The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,13

a reason.”

“I . . . I had some business to discuss with Father.”

Gwen Pendergast glanced at her husband. “Well then, I’d best let you to it. Will you stay for dinner?”

Andrew stood, came around his desk, and slipped an arm around his wife’s waist. “You should stay, love. We’ve talked about it, and we decided long ago that we should both tell them if it ever became necessary.” He shook his head, staring into her eyes. “I am so, so sorry to cause you this pain.”

She turned her head and kissed his cheek. “It is old news, and we’ve long ago put it aside. Come,” she said to her husband and her son. “Come sit by the fire.”

Alexander watched his parents walk to the sofa hand in hand, his mother smiling up at his father and leaning her head against his shoulder. He was in awe of them. He’d never experienced a connection like they had, which was far more than the individual components of a marriage. They comforted each other, complemented a weakness with a strength, and were still attracted to each other; they loved each other. You could see it in their eyes. What were the chances he’d ever find the woman that fit him in the same way? He sat down across from them and was unnerved to see his father’s eyes glisten with tears.

“What? What is it?” he asked.

“I had an affair with a young woman after I married your mother,” his father said and looked at him directly. “There was a child from that union. Jonathon. He died from influenza when he was a little more than two years old.”

Briefly, Alexander was unsure if he’d heard correctly. Had his father just admitted to an affair? He glanced at his mother. She was looking at him serenely. They’d resolved this between themselves? But how could he ever view his father in the same worshipful way? How could he still hold him up to be the example of a life well lived? His mother replied as if she knew his thoughts.

“Your father admitted the infidelity to me very soon after he had told the woman he would not see her again. They had only been together a few times. When she told him she was with child, he told me, and we decided to support her. The child mustn’t be made to suffer,” she said. “Your father is a remarkable businessman and employer, still holding fast to the ethics of his family before him, a wonderful, caring father to you and Annabelle, and he would have been to Jonathon had he lived. I could never have wished for a more perfect person to share my life with, to be my husband, and I love him more every day. But he is still a man, Alexander. We are all tempted. His greatest fear has always been that he would be changed in your and your sister’s eyes.”

“I don’t know what to think,” he said and looked at his father. “I . . . I don’t want to think about it. The only thing I feel now is anger on Mother’s behalf.”

“Rightfully so,” his father said.

“Will you tell Annabelle now?”

“Yes,” his mother said. “She’s old enough.”

“How will you justify Father’s behavior to her? What will she do if a man is not faithful to her?” he asked. He turned and faced his father. “There are long-term consequences to your behavior, not the least of which is that I had a brother I did not know about. What were you thinking?”

“I was not thinking clearly. I was feeling as if my life, my carefree bachelor days, had been left behind, and there was nothing left to face except duty. It was childish of me. I made a horrific mistake and thank the dear Lord every day that Gwendolyn agreed to be my wife. I’ve spent the rest of my life trying to make up for my behavior of twenty-five years ago. But there is really nothing to be said except that I am extremely sorry.”

Alexander stood. Suddenly, he felt as if he could not get his breath. As if he did not get outside, he would suffocate. But there was one additional thing that needed to be discussed. “I won’t let Schmitt drag your name through the mud. It is not right.”

His mother walked to him and kissed his cheek. “If Mr. Schmitt is attempting to blackmail you, don’t do it. Don’t do anything to protect your father or me.