Abandoned but Not Alone (24 page)

“
Well it
’
s a good thing Jason King rode up on his white charger.
”
Carlos said sarcastically, using Jason
’
s full name.

Rolling her
eyes, Aviva snorted at his sarcasm
“
Behave
yourself, we
’
re all
alone so you can drop the possessive crap.
”

“
I care about you and I don
’
t want you to get wrapped up in some guy
who
’
s going to use you as
one of his playthings, then drop you when the novelty wears off.

“
For goodness sake Carlos
…”

“
I mean it, you
’
re meant for better than the way this guy will treat you.
”

Feeling
insulted, sick and tired of people sticking their noses into her business,
Aviva started to get annoyed
–
again.
“
Why does everyone think I can
’
t hold his interest? You know what, don
’
t even answer that question
–
I don
’
t care what you think. This is my life and I intend to live it
as I choose. So if this is what you wanted to talk about, I
’
m leaving. Grabbing her purse, Aviva
pushed back her chair, muttering under her breath about people taking her for a
fool, who was unable to run her own life.

Standing just
as quickly, Carlos snagged her arm.
“
I
’
m sorry. Please don
’
t leave. That
’
s not why I asked you to join me. Please Aviva, take a seat, I
promise, not another word about Jason King.
”
He grinned, again using his full name.

Taking him
at his word, Aviva resumed her seat and picked up her coffee and took a sip.
She could tell Carlos had something on his mind and was gearing himself up to
broach the subject.

“
Have you spoken to Mackenzie lately?
”

“
Mackenzie, no I haven
’
t seen or spoken to her for a while, maybe
about six weeks, why?

“
She told me she was pregnant.
”

“
Pregnant
–
why would she tell you she was pregnant?

“
Because I
’
m the father.
”

Shocked at
his disclosure, Aviva sputtered out her next question.
“
What
…
when did
this all happen, where was I when this was going on?

“
We hooked up the same week that I met you
and we
’
ve been hanging out
whenever I was in New York.
”

“
Okay
…
so why are you asking me when I last spoke with her, haven
’
t you spoken to her?
”

Carlos
lowered his eyes, ashamed of the look of disappointment settling over Aviva
’
s face at the negative shake of his head.

“
What did you do, what did you say to her?
”

“
I sort of told her I didn
’
t want the baby
–
but I didn
’
t mean it,
you have to believe me. I was just in shock. Women have tried to pull that type
of shit on me before. I tried to call her to apologize, I know she wouldn
’
t try to pull a stroke on me, but at the
time, I just wasn
’
t thinking
clearly. By the time I got to New York, her phone had been disconnected and she
had moved out of her apartment.
”

All that
didn
’
t happen overnight,
just how long had it taken him to contact her, Aviva wondered?  Vexed at him,
she grabbed her phone and dialed MacKenzie
’
s number. As she expected a mechanical voice informed her that
the number was no longer in service. Ending the call she looked at Carlos, he
had always struck her as a stand-up guy, so his reaction to Mackenzie carrying
his child came as something of a surprise.

“
What is wrong with you, a woman does the
right thing, tells you about the child you
both
made and you blow her
off. You should have thought about covering your dick, then neither of you
would be in this predicament! You have a nerve trying to give me advice about
Jason. Don
’
t you dare
mention him again, do you hear me?
”
Aviva
threw comment after comment at a shame-faced Carlos who still refused to meet
her gaze.

“
Look, I
’
m sorry about getting into your business
–
and you
’
re right, I
’
m certainly
not in a position to sit in judgment of what you do.
”
At her still furious look he sat up straighter in his chair and
changed the subject back to Mackenzie, he was worried. He had tried to find her
and had repeatedly come up empty handed. In his line of business, he had to be
careful of who he confided in, if word of any of this got out the media would
have a field day.

“
I know I
’
m not your favorite person at the moment but I need your help.
”
Met by a blank stare he rushed on.
“
I need to contact her. I want to do the
right thing; I just need to let her know that.
”

Aviva wasn
’
t happy with him, but she could see how
desperate he was for news of Mackenzie. That fact alone softened her to his
plight. She had met Mackenzie in college and they had become fast friends. 
Over the years Mackenzie had remained a loyal and up front friend who always
kept it real, telling Aviva the truth, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
Then would come the hugs that would take the sting out of her words. Aviva was
genuinely worried about her, nobody should be alone at a time like this.

Picking up
her phone once again, Aviva dialed another number and waited for the call to be
connected. 
“
Hi Mama
Mae, its Aviva, how are you doing?
”

“
I
’
m doing fine Aviva, how are you?

