Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

A s she climbed the stairs, Bea tried not to panic. She didn't need a strategy. Did she? If something were meant to happen between her and Scott, then it would. No amount of matchmaking or Fleur trying to push them together would work if it wasn't supposed to. And she wasn't even sure if she wanted anything to happen. Was she ready for a relationship? Yes, it had been over two years, but still? Was she actually ready?

She liked her life. She loved her life. She enjoyed being the one to make the decisions; she enjoyed the peace and being able to do what she wanted, when she wanted without having to try to please someone else.

Maybe she'd get the biscuits and use them to placate Fleur instead, to lessen the blow when she told her she didn't want to strategise, that she didn't want to be a guinea pig to Fleur's matchmaking skills.

Yes, that's what she'd do.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she bent down and picked up a green plastic water bottle. Turning it over, she read the small beige sticker – Peony, Oak Class. It must have been a victim of the rush to get to school and nursery, rolling out from little Peony's nursery bag or being dropped.

Bea pushed the door open, stepping into the small flat. The living room, painted a gorgeous deep green, opened straight into the kitchen area, the navy paint she'd used to revamp the kitchen cupboards, a stunning compliment to the green walls of the living area. Although not such a nice combination with the murky beige of the walls in the kitchen area, still it wouldn't be like that much longer. She had some sage paint ready to use.

And that's where she froze, hand on the door handle, her right foot on the varnished wooden floorboards of the living area, her left on the threadbare grey carpet of the landing and her mind full of decorating plans.

He was still here.

Sitting at her kitchen table. His laptop open. His mobile stuck to his ear.

Adam was still here in her living area. Retreating out onto the landing, she closed the door quietly. What was he doing here? Why wasn't he at work? She'd assumed he'd left earlier, slipped out whilst she'd been making coffee in the kitchen behind the counter, or had her nose buried in an order form, or when she'd been preoccupied by Peony and Isaac.

He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to have left.

Leaning her forehead on the closed door, she took a deep breath. This was her flat, her space, her sanctuary, and she would not feel like the intruder here. With her hand on the door handle again, she closed her eyes briefly. She could do this. This was her space, not his.

Opening her eyes again, she pressed down on the handle; the door swinging open in front of her before she walked inside. Striding across to the table, she placed Peony's water bottle down with a thud. It had the desired effect, at least. Adam knew she was here now. She waited until he'd finished the call and turned to her.

‘Bea…'

‘What are you doing here?'

‘You said I could stay.' Adam frowned.

‘I said you could stay last night. Nothing was said about today. Why aren't you at work?' She kept her gaze steady.

‘Well, I am.' Indicating the laptop and pile of papers, Adam grinned.

‘What? No, that's not what was agreed.'

‘I just assumed, being as you let me stay over, that you wouldn't mind me working here too.' Pushing the chair back, Adam stood up. ‘You're downstairs, anyway.'

‘That's not the point.' She tried to steady her breathing. He'd always done this, made it seem as though he was being the level-headed one, the one who wasn't in the wrong when he clearly was.

‘I work from home now. I thought you knew that, so assumed you were fine with this.' He indicated his laptop again.

‘Well, I'm not. Even I take lunch breaks and I need to come up here.' She didn't take lunch breaks. She never closed the shop, not even for half an hour. Fleur, who was a little more relaxed about the whole opening times routine, would throw her a sandwich on her way back from a visit with a client or a trip to Ruby's. If it wasn't for Fleur, Bea probably wouldn't eat during opening hours. But he didn't need to know that. ‘And Lindsey, when she gets back from the school run. And Peony and Isaac when they get home from school. How can this work?'

‘I could come and work downstairs at the table in the shop when the kids get back. I don't have any meetings scheduled for this afternoon.' Adam spoke casually, as if he'd just mentioned he was going to get a cup of tea.

‘Adam, surely you can see how inappropriate this is.' Were they having the same conversation? Living the same reality?

‘And why would it be inappropriate?'

‘Because I'm your ex. The ex-wife you finished with so you could have some space and then immediately jumped into another relationship.' She crossed her arms. If he needed her to spell it out, then she would. ‘I said you could stay for one night. Nothing was said about today. Have you rung round any bed-and-breakfasts yet? Have you found somewhere to stay tonight?'

‘Well, no, not yet.' He glanced down at his laptop. ‘But I really do need to carry on. I've got to get this report finished before my next meeting.'

