Post by Mackenzie Janelle Collins on Aug 25, 2011 22:12:21 GMT -5
Mackenzie sat at a table in the back, more private room at The Coast, with her younger sister Kiersten and her mother, Julie. They had just spent the morning at a photo shoot with Kiersten who was getting back into modeling apparently and Julie had decided to take them out to lunch. Both girls wished their dad had been able to go with them, but he was of course, in some sort of business meeting. Mack slid her food across her plate distractedly, while her mom and sister made small talk about the new school she was going to. Mack felt more like a conversation monitor, knowing one thing said between either of them could completely sour the lunch and Mack would have to step in and break it up. Like she always did. But so far Kiersten was being very civil. Julie looked at both her daughters, taking a drink of her water, "I guess I'm just confused, you both made such a fuss about wanting to stay in Malibu, and Kiersten graduating from there, but now you're both here. Why such a drastic change of plans? I mean, I'm not complaining, New York is closer to Georgia and your Grandma and Grandpa Bannon are here in the city for most of the year, I'm just confused. Kiersten, your sister made a lot of sacrifices to make sure you could stay in school there, why move here?" Kiersten shrugged, "I wanted to stay there because my friends were there. But all our friends moved here. So it just seemed logical to go with them. And I have an internship at Taboo, and the school out here is really good, mom. I could actually make something out of myself with music, here." Their mother eyed Kiersten, a smile in her eyes. "Hmm. Friends. So, Mack, you're okay with all of this?" Mack nodded, "Yeah. So what's Dad doing again?" Their mom sighed, "Oh, you know, business. I told him, 'Jonathan, we are going to see our daughters and go to a gala, no business.' So of course he has a business meeting this morning. But it's his only one, he's officially on vacation after that, he'll be at dinner. And I think he wants to take you guys out tomorrow. Speaking of the gala, it'll be nice to go as a family, are you both bringing a date?" Mack nodded once more, sitting back in her chair, "Yup, both bringing the boyfriends." Julie's face was over come by a huge smile, "What, both boyfriends? That adorable girl going on the date the other night, did he make it official?" Kiersten rolled her eyes, but smiled non the less, "Yes, mom we're official." "Awww, that is great, both my girls with boyfriends. Will we get to meet them before the gala? I like to be able to introduce them to people, you know, and actually know something about them." Mack looked at Kiersten, like, do you want to introduce lance to Mom and Dad? Mack shrugged, "Um, yeah, we could ask them to join us at dinner. So um, how are you and dad?"
Julie sighed, "Your father and I? Oh you know, we're well. We're better. You know how we were, when you were younger." Mack and Kiersten looked at each other, all knowing, Kiersten said, "Uh yeah, you guys fought everyday and then you separated for like, ten years. We remember." Julie made a face, but composed herself, "Yes, well, I mean. I think Georgia has been good for us. We've been spending more time together, appreciating each other more. And I think, we kind of mended things back in Malibu, after everything happened..." Julie looked sideways at her elder daughter, and then moved on, "Of course. After everyone found out the news about your brother, he um. He was quite upset with me. Still is. Look," Julie sat forward, looking at both her daughters, "i just want to tell you both, I don't know if you know this. Your dad did not know about any of it. And he was just as upset as both of you. I don't want to make excuses, I know I can't make up for you having a childhood with out your brother. I just want you both to know what happened." She looked at the pair of them with pleading eyes. Mack had no problem listening, but she looked at Kiersten, who nodded, "Let's hear it."
Julie began her story, "Your dad and I were high school sweethearts. He was a native New Yorker, and Grandma and Grandpa sent him to Georgia with his aunt and uncle. Your dad was a trouble maker. He was like that bad boy in school all the girls wanted. No I'm serious! I couldn't understand why he wanted to be with me but he did. And my parents just hated him. They thought he was just taking their perfect daughter and changing her into someone they didn't want me to be. They told me I couldn't be with him, so I said fine, and I ran away with him to California. It was right after we graduated. So we moved out there... and we just fought. Just like we did when you were kids. I don't know, we've always butted heads.... but anyways. He left me. It was the first time we separated. I thought it was really over, I didn't realize it the first of many times. Well anyways. I was in Santa Ana, and Dad went to LA. And I just wanted to go home. Then I realized I was pregnant. With your brother. And I just thought to myself, i can't go home, bofriendless and pregnant. It was exactly what my mom and dad warned me about. So I stayed In California. And I interviewed couples to adopt my baby. I just, wasn't ready to be a single parent. I was scared, and scared of disgracing my parents, they were big people in Georgia back then. Grandma finally called me, she had found out me and dad weren't together, and she told me to come home. I just couldn't do it. So I made plans with Daniella and Anthony, this couple I liked, and they adopted him. And I knew he was in good hands.... and I went home." She took a deep breath. "I knew he was with good people, I tried to go on with my life, it was a closed adoption... and then your dad happened. Again. And I think you know this part of the story, he charmed me again, we got back together, we had a shotgun wedding. And by the time I was pregnant again, I regretted giving him up. I knew he had a loving family, a mom and dad, and new siblings that he would never know. And I just... never had a day I didn't think about him. And that's it. I made mistakes in my life, I am truly sorry. To both of you, all of you. You should have had your brother in your life. by the time I realized it, it was too late to get him back." Julie sighed, picking up her napkin and wiped at her eyes, she'd started crying.
