A Family Affair - First Born

by Marilyn McPherson

  Douglas shook his head. “We can’t be sure who the father is until the test is performed.”

  “There is no need to perform the test.”

  Douglas looked confused. “I’ve already given them the referral to the clinic, and I think Ellen was in a hurry to have the test performed.”

  “Fine. Let Ellen have the test. What I’m interested in, is what you are going to tell them afterwards.”

  Douglas finally seemed to understand. “Why do you care who the father is?”

  “Why is not important.”

  “Are you the other father?”

  “No, don’t be ridiculous.”

  “What you are asking of me is immoral and unethical. I could lose my licence.”

  “You wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for me. If you do this, we’ll be even. You won’t have to pay back a cent.”

  “What happens if the result goes the way you want? It’s a fifty-fifty chance, after all.”

  “Those odds are too high for me. I want to be sure of the outcome.”

  Douglas’s eyes widened with the realisation of what was being offered to him, but then he shook his head again. “I don’t know, Hayden. I just wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. I’ll happily pay the money back, instead. It might take a few years, but I will pay back every dollar, with interest as well.”

  Hayden was surprised that someone like Douglas hadn’t jumped immediately at the offer which was on the table. Perhaps Douglas would respond more favourably if he understood the consequences of the situation more fully. Hayden opened his jacket and removed the small hand gun he was carrying. It put it on the table, and leant over the desk until his face was only inches away from Douglas’s. They were looking each other directly. “I don’t want your money, Douglas. I want you to do what I’m fucking asking you to do.”

  Douglas leant back in his chair, clearly intimidated by the gun and by Hayden’s sudden change in personality. He started shaking slightly.

  Hayden sat back too, and tried to smile reassuringly. “Besides, no one is going to find out. Only you and I will know, and I’m-not-going-to-tell-anyone,” he said slowly, enunciating each word.

  Douglas’s eyes stayed nervously glued to the gun. “What do you want me to tell them exactly?”

  “I want you to tell them that that son of a bitch, Kane Jarrad, is not the father of Ellen’s unborn child. You can tell Kane he’s sterile as well for all I care. Just get him out of the picture.”

  “Do you want to know the truth? I’ll have the result here, and can let you know what it is.”

  “I couldn’t care less who the real father is.”

  Douglas nodded. “I understand what you are asking of me. I’ll do what you want, Hayden.”

  Chapter 18

  One and a half weeks later, Ellen and Kane sat in Dr Walsh’s waiting room for the second time. Today was the day when they would learn the truth, and it couldn’t come soon enough for Ellen, as the wedding was in four days time. Realising that she was biting her nails, she quickly put her hands behind her back.

  Kane reached out and put his hand over hers. “It will be okay, whatever the outcome.”

  “Don’t touch me,” she hissed, without drawing any unwanted attention. She knew that her tone would offend him, but he was acting like an expectant father, which annoyed her. Did Kane really want the child to be his? It was a ridiculous hope. Their night together was a terrible mistake. Ellen had called him after a misunderstanding, hoping to be comforted by a friend. But he had taken advantage of the situation. He must be stupid if he thought there was any chance of a relationship between them, even if the test result showed him to be the father. The question was – how would she tell Tom that the child was not his? It was a thought too horrifying to consider. He would certainly cancel the wedding, and he would be so hurt. Was there another possibility other than telling Tom though? Perhaps if Ellen herself ended the pregnancy, Tom would never need to know. But could she do that? Would Kane allow her to do it? It was unlikely. The paternity test result must show that Tom was the father.

  Ellen’s eyes darted from one person to the next in the waiting room. Another time she would have wondered about the individual circumstances leading each of them to the doctor, but not today. Today was just for her. It was for finding the truth, and hopefully putting this paternity nightmare in the past.

  Ellen watched as a patient left the doctor’s room. By her calculation, Kane and she would be next. It was nerve-racking. The door opened, and Dr Walsh appeared.