‘Well, just make sure you do. Please.'

‘Yep, yep. Of course.' Turning back to his laptop, Adam began tapping away, seemingly dismissing her.

Standing with her hands on her hips, Bea glared at him as he continued writing, pausing after a few minutes to take a sip of coffee. From her mug. Her coffee, her milk, her water, from her mug. Taking a deep breath, Bea spun on the spot and strode back to the door, letting it fall with a slam behind her. Let that distract him.

Standing on the small landing, Bea leaned against the wall. What else could she do but to leave him to his work, to his meetings? Yes, they were divorced, but she still cared for him, and she couldn't very well chuck him out on the streets. Or make him jobless by insisting he stop working to find somewhere to stay tonight.

Pushing herself away from the wall, she went back downstairs to where Fleur was still waiting at the counter.

Twisting on the stool, Fleur frowned. ‘Have you run out?'

‘Huh?' Closing the door behind her, Bea walked across to the counter. ‘Run out of what?'

‘Of biscuits? That's why you went upstairs, remember? To get your special biscuits.'

‘Oh, right. No, sorry, I just forgot.' Joining Fleur at the counter, Bea glanced around the now-empty shop. ‘Where did the customers go?'

‘I served them.' Fleur grinned.

‘Thank you.' Fleur was one of those people Bea knew she could count on. Whatever the circumstance, she'd jump in to help without thinking.

‘So, what happened? Did you get a call or something?'

‘Not exactly.' Placing her elbows on the counter, Bea slumped her chin to her hands. ‘Adam's up there working. I didn't know. I just assumed he'd left this morning whilst I'd been busy.'

‘Adam's still here?' Fleur let her mouth drop open.

‘Yep. By all accounts, he's turned my dining table into a private office space for him.'

‘Well, go and chuck him out, then.'

Bea shook her head. ‘I can't do that. He said he'd get a bed-and-breakfast for tonight, so I've just got to trust that he will.'

‘Yes, but him setting up office in your flat wasn't part of the deal, was it? He was supposed to have one night on the sofa and then disappear.'

‘I know but…'

‘No, Bea. This is your home, not his.' Standing up, Fleur began to walk towards the door to the flat. ‘And if you won't tell him to get lost, then I will.'

‘No, Fleur.' Grabbing her sleeve, Bea stopped her friend. ‘It's fine. It doesn't matter. What's one day? Besides, he probably doesn't have anywhere to go, and it's not like he's a bad person or anything.'

‘Umm, I could think of at least five places he could go and work in the vicinity of the town centre.' She began counting them off on her fingers. ‘The library, Ruby's restaurant, the patisserie has some tables, the… I could go on. And don't even get me started about him not being a bad person. He cheated on you!'

‘No, he didn't. He just happened to start seeing someone soon after our marriage ended.' Bea shifted on her feet. ‘Besides, it wasn't as though we had this perfect, happy marriage anyway.'

‘Umm, maybe not, but from what you tell me, I have my suspicions and I don't like the guy.'

‘I know, I know.' And she did too when she allowed herself to dwell on it. Plus, if she was honest, she knew him moving on so quickly had affected her. She was acutely aware that the fear of being left, of not being good enough, was probably a very big part of why she'd not yet ventured into the dating world. She covered her eyes as an image of Scott from last night filled her mind. If he did feel the same way towards her as she did with him, she'd have to lower her barriers. She'd have to trust again. But could she? Was she ready? Opening her eyes, she shook her head. There was no way Scott thought anything more of her than being his annoying joke of a mentor.

‘Are you okay?' Fleur placed her hands at Bea's elbows.

Bea smiled. ‘Yes, I am. I'm just going to forget he's here. I mean, it's no different from when he's at Lindsey and Rob's house and I go and visit, is it?'

Fleur bit down on her bottom lip and Bea was grateful she didn't voice her answer.

‘Anyway, why was it you popped round?'

Brightening up, Fleur took a gulp of her cold latte and grinned. ‘Because you were going to tell me all about your date last night.'

‘Date?' Bea laughed. Now she remembered. ‘It was no date and you know that!'

Fleur shrugged, a mischievous glow in her eyes. ‘Sorry, slip of the tongue.'

Shaking her head, Bea grinned. She knew Fleur would read something from her evening spent walking around Nettleford and eating chips with Scott, and maybe she needed the distraction and the daydream.