The haunting replay of last night's event echoed relentlessly in Dwayne's mind; from Jasmine's tearful cries to the horrified look on McKenzie's face. It triggered something deep within.
As he reclined in his office chair, massaging his temples, he battled with the internal conflict of doing what he felt in his heart and doing what McKenzie wanted him to do.
For years he avoided returning home…avoided her. However, the memories of how he ended things with McKenzie haunted him. But, when Bertarelli's Law Firm, where he worked, transferred him to the branch in Los Angeles, six months ago, he was forced to face his demons.
When he returned, McKenzie's mother had just passed away. Despite his attempts to reconnect with her, she never responded. It wasn't until three months later, outside Silver's Pizzeria, that he managed to convince her to accept a ride home. That's when he found out about Jasmine.
After dropping them off in a neighbourhood that seemed way too dangerous for a single mother with a toddler, McKenzie propositioned him with a shocking proposal, to engage in a paid sexual agreement.
At first, he thought she was joking but she wasn't.
"Are you serious?" he inquired, meeting her gaze through the rear view mirror.
"Very." Her face was blank, her tone emotionless.
Leaning back in the driver's seat, brow furrowed in disbelief Dwayne sought an explanation."But, why?"
Impatiently, McKenzie rolled her eyes. "Are you gamed or not?"
"McKenzie, if you're strapped for cash I can help you out. No strings attached."
Fire ignited in McKenzie's green eyes as her pride surged. "I'm not a charity case. I'm not going to just take your money like that," she declared defiantly. "If I work for it, it also means you can't ask for favours later because I don't owe you anything."
Dwayne shook his head in disbelief. "McKenzie, there are better ways to make money."
"There may be better ways but they are also longer ways. I can't wait that long." Her tone softened towards the end.
Dwayne suggested, "Well, then take it as a loan and pay me back when you can."
McKenzie responded with a cynical laugh, "A loan? So I can pile it on top of the twelve grand I already owe after begging my boss for money to bury my mother? No thanks. I'll figure something else out. But, hey, I appreciate the ride."
Hopping out the back seat of the black Hilux truck with Jasmine, McKenzie headed towards her front door.
"Shit!" Dwayne slammed his hands on the wheel before jumping out after her. "McKenzie, wait!"
She stopped and turned to face him. Dwayne realized that if he refused, she would find someone else, and he couldn't bear the thought of anyone else around her or Jasmine. Even though he didn't know who Jasmine's father was he felt the urge to protect her…protect them.
"I'm game, but under one condition."
McKenzie cocked her eyebrow, "Which is?"
"That you'll only sleep with me." Dwayne folded his arms across his chest.
"That'll cost you more," she shrugged.
"I'm not worried about the money."
McKenzie then outlined the times she'd be available and the price. Dwayne opted for them to do it at her place so she wouldn't have to hunt for a babysitter each time they had to hook up. This way he was able to keep an eye on them without McKenzie knowing his true intention.
The morning after dropping them off, he reached out to his cousin, Stephanie who once had a close connection with McKenzie. The mystery surrounding Jasmine's father needed solving and he figured that Stephanie may be able to solve it. But, according to her, McKenzie vanished after high school, reappearing right before her mother's murder. Leaving him with more questions than answers.
He'd known Sasha Tanner to be a quiet woman and the thought of someone taking her life made him feel sick to his stomach.
McKenzie told everyone it was a robbery gone wrong, but when he visited the trailer on the police compound, the numerous bullet holes, clearly from high-powered rifles, didn't sit right with him. McKenzie was hiding something. And if she'd just open up to him, he knew he could help.
Curiosity led him to inquire about other children McKenzie might have had, but Stephanie confirmed that Jasmine was the only one she'd ever seen McKenzie with. Her answers fuelled lingering questions about McKenzie's pregnancy seventeen years ago. A part of him yearned to confront her about it, while another part feared the possible answers.
When McKenzie informed him about her pregnancy back then, he wasn't ready for the responsibility of fatherhood. Focused on his future, he left the day after high school graduation and hadn't looked back…until now.
