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He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s really the pressing issue right now. Have you been robbed?”
Bea led him to the cardboard furniture. “Look, I ordered us some Chinese food. And we can sit on these boxes to eat.”
“Mum…”
She sighed. “Take a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.”
He sat, his legs awkwardly crossed in a pair of oversized jeans. “Okay, I’m sitting.”
She sat as well, then opened a box of food as she spoke. “You know that Dad and me have been having problems lately. Right?”
“I guess.” He frowned.
“And sometimes people drift apart. They can love each other, but things get in the way of that.”
“Mum, what’s going on?”
She braced herself. “Your father and I have been struggling to connect for a while and something’s happened that means we can’t keep going the way have been. We’re getting a divorce.”
His nostrils flared. “I can’t believe it. When did this happen? Why haven’t you said anything before now? Surely you can work it out. Get some counselling or something.”
Bea didn’t want to string Harry along. Letting him believe there was hope, when there wasn’t, would be cruel. She couldn’t do it. “I was hoping Dad would talk to you about it.”
“Why Dad?” Harry’s cheeks were bright red, his eyes narrowed. “It’s his fault, isn’t it?”
Bea bit down on her lower lip to keep from crying. She had to stay strong in front of Harry. The last thing he needed was for her to be a blubbering mess.
“He’s met someone else.”
“No, he can’t do that. That’s not right.” Harry’s brow furrowed, dark and thunderous.
“I know it’s difficult for you to understand, but it’s true. He’s met someone and they’re having a baby together.”
“What?!” Harry’s eyes glistened with tears. His mouth slammed shut.
Bea reached out a hand to squeeze his arm. “I’m sorry, honey. I know this is difficult to hear. But you’ll always be his son. He’s not replacing you, he’s simply starting a new chapter.” She couldn’t believe the words were coming out of her mouth. What she wanted to do was scream from the rafters that it wasn’t fair, that he’d betrayed them all. But she couldn’t do it. It would break Harry’s heart. She could deal with her own pain, but she couldn’t bear her son to be in anguish. He’d have enough to work through without her making things worse.
“He’ll always be your father and he loves you very much, this is between him and me.”
“Where will he live?” Harry asked, blinking back the tears.
“They’re moving to Melbourne. Your Dad needs to sell the house so he can buy one for him and his girlfriend and their new son down south.”
She waited and watched for Harry’s response. His eyes flashed. “He’s selling our home?”
“I’m sorry, honey. I wish I didn’t have to tell you any of this. But since your father seems to be avoiding the conversation, I decided that it was time to say something. He really should have told you himself.”
Harry rubbed a hand over his mouth. “He said you were having problems about six months ago, but I thought you’d resolved all that since you had that big anniversary party and everything.”
Anger flashed through her head like a bolt of lightning. “I wish he’d toldmewe were having problems. Great communication skills, huh?” She bit her lip. Her goal all along had been to avoid criticising Preston. He was Harry’s father, and she didn’t want their son to be any angrier with his dad than he had to be. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have said that. He’s your dad, and I know you love him.”
“You love him too, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“So, why can’t the two of you work this out?”
“Did you hear me mention the girlfriend and the new son?”
