A Family Affair - First Born (16 page)

He held out his hand, and she had reached for him. They made love with a new physical closeness and intensity he hadn’t experienced before. There had been a hunger in their caresses and urgency in their grasps, not to reach the conclusion, but to feel as close to each other as possible, physically and emotionally. He hadn’t known it could be like that.

“I probably look awful this morning,” sighed Ellen, hiding her face from him.

Tom laughed. “It’s not possible.”

“We didn’t get too much sleep, did we?”

“No, we didn’t,” he said, kissing her. She did look more tired than usual, and there was some residual makeup under her eyes, but she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. “You just need a strong coffee.”

“And a hot shower.”

They were booked on a two o’clock flight and needed to be at the airport by twelve, which still gave them hours to enjoy the morning.

Tom slid out of bed, and peeked out of the blinds. It was a beautiful blue sky on the other side of their dark room. “Are you ready for some light, Mrs Bradley?” It was another glorious Melbourne day outside.

Ellen only groaned.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

He pulled open the blinds and the room flooded with morning light.

Ellen ducked under the covers, and Tom laughed at her reaction.

There was a large balcony adjoining their room, and Tom opened the sliding doors to step out. He stood still, amazed by the view. They were on the twentieth floor, and he could see for miles over the city skyline towards the bay.

“Let’s order breakfast and eat out here, Elle,” he suggested.

“Ah huh.”

Tom looked back into the room, and watched his beautiful angel groggily crawl out of bed. “Having a shower first,” she said.

“What should I order for you?”

“Toast, fruit and coffee please. Strong coffee.”

“Coming right up, Ma’am.” Tom put a shirt on, and found the room service menu. He ordered a range of breakfast options, enough to feed a small army. Ellen might be hungrier once she was fully awake.

By the time she had finished her long, hot shower, breakfast had arrived, and Tom was half-way through a newspaper on the balcony. “Out here, Elle,” he called.

She came to the balcony wearing only two towels - one wrapped around her body, and the other around her hair. He had arranged breakfast on the table but had not started without her. The warm sun made the balcony inviting, and Ellen smiled to see it all. Tom noticed that she was looking more like herself already, and was pleased.

“I’ll just get changed, and then join you out here.”

“Okay. Be quick, Mrs Bradley. The aroma is making me hungry.”

Ellen walked back to her overnight bag and started to look for something to wear.

Tom watched as her towel dropped to the bed, and he briefly studied her naked body. Everything about his new wife pleased him in an indescribable way, but especially her little bump which was now noticeable to his eager eyes.

The idea of being a father in seven months was exhilarating. It was more than he had hoped for – it was a dream come true. Meeting Ellen had not only fulfilled his desire for a partner in life, it would provide a son or daughter as well, transforming their loving partnership into a family.

When Ellen was dressed, Tom kissed her on the cheek before seating her at the small table.  “Should we hit the gym after breakfast?” he asked. Although his lovely wife was eight weeks pregnant, there were plenty of low intensity options available. She had become a gym junkie this year after all.

Ellen frowned. “Not for me, I’m afraid. You should go though.”

“What would you like to do?”

“I’ve brought a book, so I’m happy here. We could go for a walk for coffee when you get back.”

“Sounds good. You don’t mind if I go without you?”

“Of course not.”

“I want to look my best for you on our honeymoon.” Tom realised a few weeks ago that he hadn’t worn bathers in public for years, and had started jogging in the mornings ever since. His upper torso was not as rock hard as his little brother’s, but still muscular, and hopefully in respectable shape for his wife.

Ellen had a funny look on her face, and he wondered what she was thinking. “You don’t need to worry about how you look, ever,” she said. “In my eyes, you are the definition of perfection.”

Tom’s heart swelled. Hearing her affirm her feelings like that hadn’t lost its ability to warm him all over. “Thank you, Elle. I love you, you know.”

She smiled happily back at him. “I love you too.”

“I think there is a rooftop pool here if you want to swim instead.”

“Yeah, maybe I’ll check that out.”

“We have a late checkout organised, and Robert won’t arrive until half past eleven.”

“Great, so there’s no rush.”

Tom lifted the lids on the hot food.

“This all looks amazing,” Ellen said, her eyes bulging to see it all. “Did you order enough, do you think,” she asked cheekily, not waiting for an answer.

He only smiled. “Dig in.” Tom helped her with a serve of scrambled eggs, which she was all too happy to eat after her shower. He had been right to order well.

He fed her a strawberry, and they both smiled. There was nothing ahead but a relaxing two weeks of fun, food and relaxation.

Tahiti was a long distance from Melbourne, but travelling by first class made the flight pleasant enough. Tom booked the honeymoon suite at a five star couples-only resort, which was airy and luxurious, and looked over the ocean. The days were relaxing and fun and soon started to merge together. After a week it felt like they had always been there. They snorkelled in the mornings, ate meals in the resort’s open air restaurant, took walks in the forest which surrounded the resort, and made love every afternoon. The resort also provided them with multiple spa vouchers where they could unwind and be massaged by professionals. Ellen’s skin had never felt so soft and pampered.

The two weeks flew by and before they knew it, the day came when they were required to checkout of their room. Tom booked a taxi to the airport, and watched as Ellen started to throw her personal items towards her suitcase. She seemed upset about something.

“What’s wrong, Elle?” he asked, hanging up.

She laughed. “It’s silly.”

“It’s okay. Tell me.”