  He looked her way, and obviously recognised the two of them. “Kane and Ellen, please.” Something about him was different this time – maybe he looked older.

  Kane casually stood up in response. Everything about him was becoming annoying to Ellen – even the way he walked suggested a happy and expectant air which, under these circumstances, was completely inappropriate.

  In contrast, Ellen stormed into the doctor’s office and sat down quickly to demonstrate the terrible urgency of the situation. Kane shook his head but didn’t say anything.

  Dr Walsh took his seat, and looked between the two of them with a curious stare. “How are you both today?”

  “Fine, Dr Walsh,” answered Kane. “It’s a lovely day outside, isn’t it?” He seemed quite comfortable to make mind-numbing small talk.

  “It is, yes. And you, Ellen?” the doctor asked. “How is the pregnancy going?”

  It seemed like the dumbest question in the world, but of course, she knew he was not in a position to understand the importance of this paternity result. He was just being polite, and there was no reason to be annoyed with him.

  Ellen took a deep breath. “Everyone is fine, Dr Walsh, but I’m desperate to hear the test results actually.”

  “Quite right. Well, let’s get to it then. As you know, the clinic took a blood and semen sample from Kane, and a small amount of amniotic fluid from the area surrounding the foetus inside Ellen. The laboratory has compared the DNA of the unborn child to Kane’s DNA. The results confirm that the baby is unrelated to you, Kane.”

  “Oh.” Kane looked towards the floor.

  Ellen knew it. He was disappointed. Suddenly the anger and annoyance she was expecting to feel towards Kane disappeared. Tom was the real father. A sense of elation and relief rushed through her body. Everything was going to be fine. She would go home, and tell Tom about the pregnancy today.

  “There is something else you need to know, Kane,” Dr Walsh continued. “Through analysis of the semen sample, it appears that you are effectively sterile.”

  Kane looked up surprised. “Really?”

  “If you wish to have children one day, you may need to consider IVF technology at that time.”

  “I see. I had no idea.”

  “It’s nothing to be overly worried about at this stage.”

  Ellen could tell how disappointed Kane was to hear that. A well of sympathy for him opened up insider her.

  “I guess there really is no point repeating the paternity test when the child is born then,” Kane said to the doctor.

  Ellen’s eyes turned to him darkly. Her sympathy disappeared. “You heard the doctor. The test shows that it’s Tom’s child.”

  “The test concludes that the unborn child does not belong to Kane. That is all,” confirmed Dr Walsh. “I would say there is absolutely no need to repeat the test. This type of DNA comparison is extremely accurate.”

  Ellen stood up to leave. She didn’t want to be anywhere near these two men again. “Thank you, Dr Walsh,” she said.

  “I’m glad to have helped.”

  “I’ll walk you out, Elle,” Kane said, following her.

  After paying the bill quickly, Ellen grabbed her hand bag and headed for the car. She was moving hurriedly, and Kane was struggling to keep pace.

  Kane followed closely behind. “Elle, wait up.”

  Ellen pressed on her remote unlock key, not intending to talk, but Kane put his hand onto her right shoulder and s
pun her around to face him. Their bodies were only inches apart, and Ellen could feel an intensity coming from him. He still wanted her, after everything that had happened.

  “Can we talk?” he asked roughly, obviously annoyed by her rapid exit.

  “No. I’ve got to go. Let me go.”

  “That’s bullshit. You can give me five minutes. You can at least be polite to me, given what I’ve just been through with you. I’m going to be your brother-in-law, if nothing else.”

  “Oh please, and half-brother-in-law.” Ellen looked around, suddenly aware of people looking their way. “We can’t talk here. Someone might recognise me.”

  “Let’s go somewhere else then.”

  “No, Kane. Let it go. It’s over. All I need to know is that you won’t tell anyone about what happened that night. I’ve decided not to tell Tom, as there is really no point now. The child is his.”

  Kane looked stunned, but slowly shook his head. “I would never betray you like that. If you don’t want him to know, that’s fine with me.”

