Smooth Jazz Ch. 08

He ignored his indecisive feelings. What did he care about Jazz? She had let her boyfriend break his damn bones in two with no regard. He had held a gun to his head.

He let the anger build and surpass any sympathy he might have for her. Fuck Jazz, he would propose to Ellen. Then after all of this was behind them and the money was theirs they would leave the country.

William walked into the room as the conversation came to a close. He knew once he gained trust back she would tell him everything.

"Oh thank god you're here. Do you have the police reports?"

Mr. Pennington asked him and he took his hand off the ring box.

"No I gave them to you. Maybe I left them at home."

"Surprise another fuck up! Does your incompetence know no bounds!"

Ellen yelled at him and William fumbled over himself with an excuse.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I might have left-"

"Shut up!" William felt Ellen's hand swift across his face.

"Ellen! Stop, its okay they probably got misplaced calm down."

Mr. Pennington stood knowing how quick Ellen was to anger and administer her abuse.

"No! I'm so tired of him messing up everything. He could have possibly blown our cover and now he doesn't know what he did with the police reports. I'm glad I'm getting rid of you."

Ellen let the words slip out of her mouth but once she realized she couldn't take it back she didn't care. She had no need for him anymore.

"Ellen I understand your angry, but I didn't mean to ruin anything. I'm trying to build with you. That's why I brought this." William pulled out the ring box and opened it.

"I know it'll take time but I want to gain your trust and get back in your good graces."

Mr. Pennington watched the scene with quiet pity. When William was married to Jazz he hadn't know he was so weak. He had thought William a great leader until his involvement with Ellen. She had clearly torn him down to this.

"You really believe I'm going to marry you still, after all you've done to ruin my plans? I told you this was about money. This was about power. You were once valuable to me. You were once a reliable source. Now you're nothing but an obstacle, a weight, a hindrance, a weakness. "

Ellen snatched the ring and scoffed at his absurdity. She slipped it on her finger.

"I could probably get some good money from this though. At least in the end you'll be good enough for something."

"In the end, what do you mean in the end? Ellen we can work through this. You're speaking out of anger-"

"No I'm speaking out of enlightenment! I'm not giving you anymore chances to fuck this up. I'm done with you William. To be honest I'm getting tired of your idiocy, less amused at the growing pain in my ass you've become, and just plain bored with you. You're too easy to control, and run over. Even now, you sit here crying and sniffling like a bitch."

"Stop it." William shook his head as tears ran down his face at her cruel words.

"It's the truth. You're a sorry excuse for a man William. Pathetic, worthless, spineless-"

"Stop it Ellen, don't say that!" Ellen started to laugh as she watched his feelings crumble on the floor.

"Oh you can't handle the truth. Everyone knows it. That's why Jazz got over you and went and found her a real man, who wiped the floor with you before you could get a sorry threat from your mouth!"

"Stop it!" William pulled out a gun and pointed it to Ellen.

"Oh, you're going to shoot me. You don't have the fucking guts."

"Son put down the gun!" Mr. Pennington bent down beneath his desk as Ellen walked closer to William until she pressed her chest to his barrel.

"Do it. Don't you know you're not supposed to pull out a gun if you're not going to use it? Come on William!"

Ellen screamed in his face and William turned the gun on himself.

"Tell me you'll stay."

William threatened his own life in desperation. The tears would not stop running down his red blood shot eyes. He felt his insides turn.

Her words had hit him hard. His stomach was in knots, and his heart fell to the floor. Once again she stepped on it with no regard to his feelings. He felt his sanity fall to pieces with every word that she shot at him.

"Why don't you pull the trigger? Do us all a favor."

Ellen gave a final look of amusement and shoulder checked him before she clicked off and out the door.

William collapsed to the floor and Mr. Pennington rushed to him and took the gun away. He watched in silence as William laid down sobbing. He shook his head.

He knew Ellen was vicious but she had just shown how manipulative and downright crazed she could be. He couldn't wait to be rid of her. Ellen was like a poison. Everything she touched got infected with weakness as she grew more powerful.

