Closer to the Heart (The Heart Trilogy Book 3) (26 page)

"Just remember her from the yacht today, she looked so happy and carefree like the girl I married so many years ago"

"I will Dad"

Chapter 34

With the final week of rehearsals in full swing Charlotte felt exhausted every night. Every single muscle and sinew in her body seemed to ache. Her costumes fitted snugly and no one had mentioned anything about her slight weight gain. Over tea she would recite her lines into the emptiness of the flat before watching the film without the sound so she could practice. She loved the way Arlene had adapted the screenplay to the stage, most of the seminal movie scenes were still included and they very cleverly did the lake scene behind a screen so it looked like they were diving into water.

She was flat out on the sofa on Thursday evening when her phone rang

"Hi Charlie, I'm just parking the car will be up in a moment"

"Ok Zach"

He bounced into the flat and made his way into the lounge.

"I thought you'd be practicing" he commented, gazing down at her prone form.

"I'm learning my lines before I have a bath and then bed"

"Oh, can't I take you out for some supper?" Zach reached for her hand and pulled her up from the sofa. His hand reached and rubbed her small bump in an affectionate way.

"Ok, I'll go and take a shower" she said, smiling and covering his hand with hers.

While she showered and changed Zach gave his siste
r
Lexi
e
a call and arranged to meet her and her husband at the bistro.

"Hope this is ok?" Charlie asked, as she strolled into the room and spun round. Her black sundress was loose enough t
o
hi
d
the bump and she had teamed it with her silver cardigan and sandals. Her hair was tied into a messy bun and her lips coated in the same shade of frosted pink he remembered from New Year’s Eve. Her skin was pink and glowing and he reached to enfold her, breathing in her scent of coconut and roses. The taxi picked them up outside an
d
drove through the city to the small bistro. Inside he saw his sister and her husband Duncan. Charlie started and looked up at him

"You didn't say we'd be meeting your sister"

"Just a little surprise" he murmured, placing his hand on the small of her back and guiding her to the table.

Lexi
e
greeted them both with a hug and kiss on the cheeks, her husband shook their hands and they all perused the menu in silence.

"So how are the show rehearsals going?
"
Lexi
e
asked over starters.

"Good, the first performance is on Saturday and it's already sold out"

Lexi
e
turned to scowl at her brother

"So where are our tickets for this event?"

"Untwist your knickers sis, I have a couple for you
"
Zac
h
laughed as he slipped the envelope across the table.

Beneath the table Charlotte's legs started to shake at the thought of the opening night, she was so scared that she would forget the lines or the steps. Plus knowing that Matthew/Mitchell would be in the front row watching was almost too much to handle.

She felt a hand creep over the top of her thigh, sliding on the smooth material of her dress. It stopped and gave a littl
e
squeeze
,
she turned to see Zach smiling at her.

"Charlotte will b
e
brilliant
,
this show is just the starting point for her career"

"Oh Zach, I'm not sure you should say that, you haven't seen me perform yet"

"Well I saw your audition"

When the wine arrived with the main course Charlotte asked for an orange juice and whe
n
Lexi
e
looked across she smiled

"I'm on a health kick before the performance"

"Well, we'll toast you with champagne after the show" she said. Charlie grinned and blushed at the same time, feeling the slight kick from inside her.

The evening out was just what Charlotte needed but by the time the taxi returned them to the flat she was asleep. Zach lifted her out and carried her in, the judder of the lift woke her and she realised she was held securely in his arms. She snuggled closer into his chest and smiled sleepily at him. He touched his lips to her forehead and then despite her request to put her down he carried her into the bedroom.

"I'll see you in the morning"

"Night Zach" she murmured before he closed the door and she peeled off her clothes and crawled beneath the warm duvet.

In the lounge Zach poured a drink and then retrieved the folder from his briefcase. The picture of Sasha stirred his heart as yet again he read through all the information Keith had found for him. It even included her current address which was only a few miles away from his flat here in the capital. He was going to call round there tomorrow while Charlotte was at her rehearsals, even though he had no idea what he would say or do if she was actually in. Gathering up the information and the photo he placed them back in his case, he didn't want to upset Charlotte with anything else from his past. Turning his thoughts to Saturday evening he couldn't stop the smile spreading over his face when Felicity realised who his mysterious Casey was.

He peeped into the main bedroom and saw Charlotte's form beneath the covers, he ached to be with her but instead he chose the spare room. Charlotte made coffee the next morning and tiptoed into the room where Zach still lay asleep. The covers were coiled around his sleek frame and she felt a jolt of desire at the sight. She loved Mitchell but what if he was over her
?
Wha
t
if he loved his new girlfriend more than her? Opening his eyes he saw her standing staring at him.

"Uh, I bought you a coffee" she stammered, averting her eyes as his move to sit up uncovered more of his body.

"Thanks Sweetie, busy day for you I guess?"

"Yes, practise this morning and then full run through with costumes this afternoon at the theatre"

Noticing her hand shake as she held out the mug he took it from her and motioned to the space beside him. She cuddled into him and let his hand stroke and sooth away all her worries.

