Chapter 20  <br><p> 


Looking at himself in Dara's bathroom mirror, Mac ran 
his right-hand palm along his face and grimaced when 
he realized that he hadn't brought any toiletries to 
Dara's apartment. He made a mental note of items he 
needed and maybe if they went out shopping today they 
could pick up some things that he could keep at her 
apartment. Mac was looking forward to spending the 
entire weekend with Dara. Even though they had known 
each other for several years Mac realized that other 
than the two nights they've spent together, he and 
Dara have not spent more than a few hours together at 
each meeting. This weekend would be the first of what 
he hoped to be many opportunities to learn more about 
Dara and appreciate the things in her he had grown to 
love. After splashing some water on his face and 
drying it off, Mac returned to the bedroom only to 
find the room empty. He could hear movements from the 
kitchen or living room of the apartment and he 
followed the sounds to the kitchen. The aroma of fresh 
brewing coffee and the sight of Dara, dressed in a 
short terrycloth robe, greeted him as he entered the 
kitchen. He was able to enter the kitchen unobserved 
because Dara was busy looking for something in the 
refrigerator. Mac crept into the kitchen behind Dara 
and snaking his arms around her waist he whispered in 
her ear, "It's too early to get up for a Saturday, 
let's go back to bed."  <br><p> 

Laughing at Mac's suggestion Dara said, "Mac, it is 11 
o'clock. Are you proposing to spend the whole day in 
bed?"  <br><p> 

"Not alone I'm not," responded Mac as he turned Dara 
so that she was now facing him. Mac captured Dara's 
lips in soft kiss. Grinning mischievously he said, 
"But to prove to you that I have more than a single 
interest in you I can agree that we should spend some 
time in the outside world today."  <br><p> 

"Good morning Mac." Dara's hands and arms gently 
stroked Mac's neck and broad shoulders as he held her 
and she looked lovingly into his sparkling green eyes. 
Mac was wearing only his underwear briefs and Dara 
thought that she needed to put a few more inches 
between herself and Mac or she might take him up on 
his previous offer.  <br><p> 

"Good morning, beautiful." Glancing in the 
refrigerator he asked," What do you want me to make 
for breakfast?"  <br><p> 

"You want to cook breakfast?" asked an incredulous 
Dara.  <br><p> 

"Of course. It's my specialty." Mac didn't explain but 
he had routinely made full breakfasts for Felicia and 
the girls on the weekends. Dara offered to assist but 
Mac led her gently but determinedly to the kitchen 
table where she watched him prepare the breakfast. In 
less than 30 minutes they were enjoying a pancake and 
Canadian bacon breakfast and discussing their plans 
for the day. Because the week had been incredibly busy 
for both of them, they made a list of errands and 
tasks - shopping, taking clothes to the dry cleaners, 
getting gasoline for the car, etc... - that needed to 
be run and they would do them together. It took more 
time to run these errands together than to perform 
them individually, but both Dara and Mac enjoyed 
spending the time together and learning the mundane, 
day-to-day details about each other's lives. Around 
five o'clock that evening they arrived at Mac's 
apartment to drop off a few things and for him to pick 
up a few items that he planned to always leave in 
Dara's apartment. Waiting for Mac while he was doing 
things in his bedroom, Dara wandered around the living 
room. She gazed for a few seconds at a family photo of 
Mac, Felicia, Maxie, and Georgie that must have be 
taken within the last year or so. It reminded her of 
Mac's request for her to accompany him to a school 
play in which Georgie was performing tonight at seven 
o'clock. Dara had encouraged Mac to go to the play 
alone and suggested they'd meet afterwards but he was 
absolutely insistent that they go to the play 
together. A big part of Dara admired and loved Mac 
even more because he was making such an effort to 
involve her completely in his life, but she was still 
a bit apprehensive about attending a "family" 
gathering so soon. Then Dara immediately chided 
herself when she realized that she wouldn't have been 
pleased if Mac didn't want her to attend the play. 
There might be a few tense moments at the event 
tonight but Dara decided that she would just keep in 
her mind on the fact that she'd be there because Mac 
wanted her there.  <br><p> 

Standing at the open doorway from his bedroom Mac 
silently watched Dara as she looked at the 
photographs. He sensed that Dara was reluctant to go 
with him to Georgie's play but he felt that it would 
be good for everyone - Georgie, Maxie, and even 
Felicia - if they all got used to the reality that he 
and Dara were now a couple. "A penny for your 
thoughts." Mac teased as he returned to the living 
room carrying a suitcase. <br><p> 

"You're only offering a penny?" <br><p> 

Taking her hand into his Mac said, "It was a token 
amount. I already know what you're thinking," he said 
watching her closely.  <br><p> 

Believing that he really did know what she was 
thinking and feeling her face flush, Dara lowered her 
eyes from Mac's gaze and changed the subject by 
noting, "That's a pretty big suitcase. Do you think 
you have everything?" she playfully inquired.  <br><p> 

"I think so. I want to keep some things at your place 
so that I don't have to tear myself away from you any 
sooner than I have to," Mac said kissing her lightly 
on the cheek as he wrapped an arm around Dara's waist. 
"Let's get going."  <br><p> 

At 6:45 Mac and Dara walked into the auditorium of 
Roosevelt elementary school. About 100 adults and a 
large number of children were there and it took a few 
minutes before they were able to find Felicia and the 
girls in the crowd. At first Felicia grimaced as she 
watched Mac and Dara approach but by the time the 
couple reached them, Felicia had a strained smile 
pasted on her face.  <br><p> 