  “Good. Thank you. See, there’s nothing more to discuss. See you around.” Ellen jumped into her car, reversed and sped off, leaving Kane standing alone and devastated in the car park.

  Chapter 19

  On the morning of Tom’s wedding Hayden sipped his espresso, while Tom and Jack debated the relative merits of marriage. Tom was listing the many benefits he saw in marrying Ellen, while Jack scoffed at everything he said. This was no surprise given he was about to become a single man again at age seventy. Margaret had filed for a quick divorce and as a result, Jack seemed to have lost all faith not only in marriage, but in women as well.

  “Women never forgive, and they sure as hell never forget,” Jack declared. “I can’t recommend marriage to either of you boys.”

  “Come on, Dad,” Tom said. “You had a love child! Mum has a right to feel angry about that.”

  “Marriage requires forgiveness. Look at me - I’ve forgiven your mother continuously for her meddling over the years. But the minute a single skeleton is brought out of my cupboard, that’s it. She files for divorce.”

  “You have both said that you weren’t happy in the marriage.”

  “Damn right, I wasn’t happy. Don’t get me wrong. I couldn’t be happier that she’s finally filed, but mark my words - she’s going to calm down in a few months and regret kicking me out.”

  “Maybe.” Tom didn’t sound so sure.

  “She won’t survive a year without me. The woman can’t do anything on her own.”

  “Yes, Father. Whatever you say.” Tom was obviously tiring of the conversation.

  “Now, this Ellen is a nice-enough sort of girl, but why not just date her for another year? As soon as you marry them, they change. Look at your mother – she used to be a reasonable sort of woman when we were young. I liked her enough to marry her back then, but look what happened. They’re all the same.”

  Hayden put his drink down. “Ellen and Margaret are nothing alike, Jack.” he said flatly. He couldn’t stand his daughter being compared to the awful Margaret Bradley. “And, what’s more - it’s the morning of the wedding.”

  “It’s never too late to make the right decision,” Jack cheekily added. “But what do you know anyhow? You’ve never been married. Come to think of it, you must be the smartest one here. Maybe we should be taking your advice.” Jack looked towards Hayden, hoping to hear more wisdom.

  Hayden didn’t have anything else to say, and shook his head.

  He had been adding a comment to the heated discussion every now and again, although he didn’t feel strongly about either point of view. Other people’s personal lives were of little consequence to him. Why any man would want to be legally tied to a woman was certainly incomprehensible. Women were sometimes good company for a night, but he was happy to be without them. The fact that Tom had refused to ask Ellen to sign a prenuptial agreement was proof that love was confused and blind. The only reason that Hayden hadn’t pressed the point was due to his blood relationship with the girl. If she ended up with half of Tom’s money, so be it. Strange as it was, he didn’t mind.

  If the truth were told, Hayden didn’t really feel anything, the way that other people seemed to. People were either useful, worthless or in the worst case – barriers. Useful people, like Tom, needed to be protected; worthless people, like the majority of the population, ignored; and barriers, like Colleen and Chloe had to be eliminated altogether. His view of other people was actually quite straightforward and logical. It certainly wasn’t based on his feelings about them.

  However, even at a young age, Hayden realised that society did not approve of the categorisations that his mind quickly formed. In business and social situations, Hayden had learnt to master the art of appearing to be someone he wasn’t. He was someone who laughed at jokes, remembered personal foibles, recalled stories from the past, and openly talked about his apparent feelings even when there were none. He didn’t stand out in a crowd, and no one really knew what was going on in his mind. Not even his supposed best friend Tom had any idea of the real man under the mask.

  Hayden was attuned to the pattern of his thoughts, rather than the feel of his emotions. If things were going well, his thoughts were clear, like straight smooth lines in his mind. If things were not going well, his thoughts were jagged and uncomfortable.

  Hayden breathed in deeply, enjoying the quiet calm of his mind, and the sun on his face. Tom was marrying Ellen that afternoon. Ellen was two months pregnant, and as far as Tom and she knew, the child was his. That fact could well be correct in any case.

