Page 139 of Renewal After Dark

“I can’t even deny the grumpiness,” Jenny said with a sheepish grin.

McKenzie’s phone rang with a number she didn’t recognize. In case it was another potential client, she excused herself to take the call.

Jenny gestured for her to go into the store and pointed to Jax to tell McKenzie she’d watch him.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

At first, McKenzie didn’t realize who she was talking to.

“Sending me a letter at work, threatening to tell my wife about us?”

Eric.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“Not at all. I’m finally in my right mind about you getting me pregnant and then walking away from your obligations.”

“I have no obligations to you!”

“No, but you have them to your son. He deserves to have everything your other kids have.”

“That’s not going to happen. There’s no way I can pay child support without people finding out about him.”

“That’s your problem, not mine. He’s your son. You know that as well as I do, and I’m prepared to take you to court to get what’s coming to him.”

“This is about revenge, right? I left you, so you’re going to ruin my life.”

“Don’t give yourself too much credit. I’ve barely given you a thought. This is about our son and doing what’s right for him.”

“I told you I can’t have any more kids.”

“Tell it to the court. My attorney says the next step will be a paternity test that’ll prove that in addition to your other charming qualities, you’re also a liar. Oh wait, we knew that already.”

“McKenzie, please… Don’t do this to me. You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

She released a harsh laugh. “That’s rich coming from you. Guess what? I don’t care what’s at stake for you. All I care about is doing right by my son. We created him together, and we’ll both pay for his upbringing. If you want to avoid a protracted public battle over this, make a settlement offer through my attorney.”

“I don’t have the money.”

“Then I guess I’ll see you in court.”

When she went to end the call, she realized her hands were trembling—not with fear but with adrenaline. Damn, that had felt good. It also felt good to realize she had not a single feeling left for the man she’d once thought was her forever love.

Jenny poked her head into the store. “Everything okay?”

McKenzie nodded. “I’m so sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. You want to talk about it?”

Was it professional to share her personal drama with a new client? Probably not, but Jenny had felt like a new friend from the get-go. “That was Jax’s dad, who just received the letter my new attorney sent him, letting him know we’re suing for child support.”

“Ah. I take it he wasn’t pleased with this news?”

“Not at all. He’s concerned about his wife and kids, the wife and kids I had no idea he had, finding out he’s got another kid out there, and apparently, he doesn’t have the money to support him.”

“Well, that sucks for him, right?”

McKenzie smiled. “Sure does. I want you to know I’m not a drama girl. I’m so sorry to bring that into your workplace…”

---