by Sam Crescent
His mother had never lost her temper until then. Duncan hadn’t liked what he saw. His mother was usually a calm person.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said.
Her eyes stayed closed. Her body was curled up in a call. He leaned over and kissed her temple, but she didn’t move. Duncan lay beside her, staring at her.
“I love you, Tess.” He knew she was asleep and wouldn’t hear the words. Duncan spoke them over and over while she slept. Saying them to her face when she was awake was impossible for him.
“You’re my world.” He gave her another kiss then lay back. His hand lay on her stomach, and he wondered if his baby grew inside her. He’d not worn a single condom with her. Duncan knew it was selfish. When he was with her he didn’t want anything between them, not even the latex of a condom. He didn’t feel anything different about her. She’d been sick a couple of mornings, but other than that he’d not seen any other signs.
Part of him wanted her to be pregnant while another part didn’t feel ready. Their marriage had been quick. What if Tess learnt of what he’d done? Miranda had been made homeless because of him. The more he thought about his actions the harder it became for him to justify them.
He closed his eyes waiting for sleep to claim him. All of his worries eased out of him the moment sleep gripped him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The sickness and aching breasts continued for the next couple of weeks. Duncan kept trying to get her to a doctor, but she refused. She had a feeling she knew what was causing all of her problems. A nine month problem. When he went to work on Tuesday morning Tess saw him off in his car. Once he was gone and she had the house to herself, she grabbed her purse then walked all the way to the nearest pharmacy. The walk helped to clear her head. She spent a great deal of time debating what to do. There was a chance she wasn’t pregnant. The pharmacist gave her an odd look when she bought six packets. She wanted to make sure they were right. It would be her luck to get a duff packet.
She walked home to find three messages on the phone from Duncan. Before doing anything else she pressed play on the recorder.
“Hi, babe, it’s just me. I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. You didn’t vomit this morning. I think we need to go to the doctor. Anyway, see you soon.”
“Why haven’t you called me back? Are you all right? I don’t like this silence, Tess. Please, call me back.”
“Okay, if you haven’t called me back in an hour I’m coming home.” She checked the time then picked up the phone to call him. She’d learnt his work number off by heart. He picked up on the second ring.
“Tess, this better be you,” he said.
“Yes, it’s me. How are you?” she asked.
“Concerned. Where have you been?”
“I went out for a walk. It seems to have helped.”
“You really should see a doctor.”
“I’m fine, Duncan.” He kept going on about his concerns. She liked his concern as it showed he cared about her. Tess assured him she was fine. He didn’t sound convinced.
Twenty minutes later she put the phone down then went to pee on some sticks.
An hour later she sat looking at the six boxes of all sticks. Each stick showed the same thing. Tess looked down at the stick as it turned a scary shade of blue.
Each stick she picked up said the same thing.
“Maybe something is wrong with my pee?”
Her hands were shaking.
“You’ve had unprotected sex, you silly woman. And now you’re talking to yourself. Great, just another reason to get you sent to the nut house.”
“I wish I had a mom.”
Her head fell into her hands.
She was pregnant.
She was pregnant with Duncan’s son or daughter.
Her breasts were tender, and her tummy was going to get bigger with every passing week.
“I’m going to look like a whale.”
Questions whizzed around her mind.
When had it happened?
What does it mean?
Will Duncan be happy with the news?
That question brought Tess up short. How could she tell him? Would he think this was another way of confirming an income from his wealth? He always saw things at odd angles. She didn’t want any of his fortune. The baby excited her. She’d wanted to make a family of her own for so long. What scared her the most was Duncan. They’d not discussed children. He hadn’t even said he loved her.
There was so much to consider. Her own feelings meant nothing to her. Would he be happy with the news?
She shook her head trying to clear all the negative thoughts whirring around her mind. The news was supposed to be a happy, positive one. She wished Grace was there to help her. She had no one. Not even a mother.
Tess was pregnant, expecting another beautiful human being. The thought wouldn’t sink in. She got up off the bathroom floor then went to look in the mirror. There was no difference in her body. She lifted her shirt to gaze at her tummy.
How far gone was she?”
She should be happy.
Your marriage isn’t the most conventional.
Again she felt the doubts filling her head and her heart.
Well, there was only one way to find out and that would be to tell him. Tonight, she would make a beautiful romantic meal for two, and after they had made love well into the night she’d tell him.
Not after you’ve made love.
You need to tell him before then.
Tess grabbed the used pregnancy tests to dump in the trash. She stared at the phone by the fireplace in the sitting room. Her hands shook as she reached for the phone. She picked it up then dialled his number before putting the phone back down.
“This is stupid. Just tell him. Duncan is not the cold man you thought he was.” The phone rang making her jump. “Hello.”
“You called me, baby. What’s up?” Duncan asked.
His voice calmed her rioting nerves.
“I-I’ve got something to tell you.”
