Page 68 of My Dearest Mackenzie

Except as we exited, we had bigger problems.

“How could you?” a woman I knew to be Susie asked Mack, getting up in his personal space. Draped in a full-length mink coat, her cheeks rosy from the wind, she stared at him.

“Hello, Susie,” Mack said, pulling out his phone. “Can you text Alex and tell him we’re ready?” he asked me while handing over the phone, without looking my way as he put his hand on Susie’s elbow, guiding her away from the doorway. It was one of those alpha moments only Mack seemed able to pull off.

“How could you? Go with her? Do this to us?” Susie spoke in a high-pitched tone through gritted teeth. I wasn’t even sure how she was accomplishing it.

“What are you going on about?” Mack spat out through clenched teeth. I’d never seen him so venomous.

I listened intently, wanting to know what Mack’s aunt was accusing him of… And what did I have to do with any of this?

“Her! Tom recently saw the two of you out to dinner. And being the good guy he is, he asked around who you were canoodling with. And come to find out you’re dating this woman—a Burns. His relative… His!” She practically shouted the last part.

My fingers fidgeted and my eyes watched the road for Alex as the fight began to escalate between these two.

“Hey, don’t you dare refer to Frances as this woman. Show some goddamn respect.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you knew the granddaughter of the man who made sure I didn’t get what I was due? Why? Don’t tell me you didn’t know when you showed up at my place demanding answers.”

What? Alex pulled up, but this was something I didn’t know—Susie knew who I was? And Mack spoke to Susie about my Paps? What did he have to do with what Susie was due?

“Because I knew you would take issue, that’s why. Jimmy Burns wasn’t the reason you lost money, Susie. It was all you. You meddled where you weren’t supposed to.”

“This woman, and I will call her that, is after the same thing her grandfather took from me. She probably heard stories all her life about Milly’s rich family. And here she is, befriending you.”

Mack’s features were tense. I had to still every bone in my body to keep from going to comfort him. He’d kept secrets from me, and now his aunt was badmouthing my grandfather and me on the street. All the embers of our happily-ever-after in my body were snuffed out.

“Susie, shut it. You and I are done here. I’m in love with Frances, and she’s not after a damn thing but my heart.”

A small flame started to burn, but there wasn’t enough kindling for it to grow bright. Once again, I’d fooled myself into thinking something was pure. I thought Mack and I were honest with one another.

“Alex, help Frances into the car,” Mack hollered and started to walk toward the passenger seat. Not the back where Alex was opening the door for me.

A chill ran through me, and I welcomed the warmth of the car, despite not understanding why Mack was sitting separate from me.

I sat in the back, hands in my lap, tears trying to burst through the dam I’d mentally put up.

“Take me home,” I whispered from the back and Alex nodded.

“Look,” Mack turned and spoke, “I have to sit here. I’m too damn mad.” He slammed his hand into the dashboard.

Alex didn’t even flinch; I assumed he must be used to Mack’s outbursts.

Swiveling again, Mack let out a long exhale. “Susie is a bitch. I lied about her knowing. I didn’t know, but she knew about your grandpa and I uncovered it. I should have told you, but I know how you are on a fact-finding mission and I didn’t want her near you.”

I felt myself blinking. I guessed we were going to have this discussion with Alex as a witness to the destruction of my heart. “I don’t even know her or how she knows me.”

“She knew about the first letter in the armoire. She went to see your Paps when I was just a little kid. Like an idiot, she thought she’d win brownie points with Milly. Except it backfired, and Jimmy turned down any efforts to see my grandmother. Not only that, but he also called Milly, and she in turn took away most of what was being left to Susie. Milly arranged for a lump sum and that’s it. I knew if I mentioned our involvement, it would only further Susie’s hatred toward me, you, your dead grandfather…”

“I thought we were sharing all of our lives with one another. I don’t know why. It was silly, but I don’t want to hear any more. I never went into this looking for your money…”

“I know,” he said. “Will you come back to my place?” He asked softly, looking at me in desperation. His voice cracked and I had a small glimpse at his vulnerability.

I shook my head, and he turned back toward the windshield.

It wasn’t until we stopped in front of my building that Mack got out and referenced the last part of his conversation with Susie. Outside, with snow starting to fall around us, he spoke again. “I love you, Frances. I meant it when I said it. I’ve now hurt you and that’s exactly what I was wanting to avoid.”

“Good night, Mack.”

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