My Son

by Kelly, Marie

  He looked around the rest of the room. Not big, it like the others in the flat was bright, clean and homey, as his eyes had came to rest on a large photo frame in which two people were laughing into each others eyes. One was Kelly and the other a handsome young man with laughter lines wrinkling his eyes, his blonde hair lying in thick curls on his head. He recognised the face from his detectives report and felt a tug of sympathy for the woman before him. They looked so much in love he had thought, a strange feeling catching at his throat.

  “Now for breakies young man” he could hear her saying in that voice meant for babies.

  “Would you mind” she had asked before placing his son in his lap while she disappeared into the kitchen. For several minutes he sat happily tickling the boy’s stomach laughing back at the resulting heehaws.

  This was the sight that met her as she returned with a bottle and a small bowl and spoon. Kelly had stopped momentarily to take in the scene. Despite the fact that he was so obviously a power to be reckoned with, in and out of the boardroom she suspected, he looked every bit the happy father, as he had looked down on his son with such adoring eyes that she struggled to keep her voice sounding upbeat.

  “Here we are” she breezed placing the contents of her hands onto the wooden floor before taking Max from Marc's arms and placing him in his feeding chair. After he was happily settled using mainly his hands to smear the food around his face Kelly had nothing else to do but confront the man who sat so silently watching their morning routine.

  “Would you like another coffee” she had asked nervously

  He had smiled and shaken his head his eyes still taking in the antics of the small boy opposite him. He seemed to be deep in thought, a small frown appearing on his brow before he had turned to look at her.

  “Miss Brown” he began “Please call me Kelly Mr De Santo” she interrupted causing him to reward her with a small smile “only if you call me Marc” he continued

  “There will have to be tests… you know that”

  He waited while she slowly nodded her head

  “But he looks so like me” he had added smiling once more

  Kelly had bit her lip, her heart dropping in her stomach once more. She didn’t need any tests to see that Max was Marc’s son, and the thought that he might not be had been the only positive thing keeping her going.

  She had cleared her throat nervously looking at him

  “I know, but I want you to know that even if the tests come back positive, I don’t want anything from you” she rushed on aware that his eyes seemed darker “You can of course come and visit Max as often as you like…. And nobody need ever know…” she trailed off as he sat forward anger on his face

  “You think I want to keep my son some dirty little secret” he said his tone once more icy

  “Damn it, I only just find out that I have an 11 month old son. Can you imagine what that feels like? Do you have any idea what it is like to find out that you have a son that you knew nothing about.” His eyes glaring at her

  “I can never get back that time with Max, but I have no intention of missing any more with him. My son will live with me from now on”

  Kelly had wrapped her arms around herself to stop herself from trembling. Her worst nightmare was coming true, and her whole world was falling apart.

  “Trudy told me you knew” she had replied in a shaky voice

  “Well she lied” he stated flatly

  Marc watched Kelly, seeing the fear in her eyes and felt ashamed at the way he had rounded on her. He could see the pain this was causing her and in a softer voice continued

  “I want to get to know my son Kelly; I want to give him everything”

  She had lifted her eyes to his, eyes full of such despair and grief.

  “Please Mr De Santo” she started “Marc” he interrupted

  “Marc...” she continued

  “Trudy left guardianship of Max to me in her will. I’m the only mother he has ever known. He’s already lost Trudy; don’t make him lose me too”

  He had sighed

  “Kelly, I’m his father. He needs a father”

  “I’m begging you Marc; please don’t do this to us”

  He could see the battle she was having to stop the tears which were welling up in her eyes from falling, and something in him had fluttered at the vulnerability of her. His plan had been simple, to get his son away from this woman as quickly as possible; however, watching their reaction to each other, it was clear that Kelly Brown was indeed the woman who had raised him. She really was the only mother he had known. To separate them now would hurt Max he had told himself, and he wanted desperately not to hurt the small child contentedly drinking from a bottle his face and hands covered with food.

  “When I go to court, my lawyers will make sure that they overturn the will” he had stated “As his natural father I will be awarded custody”

  She had stood before him miserable and lost, her eyes focussing on a spot over his head

  “But you’re right” he stated “He has lost too much already”

  Her eyes had flicked down to meet his in confusion

  “So you’re going to leave him here with me” she said hope entering her voice

  “No” he said “I am asking you to come with him”

  Kelly stood for a few seconds in total shock before she had spluttered

  “Me.... come with…but I can’t”

  “Why” He asked

  She had looked around herself not able to find an answer

  “Listen, Kelly, Max is coming to live with me whether you like it or not. But it will make every thing easier for him if you are there”

  “Are you offering me a job as his nanny” she asked in disbelief “Is that how you think you can avoid having to fight me in court…. By turning me into his nanny”

  Marc had sighed in exasperation

  “No, that’s not what I meant. You work from home anyway, so you can work just as easily from my home as you can here.”

