The Unexpected Baby

‘I didn’t think about it deeply enough!’ Catherine castigated herself, her fingers gripping Elena’s now. ‘Because Jed was always stronger and tougher than his brother, in every possible way, it was Sam who got the lion’s share of encouragement and cosseting. And because we knew the family business would be safe in Jed’s hands it was Sam who got to do what he wanted in life.

‘Jed was never asked what he wanted; we just took it for granted he’d do his duty and shoulder the responsibility. And after his father died Jed was always here for me—strong, supportive, clear-headed and caring. While Sam—well, we often didn’t know where he was for weeks and months at a time.

‘So when he did come home for a few days between assignments what did I do? The prodigal son and fatted calf wasn’t in it! The silly thing is, I think—no. I know—that I made much more fuss of Sam to make up for secretly loving Jed the best.’

Elena gently released her hand from Catherine’s clutching fingers. What she’d said explained so much, why the fact that it was Sam’s child she was carrying had been so hard for Jed to face, for starters. Hadn’t she asked him to try to imagine if his reaction would have been the same if she’d had a brief affair with any other man and fallen pregnant, well before she’d even met him?

He wouldn’t have been delighted, but because he was a highly intelligent, compassionate man, without, until recently, a jealous bone in his body, he would have understood that mistakes can happen. And, because they’d loved each other, he would have found a way to accept it.

But because Sam was her child’s father he simply couldn’t take it. Even if the baby’s conception had been the result of clinical treatment.

She said quietly, ‘Thank you for telling me this. I think you should tell Jed, too. Explain it, as you’ve just explained it to me. It would wipe away his misconceptions about coming a poor second-best to his brother.’

She stood up, finding a reassuring smile. ‘I’ll make some coffee; we could both do with some. And don’t worry. You did a fine job of bringing up both your boys. Sam was clever, charming, a great friend to many people, and he excelled in the work he did; he took it very seriously. And Jed—’ She spread her hands expressively. ‘Jed is simply the best.’

Elena got back from her delayed trip to the village at a little after three o’clock that afternoon, just as the phone rang. She put the packages and carriers she’d brought in from the car down on the parquet floor of the hall and lifted the receiver, pushing her hair out of her eyes with her free hand.

If it was the journalist who’d called earlier he’d be wast

ing his time. She and Jed would be on their way back to Spain by this time tomorrow.

It wasn’t. It was Liam. Elena took the instrument from her ear and stared at it, frowning. She couldn’t believe it. Why would her ex-husband be calling her? How did he know she was here?

His insistent voice on the other end of the line had her reluctantly listening again, her soft mouth pulled down in distaste.

‘What do you want?’ she asked him frigidly, wondering if he’d bother to phone again if she simply put the receiver down and cut him off.

‘I just told you.’

‘And I wasn’t listening,’ she told him back.

‘Then you’d better listen this time,’ he said toughly. ‘I want money. Big fat bunches of the stuff. And I want it now. Because of you I was banged up. You turned me in. I always treated you right, showed you a good time,’ he said resentfully. ‘Now I’ve paid my debt to society,’ he sneered. ‘So it’s your turn to clear your debt to me.’

‘I don’t owe you a single thing.’ She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. It was surreal.

‘Ten years at Her Majesty’s pleasure. You call that nothing? You set me up. You owe me. And don’t tell me you can’t afford it. I know better. And don’t say you won’t, because if you do I’ll make big, big trouble. For you and your nice new husband.’

Elena’s eyes flicked round the hall. The house felt empty, but she knew it wasn’t. At any minute Catherine might wander through and want to know if she was talking to that nice journalist who had phoned earlier.

How could she explain that she wasn’t, that she was speaking to her ex-husband, the ex-convict, who was now demanding money with menaces?

She really could do without this on top of everything else!

Dealing with it firmly, she said, ‘Get lost. You’re talking nonsense.’

‘OK. If that’s the way you want it. You just sit back and wait till the rubbish hits the fan. You and hubby will be covered with it.’

Her stomach contracted and goosebumps peaked on her skin. He sounded as if he really meant it, as if he had some dirt he was waiting to fling over her and Jed.

She couldn’t think what. He was the one who had plenty to hide. Nevertheless, it had to be dealt with. She didn’t want him even trying to make trouble. She and Jed already had enough of that on their hands.

‘We can’t talk here,’ she said with sharp aggravation. Talking to him at all was the last thing she wanted, but she had to find out what was on his sneaky mind so she could do something about it.

‘Now you’re being sensible, babe.’

There’d been a time when his slight cockney accent had fascinated her. Now she felt nothing. ‘So give me your number and I’ll call you back,’ she instructed coldly. She’d have to drive back to the village and use the public call box. She could make the excuse that she’d forgotten something. It was a damned nuisance, because she’d meant to spend what was left of the afternoon making herself look good for Jed, planning what she’d say to him.

She scrabbled around in the drawer of the table for paper and something to write with, but he derided, ‘You think I’m stupid, or something? Meet me at the end of hubby’s fancy drive in fifteen minutes.’