A Family Affair - First Born

by Marilyn McPherson

  Tom had suggested that the family meet for afternoon tea in the members’ lounge at his father’s golf club. Playing golf was Jack’s favourite activity now that he was retired, and Tom knew he would be comfortable there; as comfortable as is possible when meeting an adult son for the first time. As Jack was well-known among the members, no one was paying particular attention to his being there, which was a relief.

  Ellen was coming too, although she was running late Tom realised, checking his watch. He would need her understanding and support in their discussion afterwards. What Ellen thought of this man would influence his own feelings, he was sure. If they liked him, there was no reason not to maintain an ongoing relationship, apart from his mother’s feelings. Margaret would have to adjust to the new reality of the situation, Jack had said a few days ago. He was confident that she would adjust, given time, and possibly even welcome him eventually.

  Jack was looking puzzled about something.

  “What is it, Dad?”

  “Something just occurred to me. How will we know him?” he asked, while sipping his favourite iced tea. “We have no idea what he looks like.”

  “He said he’ll wear a red shirt.”

  Jack didn’t look convinced. “I can see three people wearing red shirts already,” he said, being contrary. “Look, over there.”

  Tom looked where Jack was pointing.

  “There’s John Olsen in red.”

  John was one of the founding members of the club, and over eighty years old.

  “Pretty sure he’s not my son,” Jack continued.

  Tom smiled. “We know he is twenty-eight years old. I told him we’d be sitting in the club rooms overlooking hole six, so he’ll find us.”

  “Fine.”

  The question about his brother’s looks made Tom curious. “What did his mother look like, Dad?”

  Jack was only too happy to answer. “Long blonde hair with a sweet face, if I recall correctly.”

  A feeling of sudden discomfort swept through Tom’s mind and body. The fact that his father had cheated on his mother and fathered a child as a result was a matter of some sadness, and a little embarrassment. His mother had kicked Jack out of the house as a result, and he couldn’t blame her for that. Although unexpected, Jack seemed to be enjoying his new-found freedom.

  “Look here,” Jack said, with enthusiasm, bringing Tom’s attention back into the present moment. “That man is not a member.”

  Tom turned in the direction Jack was indicating to see a young man in a red shirt enter the clubroom. He was tall with short dark hair not dissimilar to his own. The man’s eyes scanned the room as if he were looking for someone. That must be him.

  Tom smiled and stood up, waving towards the man, who immediately started moving in their direction. Tom wished Ellen had been there already to witness the moment. It was incredible. Where doubts may have existed in his mind before today, they were instantly gone. The man carried himself in such a similar way to Tom. They were definitely brothers, although the man was clearly more athletic than Tom had ever been at that age.

  The three men introduced themselves to each other and shook hands in a curious but detached manner, before Tom ordered a round of drinks to help break the ice.

  “It’s a strange thing to meet a grown son for the first time,” Jack commented.

  “I can’t imagine how this is for you,” Tom added, speaking to his new brother. It seemed as if he didn’t want to look at Jack, and Tom was puzzled by that fact.

  His brother looked down as he explained. “I never expected to meet my real family. I didn’t know what to think when I received that letter. To be honest, I threw it in the bin. I thought it must be a clerical error or something.”

  “I thought that too, at first,” agreed Tom.

  “When I turned eighteen, I requested a copy of my adoption records hoping to find my biological parents. My mother’s name was Sarah Rush and she died when I was young. There was no father listed on my birth certificate. I just assumed that she didn’t know who the father was.”

  Jack looked horrified, but remained silent.

  “I couldn’t find much more, as Sarah’s parents had passed away too. It was a dead end and I guess... I lost interest at that point.”

  “That is understandable,” Tom said, with sympathy for his brother’s situation.

  “I would like to know more about her – my mother, I mean. I want to know why she gave me up for adoption. Can you tell me anything about her, Jack?”

  “Yes, I’d like to hear this story too,” added Tom quietly.

  “I don’t know why she did that,” admitted Jack. “I’m sorry, son.”

