“Could you? Maybe there’s a place nearby so we can just sort of pop in. It’s still early, we’ll beat the lunch crowd.”

He looks down at me and smiles. “Sure, why not?”

“Great! Why don’t you lead the way?”

He nods and turns toward the door, placing one hand at the small of my back to guide me outside. We only walk about three doors down before his hand guides me into a doorway. “This is a little place I like. It’s nothing fancy, hope you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all. I like simple things.”

We go inside and take a seat toward the back where it is quieter. They have a deli-style counter at the front, and there is a steady stream of people coming in, shouting their orders, paying, and then leaving. At the back, it is still a do-it-yourself thing, but people are there to read the paper or their email while they eat, so it’s quiet.

“So, how did your interview go?” Michael wants to know.

“It went great, as a matter of fact.”

“Well, that’s wonderful. I hope you hear back from them soon.”

That is my opening spot, but I’m not ready to take it quite yet. “So, tell me about yourself.”

“Oh, I’m not a very public person. Why don’t we start with you?”

I roll my eyes and tell myself to stop doing that. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to not be a public person. It seems I can’t do anything without my parents hearing about it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. I’ve only just recently gotten out of the society pages.”

Oh? Did you rob a bank?” he jokes.

“I wish. Actually, it is more of a personal tragedy, shall we call it?”

“I’m sorry to hear that, MacKenzie. I really am.”

“Oh, it’s okay. It is a blessing in disguise. I learned some lessons in the process.”

“Lessons?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Such as?” He passes me ketchup for my burger, and his hand touches mine. It is warm and strong, and I have the most insane notion of grabbing it and holding on.

“I’ve learned that people should be together because they really like each other. In fact, they really need to love each other. It shouldn’t have anything to do with how much money they have, who your parents are, or who they know and the kinds of strings they can pull. There are a lot of very bad people hiding behind their own money.”

“You sound kind of bitter,” he observes, eating one of his fries.

It is growing closer to noon, and the crowd inside the front door is louder. We have to raise our voices to be heard. Our cozy little conversation is suddenly becoming irritating. “I don’t want to be bitter; I just want to be smarter. So, I stay away from people with money.”

“I see,” he said, and his eyes suddenly focus on his remaining fries.

“Which brings me to something I need to ask you.” I decide this will be the last opening in such a conversation. I’m not going to let it pass again.

“Oh? You need me to be your husband again?” He smiles.

“Don’t laugh, but yes. I got a call first thing this morning from Margaret. She stopped short of offering me the job, but she and a few board members want to meet me again at that café at 2 o’clock. I’m supposed to bring my husband.”

“Really? Why is having your husband along such an important thing?”

“I think they’re being silly, but evidently, they’re worried about how things appear. Since I’m young and approachable, if you will, there might be an occasion or two where some gentleman might make advances toward me in return for his cooperation, endorsement, or donation. They want to avoid any kind of gossip or, as my mother would say, unsavory, attention. So, I’ve got my life in your hands, and I’m asking you if you would please, please, go with me? You only have to stay a few minutes like the last time. I’ll make your excuses, and you can go back to your life.”

“I see.”

That’s when I realize what I’d left out. “I’ll pay you for it, obviously. I’m sorry; I should’ve said that at the beginning. I hope I haven’t made you feel uncomfortable.”

“You will pay me for it?”

“Name your price. I know this is a huge imposition, and probably goes against everything you believe in, and I get that. But sometimes you have to make up your own temporary rules to get to the goal; you know what I mean?”

“I do.”

“So, will you do it?”

“2 o’clock, you say?”

“Yes. I’ll meet you there at 1:45, and if you’re late, I’ll just tell them that you probably had trouble getting away from the office.”

“It’s possible that may be the truth.”

“Well, could you just do the best you can, and we’ll take it from there? I mean, maybe this isn’t even meant to be, and if you can’t come, I’ll take it as a sign.”

“We wouldn’t want you to have a sign now, would we?”

“I like you, you know that? You're funny and a gentleman, and that’s a rare thing to find nowadays.”

“There comes that bitter tone again.”

“I know; I’ll have to work on that.”

“I think you’re just fine.” He smiles, and it’s like someone turned a lamp on over us. I see again how good-looking he is. I wonder if anything could ever happen between us.

“So, I’ll meet you there?”

“Okay.”

We finish our meal and are approaching the checkout. Normally, I would have expected that my gentleman companion would pay the bill, but in this case, it is on me. I approach the register.

“Here, let me get that,” he says, gently nudging me aside.

“No, this is on me, remember? I invited you.”

He looks down at me, a smile of curious happiness in evidence. “By all means.”

I pay the bill, and we head to the door. He opens it for me, and I walk through and stop on the sidewalk. “Well, I’m parked down the street in the opposite direction, so I’ll see you later?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

I realize what he is referring to. “Oh, I’m sorry, of course, I’ll be happy to pay you in advance. I open my bag and take out my wallet.

“No, not that.” I look up at him quizzically, and he bends down. “I believe you’re supposed to give me a kiss on the cheek?”

