A Family Affair - Next of Kin (4 page)

The house’s interior had been painted while they were away, which was a considerable step forward in the redecoration of Tom’s mansion. Having Irene had allowed Ellen more time to dedicate to the project. She was surprised by how enjoyable the process had been to date, and wondered if she had missed a calling in life. Tom hired an interior designer - Miranda, and instructed Ellen and her to spare no expense in creating a beautiful home for their family. After working together for a few weeks, Miranda understood what Ellen liked and didn’t like. 

Prior to the redecoration, the style of Tom’s interior would have been best described as Victorian.  There had been rich textured furnishings alongside bright colourful upholstery, and wall coverings in every room. Tom’s furniture had been luxurious and ornate, but never particularly comfortable. Ellen suspected that Margaret decorated the house originally, as it appeared similarly furnished to her own. However, Ellen never found the confidence to ask Tom about that directly. In any case, Tom was completely supportive of the project and of her ideas.

Ellen wanted to create a modern feel for the house. The walls were stripped of their wallpaper and painted white, while much of the carpet had already been replaced by timber boards. Tom’s hard-backed lounge suites were to be donated to charity, with modern comfortable furniture to be procured. Ellen had enjoyed the process of selecting pieces for the house, and Miranda usually had new catalogues and samples when she visited.

Tom was contributing ideas too, although he was generally happy to let Ellen decorate the house as she chose. Occasionally he shook his head at this or that, but mostly he told Ellen how pleased he was with the alterations. As the job neared completion, it was starting to feel more like a comfortable home.

It would be Angus’ first home of course, and the house he would grow up in and enjoy.

In order to make her parents feel comfortable when they visited, Ellen reserved one of the five guest rooms for them alone, and decorated it accordingly. Her parents usually stayed one weekend every month, wanting to spend as much time with Angus as they could. Ellen chose a coloured feature wall she knew her mother would enjoy. On one of the walls, she hung an enlarged photograph of the four of them from the wedding. Memories from the wedding day were just as meaningful to Ellen’s parents as to her.

Even Margaret, in her own way, was being supportive of the redecoration. In fact, her changed attitude since Angus’ birth was a big surprise. Gone were the snide comments from the previous year. It was nice to be accepted by her, and more so, it made Tom happy to see his family united. Ellen was pleased to put their past enmity behind her and made Margaret welcome in their home.

During lunch one day while eating from a tray of sandwiches prepared by Estella, Ellen looked outside and realised it was a beautiful day for an outing. She had been intending to look at cushion samples, and there was no reason not to go today.

Irene was busy playing with Angus on the floor beside her.

“Irene,” Ellen said. “I might go and do a spot of shopping this afternoon. Miranda wants me to look at cushions this week. Will you be all right if I pop out?”

Irene looked concerned. “Oh, I...”

“What’s the matter?” Ellen asked. It was unlike Irene to say no to anything.

“You probably don’t remember, dear with everything else that’s going on, but I mentioned to you that I made a doctor’s appointment for today.”

The prompt helped Ellen to remember, and she felt guilty for asking Irene to stay.

“I was planning to leave early,” Irene continued.

“That’s absolutely fine, Irene. I’m sorry I forgot. I might take the little fellow with me then.” Of course Ellen knew Estella would happily watch Angus too, but maybe an outing with her son would be nice.

“Are you sure, Ellen?” Irene asked, sounding concerned.

Everyone seemed apprehensive whenever Ellen suggested taking Angus out of the house. It was as if they thought Ted Blake or Kane Jarrad was hiding outside the security gate, ready to pounce.

It was troubling that Ted had still not been apprehended by the authorities. That fateful day when he had drugged her and dragged her into his car was never far from her conscious thoughts. It was easy to focus on the positive things in her life during the day, but harder at night when images and memories of the kidnapping flashed before her eyes. Neither Tom nor she wanted to take any unnecessary risks now that Angus was there. But Hayden had contacts in the police force, and the detectives were working hard to find Ted. Surely he wouldn’t be so stupid as to park outside their house.

Ellen knew there was no reason to fear Kane. She hadn’t been contacted by him for months now. Of course, the court date to hear his claim on the estate was imminent, but there was no reason to avoid shopping because of him. He had never threatened her; his obsession was more bothersome than anything else. He just didn’t accept her decision to love Tom, and seemed to believe she would change her mind one day. He didn’t realise that Ellen had never questioned her love for Tom. The thought of loving Kane was ridiculous.

In any case, Tom had hired a private security firm to protect the large property, and there were usually two guards watching at any time. The security team was useful in keeping photographers away from her family too. Little Angus had been snapped by only a couple of them since his birth.

Ellen looked at Irene’s concerned face, but felt confident about her decision to take Angus out. “It will be fine, Irene,” she said, trying to reassure her nanny. Irene’s instinctive protection was one of the things Tom liked most about her. “One of the security guards will come with me, and I’ll wear a hat and sunglasses so nobody recognises me.”

“If you’re sure, dear. I can always reschedule.”

“Not at all. I wouldn’t hear of it.”

After lunch, Ellen gathered her hat and sunglasses and waited outside the front door for Robert to bring the car around. Irene was fussing over Angus and putting little kisses on his forehead. A security guard was parked in the driveway and would follow Robert’s car, close enough to act if needed, but far enough back not to intrude on the outing.

“Have a good time, Ellen,” Irene said. “Have a good time, little man.”

“We will.”

“I hope you find what you’re looking for. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the usual time.”

“Thank you, Irene. See you then.”

Robert helped Ellen and Angus into the car, and they were away, heading towards the shopping strip that Miranda had recommended. It didn’t take long, and Robert found a temporary parking spot close to the furniture shop.