“
I'm good, thank you. Mama Mae, is
Mackenzie there?
”
Aviva
asked holding her breath for the response. Mama Mae hesitated, Aviva could hear
noises in the background as Mama Mae informed her companion of who was on the
phone.

“
She was baby, but she left about two
weeks ago.
”

“
Do you know where she went or could you
please give me a contact number for her?
”

“
I
’
m sorry baby, Mackenzie specifically asked her daddy and I not
to give out any details if anyone called. Aviva, do you know what
’
s going on with my baby? She wouldn
’
t tell her daddy or me anything.
”

Aviva had
the greatest respect for Mackenzie
’
s parents
but it was not her place to fill them in on their daughters
’
situation. Evading answering the
question but unwilling to lie, Aviva settled for saying that she had not spoken
with Mackenzie for six weeks and wanted to touch base with her. Aviva ended the
call by asking Mama Mae to have Mackenzie call her as soon as possible.

At the
conclusion of the telephone conversation, Aviva returned her attention to
Carlos who had heard everything that had been said.
“
I
’
m sorry; I
don
’
t know what to tell
you, I
’
m clean out of suggestions.
If she didn
’
t tell me
or her mother about the baby, I don
’
t think she
would have told anyone else or confided where she was going.
”

Carlos
lowered his head into his hands and blew out a long breath laced with regret.
“
What have I done, I really messed up this
time.
”

“
I can
’
t lie, yes you did, and I have no idea how you
’
re going to get yourself out of this one.
”
Staring at his bent head Aviva reached
out her hand and rubbed Carlos on his arm, a means of offering him what comfort
she could, her anger at him forgotten.
“
What are you going to do now?
”
  Aviva asked in a gentle voice.

“
Keep looking, what else can I do? Will
you promise me that if she contacts you, you
’
ll let me know?
”

“
Sure, but I
’
ll tell you now, I
’
m only
willing to do as Mackenzie dictates. If she doesn
’
t want me to give you her number or tell you where she is, I
will respect that completely, okay?
”

“
What choice do I have? It
’
s all about the sisterhood right, fuck
the guy!
”

“
Grow the hell up, this situation right
here, this is your doing and has nothing to do with the sisterhood. You had an
opportunity to do the right thing and you blew it, that
’
s on you, so deal with it!
”

Embarrassed
at his outburst Carlos took Aviva
’
s hand and
apologized. Accepting his apology he paid for their coffee and escorted her
from the coffee bar. Seeing her ride, he whistled but wisely refrained from
passing comment.

~~~~~~~~~

It was 8pm
and Aviva had still not arrived home.  Jason was worried. The Bugatti was a
powerful car, the type of car that if not held with a firm hand, could get away
from you. You needed to take control, caress it, and handle it as though it
were an unpredictable woman. Jason conjured up an image of Aviva as the thought
ran through his mind, only to be distracted once by his worry concerning her
whereabouts. Picking up his cell he looked at the screen to see if he had any
missed calls, still nothing.

It was 6pm
before Aviva realized she still didn
’
t have a
contact number for Jason, otherwise she would have informed him she was meeting
Carlos. He probably wouldn't have been too happy with the information, but as
she was staying at his house, and driving his car, Aviva felt the polite thing
to do would be to inform him of when she would be back.

Driving
through the gate of Jason
’
s house
Aviva
’
s thoughts were still
very much on Carlos and Mackenzie, hoping that Mackenzie was safe and would
soon be in touch. Parking the car at the front of the house, she wearily walked
to the door and turned the handle. The door was ripped from her hand as she stood
confronted by a very angry Jason.

Looking her
up and down, assuring himself she was unhurt, he stood back to allow her to
enter the house before closing the door.
“
Are you okay Aviva, you
’
re not hurt or anything, right?
”

“
I
’
m fine, why would you think I would be hurt?
”
She answered, puzzled by his question
and the anger he was displaying.

Then all
hell broke loose.
“
The reason
I thought you were laying in a gutter somewhere hurt, is because it
’
s after 8pm and I didn
’
t know where the hell you were, I was
worried But by your own admission, you
’
re fine. Therefore I can only conclude it must just be bad
manners on your part as to why I received no call from you.
”
As Jason came up for breath, Aviva
rushed in to defend herself against his verbal attack.

“
Now you wait just a minute Jason King. If
you were so worried, why didn
’
t you call
me?
”

“
I didn
’
t call you because I don
’
t have your number!
”