phenomenal had been impossible. Unwise or not, seeing her one more time before he left wasn’t something he could resist.
His mind on Savannah, Zach was in the store and gathering things before he realized it. Other than the checkout clerk up front, no one was around. He made his selections quickly. Arms loaded with breakfast items, he was halfway to the checkout when his perfect night went to shit.
“What are you doing here, boy? I told you never to come back to my store.”
Sighing, Zach turned and faced the man. Might as well get it over with. “I’m just here for a few things. I’m not stealing. Just buying. Okay?” He turned back around and started toward the checkout.
Henson grabbed his shoulder and tried to pull him around. The old man was a big guy but no match for his youth and strength. Zach didn’t budge and Henson had no choice but to let him go. Hoping he’d be able to get away without another confrontation, Zach just kept on going. No way in hell was he going to get into trouble his last night in town.
The kid at the checkout had obviously heard the altercation. His Adam’s apple wobbled spasmodically as he nervously swallowed. Zach patiently waited as the kid carefully scanned each item. Old man Henson would be a bear to work for; the poor kid had probably been chewed out more than once. Finally he told Zach the amount he owed. Zach handed him the money, grabbed the bag, and walked out the door.
He was in the parking lot, counting himself lucky that nothing else had happened, when Henson growled from behind him, “I warned you not to come back.”
Zach threw his groceries in the passenger’s side and closed the door. “I’m gone after tomorrow. You don’t ever have to see me again. That should make you happy.”
Henson sneered. “Boy, the only thing that would make me happy would be if you’d never been born.”
He’d always known Henson had it in for him, but Zach was stunned at the sheer loathing in the old man’s eyes. “Why the hell do you hate me so much?”
“You ruined my life.”
“And just how the hell did I do that?”
“I gave your mama money to get rid of your carcass. Instead of using it like she should have, she stayed in town and flaunted her pregnant belly all over Midnight.”
Revulsion liked he’d never known filled Zach. No. No way in hell was this self-righteous son of a bitch his father. “You’re full of shit, old man. My father was killed in the service.”
“You’re ’bout as dumb as you look,” Henson sneered. “That’s what she told everybody. Ask your mama how she got knocked up when James Tanner was halfway round the world. Your mama was like a bitch in heat when she didn’t have a man around to satisfy her itch. She caught me in her trap.”
Zach took a step forward until he was inches from Henson’s face. His jaw clenched with fury, he bit out, “You’re not my father. You got that, asshole?”
“Shit, boy, you think I’d come out and say something so disgusting? Your mama and me screwed around. She said she couldn’t get pregnant. Was using protection. She lied … like all bitches do.”
Zach had no words. The thought of this man’s blood running in his veins was too vile to even contemplate. He stared hard at the man. Were there similarities? Henson’s eyes were brown, not gray like Zach’s. That meant nothing. He’d seen pictures of James Tanner, who’d had blue eyes. Zach knew he’d gotten his eye color from Francine.
Narrowing his gaze, he peered closer. Were their cheekbones similar? Or the shape of their noses? Maybe, but there was nothing that stood out and said absolutely that Ralph Henson was his father, except for one thing—Henson’s expression said he believed he was speaking the truth.
“How do you know Francine didn’t get pregnant by someone else?”
A glint of arrogant pride entered Henson’s eyes. “ ’Cause I was on her day and night for a whole month. She didn’t have the energy to spread her legs for anybody else.”
Zach had no choice; he had to hit him. Slamming his fist into Ralph Henson’s face was one of the most satisfying moments of his life. Standing over the bastard lying on the ground, Zach snarled, “You spew lies like that again and I’ll make sure you live to regret it.”