Author's Note -Don't be too hard on poor Alan. He really does grow up in the end! mcj

COMMITMENT

PROLOGUE

The sleek black Porsche glinted impressively in the late afternoon sunlight as it made its way along the freeway from San Diego airport towards the main area of the city. The car was a one of a kind, worth a fortune and drew the attention of all that it passed on its way.

That type of machine was not often seen in these parts and it was obvious that it had to belong to someone who had money and lots of it.

Big money.

The hands that held the wheel were those of a professional, one who had experience in handling cars at speed and one who was usually very happy to be behind the wheel of such a magnificent vehicle. Not today. The hands that held the wheel today were those of young man with a lot on his mind at the moment and someone who had good reason to be worried.

He accelerated past the allowed speed on the freeway. The way he felt right now, he needed the adrenalin caused by the additional speed to help him forget about everything for a while, especially this. He felt his head pound with the thrill of it and felt beads of perspiration building on his forehead as he concentrated to control the car. He realized at that moment how much he was missing his old passion of car-racing but now was not the time to be thinking about what was missing in his life. More realistically, what he now had to think about is what was in his life that he didn't need and didn't want.

He reached over and turned the radio up to its full volume. The blast from the huge speaker system nearly deafened him. However, the background music, whilst not to his liking was definitely preferable to the deadly silence that had existed ever since the two of them had left the airport. He looked straight ahead, his face grim, his fingers idly tapping to the rhythm of the song.

She looked out the window, uneasy about the speed of the car, but nevertheless her mind was on other things. On this. The reason for their hurried and secretive visit to San Diego.

She swallowed hard as the car turned off the freeway and passed through the main city precinct to a particularly quiet area of the sprawling city. Pedestrians watched the car pass them by with interest. They could not see the Driver or its passenger owing to the black tinted windows of the impressive vehicle. But those who lived in the area knew that most cars like that passed by on the way to only one destination around this neighborhood and always for the same reason.

A place where money changed hands and services were provided without question.

The car pulled into the driveway of a cosmopolitan set of buildings partially hidden from view of the main road by a white brick fence with rows of hedging planted on top.

He turned off the car engine but continued to hold onto the steering wheel for a few minutes, deep in thought. He turned off the radio.

Sighing he undid his seat belt, opened the car door and walked onto the pavement outside the buildings. He looked about uncomfortably.

She continued to sit in the vehicle with her head down. He opened her door and held out his hand for her to get out. Slowly she undid her seat belt and complied.

She looked timidly at the building and the stairs that led to the front door. It looked a reasonably safe place to come but then she had never done anything like this before. Two months ago she would never have thought of ever needing to do something like this.

She looked at him and tears welled in her soft, brown eyes.

"Please I don't think I can bring myself to do this." she whispered ready to break down at the thought of why he had brought her here and what she had agreed to do.

"Look I've told you before, it's not like either of us have a choice." he said coldly.

"No I guess not." she sniffled wiping her eyes and walking with a purpose towards the trunk of the car.

He opened the trunk and took out her bag and their eyes met. He saw hers were brimming. He looked away with guilt feeling like the complete bastard that he was.

He was supposed to love her wasn't he? Well he did love her but this was different. This situation was an inconvenience he didn't want and she didn't need. He was just being realistic about it.

Only the two of them knew about this so far. Neither had confided in anyone else about their "situation".

There was no way anyone else could ever be allowed to know.

Ever.

He sighed almost feeling sick. This whole stupid mess had started eight weeks ago on his birthday. Why hadn't he listened to his Father's advice? His Father had been right.

It was a man's responsibility to be careful no matter what the woman said. But as usual he hadn't listened to his Father. He'd counted on her being careful. She said she had been. Well that was obviously not what the outcome was.

He took her hand and walked inside carrying her bag.

The receptionist looked up as they entered the foyer. She was middle aged and hardened looking and had an air of officiousness in her tone.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asked imperiously.