For some reason, that strikes me as funny, and I not only give him a kiss but throw my arms around his neck and hug him at the same time. When I let go, I look into his dark brown eyes and repeat, “I really like you.”

I turn around and walk away, whistling. I can feel his eyes on my back, and they feel warm.

* * *

I get into my car, quite satisfied with myself. Inserting the key, I turn it, but nothing happens. Of all the luck! I won’t have time to wait for a wrecker, and they probably wouldn’t be able to fix it on the spot, anyway. The fancier the car, the fewer the people who can fix them. I opt, instead, for a taxi, and luckily, it’s there within a half hour.

I’d worry about my own car later. It’s 1:45 when Michael and I nearly collide outside the entrance of the café. He evidently parked somewhere else. “Good! You’re here!”

“I always keep my word. Anyway, I sort of like you, too!”

“I’m glad.” As soon as the words are out, I feel a little embarrassed. I think I’d better modify them. “It would look odd, after all, if we are husband and wife but couldn’t stand one another.”

Playing along, he nods. “Yes, it definitely would. Shall we go in?”

I nod, and he holds the door for me. We proceed to the table where we had the meeting before and sit down. “Now is there anything I need to know?”

“No, I guess not. This will just be a brief introduction, and then you have business to get back to, remember?”

“I get it. I’ll say my hellos and be on my way.”

“Oh, and before I forget, this is for you,” I say, handing him an envelope. I can see him hesitate before taking it and wonder if I have paid him enough. At this point, there isn’t much I can do about it without creating a scene, so I just cross my fingers and let it go. He slides the envelope inside his coat jacket, and I can see his face is slightly flushed. I don’t have any more time to think about it because the door opens and in walks Margaret and a few men of roughly her age and similar breeding.

“Here they are.” I nudge Michael.

He stands and extends his hand. “Margaret, it’s nice to see you again,” he says in the most gentlemanly way.

Margaret smiles and accepts his handshake. “It’s nice to see you again, as well, Michael.” She holds his hand briefly and looks to the others in her group. “I’d like to introduce you all to Mackenzie’s husband, Michael.” He shakes each of their hands in turn as they introduce themselves. I try to catch their names, but I’ve never been very good at remembering names, so I let it go.

“I’m sorry, but Michael’s schedule is very swamped this afternoon. He is only able to make it for a few minutes because I pleaded with him.” I look up to Michael, and once again go up on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, darling, I really appreciate this.”

Michael nods at the others, winks at me, and leaves the café.

I have trouble concentrating on what happens after that. I believe something along the lines of Margaret offering me the job, naming a salary, giving me a general rundown of what my duties would include and asking me if I’m available to begin on the following Monday. I’m fairly sure that I said yes, nodded at the appropriate times, and overall made the impression necessary to seal the deal. The entire time, however, my mind is on Michael and the idea that I might never see him again. I realize he has no way of knowing how to reach me. It would be entirely up to me to find him in that office building. The idea makes me sad.

I give the others an opportunity to leave the café before I do, and then I take a deep breath and push the café door open, stepping into the sunshine. That’s when I remember I don’t have my car with me. Frowning, I pull out my phone to order another taxi when there is a tap on my shoulder. Startled, I swirl around and see Michael standing before me.

“What are you doing here?” I don’t mean to sound suspicious, but he has taken me off guard. Actually, I’m very happy to see him.

“I thought I’d hang around and see how your interview went. I do have a vested interest in this, after all. Since we are husband and wife,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

“They offered me the job, and I start on Monday. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“I’m proud of you. You turned a wasted appointment into a very stylish job, and I commend you for your resourcefulness. Of course, I had a little something to do with it.” He nudges me with his elbow.

“I know. You are wonderful.”

Then comes that awkward silence, the kind where you both want to say something, but neither knows where the line is between them. I open with the first volley. “Well … I need to be on my way.”

“Where are you parked? I’ll walk you to your car,” he offers.

“I wish it were that easy. When I left you earlier to head over here, my car wouldn’t start. I had to leave it parked and grab a taxi.”

I see something conflicting in his eyes and wonder what he isn’t saying. “Let me call a taxi for you, and I’ll wait here with you.” I must admit, I’m wondering why he doesn’t offer to take me home in his car. Perhaps he doesn’t have one? Or maybe he’s embarrassed by it?

“That would be great. I could use the company. We can wait inside if you like?”

“Let me call and see how long they think they’ll be.” He taps a number from his contact list, and I hear him say, “Thanks, we’ll be waiting on the sidewalk.” He hangs up and looks at me. “They’ll be here in a couple of minutes. So, congratulations on the new job. Will it meet your needs?”

I suspect that is his way of asking whether the salary is high enough. I really don’t want to go into that, so I just nod and smile.

“Good. I hope they see your true value.” The taxi pulls up to the curb at that exact moment. He opens the door, and I climb inside. “Give the driver directions, and he’ll see you home. I have to get back to the office.” He hands the driver some bills folded over.

“No, I can pay for it.”

“No, I insist. Let me know if you need a husband again,” he teases me and watches as the taxi pulls away. I turn and watch him through the rear window until we turn the corner. I’ll always remember that as the loneliest corner in the entire city.