Vexed that she was being reminded of her loss of control, MacKenzie gave him a dirty look. She wanted the look to be enough to show her exasperation with him, but she was unable to remain quiet. “What is the matter with you, Jacob?” She asked the annoyance in her voice only too apparent.
“MacKenzie, if I actually told you what was wrong with me, I’d have you running out of this hospital, storm or no storm.” Jake chose his words with careful consideration. He wanted to see if she would take the bait and ask him for clarification of his cryptic statement. Jake wasn’t surprised when all he got was silence. “Coward,” he said just loud enough for her to hear.
“Damn right I am!” MacKenzie whispered into the quiet room.
“MacKenzie, I should tell you that I have exceptional hearing.” Jake didn’t expect an answer and he didn’t get one.
MacKenzie remained quiet for such a long time, when she spoke, Jake was more than a little surprised at her words. Laying on her side, a hand resting on the pillow, it appeared to Jake that her eyes had glazed over when her words began to flow around him.
“Carlos and I broke up months ago. I guess you were sort of right about my getting pregnant—”
“MacKenzie, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay, Jake. I know you were just mad at Aviva and me when you said the things you did. In hindsight, I guess I deserved your anger. It was a stupid stunt, but there was no way I was going to let my girl go to that house alone.” After a brief pause, she continued to speak in the same soft voice.
“Carlos and I met and hit it off. Everything was just supposed to be casual, and it was. But although we used protection, something went wrong. When I realized what had happened, and I told him about the pregnancy, he accused me of attempting to trap him. He said a few other things that I’m not going to repeat, because I’m sure you can probably imagine what they were. I left for a while and I met you shortly after that.”
MacKenzie paused, as though reliving her former experiences, and Jake felt embarrassment at the way he had treated her in the past. He didn’t dwell on it though because he knew, where the two of them were concerned; everything was about to change.
“Go on.” Jake urged.
“He apologized, I accepted. We tried to make a go of things. It didn’t work out. The end.” MacKenzie finished in a rush.
“Only it’s not the end is it, MacKenzie? You just brought a child into the world, and Carlos is the father. Yet, when he just spoke with you, you didn’t tell him that he was a father, why?”
“Because he didn’t ask.” MacKenzie’s response came with no real anger. “He called to let me know his latest song was Christmas number one in five countries in Europe, and his manager has booked engagements for the New Year. He wanted me to know that he wouldn’t be around for the birth of our child. So I didn’t mention she was already here. I suppose I didn’t want to be the reason he missed out on what he’s been working towards for years.”
“I don’t understand why you’re okay with this. That little girl is both of your responsibility.” Jake was honestly baffled at how calm she sounded that Carlos thought it acceptable to be absent for the birth of his child.
“Neither of us were really thinking about being parents, Jake. It happened, and it was my decision to go through with the pregnancy. Therefore, I take full responsibility for my baby’s wellbeing. I have no doubt Carlos will be a good father, but I doubt he will ever be a dad.
This baby is mine, and I’ll make sure she is surrounded by love. If Carlos and I had stayed together, in the end it would be detrimental to us all. So in answer to your question, no we don’t love each other.”
What MacKenzie didn’t see as she drifted off to sleep was the smile that played across Jake’s face. Slowly but surely he was getting his answers.
Chapter 6
After leaving the hospital; and against her better judgment, MacKenzie was persuaded to return to the Kingdom’s home. That was five days ago, and it was now New Year’s Eve, and she still hadn’t returned home.
That evening all the Kingdoms were gathered together for the New Year’s celebration. Having spoken to her family earlier in the day, MacKenzie was feeling a little down as she stood to the side watching them interact.
Conscious that she wasn’t joining in with the merriment, MacKenzie shook off her mood and placed a smile on her face. It was nearly midnight and she didn’t want to give the impression that she wasn’t a full participant in the New Year’s festivities.