A Family Affair - First Born by Marilyn McPherson Read Free Book Online Page B

children probably wouldn’t have been a priority for some years. However, given his age and his desire to be a father, they had taken a relaxed approach to birth control. They had been so confident in their upcoming life together. It had been as if nothing could keep them apart. Given their attitude to birth control and the hazy memories associated with the night with Kane, the pregnancy could be either man’s. It was the worst case scenario.
    Ellen purchased two pregnancy tests, and immediately went home, jogging most of the way. There was no time to waste. She grabbed a plastic cup from the kitchen and headed for the bathroom. The instructions were easy enough to follow.
    The moisture climbed slowly along the test stick. Every second felt like a year, but she knew the results would be known within the minute. One line meant that she wasn’t pregnant. Two lines meant she was in big trouble.
    The first line appeared and started to darken. The moisture kept climbing, and there it was. A second undeniable line appeared next to the first – initially faint, but gradually darkening. There was a new type of hormone in her body. She was pregnant.
    Ellen’s mind instantly started to imagine how she was going to tell Tom. The whole truth would need to come out now. Her night with Kane was a horrible mistake which might ruin their lives as a result. How would he react? It was impossible to know. There was every chance that the wedding would be cancelled, but if so, it was his right to do so. Ellen would accept Tom’s decision regardless of what he chose to do. The worst part of this situation was not her own lost future, but the hurt that Tom would feel. His pain was now guaranteed, and Ellen herself was responsible. How would she look him in the eye and explain her betrayal?
    The rest of the day passed slowly as Ellen stayed at home in her apartment and prepared her apology to Tom. No matter how many times she said the words out loud, they never sounded real. How could this have happened? Everything in their life had been going so well after the craziness of the previous year.
    She repeated the pregnancy test after lunch but got the same result.
    When Tom sent a text message saying that he was finished for the day and to come over for dinner, Ellen knew the inevitable could be delayed no longer.
    She drove slowly to his house and parked near the garage. Tom’s butler, Robert, was working on something in the garage, and he waved. She waved back, ashamed to think how differently he would view her after this day.
    Tom’s car was already there, and she knew he would be waiting for her inside. Ellen used her key to enter but left it on the sideboard near the front door. It was easier this way than being asked for its return down the track.
    “Good evening, Ellen.”
    Ellen jumped in surprise.
    Tom’s housekeeper, Estella, was passing the front entrance on her way to the kitchen.
    “Hi, Estella,” she said, trying to act normal.
    “Will you be staying for dinner?”
    Ellen shook her head, fighting back a vision of Tom throwing her out onto the street. “No. Please don’t prepare anything for me.”
    “Let me know if you change your mind. Tom is in his office.”
    “Thank you, Estella. Thank you for everything.” Ellen knew that might be the last time she would ever see Tom’s housekeeper again.
    She took a deep breath, and resolved to tell Tom everything as quickly as possible. He was seated at his desk with his reading glasses on when she knocked.
    His eyes lit up with an unexpected level of excitement. “Ellen, I’m glad you’re here. Perfect timing.” He ran towards her and kissed her on the lips. He was acting like a schoolboy.
    Ellen knew she would never see that kind of happiness from him again. She reached for one of his hands, and squeezed it tight. “Tom. We need to talk. I need to tell you something important.”
     
     

Chapter 11
    Ellen realised that Tom was flapping a piece of paper in his hand. The