Tasha stood up and Lizzie hugged her again, but with a little less enthusiasm.
“We are going to have such fun today. I know all the best shops. What are you going to buy? I need some new sneakers,” she said but Tasha was unsure if she was telling her or reminding herself.
Tasha looked at Jim and decided Lizzie wouldn’t get told her sneakers were for the gym and not fucking. She smiled at Lizzie and her youthful enthusiasm.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to buy, but I don’t need sneakers, do I, James?”
He stared at her as the other blonde spoke.
“Lizzie, leave Tasha alone to have her breakfast. I’m Sara, Philip and Lizzie’s mom.” She held out her hand.
Tasha accepted it warmly. “Pleased to meet you.” She resisted the temptation to sayoh number one.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming in with Lizzie…”
“No, stay for breakfast if you want,” offered Jim.
“Stay, Mom,” encouraged Lizzie.
Sara looked at Tasha as if asking for some kind of invitation or at least no sign of an objection.
“I’m sure we can all squeeze in,” Tasha said, not entirely sure she was in a position to raise objections even if she had any.
Sara sat between Tasha and Jim, opposite Lizzie before she explained the reason for her presence. “I just wanted to meet you before Lizzie was unleashed on you for the day.”
Tasha laughed because she could see why the prospect of a day with Lizzie might be frightening or intimidating for someone perceived as being Daddy’s new or latest girlfriend, but she had no qualms about spending the day with a teenage girl. “She’s a lot like my younger sister, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Did you know Daddy’s credit card has no limit on it, so we can buy anything we want,” said Lizzie, focused solely on the shopping aspect of their day.
“Lizzie!” Jim and Sara cried together as Tasha laughed.
“That may be so Lizzie, but mine does have a limit and probably a fee for conversion.”
Jim frowned.
“Are you okay, James?” The others stared at her continued use of his full name.
“I am absolutely fine, Natasha, but I really have to go and earn the money to pay my limitless credit card bill.”
He bent down and kissed Lizzie first. “Have a good day and be good, oh and make sure Tasha gets something to wear in the pool. Something very, very expensive and charge it to my card, sweetie.” He then bent down and kissed Tasha. “And the same goes for you, be good. Please keep your phone on and don’t argue with Lizzie about your swimwear.”
She gave him a little, slightly sarcastic salute with a reply of, “Yes, James.”
He stared at her for a second and then smiled.
“Sara,” he said and kissed the other woman on the cheek with genuine affection but nothing more. “Mike will take you wherever you want ladies,” he called as the front door shut.
Tasha sat feeling slightly uncomfortable as she looked around the table until Lizzie leapt up. “I’ll get my stuff from my room, give me half an hour.” Then she was gone.
“She’s very lively.” Tasha smiled, until she considered the unconventional start of the relationship she now found herself in. The oddness increased by the fact she was now sat opposite her boyfriend’s first wife.
“She’s very excited. Jim doesn’t usually introduce hisfriendsand they don’t make it back here, so she thinks you must be something special and I would be inclined to agree. He looks happier and more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time. It’s nice to see. I also think you were teasing him with the James thing which says a lot.”
Tasha laughed. “The James thing really gets under his skin, doesn’t it?”
“Yes it does. But he seems to like it from you, or at least tolerate it, which is a first. Are you in L.A. long?”
“Til the end of the week.” It was then Tasha realised the idea of leaving in four days was making her feel genuinely sad.
