Chapter 53
Rachel
Rachel woke up to sunlight streaming through the bedroom window and Mac's face buried in her hair.
Four months since the grand gesture at the hockey game. Four months since they'd gotten back together. Four months of therapy, communication, growth, and building something real.
Not perfect. They still had hard days. Rachel still had moments of fear. Mac still got frustrated sometimes.
But they worked through it. Together.
"Morning," Mac mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
"Morning. Big day today."
"Mmm. Very big day." Mac's arm crept around her. "Can we stay in bed forever instead?"
"No. Your entire extended family is arriving in three hours. My mother and Leah are already here, they came last night, remember?"
"I remember. Your sister kept me up until midnight asking about Jamie’s dating history."
Rachel smiled. Leah and Jamie had been dating long-distance for months now, with her sister visiting Evergreen Cove monthly and Jamie making trips to Burlington. It was working surprisingly well.
"Sophie's still weird about it," Rachel observed.
"Sophie's in denial about her feelings. It's painful to watch."
"We should help them—"
"No. They need to figure it out themselves. We're not interfering." Mac kissed her neck. "Besides, we have enough to deal with today without adding Sophie and Jamie's relationship drama."
Today was the Evergreen Cove Fall Festival, the town's biggest event of the year, except for Christmas. And this year, it was special for multiple reasons.
One: Ellie's physical therapy license had been fully reinstated after the board's investigation concluded that Derek's complaint was baseless and potentially motivated by personal vendetta.
Two: The Eagles had won their division summer championship, with Mac named MVP.
And three: Mac had been acting suspiciously secretive for the past week, which made Rachel both excited and nervous.
"What are you planning?" Rachel asked, turning in Mac's arms to face him.
"Planning? Me? Nothing."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm an excellent liar. I'm a professional athlete. Lying is part of the game: you know, faking passes, pretending you're going left when you're actually going right—"
"Mac."
"Rachel."
They stared at each other, both smiling.
"Fine," Mac said finally. "I'm planning something. But you'll have to wait until tonight to find out what."
"That's mean."
"That's romantic. There's a difference." Mac kissed her. "Now come on. We have approximately one hour before your mother arrives from the hotel and starts criticizing our apartment organization."
"She's gotten better about that."
"She asked me last night why we don't have a proper spice rack. Rachel, we have exactly five spices. We don't need a rack."
"Mac, everyone needs a proper spice rack—"
"See? You're becoming your mother."
Rachel threw a pillow at him.
Mac
The Evergreen Cove Fall Festival was in full swing by 2 PM. There were booths selling crafts and food, live music on the main stage, kids running around with face paint and balloons.
The entire town had turned out, plus Mac's extended family on his Father’s side who'd driven up from Boston.
"Your family is wonderful," Rachel said, watching Mac's father chat animatedly with Linda Morrison about something involving gardens or maybe animals.
"They're embarrassing."
"They're sweet. Your dad keeps showing me baby pictures of you playing hockey."
"That's because my dad has no sense of boundaries." But Mac was smiling.
The festival was organized chaos, Sophie running between her café booth and helping coordinate events, Jamie with his clipboard managing the schedule, Luke enthusiastically volunteering for everything, Tyler providing running commentary on the statistical improbability of various carnival games.
"MacKenzie!" Cole called from the main stage. "Get up here! They're doing the championship celebration!"
Mac groaned. "Do I have to?"
"Yes. Stop being difficult and get your award." Rachel pushed him toward the stage. "Go be celebrated. I'll be right here."
Mac jogged to the stage where the mayor was presenting the Eagles with their championship trophy. The team gathered, Cole, Jamie, Luke, Tyler, Sanchez and the rest, all grinning as the crowd cheered.
"The Evergreen Cove Eagles!" Mayor Henderson announced. "Division champions! And your MVP, Mac MacKenzie!"
The crowd erupted. Mac accepted the trophy, gave a brief speech thanking the team and the town, and tried not to look at Rachel crying happy tears in the audience.
After the ceremony, Mac's dad cornered him.
"So," Tom MacKenzie said, his expression serious. "You planning to marry that girl?"
Mac glanced at where Rachel stood talking to Ellie and Sophie, laughing at something Ellie had said.
"Yeah, Dad. I am."
"Good. Don't screw it up."
"That's helpful advice. Very specific."
"I'm serious. Rachel's special. Girls like that don't come around often." Tom clapped Mac on the shoulder. "When are you asking her?"
"Tonight."
"Nervous?"
"Terrified."
"Good. You should be. Marriage is terrifying. Also wonderful. Mostly terrifying." Tom grinned. "But if you love her, really love her, it's worth it."
"I really love her."
"Then go get her."