Craigslist Lover Read online

  A salt-and-pepper haired African American woman wearing a pair of blue scrubs walked up. “Albert, please tell me you’re not causing problems,” she said, with her hand on her hip.

  “Hi, Mrs. Monique.” Eric stood and tipped his ball cap. “How was work?”

  She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “After a twelve-hour shift, I need sleep.”

  “Go get some rest,” Albert interjected.

  “I have Bible study,” she went to walk away.

  “McKenzie this is this fool’s wife, Monique,” Eric introduced them.

  McKenzie smiled. “Hi! Nice to meet you.”

  “So you’re the girl Albert was talking about,” Monique said, staring at her face, making her feel self-conscious about the bruises there. “You should join us next Sunday at church.”

  “We’ll see.” McKenzie continued up and Eric opened the door for her. “Thanks.”

  She stepped in and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Toby holding her son in his arms. “It’s okay, buddy. I got you. Your mom says you like to be rocked.” Caleb’s eyes were heavy with sleep as he stared into Toby’s irises. “He’s right, I will never know the trials you may be confronted with in life, but I want to understand,” he whispered. “If you or your mom ever need me, I’ll be right here.”

  McKenzie didn’t mean to ogle his body. Toby’s hair was still wet, she guessed from the shower, and he only wore a pair of gray shorts. Looking at his abs was like admiring a fine piece of art. He was beautifully sculpted, all the way down to the V disappearing below the waistband of his shorts.

  “Caleb doesn’t see color yet.” McKenzie closed the door behind her. “He just sees a man trying to calm and comfort him. Prejudice is taught.”

  Toby gazed at her.

  “Look what I got for dirt cheap at the thrift store.” She pulled out a maxi dress, and lifted it, showing him. “This was only three dollars.” McKenzie chuckled. Going to that store was like hunting for treasures. “And this pants and shirt were a dollar each.” Toby looked at the clothes she was so giddy about. She must not have been able to go clothes shopping for herself in months. “What, you don’t like them?” McKenzie folded her new clothes. “I’m tired of wearing the same three outfits.”

  “I understand that, but why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve taken you to a nice store, instead of a second-hand joint.” He rubbed Caleb’s back.

  “Why? These things are used, but after I wash them, they will be new to me. I told you, I’m not into material things like that. I used to be, but during the years, I’ve matured in my way of thinking. I used to think people who lived in trailer parks were only white and racist, and you and Albert have proven me wrong.”

  “You thought that?” He cocked an eyebrow.

  “Yes,” she sadly admitted. “It’s the stereotypes that are taught to us by our family, friends, and TV, that sometimes aren’t true.” McKenzie massaged her shoulders. “Albert meant well. He was trying to look out for Caleb. He went about it the wrong way.”

  “He was right.” Toby placed Caleb back in his playpen. “I know nothing about being a black man.”

  McKenzie took his hand and led him over to the sofa and they sat, facing each other. “We need to have the talk.”

  “The talk?” He chuckled. “Beautiful, I already know about the birds and bees.”

  She gave him a look and he stopped laughing. “I’m black,” McKenzie pointed at her chest, “and you, my friend, are white, right?”

  Toby cocked his eyebrow. “Really? I didn’t notice that.”

  She ignored him. “We come from completely different backgrounds and different ways of life. I will never know the struggles you’ve been through personally, and you will never know mine. We can share stories, and we can try to understand, but if we haven’t lived it, it will be very difficult. We can’t change history.”

  “That we can’t do.”

  “We can always learn from it. Did you personally own slaves?” McKenzie smirked as his eyes widened and he shook his head. “No. Did your ancestors?”

  “I have no idea.” He sat up straight.

  “Silly, it was a rhetorical question. You aren’t those people that did hurtful things to a particular race, and you aren’t that person now. My people have been through a lot in history, and if you want, one day I can give you an African American history class.”

  “Do you think everyone is prejudiced?” Toby placed his feet on the table.

