CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TOMMY
I didn’t sleep well last night. My mind was racing with thoughts of Angie giving me come-to-bed eyes. She does that when she’s had a few drinks.
Despite being pretty drunk, I couldn’t take advantage of her. When I make love to Angie, I want her to remember every fucking second of it.
Like a love-struck teen, I get up and do all the stuff I think she likes.
I wash my hair because she loves running her fingers through my shaggy curls.
Then I splash on some beard oil. Apparently, the smell turns her on.
Another fact I learnt last night. Last of all, I pull on my old faded blue jeans because she loves these bad boys, together with my Rolling Stones t-shirt.
I hop down the stairs, jump over the bottom banister, and land on both feet. “I've still got it,” I say to myself.
Connie and Ozzie are sitting at the island having breakfast when I enter the kitchen. I notice Angie isn’t around.
“Tommy,” she says, standing.
“Morning, Connie,” I breeze past her but catch the startled look she throws my way. “Hey, bud.” I lean down, planting a kiss on the top of my boy’s head while I tickle his tummy.
“Where’s Josh this morning?” I ask, bringing my attention back to Connie.
“Angie and Josh left early. I was up at six, but I heard their car leave at around five-thirty.”
“Where the hell did they go to so early in the morning?” And should Angie be driving? She was pretty hammered last night.
“I’ve no idea, I’m afraid.”
Connie seems jumpy.
“Are you okay?”
“Kind of. Have you watched any of the news channels today?”
Dread creeps into my bones. “No, why?”
Her lips purse, then she circles around to the table, picking up her iPad. After typing in the search bar, she hands it over to me and my stomach drops.
“What the fu—” I remember my kid is within earshot, so I step away, still reading as Connie follows. I whisper to her, “This is bullshit.”
“I’m so sorry.”
What I’m looking at is a screen full of lies.
Chelsea jumped on the bandwagon Fraser started by accusing Angie of all kinds of shit, including the reason we split up.
Every limb in my body stiffens with anger.
She has some fucking nerve doing an interview like this, especially after everything she put me and our son through recently.
“Has Angie seen this?” I gesture towards the device in my hand. Again, Connie chews on her bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
I run upstairs and into her room. “Thank fuck.” I breathe out a sigh of relief, realising her wardrobe and drawers still hold the few clothes she’s brought over so far. She hasn’t left me. At least, she hasn’t yet.
I retrieve my phone from my pocket and call her while wandering into Oz’s room. It goes straight to voicemail. Where the hell is she?
Connie tries to place a t-shirt over Ozzie’s head while he points to his chalkboard.
“This is my dog, Connie. Do you like him?”
He’s drawn a round blob with more blobs and lines.
“I love it,” Connie replies.
“This is so cool, little man. Awesome.” My hand hovers in the air, waiting to give my boy a high-five while, at the same time, a figure through the window catches my eye. It’s Andrew. The slap of Ozzie’s hand against mine stops me from staring. “Hey, how about you draw me a cat now, Oz?”
Connie joins in. “You’re the best at drawing cats, aren’t you, Oz?”
He nods enthusiastically.
“Why don't we get your t-shirt on properly, then you can draw one for Daddy.”
“Okay.” He grins. Thank God for this kid. His easy-going nature still surprises me.
While Oz concentrates on his blob animals, I pull Connie aside. “Any idea why Andrew didn’t go with Angie?”
“No. I haven’t seen him this morning.”
“This isn’t right, Connie. She would never leave without saying goodbye or letting one of us know.”
“Maybe she was in a hurry,” Connie says.
“Then why isn’t she picking up her phone. This feels wrong.” I pace for a second. “I should speak to Ray. Can you watch Ozzie for me?”
“Sure.” She half smiles.
“I’ll be back in a second, buddy.”
“Okay Daddy,” Ozzie says while his little tongue sticks out from the side of his mouth. He’s too busy drawing now to care.
Ray is already waiting for me as I get outside and he knows exactly why I’m there.
“We're on the case, Tommy. I'm afraid Mrs Knox left without a word to us and isn’t picking up her phone. Try not to panic. If it helps, Andrew is leaving for her place now. If she’s not home, he can check all the usual places she visits. He’ll be in touch when there's any news.”
“Okay. Let me know as soon as you hear anything.”
“Yes, Tommy. Oh, and did you see the envelope left for you in the kitchen? A courier dropped it off earlier.”
“No, not yet.”
“I asked Connie to give it to you.” He frowns.
That’s weird. “Fan mail goes through the label. You know that.”
“It doesn’t look like fan mail. It was sent via a private courier.”
