Zack had texted me to ask if I could pick him up.
He knew nothing of what had happened last night. I didn’t think it was fair with him going into an important meeting. Pulling up at the station to meet the 2pm train, I saw that I was early. I reclined the seat and closed my eyes.
“Jennifer, Jennifer,” someone said, knocking at the car window.
My eyes snapped open as panic engulfed me. I looked out of the window and saw Zack’s beautiful eyes staring at me. He had a concerned expression on his face. I quickly unlocked the door for him to get in.
“Did you have a late night, baby? Were you partying without me?”
I burst into tears as he pulled me into him. Huge loud sobs took over my body as I let all the tension and fear out.
“What’s the matter, Jennifer? Tell me.”
“Someone broke in last night and came into our bedroom. He touched me and he was going to attack me but Jasper came in and hit him with a cricket bat. He escaped out of the window,” I blurted out.
“What? Fucking hell! Is Jasper okay? Is Scarlett okay? Did you see who it was?”
“They are fine, Zack, and whoever it was wore a mask.”
I wasn’t going to tell him that I knew full well who it was.
“Have you been to the police? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“Yes, but I don’t expect them to find who it was. You were in a very important meeting. I’m so sorry,” I wailed.
“You and the twins are far more important than business. Come here, baby,” he soothed, kissing the top of my head.
His jaw clenched with anger at what had happened at the house. I could practically see the fury surging through him.
He drove the Audi home as I shut my eyes, giving in to sleep. I abruptly woke up when the car stopped outside the house.
“Jennifer, we are home.”
He came around my side of the car and opened the door helping me out. I managed a weak smile at him as he put an arm around me, pulling me closer to him.
“Go and have a lie down. I will pick up the twins.”
I trudged upstairs and shrugged out of my clothes, slipping into the cold bed.
Sleep thankfully came quickly.
Chapter Sixty Two
I woke up with a start to find I was alone in my bed. I touched Zack’s side and it was really cold.
Quickly putting on my dressing gown, I looked at the clock on the bedside cabinet.
Shit! It was 10am!
The last thing I remembered was getting into the bed at 3pm yesterday.
I bolted downstairs and Zack was sitting reading the paper with Gatsby sitting at his feet.
“Morning. There is tea in the pot.”
“Why didn’t you wake me? I should have taken the twins to college.”
“You were exhausted, Jennifer, so I took them. I need to spend more time with them. It’s not a problem.”
I took a seat and sipped my tea.
“I can’t believe how long I have slept, Zack.”
“You needed it, baby.”
I rubbed my hands over my face and tried to pull myself around.
“I am playing hooky today, JB.”
“I remember with fondness when you played hooky before!”
He started laughing.
“Oh yes, I will never forget that day,” he whispered.
He reached forward and took my hand kissing my fingers softly.
“I remember worrying that it would be a one off and you wouldn’t want me again. I was so scared.”
“What? That's crazy. How the hell could I not want you again?”
I clambered onto his lap as he stroked my hair lovingly. All my worries started to drift away.
“Well, if you sit there much longer I will have to take you over the kitchen table and Marcia is in the dining room so we best not!”
“I will go and get ready and take Gatsby out.”
“I am coming with you. I don’t want you to be alone at the moment with some fucking mad man on the loose.”
We enjoyed a pleasant day together. After our walk, we took the quad bikes out and had races on them then we watched a romantic comedy curled up together. It was so normal and comfortable.
“When we pick the kids up, we should go out for a pizza,” Zack suggested.
“That sounds great.”
My stomach growled its appreciation of the idea.
We picked them up from college and headed to Chez Mario’s in the village centre.
Jasper looked much happier and he was talking about a girl at college that had bought him lunch.
I guess his heartbreak was only temporary.
To other people we probably looked like a normal family unit.
Only I was an interloper.
Chapter Sixty Three
We all went to bed early and I quickly fell into a deep sleep. I was awoken by Zack thrashing around in the bed.
“No, no! Jasper, no! David!” he screamed.