His Secret [Completed]

Original: Chapter 42 - Family Is Everything

"Dad what are you talking about?" Kelly asked. I could tell that she had gone into a state of panic. If I were in her position I would be terrified.

"She holds something over me that I am too ashamed to admit," Alan said, his cheeks flushed a deep red colour. No one likes to admit that they have had to keep secrets especially as he is the man of the house. He must feel like he can't look after his own family. 

"I think we need your mother and Jackson in here before we continue." 

"Is Mom involved too?" Kelly was clearly frustrated about being kept out of the loop. I know my parents would have done the same if they were still alive though. 

"Please go and fetch them," He ignored her previous question. Alan was now standing at a window which looked out on the garden. Kelly hurried out of the room and I sat in silence. I can't jump to any conclusions yet, I still have no clue what is going on and how this has anything to do with me. 

I understand that Brooke clearly thought the money I was given from my Grandma was rightfully hers- how she came to that conclusion beats me because the money was given to me as a gift from Alan's mother as my Nan insisted that she didn't want it. In what way is Brooke connected to the Mckenzies other than through Noah? 

"Alan what is this about?" Sherry entered the study with Jackson and walked over to her husband. He whispered something into her ear which was too quiet for me to hear but by the look of shock that formed on her face I could tell that this was bad.

Jackson came and sat silently next to his sister and gripped her hand in comfort. 

He whispered something else into her ear which seemed to calm her. She nodded and took a seat in the swivel chair facing Kelly and I. Alan moved to stand next to his wife and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"We have something to tell you. It's a secret we've kept from you for years and we are really sorry," Sherry began. I felt like I should leave as this was a family matter but Alan said that it concerned me too which added more to my confusion. 

 "We were in college when we met and I instantly became infatuated with Sherry, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. It took a lot of asking and dates for her to finally agree to be my girlfriend-" 

"Dad we don't need to hear you guy's love story," Kelly interrupted. 

"This is important Kelly let me finish," 

"Sorry..." 

"Anyway as I was saying after a long time of asking we officially became an item. My mother wasn't too happy with the relationship because we were scandalous and it wasn't good for her reputation." 

"Reputation?" I interjected.

"She was a leading attorney and she had many firms in her name. It's a long-standing tradition to be involved in law in our family. As I was in law school at the time my mother didn't like the fact that I wasn't taking it seriously because of Sherry, so she forced us apart." 

"But you've always told me that you two have been together since college," Kelly said

I looked from Kelly to her parents and then back to her. Everyone was silent, not a word being exchanged. Finally someone spoke up.  It was Sherry. 

"Technically we have. Your father and I vowed to always come back to each other. We were apart for 3 years- we were 23 by this time and..." Sherry stuttered. 

"It's okay I'll tell them," Alan stepped in, "I hate to admit it but I had forgotten about your mother and what she meant to me after 3 years. I had another girlfriend her name was Margaret and we were set to be engaged. My mother approved of her so that's why I asked her to marry me. I didn't love her as much as I loved your mother but yes we were briefly in love."