“Eggs and Revelations”

“So, you ready to talk about it now, slick?” Alex asked, shoving another fork-full of eggs into his mouth as he watched Colin glumly sipping his coffee. They’d gone to Andy’s restaurant for breakfast and a chance to talk about what had gotten Colin so upset that morning.

“Not really, no,” Colin confessed, but then went on, “Phone call this morning... from the ex.”

“Ah, now we’re gettin’ somewhere,” Alex told him, cocking an eyebrow. “So, which one...that cute little honey from the paper, or the one I saw you chatting with at McGee’s place yesterday?”

Colin dipped his head, let out a sigh. “The one from the barbie... Kate.”

“Ah... the one that’s married to that weird rich guy, Sid. Heh... well, he don’t look like the type that would like a wife of his making early morning phone calls to her ex,” Alex chuckled. “So, go on then... what’d she want?”

“Nothin’, mate,” Colin said, moving his eggs around on his plate with his fork.

“Look, it must be somethin’, otherwise you wouldn’t have come stormin’ down the stairs and cussin’ a bluestreak. So, what’d she say...she want you back or somethin’?”

Nah, it’s nothing like that, really. It’s...complicated. Stupid, really. And strewth, mate, I could be completely off the mark.”

“Try me.” Alex sat back in his chair, waiting for Colin to answer.

Colin let out another sigh, nodded. “Alright, but really, it could be nothing... it’s just, well, she called and immediately blurted out that I’m not the father of her baby.”

“And? Are you?” Alex pressed.

“I didn’t think so, but for fucks sake, mate, she was acting really weird and defensive, so I started thinking and doin’ the math and all... and... well... yeah.”

“Yeah?” Alex asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Well, no... I mean... it is possible.” Colin looked down at the mess he'd made with his plate of food, pushed his eggs around again.

“How possible?”

“Quite possible. Nearly leaning towards probable.” Colin closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands, then looked up across the table at Alex. “Oh fuck me, mate... a father. I could well be a father and that stupid wanker of a show pony she’s married to will be raising my child. I mean, what the fuck do I do now?”

“Not much you can do now, not until the baby is actually born,” Alex told him. “After that, you could petition the court for a paternity test...if she won’t agree to one, that is.”

Colin sat quietly mulling all this over. He knew he needed to talk to Kate – alone, but how would that be possible? Sid always seemed to be around, never let her go off alone. Even if he did get the chance to talk with her about it, would it do any good? She was obviously in love with her husband and had made it clear this morning on the phone that Sid was the father, no matter what anyone said or thought differently.

“Nothing I can do,” Colin said quietly.

TBC...