  “Come on, Dad. Ellen and I are a perfect match. She has already demonstrated a willingness to forgive my actions when required as well. What’s more - she makes me happy,” Tom said, pleased to keep talking about his fiancée. “There isn’t a doubt in my mind today.”

  “It is easy to be distracted by a woman’s looks, and she is very pretty of course,” Jack added.

  “It’s not about her beauty, although that is hard to deny,” Tom admitted. “Ellen has changed me. She’s changed the way I see the world. Whenever she comes to my house, the building is transformed into a home. The day she told me she was pregnant was the best day of my life.”

  “Oh, dear,” Jack said sighing. “My boy’s a goner.”

  Hayden laughed convincingly, pretending to enjoy Jack’s humorous comment. No one was aware how intensely boring he was finding the conversation.

  “I hope we have five children,” Tom said. “I want the house to be full of laughter. I have waited a long time for my real life to begin, and I’m not wasting a single moment of it after we’re married.”

  “What about her degree?” Jack asked with concern. “Women these days want careers and children. They want it all, but most can’t handle the work.”

  “Oh, Dad.”

  “Well, it’s true. The problem is - both activities require full time attention. What you need is a wife who wants either one or the other.”

  “Ellen has enrolled at university. If she wants a career, she will have one. We can always hire a nanny if required.”

  Jack scoffed. “What do you think, Hayden?”

  Hayden tried not to let the lack of interest show in his voice. “I think that Tom and Ellen can be trusted to work out the right balance for their lives on their own.”

  “Hear, hear,” said Tom, raising his glass. When he put it down again, he looked thoughtful about something. “You know what I appreciate about Ellen?”

  “Please tell us,” Jack said mischievously, ready to disagree with whatever his son said.

  “Ellen has decided to study commerce at university. She doesn’t want to be a socialite. She is smart. She wants to be involved in the business, to contribute to its success, and I respect that.”

  Hayden was pleased to hear of Ellen’s interest in the business. Maybe she wasn’t just a model after all. Suddenly his phone started to vibrate and he pulled it out of his jacket. It was the other part of
his life calling, the part he kept hidden from Tom and from the outside world. “Excuse me, Tom, Jack. I need to take this call.”

  “No problems, Hayden.” Tom looked around the cafe. “I’ll get the bill. We should be going soon anyway.”

  Hayden answered the call, but kept walking until he was out of earshot before speaking. “You shouldn’t be calling me on this number,” he reminded the caller angrily.

  “It’s an emergency,” the deep voice responded.

  In spite of himself, Hayden’s interest was aroused. His man was stationed at the cathedral, keeping an eye out for trouble. “Go on.”

  “Guess who’s just pulled up in front of the cathedral?”

  “Who?”

  “Your good friend, Ted Blake.”

  “I see.” That was an unexpected development. Hayden had been searching for Ted for months, and been unable to find him.

  “He keeps getting out of the car, walking around, and getting back in. He looks nervous about something, if you ask me.”

  Hayden looked down at his free hand which was clenched into a tight fist. Ted was not going to ruin anything. Hayden slowly released his fist and tried to calm his thoughts. His vision was changing; everything he saw was tainted by a familiar fiery red rage. On one level, the rage comforted him. He understood its power. The situation was becoming clearer. He felt alive with this much adrenaline pumping through his veins.

  “What do you want me to do?” asked the voice on the phone.

  Hayden checked his watch. There was time to act. “Can you get into his car? Make him drive you to the factory. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Understood.”

  Hayden hung up, and thought of an excuse for leaving Tom’s pre-wedding breakfast early. Tom looked surprised but did not question his motives, so within fifteen minutes, he was on the road and heading towards his private factory in Collingwood. It was one thousand square metres of mostly empty and sound-proof space, surrounded by industrial buildings which were always empty over the weekend. It was the perfect place for problem-solving.