Free A Family Affair - First Born by Marilyn McPherson Page A

embarrass Tom and possibly damage the company too.
    Tom had asked for Ellen’s support during this time while they were investigating whether he had a half-brother. She was giving him what he had requested, and trying to do the best she could. It didn’t feel right though. She stretched out on the couch with a cup of tea in one hand, and tried not to worry. Such feelings were probably not healthy for the baby. Besides, it could be Tom’s. There was a chance he would understand her mistake, and still want the wedding to go ahead. Suddenly her other hand rested gently on her stomach. But what if the child was Kane’s? Her future was in jeopardy with that possibility. She may have ruined everything!
    Ellen pushed the negative thoughts out of her mind, and tried to focus on something more positive. She let her mind wander to the events of the last two weeks, including the dinner with Jack and Margaret. From her perspective, the Bradley family dinner had been a disaster. Margaret had seemed annoyed from the outset; in fact from the moment she stepped into the restaurant. Jack and she must have been squabbling on the way there, Ellen supposed.
    It was a miracle that Jack managed to stay in that marriage, and Ellen wondered how he did it. It was a question which popped into her mind every time she saw them together. But it was also the type of question she kept strictly to herself, as Tom’s feelings about his parents’ marriage were concealed thus far. Clearly it was not her place to comment on such things, in any case. It was also her way to say only positive things about Tom’s parents. With Jack, it was easy of course, but with Margaret, it was best to say nothing.
    She and Tom had waited forty-five minutes for his parents to arrive, and after Jack had admitted his affair, Margaret had stormed out. Poor Margaret – even Ellen felt sorry for her. Jack had recounted his affair without remorse and with little regard for her feelings.
    Tom had been embarrassed to depart without ordering meals and had left the restaurant a substantial tip as a result. As they were still hungry, Ellen had suggested ordering takeaway hamburgers on the way home, and so the two of them had their first drive-through dinner together. The burger tasted nothing like Ellen had remembered from the time when Chloe and she would order fast food. The burgers were drenched in sauce and the food tasted quite bland. Either her taste buds had changed as a result of being pregnant, or because of Estella’s fine cooking which she now ate regularly.
    Margaret had told Jack at the restaurant not to come home, and had left without even saying a proper goodbye to Tom. It was unlike her. Of course Jack had ignored the warning, sneaking into their house via a private back door entrance later that night. When Margaret discovered him there the next morning, she had apparently thrown a fit. Jack moved out after that – he’d said it was the last straw. Tom had since visited him in one of his investment properties, and he was doing okay. Ellen knew that his wealth primarily came from property, and he had over one hundred properties on his books.
    She tried to imagine him living in one of them by himself. It wasn’t easy. He was probably ordering take away every night and watching the sports channel. But it was a good bet he was enjoying the novelty of not having Margaret there to tell him what to do.
    Margaret’s surprise question in the restaurant about whether she was pregnant had thrown Ellen, but Tom hadn’t noticed. Jack did give her a funny sort of look, but he hadn’t said anything out loud. Ellen had quickly recovered when she realised that Margaret was just searching for answers.
    Strangely though, Tom seemed quite happy with the events of the night. He was excited about the possibility of his half-brother’s existence. “Mum will be fine,” he had said. “She likes the theatrics of walking out. Dad and I have seen it before. I will call her tomorrow