Not Quite Family

Well, if youve started, best finish what you were saying! Andrews voice rose as he spoke to Natalie, And if you dont really know, then stop blathering on
I know, Natalie smirked, fixing him with a steady look, There were never any secrets between us
Andrew and Alice met in the most typical way. It was winter, the pavements were treacherous with ice. One morning, Alice was making her way to work when her feet slipped on the icy pavement and she tumbled, bruising her knee badly. Andrew helped her up and even took her to the local surgery.

The doctor assured them her knee wasnt broken, simply bruised, and gave Alice the usual advice: rest, and keep her knee bandaged. The whole time, Andrew stayed by her side, not leaving the young woman whom he found rather charming. He even rang his office to explain hed be in late. Only after settling Alice into a cab, with her promise to call when she got home, did he return to his day.

Alice was enchanted by such kindness. Shed never met anyone so caring. For the next few weeks, the start of their romance, they spoke every day, ringed each other constantly, chatting about anything and everything. Andrew was curious about all that concerned Alice. Each morning he wished her a good day; each night he told her to sleep well. Throughout the day, he worried whether she was comfortable, well-fed, rested, how her day had gone.

To Andrew, all this came naturally. Thats just how his family did things; everyone cared for one anothers well-being. He was living alone now, in the little flat his grandmother left him after she passed, while his parents, John and Margaret, were in a nearby town. They used to all live together, letting out the flat, always peaceful, never quarrelling. Andrew grew up surrounded by warmth and trust. After his grandmothers death, once he was old enough, he moved into her flat.

Hed never been lucky with girls. Quiet and modest, he didnt talk to strangers on the street, nor go out partying, and had few friends to socialise with. Meeting Alice happened quite by chanceit was different because she had needed help, and Andrew simply couldnt walk past. Later, he decided fate must have brought them together.

Two months later, they married. It happened suddenlyAndrew once joked about marrying her, and Alice responded,
All right then! Lets go and put in our notice right now!

There was only an hour until the registry office closed, but they made it. The wedding was set for the nearest available date. Andrews parents were slightly taken aback by their haste, but they really liked Alice and approved.

Alices mother lived in the next town over. Alice called her with the news; she couldnt come as Alices grandmother was poorly and couldnt be left alone.

They made a wonderful family, happy together, never arguing, and the romance didnt fade with marriageif anything, their love deepened. A son, Matthew, was born, bringing even more joyand more worries, of course. One day, at an anniversary party, Alices close friend Natalie drank more than she should have. They ended up having to call her a cab.

They celebrated at a café, Andrews parentsMargaret and Johnwere there, little Matthew, just five, sat gravely at the table with the adults, raising his glass of juice for their happiness, and Alice had invited her dearest friend, Natalie. The girls had been like sisters since childhood, even closer perhaps. Natalie, unlike Alice, struggled in loveat thirty, like Alice, she was still alone. Compared to lovely Alice, Natalie felt rather plain, short and awkward, her features washed-out, as if an artist had half-finished and smudged his work.

Since school, Alice drew all the attentionboys clamoured for her company. Still, being Alices friend had perks: Alices mother forbade her from dating alone, but didnt mind when Natalie came along. Thus, they went out in groups, and Natalie inevitably caught some attention too. Unlike Alice, who was showered with proposals by sixth form, Natalie never received any. Alice, careful about her choices, remained single until twenty-five. Then Andrew arrived. And so things began

Natalie struggled down the café steps, nearly stumbling three times if not for Andrews steadying hand. Upstairs, his wife, son, and parents waited, but Natalies cab was outside and she was hardly steady on her feet. Andrew had never seen her in such a state, but he felt obliged to see her safely to her car.

