Chapter Four [4] Safe Haven
~Billy~

He couldn’t believe he never thought to look there. The playhouse was their special place. That would be the last place the thought she would go. If only… he prayed that this was indeed where she was hiding. To hold her in his arms again, for now he could only dream but soon she would be before him. He had to make sure she was ok.
“Where are we going, man?”
“To my house.”
“You don’t think she would go there do you?”
“Yes and no…”
“Huh…what do you mean?”
“It’s a long story, I can’t quite explain. You gotta see what I’m talking about.” Billy explains. Whispering to himself he says, “Why didn’t I think of this place earlier…if only I had…”
Raul had no idea what Billy was mumbling about, but he hoped that they found Mackenzie soon. Despite everything that happened he still cared about Mac, no matter how many times he told himself not to, and he would never want any harm to come to her. Billy had been his best friend and Mackenzie was his girl at one time, and when they started seeing each behind his back he really hurt him. He lost trust in everyone around him. He wasn’t sure if he could ever get over the pain but he knew he had to forgive them eventually somehow. He would never forget but he knew in order to be happy with Rianna he had to let go of the hurt, pain and hate that their revelation gave him. Rianna was the only good thing out of everything that happened. Finally he may have found someone who could and would love and care for him as much as he did her. They became friends over the summer and she was there with him when everything came out. She never took sides or pointed the blame at anyone. She stayed by his side and was there when he needed a friend most. She was showing him how to love again. As they arrived at the house Raul asked “Ok Billy we’re here, what now?”
“Come on, I don’t wanna be seen. Just in case she’s not here…”
“Hey man, I don’t wanna bring you down, but what if she’s not here. And how are we gonna check the house if you don’t wanna be seen?”
“Then I’ll think of another place to look, and we aren’t going to the main house. I wanna check somewhere else”
“Huh?” shaking his head, “How much longer you gonna look? Maybe Mac doesn’t want to…”
“As long as it takes. I’m not stopping until I see her again. Until I can hold her in my arms again. Now if you don’t wanna keep looking with me I understand.”
“No, I care about Mackenzie. I’m in this until we find her”
“Thanks,” Billy quietly says as he leads raul to the playhouse. “No one had used the playhouse for a long time so I took Mac there the first time we really needed to talk. And it sorta became “our” place.”
“Your place?”
“Umm yeah, we would come here to spend time together. Just the two of us,” Billy explains. A strange look flashes across Raul’s face and Billy knows that his confession has just cause raul more pain. “I’m sorry,” he quietly says. Raul slowly shakes his head as to say apologies are not needed.
“So you think she might be at the playhouse?”
“That’s what I’m hoping, or else we have to come up with another pla…” Billy’s voice trails off as he stops in front of the playhouse. He stands there afraid to open the door, afraid that this is just another dead end and Mackenzie is truly gone.
“Come on Billy, we’ve come this far. What are you waiting for, open the door…”
“I…I…I uhh don’t know what I’m gonna do if she not here. I mean the last time we were here…” Billy shakes his head to clear the thoughts of the last time he and Mac where together in the playhouse. “Nevermind…” Billy takes a deep breath and slowly opens the door.
“Do you see anything? Is she in here? I hear something? Is that music playing?”
As he walks to the front of the couch a single tear rolls down his cheek. He smiles, shakes his head yes and says “Yeah, it’s…it’s the song ‘Take Me Home’.”
“Billy, what’s wron…” Billy holds his hand up to stop Raul question. He slowly kneels by the couch as he lovingly looks upon Mackenzie’s sleeping form. With nervous hands he gently stroke her hair. Loose strands of hair stray and fall across her face. He smiles and gently moves them away with his fingers. With tears flowing freely he leans forward and places a kiss upon Mackenzie’s forehead. She stirs but does not wake up. He softly laughs and gently kisses her lips. Startled Mackenzie wakes up and sees Billy kneeling beside her. As she quickly sits up and she wraps her arms around his neck. Holding on to him in case again he is merely a vision before her, and again she is merely dreaming. When he hugs her back she quietly begins to cry and tearfully asks, “Billy, what are you doing here?”
He whispers, “Looking for you.”
As tears flow she questions, “Why?”
“You left without me” he says as he tenderly wipes her tears away.
“I…I…”
“Sshhh…”
“I didn’t think you would want to go with me…”
“I told you, wherever you are, that’s the place I wanna be.”
“But I saw you and Brittany at Crimson Lights. I thought…”
“It doesn’t matter what you saw, all that matters is that I found you. And we are here together…” he softly says as Raul stands silent in the doorway observing their reunion. Unable to bear watching Mackenzie and Billy reconcile he quietly steps away from the doorway, but still within earshot if by chance his name is called. He is glad they found Mackenzie and that she appears to be fine.
“You came after me…” she says as she softly smiles.
