It wasn't like he ever did it on purpose. He didn't like sounding like there was something he wasn't in control of. But Florence knew him, knew when he was hurting, when life got that confusing and she knew that this time she'd been the cause. So he didn't try to hide it, what was the point.
"Yeah I've seen what it can do more than most have." he responded bitterly. "But maybe you and me could have been different, gotten past it, there's different stuff now Florence, therapy for couples that keep arguing. Maybe things could have worked out if you hadn't left. And yeah I was angry a lot but so were you. Was it so much easier with him? Did he just let you win the rows, or weren't there any, cause that I don't believe. Not with a wife and two kids in the picture. You had to have hated it." He knew it was harsh and he knew he was pushing her, but that's how it was with them. He had to push her or nothing would change, thats why he chastised her, that's why they rowed wasn't it?
Did she really hate him this much? Enough that she'd never come back no matter what? Maybe if his pride would let him ask but there was no sense of that happening. And if she asked, yeah he'd probably go for it but with everything that happened she'd be making it up to him. And she'd have to do a damn good job of it.
"You were? Really?" He'd hoped she was happy, at least for some of it. It meant something to him that she was. He'd never meant to hurt her. "Yeah well, maybe I just wanted you to be the best you could be, you didn't think of that did you?" Maybe he'd been helping her and she hadn't seen it. "I don't always criticise you do I? It wasn't always just that? Maybe it showed I cared did he ever bother to tell you anything like that, did he bother at all beyond the usual crap you're supposed to say to someone you're supposed to care about." And the press? If this was about the press then there wasn't a damn thing he could do about that. "...The press, that was just to get them talking? What was so wrong with that? I was hardly pushing them the way Fischer did, I was just puttng some truths out there, come on I put Chess back on the world stage. They all agree on that, that was me. So I insult a few commies and suddenly I'm the villian here? Come on, you used to agree with me."
At least she was admitting the bastard had never loved her. That was something. A start. Not that he bought for a second that he loved his kids. "No, you don't walk out on the people you love, not your kids. They're just young, and that woman had to explain why Daddy lived in England now with someone else? He's ass. No more, no less. And you fell for it. Still, at least you know you were wrong." It meant something at least that she knew she was wrong.