  “Yes, I do. Example: I was raised to treat everyone equal; however, on the other hand, I could only date my own race or my choice would be frowned upon. That’s a contradiction, if you ask me.”

  He leaned forward.

  “We all have a little prejudice in us. When we first started chatting, I didn’t know the color of your skin, and I didn’t really care because I thought I would never set eyes on you.” McKenzie smiled. “Then, over time, I began to think you were black because of the key words you would write, and your nickname, Tee,” she smirked. “Your favorite food is chicken and you love red Kool-Aid.”

  He burst out laughing.

  “And then you mentioned living in a trailer park, and I was like, wait, is this man white? But then you said your family stood out, and I thought, oh, his family must have been the only African Americans in their community.”

  “Really.” He placed his elbows on his thighs. “We stood out because Eric, James, Noah, and I were all tall at a young age, and my parents were short. I didn’t know you would take that statement to think I was black.” Now it was his turn to smirk. “I hope I wasn’t a disappointment.”

  “You were more than I expected. What you did for me, most wouldn’t.” McKenzie touched his cheek, and continued. “You became my Blair Underwood. I was wrong on so many levels, wasn’t I?” Toby shook his head. “Everything I thought about you was wrong, except for your beautiful personality. I became attached to your heart.” She placed her hand over his bare chest. “And prayed you weren’t a lie, a fiction of my imagination.” Her lips curled up in a grin. “Sitting here in front of you…you are very real.”

  ***

  Toby put his hand over hers. “You are my addiction.”

  McKenzie slowly pulled her hand away, and he kicked himself for saying that. It was too soon.

  He cleared his throat and got up from the couch. “You were right about being a little prejudiced, because when I chatted with you, I imagined a blond-headed, blue-eyed woman. However, I didn’t fall for my imagination.” He gazed into her dark eyes, which reminded him of the color of black coffee. McKenzie’s eye and lip was healing, and damn, was she fine in his eyes. The woman had a Coke-bottle figure. When she walked, she hypnotized him. “I fell for a stranger behind words. I wasn’t thinking of the color of your skin until you opened that front door. And McKenzie, my heart ached when I saw what he’d done to you. And I also rejoiced, because you would live. I finally met the person that had me all twisted inside.”

  McKenzie’s chest heaved up and down. “Toby…”

  “Don’t, beautiful. I know you’ve been through the wringer and back, and the last thing I want to do is complicate things more. Don’t worry about me or my feelings. I promise I won’t overstep my boundaries. I will always be your diary.”

  Her lips twisted up. “I can’t lie and tell you I have no feelings for you, but I’m not ready to explore them at this time. I need to be by myself. Find McKenzie Strong all over again.”

  “Your last name is Strong?”

  “Yes. My maiden name.”

  “You hold up your last name really well, because beautiful, you are a strong woman.” Toby extended his arms. “Friends,” he said, even as he felt sick to his stomach at the thought of letting her go.

  McKenzie stared at his hand, then stood and wrapped her gentle hands around his neck. “My Craigslist lover,” she whispered in his ear. If only she would allow him to be her lover, he would worship her body from head to toe. “You have changed my life…”

  Toby took the opportunity to hold her closer, inhaling her fruity scent. Yep, he was a goner, but he understood her position. He needed to get over the way he felt about her. Being her friend was better than nothing.

  She leaned back, and caressed his face in her soft hands. “Please put on a shirt.” She chuckled as she touched his abs. McKenzie’s eyes showed desire. The way she was gazing at him made his manhood jerk. She rapidly dropped her hands to her sides. “Eric said dinner is almost ready.” She backed away. McKenzie opened the door, leaving her imprint on his chest.

  “You want me just as much as I want you.” Toby grabbed a T-shirt from the clothes basket and pulled it over his head. “I can wait,” he said to himself, before joining the others out on the porch.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Toby’s mind wasn’t at work, but his body was. He couldn’t get McKenzie off his mind. She had taken over his senses. Having her in his home was refreshing, and he wished he could keep her there. However, Toby knew that wasn’t possible. She needed her own space, away from any man.