No one used names here. Appointments were made, appointments were paid for at high expense, and appointments were carried out. People resumed their lives. No questions were asked.

"Yes ma'am." he said in a low voice. "I telephoned yesterday."

"Fine. Will you be paying for this now?"

"No ma'am. I'll pay you after it's done."

"Will you be using a credit card then?"

"No I said on the telephone the transaction will be cash."

"It's fifty thousand up front young man."

"I said I'd pay you when it's done."

"Then I'll need to see your credit card in the meantime."

He looked about nervously and reached into his jacket pocket to find his wallet.

"OK you can view my card but no imprint."

He opened his wallet and produced the card. She nodded feeling comfortable there was no limit on the black credit card he carried. This young man had money that was for sure.

So, one of Jeff Tracy's sons had gotten himself into trouble. The receptionist's face showed no emotion despite her recording the information in the back of her mind. There were five of them from memory; all five well sought after bachelors. Interesting this was the first one who'd been caught so far. He must be the youngest. He hardly even needed to shave.

"Take a seat then Sir. I'll need to ask the young lady some questions."

He looked anxious as he motioned her to sit down. He gave her a warning glance to be careful in her replies to any of the questions she was asked.

He was obviously the son of billionaire Jeff Tracy. He was impeccably dressed in designer clothing and very well mannered. He wore a gold Rolex watch on his wrist and donned an expensive black onyx ring on his finger. She, on the other hand looked quite young and timid. Obviously she had been caught up in a romance with the boy and he had never intended it to go anywhere.

"These young men with money." she mused. "No commitment to anything. Much easier to buy their way out of responsibility than face it."

She looked at the young girl twisting her fingers anxiously. Silly young kid. But then it was the reason this place existed. No questions asked. No judgments made. Solutions provided. Lives returned to normal.

She walked around the front of the desk and sat down in front of them.

"Now young lady." she began. "How many weeks are you?"

Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes darted from left to right.

"Around eight weeks I think."

"Have you had this confirmed?"

"No I haven't had access to a Doctor yet but I know."

"Well we'll check that out. Now have you ever had this sort of procedure before?"

Tears began to run down her cheeks.

"No ma'am, I've never done anything like this before." she admitted.

"So are you fully aware of what is about to occur?"

"Not really but I don't know if I want to."

"Well it's my job to tell you before you see the Doctor. He doesn't take kindly to the patients getting upset in the theatre."

She lowered her head in her hands trying not to cry.

"All right. You'd better tell me then."

The receptionist lowered her voice and graphically proceeded to outline what would occur over the next two hours. In the meantime, he looked everywhere but at her.

"Now I'll need you to sign this," the Receptionist said pushing a pen into the young girl's trembling hand.

"What does it say?" she asked blinded by her tears.

"It means you agree to the operation and accept all the risks associated with it."

She stared at the paper numbly for nearly five minutes.

"Young lady, time is passing with your appointment and the Doctor does not like to rush."

She looked up at him one last time, her eyes pleading with him to change his mind.

He didn't.

"I'm sorry." he said, "It has to be this way Tin-Tin. You know it does."

She nodded miserably and signed.

The receptionist processed the papers and then motioned her to follow her down the Hall.

"Come along then young lady we'd best get this under way."

Tin-Tin's brown eyes met Alan Tracy's blue as she followed the receptionist into the Doctor's suite. Alan Tracy worriedly rose to his feet.

"Please ma'am …the risks ... she will be all right won't she?" he stammered.

The receptionist nodded.

"The Doctor is very qualified and the clinic is very clean. The risks are minimal. It will be over before you know it."

"And ... And you're sure no-one will find out?" he added

"Mr. Tracy. Fifty Thousand dollars says no-one will ever know anything."

As the door to Office closed the words echoed through his head.

No-one will ever know anything.

But he knew.

They both did.

And they would always know.

Their first child.

Aborted.

He was not prepared to be a Father.

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Chapter 2 - Reflections.

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