Part 1
Ben and Bron had been married for 18 months and couldn't be happier. Their friends always joked that they were still on their honeymoon, but all that changed with just one phone call
Bron had been rostered on for afternoon shift and spent the morning cleaning the house. Ben had been called in early so it gave her a chance it done as usually if they were both home there wasn't much done as they were always easily distracted.
She had been busy cleaning when the phone interupted her..
"Hello Bronwyn Markham".
"Mrs Markham, this is Ms Macklin from St Clairs Clinic here I was hoping to talk to Mr Ben Markham".
"I am sorry but Ben isnt home at the moment can I help you" said Bron.
"No, it is quite urgent I spak with him so if you can pass on the message I called it would be appreciated" said Ms Macklin.
"Can I tell him what its about" said Bron.
"No just get him to call me ASAP".
With that Ms Macklin hung up leaving Bron confused and worried. Was there something that Ben wasn't telling her. Was he protecting her from something, was he sick? A million questions danced around her head. .
She decided t leave home early so she could catch Ben before start of shift. She arrived at the depot to find him and Scott out on the road..
"Mick can you please tell Ben that I need to talk to him right away. Can he call or come see me when he gets back." She said.
"No worries but is everything ok Bron, you look worried".
"Yeah I'll be fine once I talk to Ben" she went off to work worried about what was going on with Ben..
She was preoccupied through her shift as Ben hadn't been able to get away and talk. He had rung and left a message that he wouldn't be able to make it up but he would pick her up at then end of her shift..
The end of shift arrived and she headed to the tearoom to get her stuff. Upon entering Ben stepped out from behind the door to cuddle into her back "Hows my lovely girl?" he asked.
"Scared stiff actually" she said pulling away from him..
"What, why?" asked Ben noticing her on the verge of tears. "Hey what's wrong?".
"This morning you received a phone call from Ms Macklin from St Claire's Clinic" said Bron through her tears..
Bens face dropped, something that didn't escape Bron, God he had forgotten all about St Claire's. Ever since he and Bron had gotten together he hadn't given it another thought. It was a long time ago so why where they calling now he wondered..
"Ben whats wrong. Are you sick?".
"Bron, oh god we need to talk but not here. Lets go home".
Not a word was spoken all the way home. She felt sick, she knew there was somehting wrong and couldn't bear the thought of him being sick..
They arrived home and he sat her down..
"Bron - I am not sure where to start" he said.
"Ben - what's wrong you're scaring me" she said tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh Bron I'm alright, its nothing medical. A couple of years ago when Steph and I were having problems I went to St Claire's. You see St Claire's is a reproductive Clinic. I donated sperm because I didn't think I would ever have children. As you know Steph was against having kids and I couldn't go through life without ever having a child. Oh I knew I would not play a part in this child's life but at least there was a chance one day I would meet them..
BUT then I fell in love with you. I never gave St Claire's a second thought because I wanted to build a future with you and have a family with you. I am not sure why they are calling me now though, I am sorry this is how you have found out, I should have told you but it honestly slipped my mind.".
Bron was crying now and her blood was beginning to boil, so much so she couldn't speak..
Ben stood looking at her knowing that he had just hurt her in more ways than he ever thought he could. "Bron please say something" pleaded Ben.
"Say something, my god. How could you not tell me about this. After everything I have confided in you over the years, my gambling, my abuse and yet you couldn't tell me about this. Saying it slipped your mind is bullshit. Something like that does not slip your mind. Forgetting to tell me about a phone call is slipping your mind but not this. You may have a child out there and you don't think to tell me about it." She was sobbing by the time she had finished.
"Bron please listen to me, it didn't seem so important after I fell in love with you. I didn't give it another thought after you and I got together because I knew that we would spend the rest of our lives together with our own family".
Bron just stood there. She couldn't believe what she was hearing and now he was looking at her for a response..
"I'm sorry but I cant say it is all ok, that its no big deal because the fact is it is a big deal. I wanted to be the mother of your children, not some stranger that went to a clinic and got your sperm injected into her. I am hurt and confused and need some time alone" she said in anger walking towards the door..
"Bron, please don't go. We need to talk some more about this." Grabbing her arm.
"Let go of me" ripping her arm away. "I am going to Jared's, I need time to think".
She left him standing in the middle of the room crying. He knew by keeping this from her he might lose the one woman who meant the world to him..
She arrive at Jared's, no explanation was needed. Scott and Jared could see how upset she was and the two of them sat with her not saying a word just letting her cry until she eventually fell asleep..
.
Both Ben and Bron had a bad night. Both tossing and turning wondering what the future held for them. The truth was that Ben didn't want to tell Bron for the fact he might lose her. There never seemed to be a right time. What do you say to your girlfriend, how do you tell them about something like this. So he kept putting it off and off until they were finally husband and wife and then it was even harder. He knew know though that he should have told her either when it happened back when they were friends or at least when they started their relationship..
He awoke and had a shower. He felt empty. It had been the first time they had spent the night apart since they were married. He knew he had to get her back but first he had to take St Claire's out of the picture.
He dialled the number by the phone. "Hello St Claires Clinic"
"hi this is Ben Markham, a Ms Macklin called for me yesterday"
"Putting you through sir" said the operator
"Mr Markham, thanks for returning my call" said Ms Macklin
"Whats this all about Ms Macklin" said Ben
"We would like to see you. There has been a development in your case that you should be aware of, Can you come in today and it would probably be best to bring in your wife also."
"Cant we just discuss this now, over the phone" said Ben knowing Bron wouldn't want to go in.
