Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 45 - Mackenzie

Placing the bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios in front of her son, Mackenzie smiled as she lifted the phone to her ear and said, "Hey girlie!" Hearing her best friend's laughter on the other end of the line, Mackenzie smiled when Jasmine replied, "Hey Mack. What are you guys up to?" Glancing over at her son, who was currently picking the cereal out of the bowl with his fingers, instead of using the spoon that he was holding in his right hand, Mackenzie shook her head and laughed as she'd said, "We're having breakfast. What are you guys doing?" Mackenzie smiled as Jasmine said, "Ethan is at a work site, and I'm hanging out here until he gets back. Mom and dad are flying in today." Nodding, Mackenzie said, "The auction is Saturday evening, right?" There was rustling on the other end of the line before Jasmine said, "Yeah, we're flying out Saturday morning. Mom and dad are staying here with us tonight, and we're going to have dinner at Ethan's parent's place when they arrive this afternoon."

Surprise filled Mackenzie, and she said, "Wow Jazz...you and Ethan are pretty serious, huh? I mean both sets of parents are meeting. That's pretty huge sweetie." Jasmine sighed as she said, "I know right? Things are moving so fast, but the weird thing is....it feels right Mack." Smiling, Mackenzie said, "I know, and I'm happy for you sweetie. You deserve to be happy, and I'm glad that you guys were able to move past that craziness with Valentina. Speaking of that psycho, have you guys heard anything else from her?" Releasing a derisive snort, Jasmine said, "No, and thank goodness for that, because Mack, I will seriously kick her whole entire ass the next time I see her. That nutjob actually had me believing that Ethan had left my room and ran back to his to have sex with her. She literally broke into his damn room and set that whole scene up. I'm just grateful that you and Shane figured it out. Thank you so much for that Mack." Waving off her friends gratitude, Mackenzie said, "Girl...there is no need for that. Besides, I told you that I will always have your back."

Smiling at her son, Mackenzie took the spoon out of his right hand and placed it in his left so that he would stop eating his cereal with his fingers. He smiled up at her, green eyes sparkling as he giggled, before switching the spoon back into his right hand, as he continued to eat his cheerios and berries with his fingers. Shaking her head at her son's antics, Mackenzie placed the folded napkin on the table in front of him. He said, "Thank you mommy", before humming as he continued eating his breakfast.

Hearing his voice, Jasmine said, "Was that my baby?" Smiling, Mackenzie said, "Yes, that was your baby. Would you like to speak to him?" Laughing, Jasmine said, "Uh...of course!" Laughing as well, Mackenzie sat in her chair next to NJ and said, "This is Auntie Jazz, do you want to say hello, NJ?" Excitement filled her son's features as he'd said, "Yes!" Laughing, Mackenzie said, "You have to clean off those sticky fingers first." Quickly wiping off her son's sticky wet fingers, Mackenzie handed NJ her cell, and smiled when a huge toothy grin spread across his face, and in an excited tone that matched the nature of a three-year-old, he'd said, "Hey Auntie Jazz!"

After the two had spoken for close to ten minutes, and NJ had asked when she was coming back over to play with him, and to swim in the pool with him and their puppy Rixby, his smile had morphed into a sad frown when Jasmine had mentioned that she was out of town on another vacation. His frown had quickly turned back into the huge smile that he'd had before, when Jasmine had promised to come and see him as soon as she'd returned to Charlotte. After several air kisses, and an "I love you too Auntie Jazz", NJ had said his goodbyes and handed Mackenzie back her phone.

Laughing, Mackenzie lifted the phone back to her ear, as she said, "Speaking of your return to Charlotte. When are you planning to head back this way? Next week, I'm going to go in and start setting my classroom up for the next school year. When are you planning to get yours set up Jazz?" The slight pause on the other line hadn't escaped Mackenzie's notice, so she said, "Um...Jazz...you are planning to come back to North Carolina, right?" There was another pause on the other end, before she heard Jasmine sigh as she said, "I am... but this morning, Ethan said something that has been on my mind ever since he left." Frowning, Mackenzie said, "What did he say? Is everything okay?" "Oh, yeah, everything is great Mack. It's nothing bad...but it did sort of catch me off guard a bit."