“Are you all right? Do you need me to come home?” His concern made her smile.
“No, you don’t need to come home.” She ran her fingers through her hair. Her mind struggling to focus on what she needed to tell him. “I know why I’ve been ill.”
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“No, no doctor. I’ve suspected for a little bit but put it off.”
Silence was on the other end.
“For fuck’s sake, Tess, tell me.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Tess waited for his anger or anything.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Yes, I’ll need to book an appointment to see a doctor. I don’t know how far gone I am or anything.”
Silence came over the line.
“Are you still there?”
“I’m here, baby.”
“Are you happy about this, Duncan? I know we haven’t discussed this before. This is a good thing. Right?” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. Her heart pounded inside her chest while she waited for him to answer.
“You have no idea how happy this makes me. I can’t wait to get home so we can celebrate. I’m going to spend the whole night making love to you. I want you so much, sweetheart.” His voice took on the growl she loved to hear when he was pounding inside her. She blushed at the thought of what he might do.
“Do you want me to come to you?” she asked.
“You’ve unleashed an animal. If you come here I can’t guarantee to keep my hands to myself.”
Her nipples throbbed painfully.
“I’d like to put a new memory of myself in that office. I’ll see you soon,” she said.
“I can’t wait. I want you so fucking bad.”
She hung up the phone, her body on fire for him once again. She felt constantly aroused by him. Tess got up to get changed. Duncan had spent so much money on clothes for her. She wanted to see him lose his mind.
The fe
ars she had were gone. The moment she saw him every concern would leave her body. She walked up the stairs to the room they shared.
In the walk-in closet she settled for a knee-length pencil skirt and a white buttoned down blouse.
****
Duncan put the phone down. His cock was thick with arousal. He placed a call through to his secretary to cancel all of his lunchtime appointments.
Tess was pregnant. The second part of his father’s agreement was complete. He smiled, but the happiness wasn’t about his father’s will. Duncan was going to be a father.
“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt. There is a Miranda James here to see you. She says it’s urgent.”
His happiness was dampened by the mention of his stepmother. Duncan glanced at his secretary.
“She’s refusing to leave, Sir.”
“Send her in. Then get security alerted in case she starts to cause a scene.”
He watched his secretary leave then waited for Miranda to walk in. She was older than he remembered. He knew she was in her late fifties or early sixties. Her hair was grey all over. His mother dyed her hair to keep it the same shade of brown. Instead of a cold looking face, Miranda stared at him with love. After everything he’d done to her she still smiled at him.
Duncan was waiting for the backlash.
“Hello, Duncan,” she said. She walked with her head held high and took a seat across from his desk.
“Miranda. My wife will be here shortly. Please, say what you need to say and get out.”
“Your father warned me you’d hold a grudge even after his death. He hoped when you got married you’d see things differently.” Miranda chuckled then opened her purse.
“Don’t try to pretend you know me. You broke my parents apart. I hope you’re happy with yourself.”
“I did no such thing, Duncan. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life, and I refuse to take responsibility for your father’s marriage. I don’t expect you to like me, but I do expect some respect from you. You do not know me. Do not presume to judge me.”
He felt taken back by her words. She was nothing like his mother had painted.
“I apologise. I’ve heard so much about you,” he said.
“And yet you haven’t met me. I think you’d be pleasantly surprised.”
“Why are you being nice?” he asked. “I threw you out of your home.”
She chuckled. “Do you really think your father hadn’t prepared for everything? I have never lived in that villa in Italy. I never wanted to. Your mother left a cold shell. Your father never dethroned her. She left willingly and in turn ruined every chance your father had to build a relationship with you.”
“You don’t know what happened.”
“Regardless of it, he asked me to give you this.” She handed him an envelope. “He wanted you to be happy. I hope you’ve found happiness with your wife.”
Miranda got up to leave. He didn’t call her back. Duncan stared at the letter she’d given him. Part of him wanted to tear it up while the other needed to know more.
He opened the letter. His father’s writing reminded him of being a boy. Duncan began to read.
To my beloved son, Duncan,
As I write this tears spill from my eyes. I know I shouldn’t admit this, but so much has been wasted over a fight that was not your fault. I love you, son.
If you’re reading this, then that can only mean one thing. I am dead, and we are still not speaking to each other. I know you hate me for divorcing your mother and marrying Miranda, but I’ve been in love with Miranda all of my life. I was a teenage boy when I fell for her, Duncan. She means the world to me and I hope you’re happy with the woman you married. Your mother and I were never meant to be together. Your grandfather begged me to marry her, and I did to let him die at peace on his deathbed.
It nearly destroyed Miranda when she heard that the man she had given her heart and innocence to had left her to marry a wealthy heiress. Miranda was poor, but I loved her, and she loved me. I can’t go into too much detail of the pain I caused, only I spent the rest of my life trying to make up for it. She left me, and I couldn’t find her. By then, my relationship with your mother had produced you. An heir.
