Convenience

Part 120

David said softly, "You said honest." There was a surge of feeling through his every cell.

Beatrice blew out a slow silent breath, and then took deep breath, "Ok. The truth. It didn't matter to me." She shrugged. "My personal situation. Where I was. My social status." She exhaled, "My personal life was fine!"

"I don't get it. We had a sham of a marriage! On paper, we were husband and wife. How could I help your status? Your personal social situation?" David figured out that he was missing something. He was pretty sure there was more to this. But at least they were talking again. Really talking. He shook his head adamantly, "What exactly do you mean?" He looked at Beatrice and frowned, and reiterated, "I don't get it."

Trying to sound nonchalant she said, "Mrs or Miss." She rubbed her temple.

"If I was married or not, it didn't matter to my circumstances, not really." Beatrice shrugged sheepishly and then sighed, "No one, well, any man, probably wouldn't want me."

David looked incredulous. She was attractive. Kind. Smart. "What?" David looked at her for a second, "Are you kidding?"

Beatrice shrugged, "Yes, no one wouldn't want me." She believed that guys wanted women who could have kids. And she couldn't.

Beatrice heard his incredulity. David looked over at her, "You're an amazing woman! You are smart, funny, attractive. Of course if any man would want you!" He watched the colour suffuse her cheeks.

"You didn't want me? Beatrice figured she needed to move his thoughts on,"Remember." Her eyes showing her obvious derision. "Five years ago?" Her brow furrowing in consternation, she repeated, "Remember!" She looked pensive.

David said firmly. "Because I was an idiot. I couldn't see past my nose!" She nearly laughed. "I have realised that I was really lucky to have you in my life and that I had another chance with you! I am so sorry. I really fucked up, didn't I?" He sighed. "I know that I made a mistake letting you leave, five years ago." He looked straight at her, "And you know that I learn from my mistakes." He sucked in a breath of air and pleaded, "Please, Beatrice,' His eyes swept over her from top to toe, finally stopped at her eyes, "please consider our relationship."

There were several seconds of silence.

He waited for her response. He admitted, glanced across at her, "I am here now, in your office, to talk about us?" He folded his arms. "Our future."

She licked her dry lips. David took a step forward, bringing him almost toe-to-toe with her. Given his height she tipped her head back. He asked, "How we can make our relationship work?"

Her eyebrows beetling together as she considered his statements. "You said you wanted to be a father." She verified. He watched her carefully. Her lips pursed in condescension. "A father." She drew in a lung full of air and exhaled slowly.

David nodded firmly. "Yes." His eyes flashed to meet hers. "I can be a good father." His eyes fired with heat. "And a good husband!" That brought Beatrice up short.

Her own temper started to gain momentum. But she kept her tone light. "Yeah? A good husband doesn't have affairs!" Her eyes flashed with open contempt.

He glowered, "I haven't been a husband!" He read disbelief in her eyes: He accepted that? He wasn't a husband? She masked her emotions. He continued, "Just a paper husband. Like you, a paper wife. Remember?" He watched her. He waited for her response.

She said nothing. She knew she was a strong woman. A paper-wife wouldn't be strong.

David shifted, uncomfortable. "A signature on a bit of paper. That was it! What did it mean to us? What about us?" But this time, he didn't wait for a response. "In name and on paper, we were married, but not in reality. Nothing about us, suggested we were married. Nothing." He found himself reassessing. Keep going, or stop? He wondered. Eventually, he continued, "We didn't live together. We barely knew each other back then. We were not a real couple." He wanted to see her reaction to all of those statements.

"But I can't give you kids." Beatrice murmured softly, her jet eyes looked at him and her eyes smarted. He watched her stalk away.

He followed her. She was acutely aware of his presence alongside. He stepped just that fraction of an inch nearer and waited for her to look at him. "Ok. Maybe. I get that. I understand. But we can have children." He said quietly.

She blinked.

"We might not have any biological children. But I can be a good father. You could be a great mum!"

Beatrice narrowed her eyes at him. How would he know? She thought. She moved again.

David pointed out, "Foster kids." He followed, and tacked on with a wry smile, "We can adopt."