*

CONNOR WAS ENJOYING HIMSELF DESPITE HIS WANDERING MIND. Natalie was great for his dad. He was sad he hadn't met her before.

"So when will I get to meet Jazz? She sounds so wonderful."

"She is, she's beautiful and such a nice woman. Connor hasn't brought her by because there's been a lot going on."

Dave wanted to ask so badly how she was doing, but knew Connor was so protective they couldn't let anybody know what was going on.

"I'll have to bring her by soon. I planned on doing just that today but she had a meeting. She's trying to get sponsors for her new program I was telling you about. She's an amazing pianist mentor. She just needs more funding to expand to neighborhoods that could benefit from it, but don't necessarily have the funds."

Connor explained.

"Wow, I've worked for a lot of non-profits. I even helped start one primarily for relief work in other countries for at-risk children. If she wanted to sit down and talk I would be more than willing. I'm doing pretty well for myself and have some money to invest towards a good cause."

"That's great; I don't know what to say. She'd be ecstatic."

Connor saw his opportunity to help Jazz and jumped on it. She needed more good things coming her way.

"Have her call me. Maybe I can connect her with others who may be interested. Do you know if she's gotten any good collaborators so far?"

"Well she had a meeting with Richard Pennington, I don't know if you've heard of him. He's a wealthy businessman and involved in a lot of politics?"

"Oh I know who you're talking about, the Pennington scandal. Connor it was before your time but Honey do you remember that?"

Natalie tapped Dave on the shoulder and he shook his head.

"Connors mother and I didn't move here until later on probably."

"Well you missed the big drama of the 70's around here. Mr. Pennington was an up and coming business man at the time. Early, I mean early 70's. He was married and he and his wife started to build influence in the city. They started backing some major politicians."

"Just when they were about to take off, there were some photos that surfaced of him going and in out a local strip club. The pictures also spotted him leaving with what appeared to be a young woman and she appeared to be pregnant!"

"Later on it came out she might have been underage to. All the sudden though, the pictures they went away. Senators left and right wing came to his defense. The evidence was gone away and his own wife divorced him and we never heard of her again either."

"Just like that huh?" Connor found he was very intrigued.

"Just like that, this scandal went on for a while. I mean there were other women making statements that he had coerced them into sleeping with certain politicians and did drugs with them. It was huge. Then there was no evidence and everyone just let it go. I still remember and till this day I think the guys a slime ball."

"That's just me." Natalie shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll have to ask Jazz what she thinks. If this guys a snake she shouldn't be doing business with him, thanks for that. I'll be sure to give her your card."

"Please do. And don't let me steer you off with my bias. I'm just telling you what I know and think."

"Trust me. Instincts have never been a better tool these days."

Speaking of those, Connor was starting feel worse about his untrustworthy hunch towards Jazz.

*

JAZZ SAT IN THE ROOM WAITING FOR THE DOCTOR TO RETURN. She had been waiting patiently to see her results. In her heart she knew she should have brought Connor.

She felt guilty the whole drive over. She knew it was wrong to exclude him from this process. She tried to tell herself it was her choice. She was a woman; it's her body and their not married.

The truth was it was her body, but she chose to share it with him. If she got pregnant it would be just as much as his child as hers. Jazz eyed her phone. She dialed Connor's number but then hung up before it got a chance to ring.

She wanted so badly to have the courage to tell him where she was. That this whole time she had been worried that she may be pregnant. Instead she had kept it to herself. She trusted Connor with her life, with her heart. So why was she holding this back from him?

The prospect of him leaving was so strongly a force that guided her decision making. She imagined herself pregnant and alone. Connor was more than a lover. He was her best friend.

Connor was the one that at the end of the day she could complain too, let out her frustrations, and lean on whenever she was down. She knew it wasn't his fault he had to go.

He had promised to see a therapist while on base. They had let him know if he wanted to return he could. Jazz was happy for him. She smiled and they kissed after the news. They made love. Yet inside it was killing her.

