A Family Affair - Next of Kin (5 page)

The next morning, Nikki Lucas sat with her father Ken in the hospital waiting room. She was fidgety, her restless eyes watching the door as people came and went. Kane’s court order instructed him to be there by ten o’clock, or else he could be fined, and reordered to appear another day.

They hadn’t seen each other since that terrible day when Jack collapsed and died. Kane had said he didn’t love her, but Nikki didn’t accept that. He was just angry and reacting to the shock of the situation. On that same day, outside on the driveway, Kane had expressed his misplaced feelings for Ellen, but there would never be anything between the two of them, as Ellen was committed to Tom. Once Kane accepted that fact, there might be a chance for Nikki and him to explore their own relationship.

The revelations which surfaced on the day Jack died had caused so much hurt and pain for the family. But there was one positive outcome - Nikki’s parents had been forced to reveal the truth about her ancestry. Ken and Janet had admitted that Janet, the woman who raised her, was not her biological mother. It was a fact which explained why Nikki did not look like her mother, but did not explain why Nikki also did not look like her father Ken. In fact, Nikki looked nothing like any of her supposed family, and especially nothing like the man she loved - Kane Jarrad.

Both Ken and Janet seemed certain that Sarah had been Nikki’s biological mother, a fact backed up by Nikki’s birth certificate which had mysteriously surfaced since the admission.

Nikki desperately wanted to see a picture of Sarah Rush to see if the lines in her own face could be found in that mysterious woman who had died so long ago. Nikki had a knack for seeing family resemblances in people’s faces, and could often pick siblings out of a crowded room. It was an unusual sort of talent, but one she trusted. Unfortunately, no one had a picture of Sarah.

After the truth had been revealed, Ken told Nikki everything he could remember about Sarah, although Nikki could tell he did not enjoy recounting the stories. The memories were painful, and it was clear that Ken’s heart had been broken when Sarah died.

Nikki’s relationship with both parents had initially been strained after learning the truth. After all, they had misled her throughout her life, and it was a difficult lie to comprehend. It would have been easier on everyone if they’d been honest with her from the beginning. But eventually Nikki forgave them while she was overseas. Regardless of their motivations, Nikki knew she had been loved her entire life, and that fact meant more than their betrayal.

Having Alice changed Nikki’s perspective on being part of a family. She understood the depths she would go to keep Alice safe, but vowed never to lie to her in the process.

Before coming to the hospital, Nikki left baby Alice with her nanny. Nikki wasn’t ready for Kane to meet Alice just yet. Once all this genetic nonsense was cleared up, the three of them would reunite.

Ken tapped Nikki on the leg, halting its restless motion, allowing it to relax under his touch. She hadn’t realised she’d been doing that. The waiting was agony, and Nikki couldn’t recall a time she felt quite so uptight.

“He’ll be here, love. He’s not stupid,” Ken said, guessing that Nikki was worried that Kane would not show.

“Thanks, Dad.”

It had been so long since she’d seen Kane. What if he was annoyed about her choice to keep Alice? What if something between them had changed? There were so many concerns racing through her mind.

Ken breathed in deeply and refrained from saying what he was thinking. Nikki knew that he and Janet didn’t understand the depth of her feelings for Kane. He was the last person in the world they wanted in her life on a permanent basis, and she hated to hurt them in that way. But birth certificates could be wrong, couldn’t they? Perhaps given time they would accept her love for Kane if the test result went the way Nikki hoped it would - although what that would mean in a greater context she didn’t know. Perhaps Kane wasn’t the son of Sarah after all?

Just as Nikki was checking her watch for the hundredth time, Kane casually strolled in. He was more handsome than she remembered, in a tailored brown business suit, cream tie, and polished clean shoes. Even his hair was different, as it had been neatly cropped.

Nikki gasped in amazement. She had never seen him look like this - so strikingly well-dressed. She no longer felt any guilt or remorse for feeling the way she did about Kane. In fact, those feelings only reinforced her conviction that they were not related. They couldn’t be, for she loved every part of him.

He nodded at her, and walked in their direction. “Nikki, Ken,” he said, putting his hand out to shake with Ken.

Ken only stared at the outstretched hand in a dumbfounded manner. He obviously had no intention of responding to this gesture.

After an awkward silence, Kane withdrew his hand, putting it back by his side. As per normal, he kept his cool throughout the exchange. “So Nikki,” he said indifferently. “I guess this means you decided to keep the baby.”

Nikki nodded, still blown away by how handsome he looked. He had painstakingly prepared his appearance that morning. Was it for her benefit? She hoped so.

He took a seat next to her while casually looking into the distance. “And you still seem sure that it’s mine?”

“The baby is yours,” she said bluntly, annoyed that no one had ever believed her assurance on the matter. Kane might as well know the depths of her conviction. There was no doubt in her mind. There had been no other man.

Suddenly he turned to face her, his face flushed. His relaxed manner was gone, replaced by an urgent seriousness. “Well, if you think this child is mine, than why the hell did you keep the pregnancy? You must be out of your freaking mind?” His raised voice caused a few people to look their way.

Nikki was taken aback by his abrupt mood swing, and embarrassed by the scene it had caused. He seemed angrier than she’d envisaged he’d be.

Ken made a humph sort of sound, as if he agreed with Kane’s sentiment. Nikki glared at him, and he looked away. Of course her father had the same opinion. She already knew he felt that way, but it was unnecessary for him to make his feelings known to Kane.

She tried to explain in a rational and clear way, so that Kane would understand. But unlike Kane, she kept her voice calm. “Kane, I guess it’s perfectly reasonable for you to be confused by the choice I made. You weren’t there to help me make the decision, and I did what I thought was right. I did give birth to our child. And as I have said all along, I am certain that it is yours. None of this is the child’s fault. But more importantly, I am sure we are not related, Kane. I don’t know how, but I’ve always been certain of that fact too. I wouldn’t have kept the baby if there was any doubt in my mind.”

