The St Patrick Series Book #1: The St Patrick Bride

Chapter Fifty Five: Grandpa

Tommy's POV
"You know rumour has it that you'll rise to Major soon." I glanced at my little brother.

We are at the army base watching the recruitors harassing the newest members. Chris was like those boys not too long ago. He was eager to follow in footsteps. I miss this life.

"Looking forward to it."

"Dude, I'm sorry."

He gave me a hard look. He made an incoherent sound as he rolled his blue eyes. "When did we become like this Tommy? Is it the inheritance that is driving us apart?"

"Yes. You have a successful career in the army. The superiors like you! You're moving up fast! I can't help but feel you have everything going for you and it makes me jealous. A wife, a baby... two-"

"One. I have one kid. Bruce."

"Still, everything is going well for you." I kept my eyes on a struggling cadettes who can't do a push up. "That was you a couple of years ago. Remember how mean they were to you?"

He chuckled. "I like watching them suffer. Sometimes I go down there just to bulky a few. Take a desk job. I know that is not what you want. You want a piece of the action. But there's no more of that for you."

"The only desk job I want is to be the CEO of the St Patrick Group. But you have that too."

"You lost that chance when you squandered company wealth on gambles."

I can't ignore his urge to be straight about things. "I know. How did you know about the infertility?"

"Some idiot who only read the name St Patrick on the envelop gave me your report. That's how I know."

"I'm shooting blanks man." I clenched my jaw. "What am I good for? I can't even complete the most basic human task."

"Procreation is not the only thing a human is meant to do." He told me.

"Easy for you to say! You have a son to carry your name. What do I have? After my death my lineage ends."

"That's not true. You live on through the rest of us."

I got lost in my thoughts for a moment. Chris also remained silent. I wanted a successful career like the Major General. Our father never raised us to fail. He would always tell us to get up and his hand was always extended to help. It is difficult for me to to live with limitations. I am watching all my dreams slipping through my fingers.

"This thing with Allegra will get out of control if you are not careful. She is delusional about Courtney stealing her life. She wants to be Courtney."

"I'll take care of it."

I extended my hand to him. "Are we good Chrissie?"

"Sure thing princess." We shook hands.

I love my little brother. I don't want ambitions to tear us apart.

Allegra's POV
"I know you're upset." Tommy didn't bother to respond. He is still facing away from me as much as I'm trying to have a conversation with him. "No matter what we tell ourselves Chris is Aubrey's father. He had to know."

I expected a totally different outcome after I told Chris. In fact, I didn't plan for the conversation to play out like that. His reaction wasn't what I expected.

"Do you know what puzzles me? For nine months you didn't tell him about the baby because you didn't want to ruin his relationship. You said he moved on and you should too. But as soon as you found out that Courtney is having his baby things changed." He looked at me. "Now you want him to be part of Aubrey's life. What is this nonsense about you having equal rights to my brother?"