  “How do you know I work from home” Kelly asked warily

  Marc De Santo did not even flinch as he continued “You don’t think that I wouldn’t have the woman looking after my son investigated” he stated “I know everything about you Kelly Brown. I know you paint commission work, from children’s stories to portraits, that you live on your own, how much you have in the bank and even that you own this house with no mortgage on it”

  She had looked at him in horror

  “You had me investigated...” she finally managed to blurt out

  Ignoring the outrage in her face he had continued

  “The point is that you can rent out this house and move in with me” the look in her eyes causing him to add

  “It’s a big 10 bed villa Kelly, with a compliment of staff”

  “You can stay and help Max to adjust, and no I’m not offering you a job… if that’s a problem to you”

  Kelly had looked thoughtfully at him

  “For how long” she asked

  “For as long as you feel he needs you” was the response

  Kelly had stood for several seconds intently watching Max contentedly finishing the bottle in his chubby hands before throwing it onto the floor with a giggle.

  She knew that if s

  he did not accept this offer she would never again see her little boy, and she knew that she could not cope with that loss. Turning her head to look at the man before her she had nodded her head slowly

  “OK Marc I’ll come, but remember you said that I could stay for as long as I wanted, and I’m not ready to give up my son”

  He had smiled “Neither am I… neither am I”

  CHAPTER TWO

  After he left, Kelly did something she had not felt able to do since Trudy’s death; she opened the box with Trudy’s personal belongings. She had kept everything locked up within the box because she felt that one day it would help Max to know his mother better, however, she herself had not felt ready to look through the co
ntents, still hurting from her death.

  In amongst all of her personal effects, Kelly had found the items she was looking for, the many diaries she knew would be there, and she had known that the answer to everything lay in those books. Trudy had been an avid writer and recorded her whole life within these volumes and often she would find her curled up on the sofa filling in an entry her expression full of such concentration, this image bringing a small lump to her throat.

  Despite her friend’s death, Kelly had felt it would be an invasion of her privacy to delve into those very personal journals though with a small smile to herself she realised how stupid that sounded now, but the time had come when answers were needed and Kelly had to know why she had not told Marc about Max.

  Therefore, that night once Max had been washed and put to bed she had curled up on the sofa and began to pour over the diaries looking for answers, taking a while to finally find the entries in which Trudy documented how she had met Marc at a social event. Trudy had described how he had swept her off her feet with gifts and flowers and how much of a wonderful lover he had been, Kelly having no difficulty believing this based on the effect he seemed to have on her every time he was close. She had never met a man who’s presence was so sensual not even….swallowing the lump that had risen deep within her, she had pushed that memory to the back of her mind , her thoughts wandering as she had remembered the party at which she had first met Marc.

  Kelly had felt awkward and out of place that night, as she had followed her cousin around the room, there only to cheer up Trudy, who seemed to come alive with the constant attention of the many men she knew. Having bumped into Marc, Trudy had introduced him to her, and he had lightly kissed the tips of her fingers. She remembered the way a shiver had tingled through her whole body firing something deep within her. She hadn’t known if it had been the open admiration in the darkest eyes she had ever seen or the most dazzling smile he had flashed her which had turned her legs to jelly and for a second she had held her breath at the physical sensations which this man had unleashed within her.

  Then she had remembered Max, remembered that this was Max’s father who had abandoned him and Trudy, and who seemed so easily to turn on that almost boyish charm to her. She had pulled her hand away from his and had been tempted to tell him exactly what she thought of him, until Trudy had almost dragged her away to the other side of the room, pleading with her not to say a word

  The rest of the night had passed in a whirl with Trudy flirting and laughing her way around the room, while she had stood back. She had not wanted to come to the party, it not really being her thing, but Trudy had insisted telling her that she needed to get out and get on with her life. After she had organised a baby sitter, Kelly had no option but to accompany her, but soon had wished that she had been more insistent. Although only 23, Kelly was older than her years, and found events such as these tiresome, wishing that she was back home away from the many annoying superficial people who would try so hard to find out her whole life story.

  She had been totally aware at all times where Marc De Santo was as she could almost feel his presence. Every now and then she had risked a look and was struck with how relaxed and charismatic he was, as his latest mistress had stayed by his side hanging onto his arm and every word. Kelly had noticed how beautiful she was and so perfectly turned out, and with a grimace she had wished that she had done more with her hair than the usual brush. Looking back at Trudy she had sighed to herself, yes Marc De Santo certainly had a type, and fleetingly she had thought it hadn't been her.

  Kelly was not someone who would enjoy being arm candy even for somebody as handsome as Marc De Santo. Nor was she somebody who would simper and agree hanging on his every syllable. She was not afraid to speak her mind and was passionate about certain topics which Danny had always said made her glorious. Remembering Danny had brought a haunted look fleetingly to her expressively beautiful face as sadness had once more filled her.

  Kelly had remembered the whole night as she had constantly been hit upon by men who seemed to think that it was OK to assume that she would like nothing more than to spend the next day with them on their boat or jet. For Trudy’s sake she had been polite but aloof with them, however looking around she saw the same dance happening everywhere, and she had missed Danny, missed him with all her heart.