  Tom’s brother flinched, but didn’t respond.

  “Why don’t you tell us what you remember, Dad?” Tom said, encouraging his father to remember whatever details of Sarah he could.

  “Your mother – Sarah, well... what can I say? She was a receptionist at my workplace. I liked her smile and she laughed whenever I spoke to her. She was a very fast typist, if I remember correctly.”

  Tom wrinkled his nose. This was probably not the sort of information his new brother wanted to hear.

  Jack noticed Tom’s expression. “Listen, Tom. It was a short lived affair, a long time ago. I shouldn’t have been messing around on your mother, I admit. I came to my senses eventually and ended it. The truth is - I didn’t know Sarah very well.”

  “But she got pregnant?”

  “I suppose she must have, but I never knew. She never told me.”

  “So you didn’t give me up for adoption?”

  “No. I would never have done that. If I’d known, I would have had to ‘fess up to Marg, but you would have stayed with me.”

  Tom’s brother nodded, pleased to hear that.

  “I heard that Sarah died a few years later,” Jack continued. “And I felt bad that I didn’t attend the funeral. I didn’t want the questions from Margaret, so I didn’t go. I’m sorry now. Maybe I would have learnt about you at that point.”

  Tom was suddenly distracted by Ellen who had just arrived, and he stood up to welcome her, wanting to introduce his new half-brother. Something told Tom quickly that everything was not all right with her. She stopped moving midstride and was staring at the three of them, dumbfounded.

  “Elle, are you okay?” Tom asked.

  She didn’t respond.

  “Elle, this is my half-brother Kane. Kane, this is my fiancée Ellen.”

  Ellen was tense and unmoving, and Tom noticed that his new brother was staring back with an equally shocked sort of expression on his face. Something was going on here which he did not understand. The two of them seemed to be silently communicating with each other, and Tom was excluded from the conversation. It didn’t feel right, and he didn’t like it. “Do the two of you know each other already?” he asked, unsure what else to think.

  Chapter 15

  Kane’s day had just gone from interesting to very interesting.

  He had come to this lunch with low expectations. There was little chance of having anything in common with his half-brother or biological father. After all, this was the family who didn’t want him as a baby. He had supposed the three of them would make polite conversation and completely avoid the topic of his abandonment. To learn that his father didn’t even know he existed was a surprise, to say the least. It changed everything. Perhaps a relationship with his father would be possible.

  During the days leading up to this meeting, Kane and his new brother had spoken numerous times on the phone. The man had seemed friendly and Kane had been looking forward to meeting him, if nothing else. The fact that Tom suggested the three of them meet at a private golf club was worrying though. Kane would have nothing in common with two rich golf enthusiasts. But he had decided to come to the meeting out of sheer curiosity in the end. It was just a ‘meet and greet’ after all. Before he had arrived, there had been no obvious reason to think he would see either of them again, unless he wanted to.


  When he had first arrived and seen Tom wave him over, he’d thought the man looked vaguely familiar, but hadn’t joined the dots until Ellen walked in. It was Ellen’s Tom. Tom Bradley, Chief Executive and owner of Satinol Cosmetics. His half-brother was famous and very rich, and his father wealthy too. Wasn’t Jack Bradley some sort of property tycoon in Melbourne who owned vast numbers of houses and apartments? Things were starting to click into place. Suddenly, an ongoing relationship with these people seemed more probable. But money was not the most important thing on Kane’s mind.

  He stared at Ellen like a blind man whose vision had just returned. She was soft and beautiful, and more engaging than he remembered. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. As attractive as she was, the girl was also a mystery. Her eyes and face were angelic, yet her long dark hair hung low on her womanly curves, hinting at another hidden side to her personality - one that enjoyed and craved male intimacy. She wore a loose-fitting low cut top which he couldn’t take his eyes away from. He could stare at her for hours like an addict without getting bored. In fact, it was difficult to breathe and act normally in her presence; he didn’t know how he had managed for so many months as her trainer. Her absence from his life had only made his desire stronger.