"I could stay like this all day but I'd better get going otherwise I'll miss the bus"

Zach reluctantly let her go, missing the feel of her body against his.

"I'll sort out some food for later, what time will you get home?"

"Probably seven but might be later, I'll text you"

He watched her leave the room and a few minutes later the shower started up. Savouring his coffee he closed his eyes and thought about the shower they had shared, she really was beautiful. Perhaps if things didn't go well with Sasha and the baby was his then he might stand a chance?

The flat was quiet once she left and he took the time to shower, shave and drink more coffee, hopefully to calm his nerves. Driving into the terraced street he found her house and bottled it by driving past. Turning at the end he pulled into a parking space and waited. His heart was hammering in his chest and he felt sick with fear. Closing his eyes only took him back to that night, the terror and hurt on her face as she was abused. He picked up the large bouquet of flowers and walked down the street. Pausing he rang the bell and waited, he was about to walk away when the door opened.

"Mum, there's someone at the door for you" the young voice shouted. Zach was in shock there had been no mention of children in the information that Keith had given him.

Sasha appeared at the end of the hallway and stared in shock at the young man standing in her doorway.

"Sorry, I'll go if you'd rather not talk to me" he pushed the flowers into her hands and turned to leave.

"Zach
,
i
s
that really you?"

"Yes, I wanted to apologise for that night. It's taken me this long to find you"

He swallowed, feeling a lump of regret rising into his throat. She was still stunning, her chocolate skin shone in the sunlight from the street. Her sundress hugged her curves as the little lad peeped round the kitchen door at this stranger.

"You'd better come in, I'll put the kettle on" He followed her inside and she motioned him into the lounge on the left.

"Sam, can you make sure your toys are cleared up in there, then why don't you go outside to play"

Zach perched on the sofa and looked around at the modest but cosy house. It reflected her warm personality and watched as Sam cleared up his cars. Sasha returned with a mug of black coffee for him and a cup of tea for herself. She sat across from him in the armchair and waited until Sam left the room.

"I want to slap you for that night but I know that you were just as helpless as I was"

Zach nodded, mute at her straight down to business attitude. He searched her face and eyes, hoping for something, a glimmer of the feelings she once had for him. She wouldn't meet his gaze and instead looked down into her tea.

"I tried to find you afterwards and then the next day at the Spa but they told me you'd been fired"

"Bitch" she muttered "She did it, she was jealous o
f
us
,
she wanted you just as much as she wanted Daniel, probably more"

"I should have fought for you, I should have found you sooner" he stifled his sobs, the memories crowding in after being shut away for so long.

The silence stretched between them, each caught in their own memories.

"She made sure you would not find me, I still don't know how you are here now?"

"I employed a private detective, a chap that also works for Felicity"

"Fucking hell Zach, do you think that's wise?" her fear made her eyes dart beyond him to the door. As if the apparition of Felicity would appear at the mention of her name.

"She told me that if I tried to contact you she would kill you. Then sh
e
place
d
a large sum of money into my bank account and handed me the keys for this place"

Zach seethed with anger, trying to keep it bubbling up from beneath his calm exterior. Another life, another love destroyed by her evil. He gripped his mug so tightly that the handle broke and it tumbled to the floor, the liquid spreading out like blood from a wound.

They watched it spread over the wooden floor before Sasha leapt up and found a cloth. Kneeling on the floor she passed the pieces to him and he placed them on the coffee table.

"Sorry"

She looked up into his eyes and he saw the tears that stained them. He reached for her hands and she let him. Just touching her again brought back the flutter in hi
s
heart
,
the one he thought had been swept away in his efforts to forget. She tried to pull away but he held firm and as she stood he did too. In a swift move he wrapped his arms around her trembling body, feeling the beat of her heart against his own. He swept the tendrils of curls from the side of her face and tilted her head, the overriding urge to kiss her better.

"Mum....MUM the cats been sick in the kitchen"

Pulling away she shrugged and picking up the pieces of the broken mug she left him in the lounge. After what seemed like an age she returned with Sam in tow, munching on a biscuit.

"Well
,
it’
s
been lovely to see you again Zach" she said.

"Can I call again, perhaps take you out for a meal?" he asked.

"I'll think about it"

Showing him into the hallway she opened the door.

"Thanks for the flowers, they're beautiful"

"Sasha, please call me" Zach pleaded, handing her his business card. She smiled sadly, but in her eyes he caught the look of desire flash there. He could do nothing other than walk away. As he neared his car he saw her watching him from her door, he raised his hand and waved.

Resting his head on the steering wheel he took a couple of breaths. Well it hadn't gone quite as planned but he hoped that she would relent and call him. Back at the flat he phoned Keith.

"Hi Mr King, what can I do for you?"

"Keith
,
thanks for the information on Sasha but you left out one very important fact, she has a child, one that looks about 6 years old. Who is the father and is he still on the scene?"

"Mr King, I was not aware of that" Keith lied "I'll see what I can find out"

"Please"

Zach hung up and then sat down to think about tomorrow evening and his plan to humiliate Felicity, but his mind kept straying to Sasha. He must have fallen asleep as the next thing he knew a light kiss pressed onto his lips.