  Shaking herself back into the present Kelly had continued her search, after a while finally finding the entries relating to Trudy’s pregnancy, along with the explanation of what had prompted her to stay quiet.

  “Walked in on Marc on the phone. Wanted to tell him I'm pregnant but wasn’t sure how he was going to take it. Couldn’t believe what he was saying...it was like a warning from on high. He was telling someone that he would keep his baby and that his lawyers would make sure he did. He was so angry. I left before he saw me. Our relationship is on the rocks, if I tell him about the baby he and his lawyers will take it from me. He can’t ever know”

  Kelly had frowned. Would Marc De Santo have really taken Max off Trudy? Her cousin had not been the strongest person in the world, and it was clear that Marc was, but would he really have taken her child. Kelly had bitten her lip as she realised that in many ways Trudy’s worst nightmare was actually coming true, only it was Kelly who was the one losing her son. She had no illusions that if she had not agreed to come with Max that day, then he would have set his lawyers on her and she would never have seen his lovely little face again, finding herself trembling at the thought, wondering for how long she would be able to stay with Max. He had said for as long as she wanted, but he would eventually become bored with having her around and then would look for ways of “encouraging” her to leave. Also she had her own life to lead, as she had given a short derisive laugh, realising that the decision to go had not been a very hard one precisely because she did not have a life to leave. With sad eyes she had looked up at the picture on the mantle, knowing that since Danny’s death she had been living her life in limbo, with only Max filling the days with joy, realising also that she needed him and would do anything to stay in his life

  The following week had passed in a daze. Marc had organised for her flat to be let and he had ensured that they had all of the correct documentation they would need to fly to Spain, insisting that she be given a clothing allowance for Max to buy him all new clothes for his move. He had smiled, but his eyes had been determined as Kelly had tried to assure him that she could afford to buy his clothes, quickly realising that it was another way Marc was letting her know that he was responsible for Max now as she had been forced to give in.

  He had also visited every day to see his son, something which had caused consternation for Kelly, who was finding herself ever more drawn to his masculinity, with her body responding jumpily every time he came close. She would scold herself that this was Marc De Santo, a man who collected woman as others men collected ties; however she couldn’t seem to stop her bodies reaction to his. As the days had gone by, Max had begun to look forward to the visits from Marc, who had showered affection, love and horseplay on him. She would often find herself laughing as he would swing the tot around while the small boy giggled in a way that had them both in stitches too. When she would open the door to Marc he would call out for his son, who would come crawling at speed at the sound of his voice. Kelly had watched as each day the bond between the two had grown, a knot in her stomach turning.

  One week from the meeting in which he had come to the flat so early in the morning, a large luxurious car had arrived to pick them and their multitude of luggage from the flat. It had taken them to a private air field in which Marc’s small jet waited for them on the runway. Kelly had not known if Marc would be joining them on the flight and therefore when she had seen his tall lean frame standing beside the plane, talking intently to the captain, her heart had performed a somersault.

  He had welcomed them and helped ensure that all their belongings were stowed away safely, before ensuring that Max’s car seat was firmly secured to one of
the many plush chairs. Kelly had looked around the plane with awe. It was a far cry from the plane trips she was used to, journeys in which passengers were herded into rows packed far too tightly and fed barely recognisable food at set times.

  The interior of the plane was luxurious with sofas, tables and large leather upholstered seats that looked as though you would sink into them. Marc had caught her expression and smiled before escorting her to one of these large chairs and ensuring that she was fastened into the seat. As he had leant over her to secure the belt, Kelly had taken a deep breath as she caught the familiar aura of his aftershave, the smell of him making her close her eyes with pleasure while his head leant so closely into her body. She had felt a deep desire to put her hands through those dark locks and to pull his head against her feeling him touching her now throbbing body. Mortification at these thoughts caused her to flush hotly, however, she had noticed when he raised his head that he too was breathing a little more raggedly and his eyes had burned brightly, sending her pulses racing, before he had lowered his eyelashes to hide some inner turmoil within.

  “There all safe now” he said dropping down into another chair and securing himself and soon they were in the air.

  The journey had passed quickly, with Max falling straight to sleep in the way that children always seemed to do when travelling as Marc had talked about the villa and the island they would be staying, speaking with such pride that Kelly was looking forward to seeing it. He was an attentive host ensuring that she always had a drink or something to eat, while making her laugh with jokes and stories. Kelly had found herself relaxing in his company and joining in with the conversation, as Marc had laughed with her as she shared many of the antics of the small child now sleeping so peacefully beside them, finding to her surprise that she had even talked more about herself to him.

  Just as they were approaching the Mainland he had asked her a question about Danny. It had shocked her to hear his name and he had seen the mask come down over her face and the haunted expression in her eyes. Averting them she had not answered his question, but looked out of the window asking questions about the landscape they were approaching. Marc had not pursued the matter, letting it drop heavily between them.