Chapter 37
37
F leur tutted as she beeped the horn on her car and pulled into a spot just along from Ben’s house. She'd gone there on her way home from a training course because Lucy had left her phone at Ben’s and needed it that evening to go into London. Fleur could’ve swung for Lucy and her forgetfulness because there was no way she wanted to get caught up in going into Ben’s house. Therefore, she’d WhatsApped Ben to say that she would beep when she was outside, hopefully meaning that she wouldn’t have to suffer Sanctimonious Sarah and have to coo over the baby. That she could well do without.
On seeing Ben walk out of the house just after she’d beeped, waving Lucy’s phone in his hand, she felt relieved not to see Sarah, wound down the window, and waved. Ben approached the car, didn’t smile, and did not look happy, either.
‘Everything okay with you?’ Fleur asked, not really, truth be told, that bothered about his response. She was trying to be cordial.
‘Yes, fine, thanks.’
Ben gave her the phone. She put it into the centre console and rolled her eyes. ‘She’s a nightmare. She’d forget her head one day, wouldn’t she?’
‘Yep.’ Ben was short, his tone clipped.
‘Well, thanks for that then. Hopefully, she won’t forget it again. Is everything alright with you?’
Ben had half turned to go. He turned back and his face looked like thunder. ‘Actually, now you come to ask, no, everything is not okay with me. Not at all.’
Fleur frowned. ‘Oh? What’s happened?’
‘Well, I would’ve thought that it would’ve been nice if you could have run it past me that you were getting married. Hearing about it from my daughter was, well, rude. Very rude.’
Fleur was so shocked and astonished by the cheek of Ben that she didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
‘It’s a huge thing for Lucy after what she’s been through, and I thought that you would’ve had the common decency to tell me yourself, considering our relationship and everything.’
Fleur stared at Ben’s mouth, not quite computing quickly enough what he was saying. It flashed through her mind that he had a new partner and a baby and he had never even mentioned the fact to her. ‘Right, umm okay. I’m not sure what you want me to say to that.’ Fleur managed to blurt out.
Ben held his palms upwards. ‘I mean, look at me, for example. When we were thinking about moving here, I phoned you and bothered to check with you. I ran it past you just as a common courtesy. Respect is what I think they call it out there in the world.’
Fleur shook her head in disbelief. Ben hadn’t exactly asked her about moving, more told her and stated his intentions. He hadn’t run it past her at all. She shook her head as irritation began to bubble. 'I really don't think it's any of your business, to be quite honest. I don't have to run anything past you regarding my relationship. Last time I checked we were divorced a long time ago.'
'I know you don't, but I just thought you'd have the common decency…'
Fleur held her hand up. 'The common decency? Really?'
‘If it affects Lucy, it affects Sarah and me.’
Fleur was astonished. 'Right.’
'I just thought it would have been nice, considering that Lucy has had lots of problems. This is going to be massive for her to deal with. Marriage is a huge thing. I don’t want her collapsing because of you…'
'What, like having a new sibling that's, you know, twenty-odd years younger than her? That’s not a massive thing?' Fleur snapped back in irritation.
‘That is completely different! We have involved Lucy right from the word go.’
Fleur took a deep breath and gripped the steering wheel. She hadn't anticipated the confrontation, especially not parked outside Ben's house. The irony of him lecturing her about communication and marriage wasn't lost on her, given his own life choices. 'Look, I understand you're concerned about Lucy, but our lives have moved in different directions. I didn't think my personal decisions required your approval.'
Ben's expression hardened. He narrowed his eyes and pointed his finger. 'It's not about approval, Fleur. It's about co-parenting. Major changes affect our daughter, and we should handle them together.'
Fleur nodded slowly, acknowledged his point, and decided to play the game just to keep him happy. Idiot. 'You're right. I should have informed you directly. But please remember, it works both ways.'
Ben looked momentarily taken aback, then sighed. He moved smoothly, without missing a beat, into lecture mode. 'Fair enough. We need to remember that we’re a blended family and that this is not the fifties. Let's just ensure we're both more considerate moving forward, for Lucy's sake.'
Fleur managed a small smile, one she didn’t mean but slapped on her face to keep the peace. 'Agreed.'
With that, Ben stepped back, and Fleur started the engine. Her mind raced with thoughts as she processed Ben's words. The term 'blended family' hung in the air between them, a phrase that absolutely carried the weight of Sarah's influence. 'Blended family?' Fleur’s voice was tinged with incredulity. 'Is that what Sarah's calling it now?'
The little muscles at the side of Ben’s jaw popped out. 'It's not just Sarah. It's a reality we need to face. Our lives aren't isolated; they're intertwined, and now there is a baby to consider, too. For Lucy's sake, we need to approach this as a unified front.'
Fleur heard her voice rising. 'Unified? That's rich coming from you. You made your choices back in the day without a second thought about how they'd affect Lucy or me.'
Ben was furious. 'I've always considered Lucy's well-being! Moving in with Sarah and having another child doesn't negate my responsibilities as her father.'
'Responsibilities?' Fleur shot back.
Ben's face flushed. ‘Look, Fleur. This is about moving forward and ensuring our daughter feels secure amidst these changes. Sarah and I think you should have had the decency to tell us you were going off to wherever it is, Hawaii, to get married, yourself. I mean, even an email would have sufficed.'
'Pah! What, like you did about the baby? I’ve heard it all now. You are actually lecturing me about my personal life, now. Gold.’
'I just believe that major decisions, like getting married in Hawaii, should be discussed,' Ben insisted. 'Not just sprung upon us without warning. It’s really not rocket science, Fleur. And let me tell you; I am not paying for anything!'
Fleur tried to calm herself down. There was little to no point in arguing with Ben. There never had been. ‘I understand your point. Perhaps I should've communicated my plans more clearly. But you need to understand that my life doesn't revolve around seeking your approval.’
‘I just want us to co-parent effectively. That means open communication, especially when our decisions impact Lucy.'
There were so many things Fleur could have said, but to be quite honest, she really could not be faffed. It was what it was, and some things, like Ben’s arrogance, never changed. She felt the fight draining out of her. A battle with Ben was not one she had the energy for. 'Fine. Let's try to communicate better.’
Ben clearly felt as if he’d won. Let him think that. He really wasn’t worth her time. As she drove away, Fleur had a little wry chuckle, more cackle, to herself. It had clearly got up Ben’s nose that Fleur had very much moved on and was not only getting married but doing it spectacularly . Ben absolutely didn’t like it when the boot was on the other foot. Shame. See how it feels, mate.