The problem was to Jazz he was gone already. Instead of cherishing the time they had left, she had already said goodbye in her mind.

There was a part of her that was determined to figure this out. That way Connor wouldn't stay because he wanted to watch over her. Jazz wanted her life back.

The key was figuring this mess out, getting her the justice she deserved, and letting Connor go off properly.

If she was pregnant she would just have to find a way to tell him. Then she would let him make whatever decision about them he had to make.

She hoped her mother was right and she would be prepared for whatever decision he choose. Whether it was to stay or leave.

Jazz braced herself as the doctor came back into the room and sat down.

"Alright Ms. Simmons, we ran the test and your pregnant."

He looked into her eyes glasses at the tip of his nose just like her dad wore them. Jazz let it sink in. She didn't know what to think. She knew it. She always knew but never wanted to believe it was true.

"Are you sure?" Jazz gulped and the doctor chuckled.

"The blood tests are quite accurate Ms. Simmons, but you're welcome to get a second opinion."

"I'm sorry. It's just I wasn't expecting this. I don't know what to say."

"Well I know an unexpected pregnancy can be very scary and worrisome. I know this is hard to take in right now Ms. Simmons, but I assure you that everything will be okay."

"If you want we can discuss some options you might have. I don't know if you would like to wait for the father-"

"Oh my god Connor, he should have been here. I'm so stupid." Jazz didn't know how she would explain this to him. She thought she was pregnant for weeks and didn't tell him.

Now she is and he's not even here because she had lied that she needed "me" time. Which included me deceiving you to go to a doctor...but I'm pregnant now so yay! Yeah this won't end well.

"Okay, let's slow it down. If you want we can set up an appointment when it's convenient for you and the father to be here. Your about five weeks pregnant and there's still options."

"Options, what options?" Jazz rubbed her knees with the palm of her hands as she tried to calm down. She couldn't believe that she was five weeks pregnant.

"Well you are in the early stages Ms. Simmons. It seems that the father is very important to you in this process. If you want you both can consider abortion, adoption, and there are other options you can consider as well. Of course this would be at your, and if included, the fathers discretion."

"Abortion, adoption, I haven't talked to the father yet and this just a lot to take in right now."

Jazz immediately calmed down at the mention of that. She had to be rationale. This was about their child. She was pregnant. Her next course of action was to find out what she needed to do to make sure the baby developed healthy until they made a decision together on what to do.

"Alright, well you're in the first trimester. In another five weeks or so we can have you come back in for an ultra sound, blood work and other ultra sounds that will check for abnormalities. That is, if you decide to keep the baby."

"Abnormalities," Jazz was starting to get nervous now.

"I didn't mean to say that to scare you. It's routine. Just making sure the baby isn't at risk. Look there's a lot to cover. Today your wound up, anxious and I don't think we can get it all in today."

"I want you to go and make an appointment with Sharon up front. I suggest you talk to the father and bring him in so we can talk to both of you together. You can set up an appointment with me, or whoever you consider your primary caregiver if you have one."

"Right, is there anything I need to be doing? Any breathing or-"

"Anything that will relax you would be good." Jazz smiled as she knew she was looking quite unsettled.

"No drinking, smoking, as you probably already know. Five weeks you might start to experience, if you already haven't, nausea, breast tenderness or soreness, fatigue and or mood swings. Also morning is a good time for it, but nausea can happen anytime of the day."

"Nausea should be mild. If you find you're doing it too often and it becomes severe please come in. Or go to your primary physician. Some tips for it, eat often not a lot though. Just whenever you're hungry and eat snacks throughout the day."

"An empty stomach might escalate the queasiness. Also avoid acidic, spicy and if you can a lot of fried foods. Look for foods that are high in protein and rich in vitamin B like yogurt. You don't want to restrict yourself or not eat, but try to avoid those foods a majority of the time."

"Also another note of importance watch your stress levels. Minimal amount of stress is normal. New baby and life is happening. Extreme and or chronic stress though can bring some complications. I see you here today and I'm a little worried about that."