“I love our home, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want our honeymoon to be over. It went too quickly. Promise me that we will return here one day.”

He ran towards her and held her in his arms. It had been the perfect honeymoon, and Tom was feeling exactly the same. “Oh, I do promise you that. Let’s come back every year.”

“Deal.”

“Why don’t we book the same room next year as well? We can pretend to be on our honeymoon every year.”

When Tom himself started to pack, he found his phone and realised he hadn’t turned it on once since they’d been here. It was unlike him, but if he was honest, the thought hadn’t even occurred to him until that moment. It was a little unprofessional, as he’d promised Hayden that he’d check his messages once per day in case of emergencies. He picked it up, and looked towards Ellen. “I might turn it on, since we’re on the way home. Do you mind?”

“Not at all.”

Tom sat on the couch and took a moment to listen to his voicemails and read his text messages. “Hmm,” he said.

“What is it?”

“Most of the calls are just business – nothing urgent, but Mum has left seven messages. That’s not like her. All of them are the same as well.”

“What does her message say?”

“Tom,” he said, imitating his mother’s high voice. “I need to speak to you as a matter of urgency.” He laughed, but then started to feel worried. By Ellen’s face, it was obvious she was feeling the same.

“Give her a call,” Ellen suggested.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. As you said, we’re heading home today.”

“Maybe I should have been checking my phone regularly. I hope nothing is wrong.”

Tom dialled his mother’s number and waited for her to pick up. Ellen snuggled next to him to listen. “It’s ringing.”

“Hello. Margaret speaking.”

“Mum, it’s Tom.”

“Oh, Tom. Thank God.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I know. I have just listened to your seven messages.”

“Why was your phone off?”

“It was turned off, because Ellen and I are on our honeymoon. Is something wrong?”

Margaret took a deep breath.

“What is it, Mother?”

“It’s your father.”

“Go on.”

“He’s done something stupid. I don’t know what I should do.”

Tom looked towards Ellen with a sudden suspicion that his mother was overreacting to something. “What’s he done?”

“Well, I’m still trying to piece together all of the information.”

“And?”

“Apparently he’s flown to Vegas, and he’s gotten married.”

“What? I don’t think he would have...”

“It’s true. He’s married that floozy who sung at your wedding.”

“What? Where are you getting this info?”

“Nikki someone...”

“You think Dad has married Nikki Lucas! That’s what you are telling me?” Tom didn’t wait for her answer. “That’s ridiculous, Mother, and for the record, Nikki Lucas is not a floozy. She is a successful and renowned performer who would not be interested in my father.”

“Well, that is what I have heard.”

“That can’t be right.”

“She must be after his money.”

Tom put the phone down for a second, and took a deep breath. It was sometimes difficult to reason with his mother, as she could be irrational when emotionally charged. Ellen tapped his leg in support. He put the phone back to his ear. “As I said, Mother, Nikki Lucas has her own money. She’s rich. I really don’t think you have to worry about this being true.”

“I’m sure she is not as rich as your father. And why do you seem so sure? Do you know something that I don’t?”

“No, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Well then?”

“There’s their age difference for one thing.”

“You’re one to talk about age gaps.”

“Dad is seventy, Mum. Nikki is a young woman. It’s hardly the same thing as Ellen and I.”

Margaret made a sort of humph, and obviously didn’t agree.

Tom suddenly remembered the way that Jack had been staring at Nikki at the reception. But it couldn’t mean... Nikki would never have returned those feelings. Tom started to feel unsure about the whole situation. “I’m going to give Dad a call,” he suggested.

“His phone is turned off. Don’t bother.”

“How do you know all this then?”

“Your father called Keith Murray... to brag I suppose, and Diane called me. You remember the Murrays, don’t you?”

“From the golf club?”

“Yes, well you remember that Diane and I were involved in that charitable ball...”

“Mother!”

“My point being... we have been close since that event. Jack called Keith to tell him, and Diane couldn’t believe it, and called me straight away. We need to find out if Vegas marriages are legal in Australia. Tom, do you know if they are?”

Tom looked at Ellen who shrugged her shoulders. “No idea,” she whispered.

“We don’t know, Mother. If you are concerned about this, why don’t you contact Dad’s lawyer?”

Margaret sighed. “Is Ellen there? Did I just hear her?”

“Yes, Mother. Of course she’s here.”

“You can’t be telling anyone about this. We can’t let this get out of the family.”

“Ellen is family now, Mother.” She had obviously not come around to Ellen as much as he had hoped.

“Silly old fool! I can’t believe he’s done this to me. Everyone will be laughing behind my back. Tom, you can’t tell anyone. Please give Ellen that message too.”

“Of course we are not going to talk about this to anyone, Mother. Besides, we don’t know anything for certain yet. But if it is true, then everyone will eventually find out.”

“How could he do this to me? Maybe she fed him sort of hallucinogen. He must have been high as a kite to marry that girl on a whim.”

Tom took another deep breath, not wanting to repeat himself over and over. The conversation needed a new direction. “Sounds as if you’re regretting the divorce now.”

Margaret paused. “I don’t wish to discuss my feelings for your father.”

“Fine.”

“Maybe I should have dragged it out a little longer – the divorce I mean. He wouldn’t have been able to do something so stupid if I had. But really, it shouldn’t be my responsibility to stop your father from committing acts of insanity, should it?”

“No, Mother.” When Tom finally hung up the phone, he was unsure what to think. One thing was certain – he needed to speak to his father before the truth of the matter would be revealed.