  It had been over a month now since their encounter in his bedroom, but the memories of her plagued him. He relived each moment in his mind, but always changed the way it ended. He could imagine one hundred different ways she could have reacted the next morning. Ellen stayed for breakfast in most of them, and she never wore that empty, expression that haunted his recollection.

  Kane studied Ellen standing there with an odd expression on her face. She appeared to be speechless, and he realised that she still hadn’t answered Tom’s question. Was she having a similar reaction to seeing him as he was to her?

  “I’m Ellen’s personal trainer, Tom,” Kane said, diverting the attention away from the girl he loved.

  “Oh, is that right?” Tom said, looking back to Ellen for confirmation.

  Kane laughed. “What a small world it is, Ellen. Come to think of it, I do remember you saying something about a fiancé.” Of course Kane remembered every word she’d ever said.

  The colour returned to Ellen’s face and she started moving again. “Sorry,” she said, touching Tom’s shoulder. “I was just so surprised. Is Kane your half-brother?” She seemed to be having trouble saying the words out loud.

  “Can’t you see the family resemblance?” asked Tom. “Clearly Kane is younger and better-looking though.”

  Kane laughed.

  Suddenly Tom looked towards Jack. “Dad, I’ve just worked out why Kane is so familiar. He looks like that picture we have of you on the wall at home. You know - the one from the seventies.”

  Jack nodded in agreement. “Yes, I see what you’re saying. There is a strong family resemblance.”

  “I would nearly be convinced even without the blood work,” Tom concluded.

  Ellen looked between Jack and Kane, and smiled.

  Kane assumed that she did see a family resemblance, and wondered if she had seen it all along. It was difficult to say from her expression, which was still concealing her real thoughts and emotions.

  Tom looked deep in thought as he turned to Ellen. “Now that you mention it, I remember you talking about a trainer called Kane. I just can’t believe that the two of you already know each other.”

  Ellen murmured in agreement. “It’s quite a coincidence that Kane and you were even living in the same city, come to think of it.”

  “What were the chances of that?” agreed Tom.

  Kane didn’t believe in coincidences. He and Ellen were here for a reason. Perhaps she was meant for him after all.

  Tom continued, “But you haven’t been to the gym in a while have you, Elle?”

  “No, she hasn’t,” Kane added, using a displeased school teacher voice.

  Ellen looked a little guilty. She was playing her part in this deceit well. “I’ve just been so busy with the preparations for the wedding. I’ve kind of given the gym away for the time being.”

  “I guess I will have to give you free personal training from now on, won’t I?” joked Kane, while watching Ellen intently. “Now that we’re family... or almost family I should say.”

  Ellen smiled in response, but Kane could tell how uncomfortable she was feeling. Neither Tom nor Jack noticed her demeanour. Was he the only one who understood this woman at all? “The wedding must be soon, is that right?” Kane asked her.

  “That’s right,” she answered. “Three weeks to go now, until Tom makes me the happiest woman in the world.”

  Kane noticed that Ellen touched Tom in an intimate manner. Was that gesture meant for him? It looked as if she was sending a coded message his way - she and Tom were in love – stay away.

  “Why don’t you come to the wedding, Kane?” asked Tom, smiling at his new brother. “It will give the whole family a chance to meet you.”

  Ellen shook her head. “Tom, you need to give people more notice than three weeks for these sorts of events. I’m sure he’s busy that day.” Ellen gave Kane a look which said quite clearly that he was not welcome.

  “Doesn’t hurt to ask,” Tom said.

  “I’d love to come,” Kane said, ignoring Ellen’s pleading look. “When is it?”

  “Saturday the third of November,” Tom answered. “I’ll have the planner rearrange some tables and send you an invite. Please feel free to bring a date of course. I see there is no wedding ring on your finger.”

  Kane laughed, while looking down at his finger. There was only one girl he wanted to spend time with, but he answered in the way Tom was expecting. “Thank you for the invitation. I will certainly ask someone special to come along too.”