"No I am sorry Mr Markham but we need to talk face to face" replied Ms Macklin
"Fine but I cant be sure my wife can make it. I will be there at 11.00am" said Ben
"See you then" replied Ms Macklin
Bron, Scott and Jared sat at the table eating breakfast. Scott was the first to speak. "Bron you can tell me to but out, but what's going on. You haven't said anything since you got here and cried yourself to sleep last night. Is there anything we can do?"
"Thanks Scott but no there is nothing you can do except the use of your couch for a couple of days. I need time to think that's all. We are going through a rough time at the moment and I don't really want to talk about it. It is something I have to deal with by myself" replied Bron
"What about Ben. Surely if you work on it together it would be better" said Jared.
"I agree" said Ben as he walked up to the door.
Bron stood up and went to leave. "Bron please wait. We need to talk please" pleaded Ben
Jared and Scott got up and left leaving them alone.
"Ben I told you I need time. It is a lot to take in and I need to work out what I am going to do."
"Bron I rang St Claire's today. They want to see me and you. There has been a development that they need to talk to us about. Please come with me." replied Ben
"No I cant. You can't expect me to do this surely. What if it is to introduce you to the mother and child. I am sorry but no I cant" she said getting up and going to the bathroom.
He left without another word. He would face this by himself. An hour later he was sitting in Ms Macklin's office dumbfounded by the news she had just given him. His whole life had changed in the past 24 hours and there was definitely no going back to how it was before. He and Bron may never be the same again.
He left the office and wandered around for the next hour not knowing what to do. Ms Macklin had said the woman had been killed in an accident and that there were no surviving relatives to look after the child - his child. It was now up to him as to whether he raises the child or puts it up for adoption. He knew he couldn't turn his back on the child but he also knew that he could lose Bron forever and he wasn't sure he could do that either.
Ms Macklin had set up a meeting with Jake for the following day. He was 2 now. Ben knew once he met him there would be no going back so he had to talk to Bron today. He headed to the hospital.
He went straight to Terri's office and explained the situation to her. He arranged with her to get Bron to the restaurant where they could talk.
Bron and Terri arrived and were seated. Terri then excused herself to go to the ladies. Once she had left Ben walked up and sat down. "What are you doing here. Was this some sort of plan to get me alone" she said the frustration evident in her voice.
"Yes I knew you wouldn't see me otherwise and we REALLY need to talk." Said Ben
"So talk, you have 5 minutes" she said
He told her of the events that had happened in the meeting. He could tell she was upset but he kept going "So I have two options, 1 taking him in and giving him a home with his father or 2 putting him up for adoption."
"What do you want me to say, huh, that it is fine that you bring Jake home and we will live happily ever after. I am sorry Ben but I can't do that. If you want to take him home then do it but I can't promise I will be there" she replied
.
"If it means that I lose you then I will put him up for adoption, I don't want to lose you Bron, I love you and you are my life and if it means you or Jake then I choose you"
"I cant do this now Ben I'm sorry I just cant" with that she got up and left.
He decided that first thing in the morning he would call and cancel the meeting with Jake.
She spent the whole night going over their conversation in her head. "If it means that I lose you then I will put him up for adoption, I don't want to lose you Bron, I love you and you are my life and if it means you or Jake then I choose you" would he really give up his child for her. Why should he have to. Sure he had kept things from her but it had happened a long time before they were together and this WAS his child.
She decided to go along to the meeting and give him her full support, after all she loved him and couldn't think of life without him.
They sat together for an hour, playing games and laughing. He was gorgeous and she knew there was no way that she could keep him and Ben apart. She spoke to Ms Macklin and off she went to find Ben.
She went to the depot first but he had called in sick so she headed home.
She arrived and let herself in. He heard the door and came out to see who it was - hoping it was her.
She was standing there smiling and he knew all was ok with them. That they would make it through this. He started walking towards her when she moved aside to show a small boy standing behind her.
"Bron what's going on" said Ben
"This is Jake - your son" she said smiling "Jake this is your daddy - the man I have told you about"
Jake went running to Ben and Ben swept him up in his arms. He then went to Bron and kissed her passionately.
"You did this for me" he said choking back the tears
"It's the least I could do after what you were going to give up for me" she said crying "Besides I did it for all of us" she said kissing both Ben and Jake
"I love you" said Ben
"I love you too" she said
12 months later they organised a party to celebrate Jakes first year with them. They had become a true family and he was calling Ben and Bron "Mummy and daddy". Bron thought of him as her own and had put in papers to adopt him.
All their friends had arrived and the party was in full swing. Ben went to see if Bron needed any help and found her hugging Mitch. "Thanks thank you so much" she said hugging him again.
"Interrupting anything am I" laughed Ben "What's so exciting" he said to Bron.
"Um I will leave you two alone" said Mitch
"Oh Ben, I love you so much" she said hugging and kissing him
"I love you too but I am sure that's not why you were hugging Mitch" he said
"No no it wasn't. Oh god I can hardly believe it but I am pregnant. We are going to have a baby" she said almost screaming
"OMG do you mean it. We are having a baby' replied Ben
"Yes in 7 months time we will have another addition to this family" she cried
"I love you Mrs Markham" replied Ben spinning her around
"and I love you too Mr Markham" squealed Bron
Jake came in to find them kissing and moaned "Not again" Ben and Bron broke apart and laughed. "hey you come her" said Ben picking him up
"Jake we have some news, Mummy is having a baby, you are going to have a brother or sister" said Ben
"Really, I am getting a brother or sister" said Jake excitedly
"You sure are kiddo" laughed Ben and Bron
There life as a family was going to be a great one and nothing on the world could ever keep them apart.