“I’ll help you out, Ellen,” he said, jumping out of the driver’s seat smartly.

“Thanks, Robert,” Ellen said.

He lifted the stroller out of the car, and Ellen readied Angus for the expedition.

“Give me a call when you’re ready to go, and I’ll bring the car back here.”

“Thanks, Robert. But I’d be happy to catch a cab back.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” he threatened light-heartedly. “I’ll be here. Just call me a few minutes before you’re ready. I don’t want you waiting on the street by yourself.”

Ellen nodded. The men were all so protective of her. It was nice to be cared about, but the level of precaution seemed higher than necessary. She didn’t want to upset him though. “Okay, Robert. Thank you. I’ll do that.”

The security guard approached, but stayed a few metres away, trying not to look conspicuous.

“Let’s go, Angus,” Ellen said. They set off, enjoying both the sunshine and bustle of the shopping precinct. Angus was stirring, but still drowsy after the drive. If he stayed awake, he would enjoy the change of scenery.

It didn’t take long before Ellen was inside the shop, and found the largest wall display of cushions she had ever seen. She removed her sunglasses and put them in her bag, and as her hat was annoying, put that away too. Before long, she found a couple of different styles she liked, and took a picture of each one with her phone camera to show Miranda at a later date.

Because Ellen was preoccupied by her selections, she didn’t notice the woman in the store who was watching her every move.

“Ellen,” the other woman said tentatively.

Ellen swung around, dropping the cushion she was holding in the process. She hadn’t been expecting to be recognised in this environment, and jumped in response to her name being said aloud. It was Nikki Lucas, and she was moving in her direction purposefully.

Before Ellen could react, the security guard lunged, putting his body in front of her and the stroller. His action protected them from Nikki’s advance. He had moved faster than Ellen thought possible.

“Step back,” he ordered Nikki, loudly and authoritatively.

“It’s only me... Nikki,” Nikki said puzzled, trying to peek at Ellen around the security guard’s body.

“It’s okay,” Ellen said quietly to the security guard, trying to put him at ease.

“This woman is on our list,” he said firmly, not budging an inch.

Ellen guessed that Tom must have supplied pictures of Nikki and Kane to the security firm. She hadn’t known that. “She won’t hurt me.” Ellen looked around at the other nearby shoppers who were now watching with interest. “And you’re creating a scene.”

“Are you sure, ma’am?”

“Yes. You can relax. Tom is just being over-protective.”

The security guard reluctantly stepped away, then immediately started dialling a number on his phone.

The scene had created quite a commotion, but people quickly realised the action was over and resumed their own shopping.

“You’ve got a bodyguard now?” Nikki asked, raising an eyebrow. She stepped closer, moving tentatively to embrace Ellen while keeping one eye on the security guard.

Ellen let Nikki hug her, but there was no shared warmth in the action. Nikki had caused Tom’s family so much pain, and her actions would not be forgiven easily. Although Nikki was not a physical threat, the conversation would be a short one, as she was not welcome in Ellen and Tom’s life.

“How are you, Ellen?” Nikki asked, stepping back.

“Good, Nikki,” Ellen replied, not wanting to engage in more than perfunctory politeness.

“Are you studying yet, Elle? I know you wanted to go back to school, but I suppose... motherhood has probably swamped everything else in your life?”

Ellen was surprised Nikki remembered that conversation from their past - a time when they had been close. “Er... I’ll be starting some part-time study next semester, actually.” Suddenly Ellen noticed something she was not expecting to see. Nikki had a newborn baby asleep in the sling around her neck. At that point it became more difficult to concentrate on anything other than the newborn. It looked like a baby girl and against all odds, she appeared perfect in every way. Ellen tried not to stare or think judgemental thoughts. “Um... we thought you were overseas, Nikki.”

“I was. I mean, I needed to take off and get as far away as possible from everyone... after what happened. But I came back. This is my home. I want to raise my daughter here.”

So the baby was her daughter. Was it Kane’s daughter in the sling? Ellen went over the facts. Kane and Nikki shared a parent. They were half-brother and sister. Ellen couldn’t comprehend why Nikki would have continued her pregnancy. It was wrong, so wrong.

“I can tell from the look in your eyes what you’re thinking, Ellen.”

Ellen tried to shake her head, but knew her concerns were probably written all over her face. She’d never been good at concealing emotions.

“But Alice here is perfectly healthy, and none of this mess was her fault. You must admit that Kane and I look nothing alike. I do not believe for one second that he is my half-brother, as everyone seems certain. I am going to prove it very soon.”

“Oh?” Nikki was certainly right in that she looked nothing like Kane, but apparently their birth records both showed that Sarah Rush was their mother.

“I served him with papers last week. He has to meet me at the hospital tomorrow morning for some genetic testing. His paternity of Alice, and my own relationship to him will be determined once and for all. I already know what both results will show, but it’s going to be the proof he needs.”

By the way Nikki was talking, it sounded as if she wanted to continue a relationship with Kane. Ellen had no idea why she would want that, given the history between all of them. However, her focus was suddenly taken by baby Alice who was starting to stir.

Nikki wheeled a pram closer and lifted Alice out of the sling, placing her gently inside the pram. Nikki rocked her back and forth, moving her closer to Angus in his stroller to keep the walkway clear.

Both women looked from one baby to the other just as Angus opened his eyes.

Ellen made a shocked sound, as she breathed in too fast. Hopefully Nikki didn’t see her reaction. Ellen’s eyes moved again from Angus to Alice and back again. It was undeniable. The two children had exactly the same eyes, nose and chin.

“They could be brother and sister,” Nikki said.

So, Nikki had seen it too. Damn. Ellen silently scolded herself for not recognising it until today. How could she have missed it? Kane’s face stared back at her from both babies.