Sarah laughed. ‘Do you think it was easy for me? I thought we were going to get married! Have you any idea how humiliating it was being abandoned like that?’
‘Sorry.’
‘Yeah, too right, you should be sorry.’
‘I’m sorry for the way I handled things. Not for the decision I made. It was the right one for both of us.’
‘It may have been right for you, but you don’t get to tell me what’s right for me.’
‘Sarah, be honest with yourself. You never loved me.’
‘I did! I…’ Sarah thought back to their time together. She loved being part of a couple, she loved showing off her shiny ring. But Mark… had she loved him?
‘You need to take some responsibility for what happened. How you treated me.’
‘How I treatedyou? Oh, that’s brilliant, that is. I wasn’t the one who ran away from a holiday and changed my number.’
‘And I’ve apologised for that. I’m talking about how you treated me while we were together. Of course, it was also my fault. I let you get away with it.’
‘Get away with what?’
‘The bullying.’
‘Bullying? I never bullied you! I would never bully anyone. Don’t you remember me telling you how badly I was bullied at school?’
‘It’s not unheard of for the bullied to become the bully.’
Sarah stared at Mark, too stunned to speak.
‘Sorry, Sarah. I didn’t come here to fight, just to do my job. I’m pleased you’re here, I’ve been wondering how you were.’
‘Yeah, well, you’re about two years late for that. If you cared so much, you wouldn’t be standing here accusing me of bullying you.’
‘I’m not saying you meant to do it. It’s not as though your parents gave you a great model for a healthy relationship.’
‘What have my parents got to do with anything?’
‘Oh, come on, Sarah. You must see how badly your mum treats your dad, and how he lets her get away with it. I hated being around it, because it was like looking into our future.’
Sarah stared down at her feet. Colin had yet to make contact, and she hated him for it. But was she right to lay all the blame at his door? ‘Mum and Dad are getting a divorce. That’s why they’re selling the house.’
‘What? Cynthia left him?’
‘No, it was the other way round.’
Mark chuckled. ‘Good for Colin. I didn’t know the sly old dog had it in him.’
‘It’s not something to laugh about. They’re selling the house from under me. They’ve abandoned me, left me homeless. I don’t see how that’s funny.’
‘Homeless? You know if you’re looking for another place I could help with that?’
Sarah gave a joyless laugh. ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’
‘I wasn’t trying to…’ Mark sighed. ‘I’m sure something will turn up. There’s plenty of housing stock around. What are you after? Flat? House?’ The doorbell rang and Mark looked at his watch. ‘That will be the couple coming to view this place.’
Mark turned to leave the kitchen, but Sarah stepped into his path, blocking the door.
‘Did you know you were gay while we were together? Is that the real reason you left me?’