Wishing the happy couple all the best! Ha-ha! Some get happiness, others well, never mind! Not my luck! But Alice, shes always been lucky. Since the day we met. Shes slippery as an eel, everything goes her way! Always could get any man she fanciedand you lot, fools, always believe it! You need to use your brains, not Well, shes pretty, and thats all you see

Once outside, only a few steps from the cab, Natalie suddenly wrenched herself free of Andrews arm and, in a perfectly sober voice, declared loudly,
Do you even know whose son youre raising? Hes not your own!

What rubbish are you spouting! Andrew barely resisted striking her. At her words, the world spun before his eyes. He squeezed them shut, fighting the dizziness, wanting to shake Natalie into silence, but she swept ruthlessly on.

Look at your face! Didnt you ever suspect? Matthew was born too soon after you married, wasnt he? And the rushed weddingdid you really think Alice loved you so much she couldnt wait? Ha! And the boy looks nothing like you! Cant you see? She had a sweetheart before you, wanted to marry him. But he left her, broke her heart, took up with another girl! Thats what she really deserved!

Furious, Andrew bundled Natalie into her cab, slamming the door, but she wasnt done. As her taxi disappeared around the corner, she rang his mobile, and before aware of what he was doing, Andrew answered.

Ask your darling wife! Ha! Why should I be the only one miserable at your perfect little party? Now she can squirm a bitlike a fish on a hook! Natalie jeered, her cruel laughter ringing in his ears all evening.

Try as he might, Andrew couldnt banish her words. Really, Matthew had arrived a bit early, but then, children could be premature; hed never thought much about discrepancies in weight or sizetoo happy to care. Hed loved his son from the first moment he saw him, and it had simply never occurred to him that the child might not be his.

Andrews parents also doted on their grandson, inviting him for weekends, taking him to the zoo, to museums. Natalies words had poisoned his joy, and the doubts wouldnt leave him alone. Matthew was fair, slightAndrew was dark, broad shouldered. Margaret insisted children change as they grow, but stillwhy was the boy so slight? Both Andrew and Alice were tall. The boys eyesagain, not like his Andrew was tormented. For a whole week he said nothing, but at last, he gave in and asked Alice.

She looked at him strangely, then said,
I always knew youd ask, one day. If youd guessed, why wait five years to say it? Alices tone was mockingly calm You could have spoken up at once and wed have divorced. Isnt that what you want? I tricked you! I was dishonest! Oh yes, Im so awful! Well, go on, why arent you shouting?

Andrew recoiled. Why was she saying these things? He he loved her so much that, had she told him the truth back then, he probably would have forgiven her and married her anyway! And now? She spoke so easily, as if for five years shed been waiting for this day. Divorce? Hed never intended to. Matthew his dearly loved son He loved him so dearly that, no matter what, nothing would part them. And his parentshow could he tell them? Or should he leave things as they were? Would they love Matthew and Alice as before?

But Alice didnt quite trust in his love. They argued bitterly. Andrew packed his things and left. His grandmothers flat stood empty, for though he usually let it, there were no tenants at the time. He lived there, utterly miserable, for two weeks. He missed his son terribly, and his wife. After much thought, he decided things should remain as they were. Natalie had wanted to destroy their happiness, but she would not have her way.

He returned to Alice and to Matthew.

Forgive me! I said so many hurtful thingsyou didnt deserve it, Alice wept, I thought when you found out, youd stop loving me. I felt it best to push you away first, Ive lived in fear of this moment all these years!

Oh, Alice! replied Andrew, drawing her into his arms, After five years you still dont know me. Would I ever abandon you? I love you and Matthewthat will never change. I dont blame you What else could you have done? You were frightened Id leave if you told me about the pregnancy Our love is real, and nothing Natalie can do will ruin it, believe me!

Yes, said Alice with a relieved sigh, wiping her tears, But I never want to see her again!

But what will we say to my parents? Andrew finally asked, They love our boy so much How can we tell them?

They did tell his parents, a month and a half later. Only, not about that. Instead, they announced that Alice was expecting another child, and soon there would be a second grandchild.