Wasn’t he?Beatrice had thought she knew him, but she hadn’t. Not then, and certainly not now.
‘Can I come in?’ he asked.
‘No.’
Confusion flitted across his face. ‘I thought—’
‘That you could rock up again and I’d welcome you with open arms?’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. Sadie, go to your room. You too, Taya,’ she added, when she saw her in the kitchen doorway.
‘Mum, let him in,’ Taya said.
‘Go to your room. Now!’ She didn’t want the children to witness this – whateverthiswas. Turning her attention back to Mark, she hissed, ‘You’d better leave.’
‘But you—’
‘Go! Before I call the police.’ She put her hands on her hips. She didn’t know what game he was playing, but she wanted no part of it.
‘Bea, don’t do this to me,’ he pleaded. ‘You can’t tell me you love me one minute, then tell me to go away the next.’
‘I never said I love you.’
‘You did!’ He yanked his mobile out of his pocket. ‘You sent me a message—’ He stopped, the colour draining from his face. ‘It wasn’t meant for me, was it?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t sent any messages telling anyone I love them.’
He hung his head. ‘Sorry, my mistake. I’ll go.’
‘Mum?’
‘Not now,Taya. I thought I told you to go to your room.’
‘Isent it.’ Taya’s voice was small. ‘I borrowed your phone and sent it.’
‘You didwhat?’ Beatrice’s gaze flew to Taya, appalled, and Taya began to cry. ‘Why?’ she demanded.
‘Because I heard you talking to Aunty Lisa. When you got drunk.’
‘I wasn’t drunk,’ she replied automatically. ‘Taya, sweetie, what have I told you about listening to other people’s conversations? Especially adult ones, when you don’t understand what they’re saying.’
‘You said you didn’t love Dad, but you love Mark. Is it true?’
Beatrice groaned. ‘I care for your dad, but—’ Oh hell, how do you explain something that complicated to a nine-year-old.
‘You and Dad aren’t getting back together, are you.’
Her eyes filling with tears again, Beatrice said, ‘No, Taya, we’re not. But that doesn’t mean Mark and I are.’
‘Why not? Mummy, you’re so sad now.’
Mummy?Taya hadn’t called her that in a while. ‘I’m not sad,’ she fibbed.
‘You are. You were really happy when Mark was here, and now you keep crying.’
Blast, she didn’t think the kids had noticed. She’d thought she’d hidden it well. ‘Please Taya, go to your room, and take Sadie with you. I need to have a quick chat with Mark.’
But Taya wasn’t done with her yet. ‘Mark saw you kissing Dad.’
Beatrice’s mouth dropped open. She looked at Mark. ‘Is that why…?’
