Immersion Playground
Book #3: Flight to Paradise
Chapter 18
"That's my house," Mac says as they make a low pass over his family's home. He and Kate were gear up before dawn and had spent the next eleven hours droning across the country. Even Kate had gotten tired of flying, letting the Goose fly itself for most of the last half of the trip, but eleven hours and three fuel stop later, they're finally in Hays.
"Nice house," she says as they make a lazy circle so she can have a good look.
"One of Mom's hobbies... building on and remodeling. The house is twice the size it was when I was growing up in it. It feels strange to walk into your own house and get lost," he teases.
"So you weren't shitting me? Your dad invented the zapper meals?" she asks, the large house and extensive grounds confirming that Mac's family has money.
"Have I ever lied to you?" he asks, glancing at her with a grin.
She trills out a laugh. "No. No you haven't. One of these days I'll stop asking. I'm surprised you don't have a runway at your house," she teases as he straightens the plane, flying toward the small airport.
"Mom talked about putting in a grass landing strip once, out in one of the pastures, but Dad put his foot down on that. I don't fly in often enough to warrant it," he says, smiling at the memories.
Thirty-five minutes later he's chucking their two suitcases into the bed of his Dad's enormous Ford pickup after they give Bert a hug. "You ride up front," Mac says to Kate as he crawls into the back seat, "I've already seen all this."
She's a bit stiff at first, embarrassed by her actions the last time she met Mac's dad, but Bert makes no mention of it and slowly draws her out of her shell, all but ignoring Mac in the back seat. By the time they reach Mac's house she's giggling at the story Bert is telling of Mac feeding his lunch sandwich to a stray dog on the way to school every day. They hadn't said anything to Mac about knowing, but they'd started packing two sandwiches in his lunch. Kate, still giggling at the thought of a young Mac thinking he was getting away with something, looks at Mac sitting behind her.
"He tells that story to everyone just to embarrass me," he says with a grin.
"I think it's sweet," she says as she opens her door and hops down from the truck.
Cynthia meets them at the kitchen door, hugging Mac warmly then Kate more tentatively until Kate puts her arms around her and returns her hug. Kate smiles as she feels the tension drain out of Cynthia.
"Kate, I'm so glad you could come," Cynthia says, smiling at her brightly. "Let me show you to your room."
Cynthia leads them through the large rambling house, a house that can't be more different than Mac's. Where Mac's house is modern and austere, Cynthia's house exudes warmth and family, with pictures of kids and family dotting the walls.
"Kate, here's your room," Cynthia says, stepping aside so Mac can drop Kate's bag, but when Mac sets both bags down, she flushes. "Yes, of course. Silly of me."
Kate watches the interaction between Mac and his mother, feeling slightly uncomfortable that Mac so clearly made a statement by dropping both bags in what Cynthia obviously intended to be her room alone, yet somehow comforted that he won't knuckle under and is standing with her, even in his mother's home.
"If this makes you uncomfortable, Mrs. McMillan—" Kate begins, thinking of Charlie's advice, not wanting to be a wedge between Mac and his mother, but Cynthia cuts her off.
"No, no. Tony's right. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry," Cynthia says, fear and embarrassment clear on her face.
Kate smiles at Cynthia, trying to put her mind at ease. "It's okay Mrs. McMillan, Cynthia. Don't worry about it. No offense taken."
"Thank you, Kate," Cynthia says, obviously relieved. "I didn't mean to imply anything."
"I know," Kate says, her smile growing wider. "And I've tried to grow up a little since we met last."
There is a brief awkward pause before Cynthia offers to show Kate around the house. The house is a bit strangely laid out, obviously caused by the additions and renovations, but the house is beautifully kept.
"I didn't know what time you'd arrive, so I have chicken and rice warming in the oven," Cynthia offers, concluding the house tour in the large, eat-in kitchen.
"Yes please," Mac says enthusiastically, moving to a cabinet to retrieve plates, but closing it and looking in the next one, then closing that one too. "Why is it every time I come here, the dishes are in a different place?"
Bert barks out a laugh as Cynthia crossed the room and reaches into a cabinet and retrieves two plates, while Mac opens a third cabinet and retrieves two glasses. "Because your mom doesn't want anyone in her kitchen, so she keeps moving stuff around so nobody can find anything," he says beaming at his wife.
"One of these days I'll get it like I want it then I won't move stuff anymore," Cynthia says, smiling benignly at Bert.
"Uh-huh," Bert and Mac say at the same time, before bursting into laughter.
Kate listens to the banter and smiles. Mac's family can't be more different than her own. Where, especially her mom, is uptight and critical, Mac's family is fun loving and tolerant, at ease with each other, teasing and being teased in turn. They obviously care for each other very much and Kate wonders how her life would be different if she'd grown up in Mac's family.
Cynthia begins to spoon a creamy looking brown dish onto a plate, Mac watching intently. "That's enough, Mom," he says. Cynthia pauses a moment then adds another spoonful causing Mac to sigh.
"How much for you, Kate?" Cynthia asks looking over her shoulder.
"About a third that amount, please."
Cynthia scoops about half the amount she put on Mac's plate before giving the spoon a whack on the side of the dish to clean it before dropping it in the sink. "You don't have to eat it all if you don't want it." Cynthia reaches back into the oven and pulls out a dish of rolls, causing Mac to gasp.
"Are those grandma's yeast rolls? I'll have
four
of those. She'll have two," he says jerking his head toward Kate.
Kate watches as Cynthia pulls enormous rolls out of the pan. "Mac I can't—" she begins.
Mac holds a finger to his lips making quick shushing noises. "Trust me. You want two of these," he says crossing to the refrigerator and pulling out the butter.
Cynthia smiles as she picks up the plates and carries them to the table. "There is an apple pie for dessert," she says as she sits the plates down.
"From our apples?" Mac asks.
Cynthia looks at Mac as if she's offended. "Where else?"
Mac chuckles and sits the butter and a glass of water at the table. "Just checking. What do you want to drink? We have pop, tea, milk, juice, and water," he asks Kate.
"Water's fine," she says as she sits down.
"This is well water," Mac says, filling another glass. "Much better than that stuff they call water at home. Especially your home."
Kate takes a sip and can detect just a hint of flavoring, like an expensive mineral water. "This comes out of the ground like this? It tastes like bottled water. It's good."
Mac looks at his mom and dad as they settle at the table with them, rolling his eyes dramatically. "City girl," is all he says as he digs into his food.
Kate snickers then looks at her plate. The rolls looked delicious, but the rice dish is an unappetizing brown gooey mess. She'll eat it so to not insult Cynthia, but she's not looking forward to it. She takes a small bite of the casserole and her eyes open wide at the flavor. "Oh, wow, that's really good," she says, her face breaking into a smile.
"I'm glad you like it," Cynthia says. "It's one of Tony's favorites, and it so easy to make. I can give you the recipe if you like."
Kate nods her head, having already shoved another fork full into her mouth, savoring the rich flavor of chicken, mushrooms, and other flavors she can't identify. As good as the casserole is, she nearly swoons when she tries the rolls, the bread so light and airy she can't help but smile.
Cynthia grins at Kate's reaction. "My great-grandmother's recipe. They're a pain in the butt to make, but after a few thousand tries, I finally got them licked."
"Now I know where Mac learned to cook. This is fantastic."