"Things have been stressful but I'm working towards bringing some stability to my life. I guess if I have any more questions I can get a book?" Jazz would always see those new mommy books in the book store, never once did she think that she would need one anytime soon.

"There are some pamphlets out there and articles on line that will tell you the same thing. Here's a book, matter fact." He gave her a new mommy book and Jazz smiled.

"Thank you so much. I'm going to set up another appointment with you, if you don't mind." Jazz liked him. He was patient and informative.

"No problem. Please do and come back before then if anything else concerns you."

"Will do," Jazz left out of the office to make the appointment. She didn't know what Connor would say but whatever decision they made, she wanted it to be the both of them together.

She was starting to see that she was wrong for not getting him involved. She only hoped he would forgive her.

*

JAZZ WALKED OUT MINUTES LATER FEELING A LITTLE BETTER. She would tell Connor and everything would be okay. She was ready to take on whatever responsibility she needed to. The doctor and his words about stress stood out in her mind.

She thought about the tussle she had with William. She hoped it didn't do any harm. Jazz got lost in her thoughts and nearly screamed when she bumped into a hard body. She looked up and jumped when Marcelo was standing in front of her.

"Is everything okay?"

"Were you following me? I told Connor I was taking a personal day." Jazz threw up her hands and walked to her car. How could he have Marcelo follow her? Didn't he trust- okay so maybe she shouldn't be pulling that card.

"Don't change the subject, what's going on? Why are you at the hospital and didn't tell anyone? Jazz," Marcelo followed her towards her car. He reached the driver door before her and stood in front of it blocking her path.

"Marcelo move."

"Jazz talk to me, what's going on?" Marcelo was starting to get scared as she started to sweat. What the hell was going on with her that she couldn't tell Connor or had to be so secretive about it?

"I told both of you I don't need a baby sitter!" Jazz stopped when she felt a pang in her side. She doubled over like she had plenty of times before and Marcelo quickly supported her.

"Jazz, calm down, Connor just cares about you. Are you okay?"

"I don't know. They've never been this painful before." Jazz never had cramps so serve and so suddenly. She felt a pang again and this time she nearly fell to the ground. Marcelo was right there and lifted her into his arms.

"I'm taking you back in and calling Connor."

"No! I don't want him to find out like this." Jazz shook her head and shut her eyes as the pain was so intense.

"Jazz I don't know what's going on but-"

"I'm pregnant. Marcelo I'm pregnant and I can't let Connor know like this. I can't-"

"Jazz!" Marcelo started running, as her eyes fluttered shut. The intensity of the pain was probably causing her to lose consciousness. He busted into the doors and ran to the emergency room.

"Sir, you can't do that!" The secretary yelled at him as he got her to a stretcher and pulled a doctor his way.

"Help her, she's pregnant!"

"Is she-"

"She's going into shock help her!" Marcelo grabbed him by the collar and he nodded profusely.

"Nurse, let's get her some oxygen." The doctor and his team sprung into action as Marcelo gripped his phone and ran fingers through his hair.

Marcelo had to do it. He dialed Connor, and nearly threw his phone when he didn't answer. He left a voicemail.

"Hey man I don't know where you are but get to Mercy hospital as soon as possible. Jazz had an incident. I'll explain when you get here."

Marcelo felt like he did the right thing while still respecting her. He knew that she should be the one to tell Connor he was the father. He watched as they rolled her into a room and Marcelo quickly followed.

He wouldn't leave her side until Connor came. He knew she meant the world to him, and he just prayed that nothing happened to her or the baby. He was starting to consider her family as well and he had lost enough of them in his lifetime.

He knew Connor was tough but he didn't think he could go on if anything happened to Jazz in the baby.

*

CONNORS PHONE VIBRATED ON THE SEAT IN THE CAR. He left it as he ran into a flower shop quickly to grab Jazz her favorites. He knew she would find out he had Marcelo tail her.

He knew at this point he had been stupid to think she was hiding things from him. They trusted and loved each other. He smiled as he paid for the flowers. He only hoped she would forgive him for being so foolish.