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

whispered into her ear, so that only she would hear. He thought she looked lovely as always.
    “Don’t worry about it,” she whispered back with real warmth, kissing him on the cheek. “It’s good to see you, Jack.”
    Margaret didn’t notice. “I was saying to Diane from the club just the other day how the young girls today like to experiment with colour. I prefer the classics myself.”
    Jack had no idea what she was talking about. If yellow wasn’t a classic colour then what was? In any case, he was bored with her dull conversation already. “What can I get everyone to drink?” he asked, standing up.
    “Dad, the waiter will take our order. You don’t need to go to the bar.”
    “I’m happy to go. I think I need a whiskey in any case.”
    Tom only smiled with a shared understanding of Jack’s pain.
    “A glass of sherry,” Margaret ordered, as if she was speaking to the waiter. “But only the good stuff, Jack.”
    “Can you choose a nice pinot noir from the wine list, Dad?” requested Tom. “Actually, Elle - if we order a bottle, will you have a glass or two?”
    Ellen hesitated, as if she wasn’t expecting that question. “I can feel a headache coming,” she said, touching her temple. “I might just have a lemon, lime and bitters please, Jack.”
    “Just a glass for me then, Dad,” Tom said. He kissed Ellen’s cheek softly, and whispered something into her ear which made her smile. His care for her was blindingly obvious.
    “Would you like a hand to carry the drinks back, Jack?” asked Ellen when Tom leaned away again.
    “No, I’ll manage.” She was such a thoughtful young woman. “Back soon.”
    It only took a few minutes before Jack returned with a tray of drinks and reluctantly took his place next to Margaret again.
    “So,” said Margaret, noticing when Tom put his arm around Ellen’s shoulders. “Jack said you have something important to tell us.”
    “Let’s order some dinner first, Mother,” Tom suggested, looking through the menu.
    Margaret wasn’t to be put off so easily. Her nose scrunched up – it did that when she was unhappy about something. “Is Ellen pregnant? Is that the news?” she demanded.
    Tom put his drink down. “Why on earth would you say that?”
    Jack knew by his son’s expression that Margaret’s guess was wrong, but strangely, Ellen’s face lost some of its normal colour.
    “She’s not drinking I see,” Margaret continued, staring at the girl.
    “Elle just said she has a headache coming on.”
    Jack knew that Margaret would be horrified to learn Ellen was pregnant. The car trip home would be unbearable. If there was one thing that Margaret detested, it was young people jumping into bed together before they were married. A week wouldn’t pass in their house without Margaret finding at least one occasion to mention her dislike of such behaviour.
    “No, Mother. Ellen is not pregnant,” Tom continued without even looking at his fiancée.
    There was probably nothing to Ellen’s reaction, but Jack filed that memory away for further thought. Tom and Margaret had completely missed the expression on Ellen’s face in response to the question.
    “Why must we order dinner in order to hear the news then?”
    Margaret was becoming more and more intolerable to be around as each year passed. She could ruin a perfectly fine evening within ten minutes of arriving. Ellen was looking quite uncomfortable, but didn’t squirm or say a word.
    Tom gave a frustrated smile and took a deep breath. “As you like, Mother.”
    Margaret smiled. There was nothing she liked more than having her own way.
    “Well, it’s all a bit strange to tell you the truth,” Tom began. He gave a nervous laugh, as if he didn’t know how to explain the situation.
    Jack suddenly had a bad feeling enter the pit of his stomach. There was no reason to be worried about Tom’s news, so the feeling was hard to understand. Nonetheless it was there.
    “What is strange?” demanded Margaret,