Mack looked at her mom with different eyes. All people made mistakes, and everyone got scared at one time or another. But at the end of the day, Chad was in their lives now. And that was what mattered. Mack was tired of fighting over it, holding grudges over it. "Aww, mom, don't cry." Mack reached over and took her moms hand, squeezing it and looked at Kiersten. Kiersten looked at her mom with a blank face, and then stood up and walked to Julie's side of the table, leaning down to hug her mom, "I'm sorry I never asked you about the whole story. I get it now. It's okay." Julie looked at her youngest child, her eyes wide, "Really? Who are you, where's my Kiersten?" Kiersten laughed, rolling her eyes and sat back down, "Very funny. Mom, we love you. And we're close with Chad now, everything is okay." Julie wiped her eyes, smiling. "I never thought we'd have this conversation. I've missed my daughters. Can I ask you both something? Do you think Chad will ever want to see me? Not even me, I just want him and your dad to have a relationship. It's not Dad's fault..." she trailed off. Mack looked at Kiersten, unsure of what to say, "Mom, I think Chad will let you know when he wants to talk. Just, let him come to you." Julie nodded, "Yes, of course you're right. Well, anyways. Call me and let me know about dinner, okay? Dad and I will meet you at the restaurant, dress nice okay?" Julie stood, having already footed the bill. Mack laughed, "Mom, don't we always?" "Oh, you're right, i forgot who I've been talking to." Mack stood up, hugging her mom, "I love you, mom.I'm glad your here."
Julie sighed, "Your father and I? Oh you know, we're well. We're better. You know how we were, when you were younger." Mack and Kiersten looked at each other, all knowing, Kiersten said, "Uh yeah, you guys fought everyday and then you separated for like, ten years. We remember." Julie made a face, but composed herself, "Yes, well, I mean. I think Georgia has been good for us. We've been spending more time together, appreciating each other more. And I think, we kind of mended things back in Malibu, after everything happened..." Julie looked sideways at her elder daughter, and then moved on, "Of course. After everyone found out the news about your brother, he um. He was quite upset with me. Still is. Look," Julie sat forward, looking at both her daughters, "i just want to tell you both, I don't know if you know this. Your dad did not know about any of it. And he was just as upset as both of you. I don't want to make excuses, I know I can't make up for you having a childhood with out your brother. I just want you both to know what happened." She looked at the pair of them with pleading eyes. Mack had no problem listening, but she looked at Kiersten, who nodded, "Let's hear it."
Julie began her story, "Your dad and I were high school sweethearts. He was a native New Yorker, and Grandma and Grandpa sent him to Georgia with his aunt and uncle. Your dad was a trouble maker. He was like that bad boy in school all the girls wanted. No I'm serious! I couldn't understand why he wanted to be with me but he did. And my parents just hated him. They thought he was just taking their perfect daughter and changing her into someone they didn't want me to be. They told me I couldn't be with him, so I said fine, and I ran away with him to California. It was right after we graduated. So we moved out there... and we just fought. Just like we did when you were kids. I don't know, we've always butted heads.... but anyways. He left me. It was the first time we separated. I thought it was really over, I didn't realize it the first of many times. Well anyways. I was in Santa Ana, and Dad went to LA. And I just wanted to go home. Then I realized I was pregnant. With your brother. And I just thought to myself, i can't go home, bofriendless and pregnant. It was exactly what my mom and dad warned me about. So I stayed In California. And I interviewed couples to adopt my baby. I just, wasn't ready to be a single parent. I was scared, and scared of disgracing my parents, they were big people in Georgia back then. Grandma finally called me, she had found out me and dad weren't together, and she told me to come home. I just couldn't do it. So I made plans with Daniella and Anthony, this couple I liked, and they adopted him. And I knew he was in good hands.... and I went home." She took a deep breath. "I knew he was with good people, I tried to go on with my life, it was a closed adoption... and then your dad happened. Again. And I think you know this part of the story, he charmed me again, we got back together, we had a shotgun wedding. And by the time I was pregnant again, I regretted giving him up. I knew he had a loving family, a mom and dad, and new siblings that he would never know. And I just... never had a day I didn't think about him. And that's it. I made mistakes in my life, I am truly sorry. To both of you, all of you. You should have had your brother in your life. by the time I realized it, it was too late to get him back." Julie sighed, picking up her napkin and wiped at her eyes, she'd started crying.
Mack looked at her mom with different eyes. All people made mistakes, and everyone got scared at one time or another. But at the end of the day, Chad was in their lives now. And that was what mattered. Mack was tired of fighting over it, holding grudges over it. "Aww, mom, don't cry." Mack reached over and took her moms hand, squeezing it and looked at Kiersten. Kiersten looked at her mom with a blank face, and then stood up and walked to Julie's side of the table, leaning down to hug her mom, "I'm sorry I never asked you about the whole story. I get it now. It's okay." Julie looked at her youngest child, her eyes wide, "Really? Who are you, where's my Kiersten?" Kiersten laughed, rolling her eyes and sat back down, "Very funny. Mom, we love you. And we're close with Chad now, everything is okay." Julie wiped her eyes, smiling. "I never thought we'd have this conversation. I've missed my daughters. Can I ask you both something? Do you think Chad will ever want to see me? Not even me, I just want him and your dad to have a relationship. It's not Dad's fault..." she trailed off. Mack looked at Kiersten, unsure of what to say, "Mom, I think Chad will let you know when he wants to talk. Just, let him come to you." Julie nodded, "Yes, of course you're right. Well, anyways. Call me and let me know about dinner, okay? Dad and I will meet you at the restaurant, dress nice okay?" Julie stood, having already footed the bill. Mack laughed, "Mom, don't we always?" "Oh, you're right, i forgot who I've been talking to." Mack stood up, hugging her mom, "I love you, mom.I'm glad your here."