I couldn’t live without the woman I loved, and I searched until I found her.
I found Miranda broken in a London hospital. My name was the only one on her, so I claimed her and helped her to survive. I wanted her so badly, but I had hurt her so much she would not speak or allow me to come near her. I divorced your mother because I knew we’d never be happy. She left the villa in Italy even though I’d taken Miranda away from there.
I’m not a proud man. I’ve been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I know I’m not going to make it past this year. Miranda will be all alone. I wanted you to know that I love you, Duncan. Out of everything I’ve done that I regret, you’re not part of it. I’m proud of you, son, and hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive an old man in love.
Love
Your father
P.S Do not blame Miranda for my faults. She is the innocent one in all of this.
Duncan closed the letter with tears pouring from his eyes. There had been so much wasted. The time he’d spent hating his father should have been time spent getting to know the man.
Tess walked into the office ten minutes later. He was still crying.
“Duncan? What’s wrong?” she asked. He opened his arms waiting for her to come to him.
He handed her the letter his father had written. Duncan picked her up in his arms carrying her to his office sofa. He sat with her in his lap as she read the letter. For the rest of the afternoon he spent the time telling her about his father and Miranda.
Tess listened as he spoke. Her fingers ran through his hair. Sex was the last thing on his mind.
“What has your mother said about all of this?” she asked.
“My mother won’t talk to me until I divorce you,” he said to her.
“Me?”
“When she found out I’d married a woman with no money of her own, she refused to talk to me. The only news I can give her is my divorce. She thinks I’ve been stupid.” He wiped the tears from his eyes.
“What do you think?”
“You’re carrying my child, Tess. I’m not letting you go.” He kissed her lips then held her close. “I’m not going to lie to you. I’m not a saint. I never have been. I hope you can forgive me for the way I treated you when we first met.”
She chuckled. “So, we didn’t have the most conventional of starts. Regardless of how we got here, Duncan, we’re here.” She grabbed his hand to rest on her stomach. “And we have a family. A small family but a family we can be proud of.”
“How did I get so lucky?”
“You took a chance?” She smiled then settled down in his lap. “Do you want to go home? This must have taken you by surprise.”
“I need to talk to my mother. Is it okay if I drop you off at home?” he asked.
“Sure. I’ll be waiting for you when you get back.”
Duncan drove her home and made sure she got in safely before making his way to where his mother lived. It was a two hour drive, but it gave him enough time to clear his head.
The housekeeper opened the door looking put out. He knew his mother wasn’t the nicest person to work for.
“Mr. James, I don’t think your mother expected you to visit.”
“I imagine she’s cursing my name, Tilly. I’m not leaving until I speak with her.”
“Then go on through. I want no part in this.” Duncan watched the older woman move away.
He found his mother seated by the fire reading a book. The moment he walked in she sent him a glare but remained in her book.
“Hello, mother.” Staring at her now he understood the attraction with Miranda.
“I hope you’ve come to tell me you’ve divorced that woman. What an awful situation. I’ve had Yvonne ringing me constantly. That woman is at least a little better than that tra
mp you’ve married. At least she is already part of your crowd.”
“You know Yvonne?” he asked. Duncan felt his stomach dip. What the hell was that woman doing with his mother?
“Of course. She’s the woman you should have married.”
“That woman is no lady. She sleeps around and is in no way worth the spot as my wife. Tess is worth a million of her.”
His mother snorted. “You’re as pathetic as your father. He couldn’t get past his affection for that whore of a woman. I showed him though. You didn’t speak another word to him. I promised him if he chose that bitch over me I’d make him pay.”
Duncan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You planned this?”
“Of course, you stupid boy. I was not going to be passed over for that slut. I had money, and I’d given him a son. He could have kept her on as his little plaything. I didn’t care. The moment he wanted more, I took care of it.”
“You ruined any chance of a relationship I might have had.”
“Stop your whining, boy. Yvonne should be arriving at your home to take the trash out.”
“What?”
“I told Yvonne she needed to go and fight for you. Tess doesn’t stand a chance against her beauty.”
Duncan finally saw everything falling into place. The callousness of his mother. The truth hidden behind his father. All the pain and loss caused by this woman and her determination to destroy any relationship he could have with his father.
“When did she leave?” he demanded.
“Ten minutes before you arrived. Be a gem and do this for your mother. You’re worth so much more. Tess can be your plaything.”
“Tess is pregnant with my child. I love her, and I’ve been a fool when it comes to you. You ruined my relationship with my father, but you won’t ruin any more of my life. I’m done with you. You can find your own way. As far as I’m concerned I have no mother.” Duncan walked out without looking back.
He got in his car and drove towards home. He dialled his home number. Two hours felt like a lifetime.
Chapter Twenty-Three