CHAPTER FIVE

Jack could not believe what was happening. He'd known for about half an hour now and he was still in utter shock. He didn't know what to think or what to feel.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I really am sorry," Megan said.

"You're sorry?" Jack scoffed. He was furious. He couldn't believe that she had kept this from him, and now she expected him to just forgive her and be happy about it.

"It was a rough time in your life. I didn't want to burden you," she told him.

"So you decided to wait until I was happy, and had a new life, before you came and stuffed it up?" he asked.

Megan shook her head. "No. I would never purposely try and ruin your life," she said. "I'm glad you got your life back, and Martha seems like a great person," she continued.

Martha, Jack thought. Oh god, no wonder she was in such a rush to leave.

"I can't believe you told Martha before speaking to me first. You had no right to do that," Jack started. "Do you have any idea what this has probably done to her? Do you even care that she's probably hurting right now?" he yelled at Megan.

"For god sake's Jack. I'm trying to have a conversation with you about our daughter, and all you seem to be worrying about is some girl," Megan snapped.

Jack glared at her. "Some girl? She's not just some girl. Her name is Martha, and I love her," he snapped back at her.

"Whatever. I'm just saying that this has got nothing to do with Martha. This is about us and our daughter," she told him. "And from where I'm standing you don't really seem to care," she kept on.

"I'm so sorry that I'm not jumping around the room in excitement," Jack said sarcastically. "You can't just come here and expect me to be all happy about it, okay. It doesn't work that way," he continued.

"I know that. Look, all I'm asking is that you acknowledge Grace. I want her to have a father. Is it wrong of me to want the best for my daughter?" she started to cry a little.

Jack sighed. "No, it's not. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I just need some time to get my head around it, that's all," he apologised.

Jack felt bad about yelling at her. Megan just wanted Grace to have a good life; he couldn't blame her for that. He was her father and she needed him. He couldn't just abandon her.

"I completely understand that you need time to come to terms with it all. And I'll give you all the time you need," Megan said softly and gently touched Jack's hand.

Jack quickly pulled his hand away; not noticing the hurt look in Megan's eyes.

"So, where is she?" Jack asked. He wondered if Megan had brought the little girl with her.

"She's with my mother in the city. She's bringing her down in a week or so," she began. "I wanted to give you time to process it all before I brought her to see you," she finished.

"Okay," Jack nodded.

"Um, I'm going to head off now. I'm sure you have heaps to think about, but I'm sure I'll see you around tomorrow perhaps," Megan said, standing up from her spot at the table.

"Alright. I guess I'll see you around then," Jack said, and walked her to the door.

"Bye Jack," Megan said, leaning up and giving Jack a soft kiss on the cheek, before walking off to her car.

Martha couldn't sleep; there were so many thoughts going through her head. She kept thinking about Jack and Megan; and the child that they shared together. And she was still scolding herself for leaving Jack alone with her. She knew Megan wanted Jack and it was completely doing her head in.

Jack had already tried to call her a few times since she'd gotten home, but she didn't answer. She didn't know what she was supposed to say to him. Was she supposed to say that she was fine with it? Was she supposed to say that everything was going to be okay? Because honestly, she wasn't fine with it, and she didn't know if everything was going to be okay.

Everything had changed and it was going to continue to change. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. Why did this have to happen to us? She thought. Everything was perfect and now Megan had ruined it. It wasn't fair.

Martha sat up in her bed and reached over to her bedside table. She opened up the top drawer and took out the item that had been taunting her for over a month now. Jack couldn't find out; not right now anyway. It would just make things worse. She threw it back into the drawer; slamming it shut.

She laid her head back onto the pillow and finally let the tears fall. She turned to the side and felt the hot tears sliding down her cheeks. She knew her grandad would probably be able to hear her sobs; but she didn't care.

Jack looked at the bedside clock. It was 3:00am and he still hadn't fallen asleep. Martha was supposed to stay the night, so maybe that was why he was restless; she wasn't there. Instead she was by herself probably worrying.

He was worried about her. He'd already tried calling about 10 times; but she wouldn't answer. Eventually she had turned her phone off. She was obviously upset.

He should have went and seen her as soon as Megan left. He should have made sure that she was okay. He was tempted to jump in his car and go to see her right now. But he knew Alf wouldn't appreciate him knocking on his door at 3 am in the morning.

He wasn't the only one worrying about Martha. When he had told his dad and Lucas about his new found daughter; Lucas had immediately asked how Martha had taken it. He had even wanted to go and see if she was okay himself. Lucas loved having Martha around; they got on really well. Lucas looked up to her like a sister. Jack was really glad that Martha got on so well with his family.

Jack just hoped that she could accept his new responsibility. He loved Martha and he didn't want to lose her; he needed her. And he could honestly say that he couldn't live with out her.

NEXT CHAPTER – Martha's secret revealed.

COMING SOON – Who will find out about Martha's secret? And will they keep it to themselves?