Posted by Kim on 1/11/2002, 4:02 pm 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. 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. 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." 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. "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. "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." ~~~*~~~ "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. 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.?" 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." 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 on them. Dara 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. He 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. "Is that the secret knock?" teased Dara, as she literally pulled Mac into the room. "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. 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..."
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.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread