“Pleasure’s all mine,” he said, slipping onto the bench next to me, close enough for our thighs to brush. He leaned in farther and, in a panic, I realized he planned to hug me. I patted his back with perfunctory politeness, willing him to release me from his grip.

“Ella Browning! Blimey. I thought you were in America.”

“I was. Am, I guess. I live in Seattle. And it’s Dorsey. Ella Dorsey. Or, rather, was.” I swallowed down that damn vicious lump of emotion. “I’m in process of divorcing my husband.”

“Are you, now? That’s a right shame. For him and you.”

“More so for me. He’s got a new love.” My smile was somewhere between watery and full of bite.

“Terribly rough on you, I’d bet. Though I’m still buggered to see you at all. I’ve thought of you, Ella.” He settled back against the wood slats, hands tucked between his parted knees.

My first love—that I’d blown—sitting on a bench in a park in Bath as I agonized over my current love who’d practically admitted to an affair just yesterday. Life wasn’t kind, but she sure had a wicked sense of humor.

“I’m not much for company,” I said on a sigh. “I came to collect my son.”

“How old is he?”

“Twelve.”

“And you live in Seattle?”

“We do. Did.” I clutched at the edges of my coat, willing my world to right. “I’m not sure what we’ll do now.” My voice broke off to naught more than a whisper.

Philip’s warm brown eyes caught my gaze and held it. “If you decide to stay ’round here, I’d be chuffed to help.”

I stared at him, helpless to stem the flow of my emotions any more than I knew how to answer him. He raised his hand and tucked a lose strand of my hair back into my white knit cap. “You’re as beautiful as I remembered.”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.

His eyes hardened, mimicking the set of his jaw. “And your husband left you?”

I gulped, dipping my head in affirmation as my eyes fell to my wool-lined boots. Philip pulled me into another hug, and this one I melted into, needing the reassurance of another person. The truths were ugly, and bottom line was I hated the mess I’d made of my life.

“Ah, Ella. I hate to see you sad.”

“He didn’t know. Unexpected. Anyway, I should . . . I should go. Jeremiah’s already struggling, thanks to Simon’s bombshell. I don’t want him to be more upset because he caught me cuddling a strange man in the park.”

“Am I a stranger, Ella?”

“You’re . . . no, Philip.” I sniffled but managed a smile. “No. You are a wonderful person.”

His smile brightened his face. “Are you staying at your parents’ house?”

I nodded, my brows puckered.