Not Good For You

Rachel

Joyce and Jack have both tried to call me over the last couple of days. I just wasn't ready to talk to him yet and I told Joyce that. I just need another day or two. I do think that Jack is telling the truth when he says he didn't sleep with Cheryl, but I still feel betrayed that he took her to the event.

I know that I have fallen in love with this man. The moment I saw him, I knew he was going to be special. But when he saw me in that dress in Harrods and told me that I was the most beautiful woman he had even seen... that was when I fell.
Hard.
I know that I was opening my heart to potential heartbreak, especially with a man like Jack Taylor but I couldn't stop myself.

I shake my head to get the thoughts out of my brain and start to wipe down a table that a customer has just vacated.

I turn my head and smile as I hear the bell on the shop door ring out. But my smile soon turns to horror when Isla's dad, Marcus, walks in.
I straighten up and tighten my hold on the cloth I've got in my hand.

He doesn't look any different at all. Still the same dirty blonde, messy hair and dull hazel eyes. He has a muscly build but a bit of a tummy.
I used to think he was the most handsome man on the planet, but I know now that I was wrong. His terrible personality makes him the ugliest.

"Marcus? What the hell are you doing here? I haven't seen you for three years."

"Who's the guy you've been dating?"

"How do you know I've been dating someone?"

"I have my ways and I know he's a bad guy."

"You don't know anything about him. Or me. Or even my daughter, in fact!"

"Rachel, he's a convicted felon! And you've got him around our daughter!"

"Ours? I don't remember you bringing her up, Marcus?"

"Now is not the time to get into parenting. I am not happy about this. He is dangerous."

"I will decide that. Now please leave my shop."

"I'm warning you... I will take you to court." He tells me with a dark look.

"Get out!"

Marcus did as he was told for once and left the coffee shop. As soon as he does, I sit down on the closest chair to me. I was so glad that Isla had gone on her week-long school trip this morning. I didn't want her around while Marcus was sniffing around.

"Rachel? Are you ok?" Kate asks me, "Who was that man?"

"It was Isla's dad. He isn't the nicest guy. I'm going to shut the shop early; you can go home." I tell her.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I will see you tomorrow morning."

"Ok. Call me if you need me." Kate replies, picking up her bag from the behind the counter.

After she leaves, I pull my phone out of my pocket. It doesn't take him long to answer. It would be the first time I've spoken to him in three days.

"Hey Rach. I miss you so -."

I cut him off, "I need you to come to the shop please, Jack." I ask him.

"Is everything ok?"

"Just come to the shop as soon as you can." My voice wobbles.

After ten agonising minutes of Marcus' words going through my head, the shop doorbell sounds out again. I lift my head to see Jack walking in the shop, looking as gorgeous as even in his navy-blue suit.

"What's the matter?"

"Marcus."

"What?" Jack asks, scanning the shop quickly.

"He's just been in not long ago."

"What did the fucker want?"

"To tell me something..." I start.

"Tell you what?"

"Have you ever been to prison?"

"What?"

"It's a simple yes or no answer, Jack. Have you spent time in prison?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you needed to know."

"I didn't need to know? We've been seeing each other for ages! What were you in prison for?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Jack, you either tell me, or I will be walking out of that door and you will never see me again." I demand.

"I beat a guy to a pulp, ok! Is that what you want to hear? That I battered a guy to near death?"

"Who?"

"My mums boyfriend."

"Are you going to explain?"

"My mum was with this guy for a few years while I was married to my ex-wife, Chloe, and I knew he was hitting her. After I divorced Chloe, I just went off the rails and crazy. My mum came to me in tears and she had a black eye and busted lip. I saw red, went around to their house and fucked him up."

"Wow."

"I would have been sent down for a long time but luckily, I have a cop friend who was good friends with the judge. I had never been in trouble before apart from the odd fight here and there when I was younger, so they went easy on me. I was sent down for five years and did the full five years. I'm not proud of what I did, but I did it to protect my mum. She wasn't strong enough to leave him."

"How long ago was this?" I ask him.

"Almost four years."

"And how does Marcus know this about you?"

"It would be easy for him to get into contact with the police and check records if he was worried about you or Isla. I'm surprised my cop friend didn't tell me he's been sniffing around though."

"I think I need some more time and space to process all this."

"Don't do this, Rach, I haven't seen you for three days."

"Don't do what? I knew Marcus was a bad guy, but I've just found out the guy I've been dating has been to prison for four years for nearly killing someone! It's a lot of information to take in."

"I know it is, but you know I would never hurt you or Isla, don't you?"

"I know, but I just need a little time. Please give it to me." I beg him.

"Fine." Jack mutters, turns on his heel and leaves the shop.

I place my head in my hands and shake my head slightly. What the hell has just happened? I get up, grab my coat and bag, and lock the shop up, ready to head home.

The house feels empty without Isla. It's going to be weird spending a week away from her when I've only ever been away from her for two nights before. I know she is going to have the best time on her school trip through and it gives me the break that I need.
Time alone to process all these thoughts in my head.

Marcus returning. Jack has been to prison. The lack of trust. My mind is full and whirring.

I sit down on the sofa and take a few deep breaths. My phone starts to ring in my bag, and I know without looking that it's Jack. He is struggling to give me the time that I need. I know I am starting to fall hard for him, I already am, but I worry that I won't be able to trust him because of his past.

Was falling for such a complicated man a huge mistake?