“Things have been a little busy this morning.” I raise my brow and he nods. “But thanks. I’ll take a look.”
Sure enough, I find the envelope. It’s been tracked, so it must be important.
I shake out the contents on the kitchen counter, which include a handwritten letter along with images I never wanted to see.
Chelsea and Dylan in a compromising position…
holy fuck. I hold on to the counter and steady my breathing.
“Fucking hell,” I whisper out loud as my stomach twists.
The shit just keeps on coming, but this time, I have the proof in my hands.
Picking up the letter, I glance at it briefly before Ozzie sings from the top of the stairs, “Finished!”
“Just coming, bud,” I call back while scanning over the contents as quickly as I can. There’s a lot to digest, and it’s going to take time to get my head around all this information.
I take the folded paper and photographs to my study across the hall and lock them in a drawer. Ozzie calls for me again, and I take a moment to calm my breath before calling, “On my way now, Oz.” I’ll have to deal with it later.
When I get to Ozzie’s room, I crouch down beside him and look over his drawing of a green cat. “I think that’s the best one yet.” Then I hug him extra tight. My heart is beating so fast. I need this moment to calm down.
My mind is in overdrive. I’m worried for Angie and Josh’s safety while thinking also about the information I’ve received. Where the hell is she? I realise sitting around waiting for something to happen won’t help. I have to find her.
I glance at Connie and smile briefly as I scoop up my kid. “Hey, bud. How about we take a trip in the car today?”
“To where?” he asks.
“I thought we could look for Josh. What do you think?”
“Yay,” he squeals.
Then my focus turns fully to Connie. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I could do with you there. The boys may need looking after while I talk to Angie.”
“You’re my employer, Tommy. If that’s what you need from me, then of course.”
“You’re one in a million, Connie. Thank you.” I smile.
“Are we going to find Josh now, Daddy?” Ozzie asks, patting my shoulder.
“Yeah, we’re going, bud.”
Ray is waiting in the Audi. The front and back passenger doors open with the engine running, while Connie pokes her head out of the back door. “Ozzie’s car seat is all set and ready to go.”
“Thanks, Connie.” I’m about to get in the front when Ray tells me otherwise.
“You can’t sit there. It only takes one person to spot you and this safe haven of yours will be swamped with paparazzi. You’re better off in the back.”
“Fuck’s sake,” I say under my breath while Connie climbs into the front seat and I jump in next to Oz.
“Yay, Daddy. You’re sitting with me.”
“Yes, buddy. We’re going on an adventure together.”
The gates open and Ray flies out of the drive until we’re halfway down and he notices the amount of press standing in his way. How the hell did they find us?
Ray forces the car forward while cameras flash and journalists bang on the windows. I hold Ozzie’s hand while he scrunches up his face and tears spill down his cheeks. “I don’t like it, Daddy.”
“It’s okay, little man. They’re just playing a silly game.”
Eventually, Ray screeches away, and then the flashing lights can’t keep up with us.
After a twenty-minute drive to a few obvious places, we finally get word. Ray spins the car around.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“We’ve found her, Tommy.”
“Thank fuck,” I mouth so Oz doesn’t hear.
After ten minutes, we park outside the Braebeach Memorial Gardens. My heart sinks.
From where we’re parked, I already see Angie slumped on the grass, with Josh running around beside her.
Ray turns off the engine and I look across to find Oz almost asleep.
“I shouldn’t interrupt,” I say to Ray with a lowered voice.
“Don’t worry. She’s safe. Andrew is on the other side of the chapel, so if she needs anything, he can be there in seconds.”
“Thanks,” I answer, but inside, I’m rattled. It’s not Andrew who should be there for her. It should be me.
I open the car door. “Wait here.” I glance over at Connie. “Back in a sec.”
Connie smiles with concern as Ozzie wakes up when he hears my voice. I reach over and ruffle his white-blonde hair. “Back in a minute, okay?”
“Look, Daddy. Josh.”
Crap. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I know. You wait here and I’ll be back soon, okay?”
“Okay. Get Josh, then we can play drums together.” The boys have made their own drums out of pots and pans. I’m impressed, but Angie wasn’t on board. I chuckle at the thought of her screwed-up face when she first heard them and how she tried to be enthusiastic.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” I say to Oz.
Getting out of the car, I walk around to the back. I’m out of her view here, but she’s still within mine. Her head bows as she picks at the grass. The last time I saw her look this sad was when she lost him.
Fuck it. What the hell has this news story shit done to her? I have to make her realise we’re stronger together.