“No Tanya?” I blurted without thinking, and instantly started mentally cursing myself. I had wanted to know about Tanya all night, but hadn’t actually planned on asking him. I shouldn’t be involved with his life. We had no connections to each other anymore, and I should have no need to know. Let him do what he wanted.

Edward sounded surprised. “We broke up ten months ago, Bella. If we were even close enough to call it ‘breaking up’. I didn’t think you’d remember.” How easily that man could lie. Of course I remembered Tanya; she had haunted my thoughts for months. And of course he knew I hadn’t forgotten.

“I didn’t, really.” I tried to fib just as casually, but it didn’t sound half as convincing as him. I was sure he could pick out the clear relief in my voice and I didn’t care. I knew I’d be embarrassed about that later, but for now the relief was too great. I had been troubled for a year, preoccupied by the thought of Edward with…someone else. Despite our obvious separation, I had never really felt distanced from him. It had never felt real to me until I had learned about Tanya, and maybe that was why she bothered me to such a great extent – she had made the divorce official, and it hurt more than I cared to admit.

“I see,” Edward mused, and trailed off into an awkward silence. I struggled futilely to find something to say. I could mention the family, but he had been none to pleased when I’d brought up Alice earlier. I wondered why he seemed so irked by her. From their interaction in previous days, they’d always been close.

To my surprise, he brought it up anyway. “How’s Charlotte?” he asked, and I could make out the deep affection that he held for the little girl.

“Adorable,” I sighed, sympathizing completely with his adoration for Charlotte. I chuckled. “Although a bit too similar to Alice for my taste.”

He laughed with me. “I was hoping that Jasper would eventually rub off on her, but I guess Alice’s influence is just too strong.” I could sense no underlying current of displeasure as we joked about Alice, and I wondered what exactly I’d said to upset him before.