The innocent girl he once knew was long gone. Even though McKenzie wore a bright smile when she met with him three days a week, her eyes concealed secrets, secrets he wanted her to reveal to him. Her movements seemed robotic almost as if she was programmed to be in survival mode. However, the problem with programs is that there was a chance of them crashing, at least once.
He sighed heavily.
Would McKenzie's life had taken a different turn if he stayed?
This question caused him sleepless nights as he tried to piece together parts of McKenzie's life that she unconsciously mentioned to him: dead-end job, sickly toddler, massive debt.
In all honesty, he still loved her. He had a few girlfriends over the years, but none matched the connection he felt with McKenzie. But, he wondered if she would ever forgive him for leaving. Maybe, they could try rekindling their relationship if she'd have him.
Yeah, they were having sex now, but he knew it mean nothing to McKenzie. Even though she said all the right things and she'd explode over his cock, mouth or fingers, she was playing her part at making it enjoyable for him. It was a business transaction for her. Nothing more, nothing less.
Dwayne adjusted his hardening cock in his pants as he forced himself back to the present. He understood that last night he fucked up and went too far. He tried calling McKenzie that morning to check in on Jasmine, but it went straight to voicemail.
Last night, he rummaged through her kitchen cupboards and the only thing she had was a pack of ramen and an empty milk tin for Jasmine. His concern deepened as he wondered if all McKenzie's money was going into the debt she mentioned.
Determined to help, he had paid for some groceries, scheduled for delivery later that day. He made up his mind that whether McKenzie liked it or not, he was going to help them. No way in hell was she going to push him away.
Over the years, she had grown a hard, outer shell around herself. Yet, Dwayne understood that even the hardest shell would crack if you chipped away at it over time. Though McKenzie was reluctant to admit it, she needed someone in her corner and he wanted to be that person.
Glancing at his watch, it was 11:30 a.m. which was a bit early for lunch. Nevertheless, he stood up, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and left the office with his keys in hand.
Since McKenzie avoided his calls, he would take the conversation to her workplace, whether she liked it or not.
Twenty minutes later, he entered Silver's Pizzeria and slid into a booth. His eyes immediately fell on McKenzie, taking an order a few tables away. Even though she wore a smile on her face, her sluggish movements betrayed her tiredness. After delivering the order at the counter, she approached his booth.
"What are you doing here, Dwayne?" She glared at him.
Dwayne watched as beads of sweat formed on McKenzie's forehead despite the pizzeria's slight chill. He watched her weak attempt to wipe it away before she clutched the table for support.
Immediately, he rose from the booth and stood behind her. "Zee, do you need to sit down for a few minutes?"
As he placed his hands on McKenzie's arms, which were clammy to the touch, he noticed her chest rising and falling rapidly.
She shrugged out of his grasp. "I'm good."
"You're sick. You need to be home resting. Let me take care of you," Dwayne insisted.
"Like you took care of Leslie on prom night?" she scoffed.
"You said you didn't want to go." Dwayne tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"That didn't mean you should've taken someone who slept with the entire fucking rugby team!" McKenzie's voice rose.
Suddenly, a petite elderly woman approached the booth with a stern expression. "McKenzie, you have another telephone call, something to do with your daughter."
Dwayne witnessed the same horrified look from last night cross McKenzie's face before she followed the woman through the door marked 'Employees Only'.
A few minutes later, McKenzie rushed out with her handbag and the elderly woman on her heels.
"You always have some emergency with your daughter! Can't you get someone else to take care of it?! You're in the middle of a shift!" the woman yelled angrily.
"Please, I have to go!" McKenzie pleaded.
"If you walk out, don't come back!"
McKenzie paused for a few seconds, removed her apron, and tossed it at the woman.
"Fuck you and this job!" she snarled as she ran out of the pizzeria.
"If you think you won't have to pay me the money you owe you've got another thing coming, missy!" the woman called after her.
Dwayne ran behind McKenzie. Outside, she was frantically trying to flag down a taxi.
"McKenzie, where do you need to go?" Dwayne approached from behind, startling her.
