Chapter 33 <br><p> 

Work-related issues kept both Dara and Mac very busy 
all day on Thursday as they wrapped up things for 
their extended holiday break. They modified their 
travel plans so that they would leave Port Charles on 
the morning of Friday February 14 and spend Friday and 
Saturday nights in Buffalo with Dara's friends, leave 
Buffalo Sunday morning and Mac's surprise would begin, 
and they planned to return to Port Charles on Monday 
evening. <br><p> 

After meeting with an officer whose testimony was 
needed for an upcoming trial, Dara encountered Marcus 
Taggert in the 4th floor hallway of the police 
station. They both had a few spare minutes and they 
walked leisurely to the coffee break area for a chat. 
Leaning against a vending machine, Taggert asked Dara 
if she and Mac would be at the Valentine Day's 
celebration at Luke's tomorrow night.  <br><p> 

Dara sat on a stool along the wall, stirring sugar and 
cream into her coffee. "No, Mac and I will be in 
Buffalo visiting my best friend, Janice Williams, and 
her family," Dara explained. <br><p> 

Envy surged through Taggert as he thought Mac's next 
step after visiting the best friend would be visiting 
Dara's family. Realistically, Taggert knew that there 
was no reason for him to be jealous. He had his 
chance with Dara and he blew it. Now it was time to 
be mature (ha!) and wish the best for his friends. 
Giving a somewhat strained smile, Taggert remarked, 
"Good luck with the weather. They're forecasting a 
winter storm starting Sunday. I'll be sticking close 
to home this weekend and plan to drop by Luke's 
tomorrow night."  <br><p> 

When Dara asked if he was going alone to Luke he told 
her that Donna Richards would be his date for the 
evening. Dara rightly didn't picture the handsome 
lieutenant as someone sitting around having trouble 
finding a date. Yet she was inexplicably happy that 
he was going to the Valentine Day bash. Maybe having 
a very active social life would keep her friend from 
making negative comments about her relationship with 
Mac. <br><p> 

"I've only gotten to know Donna recently but she seems 
really nice," Dara said generously. "Plus, she's a 
stunning beauty, even in a police uniform," Dara added 
teasingly. <br><p> 

"Yeah, " Taggert agreed, with an embarrassed smile. He 
admitted to himself that he was looking forward to his 
night out with Donna and had no reason to begrudge Mac 
and Dara their getaway weekend. "We should have a 
good time tomorrow night. You and Mac have a great 
time this weekend, too."  <br><p> 

~~~*~~~ <br><p> 

"They're here! They're here!" Patrick Williams had 
been watching all morning on Friday for the arrival of 
his godmother Dara and her friend when he finally saw 
Mac's SUV enter their driveway. After obeying his 
parents by buttoning his winter coat and putting on 
his boots, Patrick raced out of the front door to 
greet them. <br><p> 

Laughing at his son's excitement, Robert joked, "Dara 
must think that Patrick wants to bring the town crier 
back as a profession because he certainly acts like 
one every time she comes here." Glancing at his wife 
he continued, "Janice, I'll go out and welcome them 
first. Leave everything and come out as soon as you 
can." Robert turned off the flame under the saucepan 
and prepared to leave the kitchen. After hearing his 
wife vent for weeks about Dara and her new boyfriend, 
Robert attempted to give Janice one final warning 
before meeting their guests. "Remember, Dara and Mac 
drove up here to spend an enjoyable Valentine weekend 
with us, and that's exactly what I expect to happen. 
So let's get into our gracious host mode, O.K.?" <br><p> 

Janice widened her already big brown eyes and said in 
a mockingly shocked voice, "Why would I be anything 
but that darling?" Her husband let out of whoop of 
laughter as he shook his head and left the kitchen. 
Janice took off her apron and was only a few steps 
behind Robert when Mac, Dara, and Patrick entered the 
house. When everyone finished exchanging greetings, 
Janice led Mac and Dara upstairs so they could unpack 
and freshen up before dinner. Janice had a 
mischievous smirk on her face when she opened the door 
to a bedroom at the end of the hallway. "Dara, this 
is your room." The bedroom was large and was 
furnished with a canopy queen-sized bed, a chest of 
drawers, and a dresser with a lovely mirror on it. 
The bedroom also had its own private bathroom. 
Turning to Mac, Janice smoothly said, "Mac, I hope you 
don't mind, but there is an extra twin bed in 
Patrick's room down the hall and you'll have to share 
the room with him tonight. But tomorrow he'll be 
sleeping over at a neighbor's house and you will have 
the room all to yourself." <br><p> 

Dara hadn't been in the house for 10 minutes and she 
was on the verge of exploding. Of course it was 
Janice's prerogative to insist on separate bedroom for 
unmarried guests, especially since Patrick was in the 
house. However Dara silently noted Janice's opinion 
on sleeping arrangements had changed considerably 
since their college days. But what aggravated Dara 
most was that Janice gave no hint that there would be 
an issue with the sleeping accommodations and she 
sprung this unpleasant surprise. She was ready to 
pick up her bags and head with Mac to a nearby hotel 
when Mac unexpectedly clasped Dara's hand and caressed 
the back of her hand with his thumb. <br><p> 

Mac remarked, "You have a lovely home Janice. Thanks 
for putting us up tonight and tomorrow night. Let me 
head on to Patrick's room now and we'll meet you 
downstairs in about 10 minutes." No doubt about it, 
both Dara and Mac caught the look of amazement and a 
hint of reluctant admiration on Janice's face. She 
left Dara to show Mac the location of Patrick's 
bedroom and the guest bathroom. Alone now, Dara 
sighed, hoping that her best friend wouldn't pull any 
more childish pranks or make any catty remarks this 
weekend, and proceeded to unpack. Ten minutes later, 
just as she finished washing her face, someone knocked 
three times on her bedroom door. Knowing it was Mac, 
Dara grinned broadly and opened the door. <br><p> 

"Is that the secret knock?" teased Dara, as she 
literally pulled Mac into the room.  <br><p> 

"You know it beautiful. No one other than me gets in 
with that signal," Mac replied, wrapping his arms 
around Dara and capturing her lips for a searing kiss. 
He smiled when he broke the kiss. Mac was so happy 
to spend Valentine weekend with Dara and have a reason 
to celebrate he wasn't about to let anything annoy him 
this weekend. <br><p> 

As Mac continued to hold her and gently stroke her 
cheek with his fingertips, Dara apologized for the 
sleeping accommodations. Mac winked at Dara as he 
took her hand and led her downstairs to join everyone. 
"Don't worry," he promised, "you'll need the rest 
because you won't get any we're on our own Sunday 
night." Dara's jaw dropped; she was unexpectedly 
shocked by Mac's suggestive reply. But she quickly 
recovered her aplomb and murmured wistfully, 
"Promises, promises..." <br><p> 