“According to your dad, we had the same mother - Sarah Rush. It’s disgusting what we did that one time,” he stated, quieter that time.

“We didn’t know.”

“I know we didn’t know, but it’s still disgusting.”

Nikki turned away, and whispered to herself. “That can’t be right.”

After a few moments of silence, Kane seemed to calm down. “Anyway, you didn’t need a court order. You could have just called. We need to sort this out one way or another.”

Nikki wondered whether that statement was true or not. But given his earlier outburst, she didn’t feel comfortable questioning it.

Thankfully, a young woman appeared in the doorway and called her name. They would all know the truth before long.

The three of them were led into a doctor’s office who explained the procedure and technology behind the test they would undertake. All three would provide a blood sample to determine if Kane was Alice’s father, and whether or not Kane and Nikki were related. Ken’s sample would provide a background to the family markers.

Suddenly Kane sat upright. “Doesn’t the kid need to be here, Nik?”

Nikki liked his enthusiasm, and the way he shortened her name. If she wasn’t wrong, it seemed as if he wanted to see Alice. She sensed the fatherly desire in his eyes, even if he denied it. It was so hard to concentrate on anything else when his attention was focussed solely on her, and she blushed under his intense gaze. If Kane wanted to meet Alice, there was hope for their little family.

Suddenly, Nikki realised he was waiting for an answer, and she tried to concentrate on his earlier question. “Er... I brought her in yesterday,” she stumbled. “She doesn’t need to be here today.”

“Oh.”

“I thought it would be easier that way.”

“So, it’s a girl?”

It was difficult to read his thoughts, but Nikki thought she saw another spark of interest. “A healthy and beautiful girl called Alice Maree. She is with her nanny at home.”

Kane nodded, and looked away.

“Let’s do this, doctor,” Ken said impatiently, keen to interrupt Nikki and Kane’s conversation. Perhaps Ken had sensed the growing interest from Kane too.

The testing procedure took thirty minutes. The doctor sent them into another room to see a nurse one at a time. She took a sample of their blood and carefully wrote down the details on her notepad. There was also a comprehensive questionnaire to be completed by each of them, which asked various questions about the family history.

Nikki herself was last to be tested, and when she emerged from the room was surprised to find Kane still there. She hadn’t been sure he would remain, as his part in this was over. Ken and he were sitting apart, an obvious tension between them. Maybe her dad had taken the opportunity to say a few things to Kane. Nikki hoped not, but wanted to apologise just in case.

“Let’s go, Nikki,” Ken said, standing up. “I spoke to the doctor. We’re all finished.”

“Wait, Dad. I’d like to speak to Kane for a few moments,” she said, looking in his direction. He was obviously waiting there for a reason.

“Nikki, no. That’s not a good idea,” Ken insisted. “We should go.”

“Why don’t
you
go home, Dad? I’ll call you later.”

“Nikki!” Ken exclaimed. He seemed upset by the suggestion.

Sometimes, Nikki felt as if she was still seven years old in her father’s eyes. Never mind her being twenty-four, having had a successful recording career, and now being a mother in her own right. She gave him a stern look of warning, and he capitulated, retreating out of the waiting area without saying goodbye to Kane.

“Sorry about that, Kane,” Nikki said, taking a seat next to him. “I hope my dad didn’t say anything inappropriate to you.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He smiled a warm genuine smile to show there were no hard feelings.

Nikki would have welcomed it, but something had changed in the way he was responding to her. It felt almost... brotherly.

He was becoming more relaxed and comfortable around her. “Listen, Nik. I’m sorry about what I said before. This is a lot for me to absorb.”

“It’s totally understandable.”

“I know it’s not Alice’s fault. You say she is healthy?”

“She is perfect, I promise.”

Kane was thoughtful for a few moments. “You know I always wanted a brother or sister, Nik.”

Nikki started coughing. “I’m not your sister.”

“We’ll see. But anyway, I’m not sure I’ll trust whatever this doctor says. I mean, last year a doctor told me I couldn’t have children.”

Nikki wondered how a doctor could have misdiagnosed Kane’s fertility so completely. She shook her head.

“Why would he have said that to me if it wasn’t true?” Kane asked, misunderstanding her reaction. “You can ask Ellen if you don’t believe me. She was there at the time.”

Nikki hadn’t realised that Ellen was there. She wanted to think more about that fact, but was distracted by Kane’s next question.

“Are you sure Alice doesn’t have some kind of deformity? Is that why you kept her away?”

“No, as I said - Alice is perfect in every way - ten fingers and ten toes. She has been putting on weight every week, and is a healthy happy baby.”

He nodded. “That’s good to hear.”

“Listen, I wanted to thank you for coming here today. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. As I said, you could have just called and I would have come.”

She looked sideways to study him, breathing in his woody scent. “By the way, you look really nice today.” If he had dressed this way for her, she wanted to acknowledge it.

He looked away. “I have the day off for court,” he said dryly.

So that explained it, and Nikki tried to hide her disappointment. He hadn’t made a special effort for her. But why would Kane be going to court? “Sorry?”

He kept explaining. “The family are trying to cut me out of Dad’s estate. He hadn’t had a chance to write me into the will formally. It’s just a technicality. I’m sure he would have included me if he hadn’t died, you know.”

Nikki couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Kane, you can’t think that after what happened between us Jack would have put you into his will. He would have been furious with both of us.”

Kane shrugged his shoulders. “The two of you weren’t suited. Dad probably already knew it, and my lawyer thinks I have a case. In any case, the Bradleys don’t need all that money. They should have settled with me, rather than let it go this far.”