"Inglewood Community Hospital. Jazzy's had a seizure." Her voice cracked.
"Fuck!"
Without saying another word, he took her hand and led her to his truck. He opened the passenger side for her to enter. Once she was secured in the vehicle he jogged around and hopped behind the wheel.
As he sped towards the hospital, she hugged the door and stared out of the window. He reached over and held her hand, expecting her to pull away but she didn't.
He couldn't fathom what she was going through right now. He glanced at her from time to time as he drove. Her eyes looked hollow and a mask of tiredness fell over her face.
Fifteen minutes later, Dwayne's tyres screeched as he pulled up at the entrance of the hospital. "You go ahead. When I find a parking spot I'll come and find you."
McKenzie nodded, jumped out of the vehicle, and disappeared into the hospital.
About five minutes later, Dwayne made his way to the nurse's desk. "Hi, I'm looking for McKenzie Tanner. Jasmine, our daughter was brought in a while ago due to seizures. I'm McKenzie's fiancé "
The nurse looked him over as if wondering if she should believe him. Being a lawyer had its perks. He was able to keep a straight face in the worst of situations.
"Come this way, sir," the nurse beckoned at him.
She escorted him to a room, smaller than the typical hospital room. A crib with adjustable bars stood near the wall, a chair placed in front of it. On the opposite wall, a small bed sat, with another chair and a tiny table beside it. A door to the right was slightly ajar, revealing the bathroom beyond.
McKenzie was sitting beside the crib, her head leaning on the bars. Jasmine's hand was fitted with an IV, and she lay motionless, except for the rise and fall of her chest.
"Ms. Tanner, this man says he's your fiancé?" the nurse inquired.
McKenzie glanced up at him, then at the nurse, nodding in confirmation. Dwayne thanked the nurse as she exited the room.
Dwayne pulled a chair and sat next to her.
"Have the doctors seen her yet?"
McKenzie nodded, she looked over at him, her eyes puffiness now added to her bloodshot red eyes. Tears lingered on her lashes.
God, he just wanted to hold her and take away some of the pain she was feeling.
"They told Aunty Lia her fever was too high and I shouldn't worry about it too much since febrile seizures are a normal occurrence in young children."
He knew if he attempted to wrap his arms around her, she would resist. So, instead, he pressed a comforting kiss to her forehead, and gently clasped her hand. As his fingers brushed against hers, he noticed that her hand felt warmer than the last time he held it.
"Why don't you get some rest? I don't mind watching Jazzy," Dwayne suggested.
"No, I'm ok." McKenzie turned her attention back to Jasmine and stroked her hand gently with her free hand.
"Zee, you're not ok. I think you have a fever," he said gently, hoping he'd get through to her.
Ignoring him, she continued to stroke Jasmine's hand as if in a trance. At that moment a different nurse entered the room.
"Good afternoon, I'm here to take baby girl's vitals." The nurse greeted them with a smile.
McKenzie nodded and Dwayne helped her to her feet. Together, they moved to the side of the crib, allowing the nurse access to Jasmine. Dwayne's gaze remained on McKenzie as she closed her eyes, her hands gripping the bar tightly, turning her knuckles white.
After taking Jasmine's vitals, the nurse produced a syringe with medication. "Mummy, can you hold up baby girl so I can administer this to her?"
McKenzie's eyes remained closed and she didn't respond.
"I'll do it," Dwayne said hastily.
Dwayne moved to the front of the crib and lifted Jasmine slightly as the nurse administered the medication. Jasmine fussed for a few seconds before falling back asleep.
"Her fever is still high so I'll be back in thirty minutes to take her temperature again," the nurse informed.
"Thanks," Dwayne replied.
As the nurse left, Dwayne turned his attention to McKenzie.
"Zee?"
Walking to the side of the crib, he stood next to her and touched her lightly on her arm. McKenzie's eyes fluttered open and she tilted her head slightly, her eyes glazed over as she looked at him. Suddenly, her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
"Zee!"
Dwayne reached out to catch her before she hit the floor.
FUCK!