  Having her and Caleb there gave him something to look forward to, besides sitting home alone or going to the nearby bar with his cousin. His single life was getting old. He wasn’t one to sit down and think about the future. Toby lived in the now, no looking back or forward.

  A knock on his door brought him back to the present. “Come in.”

  An African American and Caucasian officers walked in to his office. Toby sat up straight. Fuck, the neighbors must have IDed him. “Yes?”

  The African American officer spoke first. “Sir, I’m Officer Scott and this is my partner, Lewis. One of your employees might be a person of interest in an investigation going on.”

  He needed to remain calm. This wasn’t his first rodeo
with the cops, and it wouldn’t be his last. “What investigation?”

  The white cop flipped open his small notepad. “A McKenzie O’Sullivan.”

  “What about McKenzie?”

  “So you do know her?” Lewis pointed out after his question. Toby reclined in his seat. “It’s too late to say no.”

  Toby placed his elbows on his desk and entwined his fingers, glaring at the cops.

  “We’re not here to accuse anyone of anything. We are searching for answers,” Scott chimed in. “Her husband filed a missing person’s report after she accused him of domestic violence.”

  “Accused?” Toby’s hands tightened into a fist remembering McKenzie’s face that day. “Her fucking husband beat her to a pulp. There’s no question about that.”

  “Her husband gave us some information. That’s why we are here. He seems to think someone is holding her against her will,” the shorter cop mentioned. “Do you know where Mrs. O’Sullivan is?”

  Toby cracked his neck. “Are you going to run back and give this information to her husband?”

  “No, we’re simply making sure she’s fine. Mr. O’Sullivan has been ordered to stay away from her. When we went to serve him the restraining order, he accused someone of taking his wife and child against their will. Would that someone be you?”

  “She left on her own.” How the fuck did O’Sullivan find out who he was and where he worked? Toby’s nose flared. “McKenzie’s safe, away from him.”

  “You might be right, but I need to hear that from her own mouth,” Officer Scott interjected.

  “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Would it be okay if she came here?”

  “Yes,” Lewis answered.

  Toby picked up his office phone, and dialed her temporary number.

  “Hey!” Her sweet voice echoed throughout his body.

  “The police are here.” He stared at the officers as they talked amongst themselves.

  “What!” she blurted out. “Are you okay? How did they find out? Your face was covered.” Her voice cracked. “It was covered. Oh no…your hoodie slipped off. Did he see you? But how did he know it was you?”

  “Calm down, Kenzie. They want to make sure you’re okay. Can you drive down to the water plant? It’s only five miles down the road.”

  “I don’t have a car.”

  “Ask Albert if he can bring you. He knows exactly where I work. It’s his old stomping grounds.” Toby had been given a promotion the day after Albert retired. The old man taught him everything he knew about the job. Albert was a nosy, intrusive old man but he meant well. He’d watched Toby grow up, along with his siblings. He was ol’ Uncle Al.

  “Okay, bye.”

  He hung up the phone. “She’s on her way.”

  ***

  “Albert, thank you.” McKenzie handed the old man a twenty-dollar bill.

  “What’s this for?” He stared at the note, confused.

  “For doing me the favor of bringing me here.”

  Albert folded the bill, and placed it in the side pocket of her diaper bag. “Child, please. I would do anything for those Wheeler boys. Tell him he owes me.” He chuckled. “Do you need me to wait?”

  “No, thank you so much.” McKenzie hopped out of his truck with Caleb in her arms. She knew she’d taken a big chance, having her baby buckled up in between her and Albert, but she needed to get to Toby. He’d done so much for her already, without asking for anything in return. There was a police SUV parked in front of the building as she marched up to the water plant. McKenzie couldn’t fathom him going to jail over her.

  “Hi Eric,” she said, opening the heavy metal door. Toby’s cousin was standing next to a vending machine.

  His eyebrows met in confusion. “McKenzie, what are you doing here?”

