His gaze flickered to the stairs. ‘Can we do this outside? I don’t want them to hear.’
Beatrice’s spirits sank. Don’t tell me he’s got his latest girlfriend pregnant, she prayed, because if he had, he could bloody well break the news to his existing children himself. She wasn’t going to smooth the way for him. On second thoughts, maybe sheshouldtell them herself, because he’d only make a pig’s ear of it and upset them.
Beatrice glowered and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind her. Blimmin’ heck it was cold! ‘Well?’ she demanded, crossing her arms and shivering.
Eric stuffed his hands into his coat pocket, and she almost growled in annoyance. He looked warm and cosy in a puffer jacket so thick that it could probably be worn up Everest, whilst she was freezing her ears off waiting for her ex to announce that he was going to be a father again for the third time.
‘It’s Taya,’ he began. ‘She isn’t happy.’
‘Excuse me?’ If he’d told Taya already, Beatrice just might make sure he’d be incapable of having any more children, ever.
‘This new chap of yours,’ he continued. ‘The author bloke. Taya doesn’t want you to see him.’
Beatrice blinked as she struggled to get her head around what he was saying. ‘Why? What has she told you?’
‘That you’ve got a boyfriend and lied to her about it.’
‘I didn’t lie!’ Beatrice retorted hotly. ‘He wasn’t my boyfriend.’
Eric picked up on her use of the past tense. ‘But he is now?’
She pursed her lips and glowered. She had no idea what Mark was. Anyway, what gave Eric the right to comment onherlove life? He had a different woman every week and Beatrice never uttered a peep, unless it concerned the kids.
As though he’d read her mind, he said, ‘I know it’s not my place to say anything – who you go out with is your business – but Taya seems really upset.’
‘Too damn right it’s none of your business and Taya’s only upset because, unlikeyou, this is the first relationship I’ve had since you left.’
‘Since you kicked me out, you mean.’
‘You deserved it.’ She crossed her arms tighter, hugging herself in an attempt to keep the cold out and her temper in. ‘I’m not going over this again.’
‘Bea, I’m sorry.’
‘Yeah, so you said – about a thousand times.’
‘It was a mistake.’
Her brows shot up. ‘Which time? The first or the second?’
‘Both. I was stupid.’
‘You can say that again! You stupidly thought you wouldn’t get caught, and you were even more stupid to think I’d forgive you a second time. Eric, you’re an arse.’
‘I know. I was a shit husband. I admit I treated you badly, but I still care about you, I don’t want to see you hurt.’
‘That’s rich, coming from you.’
‘I read the article in The Picklewick Paper. He might be from around here originally, but he’ll be gone soon and—’ His eyes widened. ‘Did you used to know him? You went out with him, didn’t you?’ His tone was accusing.
‘What if I did? It was long before I met you.’
‘He’s turned your head, coming back here, flashing his cash. Taya told me he took you to dinner in that restaurant run by that London chef, whatshisname… Otto York.’
Beatrice blew out her cheeks, not bothering to explain.
‘Look,’ he said, ‘it’s Taya and Sadie I’m worried about. I don’t want them getting to know him, then him buggering off to wherever he came from. It’ll upset them. Sadie already thinks the sun shines out of his backside.’
Beatrice was done with the conversation. To have Eric quote her own words back at her after she had asked him not to introduce yet another fly-by-night girlfriend to her children was the last straw. ‘I’ll take your concerns on board when I make my decision that it’s none of your damn business who I date,’ she growled.