~~~*~~~ 
<br><p> 
Nervousness wracked Ellen's being as she sat stiffly 
in the lounge chair in her apartment and waited for 
Matt's arrival. In a few minutes they would be on 
their way to meet Kevin and Lucy at Luke's. For the 
last few days Ellen seriously thought of feigning 
illness at the last minute and not going tonight. 
However, in the end, she felt if she and Kevin could 
make it through the evening without any mishaps, then 
the tension between them would be eased tremendously. 
No matter what happened, Ellen planned to talk to Matt 
sometime this weekend and tell him about her changed 
relationship with Kevin. Strangely that fateful 
discussion worried her more than anything that could 
happen tonight at Luke's. Ellen herself didn't 
understand her feelings for Kevin so how could she 
explain them to Matt and hope that he would understand 
and accept them? Ellen knew that she loved Matt. Of 
that she had no doubt. But she also strongly felt 
something for Kevin, and this was what she found so 
totally frustrating and unbelievable. This was so 
unlike her. Regardless how much she tried to wish 
them away she couldn't get rid of those feelings for 
Kevin. Ellen jumped slightly when she heard a key in 
the lock of the apartment door. Realizing that Matt 
had arrived, she stood up and had just reached the 
door as it swung open. Matt was looking as handsome 
as ever, and on his lap was a bouquet of red roses.  <br><p> 

"Hello sweetheart, happy Valentine's Day," Matt said 
as he rolled himself into the apartment. After 
closing the door, Ellen turned around and leaned 
toward Matt. <br><p> 

"Happy Valentine's Day to you too." Matt gently 
pulled Ellen's face to his as they kissed 
passionately. Coming up for air, Ellen caught her 
breath, smiled seductively at Matt, and said, "Are you 
sure you really want to go out tonight? I can call 
Luke's right now and give our apologies to Lucy." <br><p> 

"Don't tempt me," Matt replied with a gaze filled with 
desire. First he had been away for more than a week 
in New York City and this past week he had a very busy 
schedule at General Hospital. During the last two 
weeks he had seen very little of Ellen and he longed 
to spend an extended period of time with her alone. 
Kissing her once again, he whispered, "We'll put in 
our appearance for an hour or two and will head back 
here for our own private celebration." For a fleeting 
moment Matt thought a brief look of dismay marred 
Ellen's lovely face. "I must have imagined it," he 
reflected as he watched her place the roses in a vase. 
No, there was something wrong. Watching Ellen 
closely he saw her hand shake as she placed each rose 
in the vase. Moving towards her Matt clasped both of 
her hands within his and held them to his lips. 
Kissing them softly he raised his eyes to look in 
Ellen's eyes and asked, "Ellen, what is it? Is 
something wrong?" <br><p> 

Ellen blinked her eyes and contemplated talking to 
Matt now. But what would she say? What would she say 
about her feelings for Kevin? With a slightly 
strained smile Ellen returned Matt's gaze and said, 
"No, nothing's wrong. We just need to spend some time 
together and talk this weekend. We'll talk after we 
get back from Luke's tonight." Ellen gathered her 
coat and the engaged couple headed to the Valentine 
party.  <br><p> <a href="matters.htm">Back</a> | <a href="matt34.htm">Next</a>




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