‘Look, Helen, it’s not that simple.I love Alice and the issues we’ve had, well, they’re nobody’s fault really, no one’s done anything wrong—’
‘That’s a bit rich, coming from you.’
‘Helen, please, I’m trying to be honest here.’
She raised an eyebrow at that one, but Christopher continued:
‘I’m trying toexplain.I didn’t plan any of this, which is why it’s all so messy, so difficult …’
‘Well, it’s about to get a lot more difficult.I’m pregnant.’
Her lover stared at her, stupefied, as if barely able to comprehend her words.
‘Before you ask, I haven’t had it confirmed by a doctor.But I did two tests last night, and two again this morning.All four were positive.’
‘But … but we were careful.’
‘Not careful enough.’
The colour had drained from Christopher’s face, sweat creasing his brow.
‘Bloody hell.’
‘You don’t say …’
‘What … what are you going to do about it?’
‘What amIgoing to do about it?’Helen replied quickly, her anger rising.‘It takes two to tango, Christopher.’
‘I know that, of course I do, but you’re not thinking that we …’
He stared at her beseechingly, fumbling for the right words.
‘I mean this doesn’t change anything, I can’t just walk out on Alice.’
‘Do you really think that’s what this is?’Helen fired back at him.‘Do you think this is a shake down?That I’m here to trap you into a relationship with me?’
‘No, no, of course not …’
‘Do you really think that little of me?That I would use this to imprison you, to destroy your marriage?’
‘No, no, a hundred times no.I’m just trying to be clear with you.’
‘Well, you’ve been clear with me alright,’ she rasped, her voice cracking with emotion.‘You’ve had your fun and now things have got complicated, you want rid of me.’
‘No, it’s not that at all,’ her faithless lover insisted.‘Obviously I’ll do whatever’s required, this is my mess too.’
‘Mess?’
‘You know what I mean.It’s just that the situation is difficult for me.I can’t land this on Alice, not at the moment – it’d destroy her.’
‘You should have thought of that before you started playing away.’
‘Do you think I don’t know that?I’m sorry, OK?I’m so sorry, I don’t know what else to say …’
For a moment, Helen said nothing, the weight of her folly making itself felt properly for the first time.
‘What on earth did I ever see in you?’she eventually hissed.‘You play the big shot, but actually, you’re nothing, just a selfish prick who doesn’t have the courage to own up to his mistakes.I should hate you, but actually I pity you.’