  “Wonderful,” said Tom.

  Kane smiled at Ellen generously. She was looking more and more uncomfortable by the second.

  “So,” Jack said to Kane. “I’m interested to know about the couple who raised you.”

  “Well, first I’d like to apologise to Ellen.”

  “Why’s that?” asked Tom.

  “Well, she’s heard all of this already.”

  “It’s fine, Kane. Don’t worry about me.” Ellen looked embarrassed. “Please go ahead.”

  Kane couldn’t help but notice that Tom was resting his hand on Ellen’s leg, and instantly felt resentful towards his new brother. That should be his hand touching Ellen. Couldn’t she see how ridiculous it was to be marrying this older man, when he was there, obviously more suited to her in every way?

  Kane tried to focus his mind away from Ellen’s leg and to the facts of his upbringing. “After my mother gave me away as a baby, I was adopted by Jane and Michael Jarrad. Jane wasn’t able to bear her own children, and I understand they were trying to adopt for years before I came along.”

  “What do your parents do?” asked Jack.

  “My mother is a hairdresser, and my father is a builder. I grew up on various building sites around the city, you could say.” Kane was expecting his parents’ profession to meet with their disapproval, but he couldn’t discern any scorn in their reactions.

  “That sounds like an interesting childhood,” said Tom. “My strongest memories from childhood involve auctions and housing inspections. Jack has always enjoyed working with property, you see.”

  “That’s what I do, Kane,” added Jack matter-of-factly. “Property management - buying, selling, renting.”

  It didn’t sound very interesting to Kane but he feigned an interested smile.

  “Are they still alive?” asked Tom. “Your parents – I mean.”

  “Yes, and both are still working, although Dad has slowed down in the last few years.”

  “Would you say your childhood was a happy one?”

  Kane looked at Jack in surprise. Was the man trying to make himself feel better for all the years that he wasn’t present? He pushed that thought away and reminded himself that Jack hadn’t known about his birth. “Yes, I
couldn’t have asked for better adoptive parents,” Kane said, while trying to smile. “They were honest with me from a young age, so I always knew that I was adopted. I appreciate the openness and integrity that my parents showed me, even more so since meeting Ellen.”

  All three men looked at Ellen curiously. “How so?” asked Jack.

  “Well, because Ellen was raised thinking that Garry and Beth Jackson were her biological parents. They only told her the truth when she confronted them with evidence suggesting otherwise. They were happier with the lie.”

  “Kane,” said Ellen, trying to conceal her frustration. “They had their reasons for what they did.”

  “That’s not the right way to raise an adopted child, if you don’t mind my opinion on the matter.”

  “I can see that you feel quite strongly about this,” Jack said. “I’m glad to hear your parents were honest with you in that case.”

  Tom looked at both Kane and Ellen. “The two of you do seem to know each other quite well.”

  Kane smiled to himself. The chemistry between himself and Ellen must be obvious to Tom now. He saw Ellen looked towards Tom with a concerned expression. Making her squirm was actually quite fun.

  “I guess we used to talk about all sorts of things while working out,” she said, trying to explain.

  “I think that’s great,” Tom said sincerely. He looked towards Kane, pleased. “The fact that you already know my beautiful fiancée will help you feel more comfortable in our family, and I couldn’t ask for more than that. I know this is an unusual situation, but I hope we will have the chance to get to know you better.”

  “Agreed,” added Jack.

  “I would like that too,” Kane said.

  Jack’s demeanour suddenly deflated. “Margaret is the only one who can’t see the positive in this situation.”

  Kane looked confused, and Tom responded. “My mother – Margaret, is not entirely happy with the revelation of Jack’s affair.”

  “Oh,” said Kane knowingly. “I guess that is understandable.”

  “She’s left me,” added Jack. “Filed for divorce yesterday.”

  Kane realised that Tom and Ellen looked surprised to hear the news. They must not have known.