“Zack, can I come in?” I asked him gently as I took him in a cup of tea.
Gatsby sat obediently at his feet.
“If you must,” he snapped.
I went in and he was sitting with his chair facing the window staring out into the immaculate gardens. He didn’t turn around.
“Don’t you think you might have over-reacted a tiny bit?”
He wheeled around in his chair.
“No, I fucking don’t. I am not about to let my daughter turn into her whore of a mother!” he shouted.
Zack still looked absolutely livid. The veins in his neck were sticking out and throbbing. He glared at me.
Oh dear, this was worse than I thought.
“Come on, Zack. Scarlett is nothing like Phoebe. She is so like you it’s ridiculous. She loves Connor and they have been careful,” I told him quietly.
“What do you mean? You knew, didn’t you? How could you, Jennifer?”
His cheeks flushed a scarlet red as he stood up and loomed ominously over me. For a minute, I thought that he was going to hurt me but he pushed past me heading towards the door.
“Look Zack, I’m sorry but I caught them a few weeks ago. I could hardly tell you as it would have been too embarrassing for poor Scarlett,” I blurted out.
He spun around to face me.
“You should have told me, Jennifer. She’s my daughter not yours. Do you understand?” he snarled.
That was a bit harsh.
“Do you know what? I am getting out of the way. I hate this side of you! It’s not you, you are a really good man but you are being a complete arsehole, Zack!” I screamed at him.
Running out of the room, I went into the kitchen. I clanked around mugs to make myself some tea. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him quickly striding upstairs. Tears blurred my vision.
A few minutes later, he bolted downstairs in his motorbike leathers. I checked out his rear view.
Jesus! How fucking hot!
He yanked the front door and stormed through it.
I watched open-mouthed as the Harley went past the front of the house with a sexy deep throaty roar.
Zack quickly disappeared down the long winding driveway, spraying gravel in all directions.
Chapter Fifty Two
I moped around the house, regretting shouting at him. I should have been there for him not pushing him away. He needed me even though for a minute he had really scared me.
Hours ticked slowly. I ate in the kitchen with Scarlett and Jasper but none of us were very hungry.
“Why don’t we watch a movie?” I suggested, trying to lift the dark mood in the house.
We settled in with drinks, sweets and popcorn and we were soon laughing, watching a mindless comedy. The twins cuddled into me like bookends, one on either side. I stroked Scarlett’s hair absently. Jasper leaned on my shoulder.
“Where has Dad gone?” Jasper asked.
“I don’t know. We had words about Scarlett and he got on his bike and took off.”
“I hate that bike. He had an accident on it last year. Dad was lucky that he landed on soft grass. He walked away with a few cuts and bruises,” Scarlett told me as her eyes filled with tears.
“He will be fine, sweetheart. You know your Dad, he’s as tough as old boots!” I said, hugging her into me.
“It’s my fault!” she sobbed.
“Scarlett, it’s not. He just needs some time. That’s all. He is both parents rolled into one for you. I admire the great job he is doing.”
“He is the best. I do love him so much,” she sniffed.
“I know you do.”
“He will calm down, Scarlett,” Jasper said. “He just needs to get his head around the fact that you and Connor are shagging!”
“Jasper, don’t be so crude. We are in love!”
“You don’t have to be in love to enjoy it, Scarlett. You are so naïve!”
I gave him a shove. “It’s different for girls, Jasper. Nice girls don’t give it up for just anyone, you know!”
“Thank you, Jennifer” Scarlett said, sticking her tongue out at him.
My stomach lurched with worry.
“Come on, let’s go to bed, sis,” Jasper said, hauling her to her feet.
“I will ring him. He won’t be long, I am sure,” I told them both as we walked upstairs.
Going into my room, I closed the door and dialled his number. It went straight to voice mail. My body flooded with anxiety.
Suddenly I remembered that I had installed an app on my phone to track his. I quickly opened up the app and zoomed in on the phone’s location.
Zack was at the beach at Hastings.
It was about a thirty minute drive. Quickly grabbing my keys, I shouted to the kids I was going to find him.
Starting up the Audi, I quickly accelerated down the driveway.
Chapter Fifty Three