"Mac, we were wondering if you were going to make it 
or not," Felicia said as a not so subtle way of 
criticizing Mac. "And Dara, what a surprise."  <br><p> 

"It shouldn't have been much of a surprise Felicia 
because I mentioned to you last week that I was 
bringing Dara. You all know that I wouldn't miss 
Georgie's dramatic debut," Mac responded as he hugged 
and kissed Georgie and Maxie.  <br><p> 

"Mac, I've missed you!" exclaimed Georgie, hugging Mac 
tightly. She was dressed in a long, dark green gingham 
skirt and blouse with peasant puffed sleeves.  <br><p> 

Gently prompting them Mac said, "Georgie and Maxie, 
you both know Dara."  <br><p> 

"Hi," said both of the girls in unison. Maxie had a 
sullen expression on her face but Georgie greeted Dara 
with a genuine smile. Georgie did miss Mac since he no 
longer lived with them but she was very happy that he 
was attending the play with his friend. Georgie 
excused herself; it was almost time for her to be 
backstage for the start of the play. Felicia led the 
group near the front of the auditorium where Roy, 
Bobbie, and Tony Jones were sitting. Bobbie was saving 
3 seats for them as Felicia had asked. Unfortunately 
they needed four seats not three but Mac saved the 
situation by asking a person nearby who was seated by 
himself if he'd mind giving up his seat. Just as 
everyone was seated the play began.  <br><p> 

The 45-minute play was a story based on the U.S. 
founding fathers and prominent characters around 1800. 
Georgie had a role as Abigail Adams and Lucas Jones 
had a few lines as President James Madison. It was 
evident that the children had a lot of fun 
participating in the play and the audience was 
enthusiastic in their applause. Though she tried to 
focus on the play and Georgie's performance, Felicia's 
eyes kept glancing at Mac and Dara during the evening. 
She fumed silently as she watched them laughing and 
smiling and occasionally holding hands during the 
play. "How dare Mac ruin this evening when it was 
suppose to focus on Georgie and our family outing?" 
Felicia furiously thought as she fought the tears 
threatening to gather in her eyes. "How could he be so 
cruel?" Bobbie Spencer watched anxiously and sadly as 
she saw her best friend become more and more upset 
throughout the evening, knowing that there was nothing 
she could do at the present time to help Felicia. 
Bobbie hoped that Felicia would not make a public 
spectacle as the play ended and whispered to Felicia, 
"Felicia, I can see that you're angry but don't do 
anything stupid. Wait until you and Mac have a private 
moment to talk about what you're feeling tonight."  <br><p> 

The children took their final bows on the stage and 
dispersed to meet friends and family members in the 
audience. Felicia quickly went to Mac's side and 
asked, "Mac, can we speak for a few minutes, 
privately?" After telling Dara that he'd be away for 
only a few minutes Mac steered Felicia to a quieter 
section of the auditorium. Before Mac could say a word 
Felicia immediately pounced and vented her rage. "How 
could you embarrass me and the girls tonight by 
bringing your girlfriend here! Don't you have any 
respect for us or for yourself? Whether you know it or 
not this is a family outing and mistresses aren't 
invited!" <br><p> 

Blinking his eyes in disbelief, Mac took a deep breath 
to calm himself before responding to Felicia's tongue 
lashing. He hadn't expected Felicia to be pleased 
about Dara accompanying him to the play, but he in no 
way anticipated the depth of fury in her reaction. 
"Felicia, what are you talking about? We're separated 
and living apart and very soon we will be divorced. 
Don't use Dara as an excuse to keep me out of the 
girls' lives. For heaven's sake, calm down. Don't hurt 
them because you don't like seeing me with Dara."  <br><p> 

"I know that Georgie wants you to come with us for 
supper after the play but I don't want you to come if 
you're bringing her."  <br><p> 

Mac could not believe that Felicia was behaving so 
childishly and being so spiteful. Knowing that Felicia 
needed to calm down before they could have a 
reasonable conversation, Mac, not saying another word, 
headed back to Dara and the others. Reaching them he 
heard Dara praise Georgie and Lucas on their 
performances. As Lucas and Georgie continued to talk 
excitedly about the play, Dara looked at Mac as he 
took her hand. She had seen Felicia and Mac talking 
and from what she observed, it didn't look like an 
amiable discussion. When it was decided that everyone 
would go to Ruby's diner for a mini-celebration, Mac 
told Maxie and Georgie that he and Dara couldn't 
attend it tonight, but that he had a standing date to 
see them on Monday night and this way there would be 2 
celebrations. Saying their goodbyes, Dara and Mac 
departed. As they left Dara asked softly, "Do you want 
to talk about it right now?"  <br><p> 

Mac stopped walking and kissed Dara. Stroking her 
cheek with his thumb, he replied, "Not right now, 
later, O.K.?"  <br><p> 

Dara nodded and they headed back to her apartment.  <br><p> 

***  <br><p> 

At 2 a.m. Sunday morning after finishing a bottle of 
white wine and sitting in the living room for 3 hours 
staring at the walls, Felicia picked up the telephone 
and dialed an international number. After several 
rings, a sleepy voice answered "Bonjour?"  <br><p> 

In a choked whisper Felicia said, "I'm sorry to call 
you so early on Sunday morning Robin but I need your 
help...."  <br><p> 




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