“If I had to, I’d go to the sun and back to be with you. To be by your side…”
“Why?” Mackenzie asks as tears again well in her eyes.
“Because you mean so much to me. My life would mean nothing if I didn’t have you in it.”
Mackenzie lowers her head as tears begin to flow once again. She wrings her hands ashamed that she is unable to stop her tears, but she is so happy. Billy found her when she needed him most, and no matter what happens she will remember that.
“Why do you care if I was part of your life Billy?” He gently places his hand upon hers as he lifts her chin until they are again face to face. He softly begins to stroke the side of her face as tears stream down his face.
He smiles and softly says, “Because I love you Mackenzie…”
“I love you too Billy” she says as she softly cries. He gently cups her face to bring her closer to him. He places whisper soft kisses are upon her lips as he tenderly wraps his arms around her. Finally they know the value and depth of the others feelings. They separate and again they gaze into each other’s eyes. Touching her face lovingly they come together to share another gentle kiss. Pressing his lips to hers he mouths the words “I love you” once again.
“I…I…I have something for you,” Billy says as they momentarily separate.
“You’re the only thing I need,” Mackenzie whispers as she intertwines their hands.
Billy smiles and says, “You’re the only I need too, but I thought you might want this back.” Billy reaches into his pocket and removes a small red satin pouch.
“What is that?” Mackenzie asks unsure of what Billy is returning to her. Billy takes her hand and gently places the satin pouch in it. “Open it,” whispers Billy. Mackenzie heart quickens as she slowly opens the pouch. A single tear rolls down her cheek as she discovers the pawned opal ring Billy gave her. “Where…how did you find this?”
“The first time I saw this ring I knew it was meant for you. And I decided then that I was going to do whatever it took to make sure that you always had it.” He gently holds her hand as he tenderly placed the ring upon her finger once again. He brings her hand to his lips and softly kisses it. While still holding her hand he gently touches her face to wipe away her tears again and says, “This time it’s forever.”
“This time it’s forever,” Mackenzie quietly repeats as they kiss once again to seal this promise.
“How did you find me?”
“It was something Raul said…”
“Raul?”
“Yeah he helped me find you,” explained Billy.
“Where is he?” asked Mac as she looked toward the door where Raul was no longer standing.
As he too turned to where Raul was last standing he explained, “He’s right…well he was standing by the door when I saw you asleep on the couch.”
“Then where did he go? You don’t think he went to tell someone that you found me do you…”
“I…I…I’m right here” he says as he comes to stand by the door once again. “I was giving you some time alone.” Mackenzie rushes over to Raul ready to thank him for all that he did to find her. She stands in front of him momentarily unsure what to do and then quickly wraps her arms around him and hugs him. “What was that for?” Raul asks shocked by her actions and not returning her embrace.
“Thank you, thank you for finding me.”
“You’re…you’re welcomed” he stammers unsure of how he should feel. Mackenzie tightens her embrace as Raul slowly begins to return the hug. “Raul…I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she softly whispers.
“I know…”
“I’m so sorry Raul…” she says beginning to cry once again.
“It’s ok…” he tells her trying to keep her from crying.
“I thought you hated me,” she whispers afraid of his response. He moves away to stand in front of her face to face. Embarrassed she tries to hurriedly wipe away her tears. Moved by her heartfelt emotions he quickly reaches out to stop her from wiping away her tears. He slightly smiles as he wipes away the remainder of her tears and says, “Shhh, don’t cry. I don’t hate you Mackenzie. I never would.”
“I thought our friendship was over and that I would never see you again,” she says.
With tears welling in his eyes Raul softly smiles and says, “That would never happen.”
Mackenzie lowers her head as she again whispers, “I missed you Raul.” Slowly tears began to fall again as she looked over at Billy and says, “I missed everybody.” Billy came over and again enclosed Mackenzie in his arms until her sobs subsided. As hard as he tried, Raul could not keep the tears from escaping and he quickly turned away to wipe away his tears. Realizing how much Mackenzie and Billy meant to him, and almost losing both to his hurt and anger had a profound effect on him. As he looked upon Mackenzie and Billy he felt a deep appreciation for all that he had. He knew in time they all would be friends again, and although the friendship would not be as it once was. He was still happy to know that they would be in his life somehow. He found some peace knowing that Mac and Billy had found each other and that neither would be alone, even though it came at the expense of him. But he had Rianna now, and he too was finding love. Billy nodded at Raul and mouthed “Thank you” as he held Mackenzie until her crying ended. “Well…I think I should head home and let you have some more time alone. I’ll call you later to make sure everything is cool. I called Rianna and let her know everything is fine. Mackenzie, I’m glad you are ok…”
“No Raul, don’t go…”
“But don’t you want some time with Billy before you head home?”
“Home…I don’t know if I could…”