  “Toby called me,” she said. “Where’s his office?”

  He pointed down the hall. “Why would he call you down to this dump?”

  “The cops are here.” She rushed down the hall to Toby’s office, and pushed the door open. Her heart raced, thinking she was going to see his hands behind his back in hand cuffs, but instead he was just talking to them. McKenzie closed her eyes and thanked God.

  “What’s going on?” Eric asked from behind her.

  Toby smiled as soon as he saw McKenzie. He pushed back in his chair and stood. “This is McKenzie.”

  “Ma’am, I’m Officer Scott and this is my partner, Officer Lewis. We have a few questions. Can we speak privately?”

  “Yes.” She gazed at Toby. He was okay. They didn’t know it was him.

  Toby strolled up to her and gently took Caleb from her arms. “We’ll be right outside.” Caleb smiled, touching Toby’s cheeks as he pushed Eric along and out the door with him. “Let’s go.”

  “Ma’am, are you safe?” Officer Scott asked.

  “Yes.” She looked into his brown eyes, and smiled wide.

  “May I see an identification?” Officer Lewis asked.

  McKenzie dug into the baby bag, and pulled out her wallet and then handed her driver’s license over. He glanced at the piece of plastic.

  “Is anyone making you do anything against your will?” Officer Scott gave back her identification.

  McKenzie placed the ID in the bag and tilted her head to the side, watching him write. “Not anymore.”

  “What do you mean?” He continued scribbling in his notepad.

  “I was trapped, forced to live at 725 Magnolia Drive, but I guess that’s not kidnapping. That’s called being trapped in a domestic violence marriage,” she pointed out.

  “725 Magnolia, that’s your home address,” Scott said, searching his notes.

  “It was. Now I’m free and if you check your records, he is not to come within ten feet of me. I was not kidnapped by anyone. I walked out of that house on my own free will,” McKenzie said proudly.

  “Do you know anything about an attack on your husband?” Scott asked.

  “What attack?” She raised her eyebrow. “When I walked out the front door, he was using the toilet. So if he was assaulted, it wasn’t on my watch. Did you ask the neighbors?” She remembered what her brother had told her about Margaret not saying anything about what she’d seen that day.

  “They saw nothing. We have no leads and the only thing we have to go by was that his assaulter was Caucasian. He didn’t get a chance to see the man,” Lewis revealed. “We came to make sure you were safe and sound.”

  “I’m breathing without pain.” She took a deep breath and exhaled to show them. “My limbs are functional and I’m smiling without faking it, officers, so I’m blessed.” McKenzie wondered how they’d come to Toby’s work. “How did you find me?”

  “Your husband gave us a phone number he’d tracked to this building and it led us to Mr. Wheeler. Don’t worry, we didn’t share the information with him.” Officer Scott stared at her with pity. “If your husband comes close to you, call 911.”

  “It’s on my speed dial,” McKenzie said. “Hopefully, I won’t have to use it.”

  Lewis nodded his head. “Have a good day, ma’am.” He walked out of the office.

  “Ma’am, are you sure you’re okay?” Scott asked, probably looking at the barely there bruises around her eyes, and mouth.

  “Thank you for your concern, Officer, but as I said before, I’m the happiest I’ve been in years,” she said with conviction in her tone. “I’m done being anyone’s victim.”

  “Take care, Ms. O’Sullivan,” he said, passing by her to the door.

  ***

  “When she said the cops were here…” Eric wiped his forehead. “I thought—”

  “He didn’t see me. I left no evidence.” Toby rubbed McKenzie’s little boy’s back. “I don’t know how he tracked me here, but he doesn’t know it was me.”

  “Thank God.”

  Toby and Eric watched the officers leave the building. Caleb had fallen asleep on his shoulder. McKenzie strolled out of the office and wrapped her arms around him and her son. “I was so afraid for you, Tee.”

  Her hair smelled like coconut as he circled his free hand around her. “I’m still here, beautiful. I promise to always be here for you.”