“That’s funny. Even your own music library is conspiring against you now, baby. It’s going to happen.”
The car stopped and as Jim offered Tasha his hand to get out a couple of around sixty appeared on the porch of the house.
“Jim, what a lovely surprise,” the lady of the house called as she made her way towards them.
Once beside them and with Tasha standing next to Jim, the man joined them, too. “Hello, son. You should have called.”
“I wanted to surprise you, Dad,” he said before kissing the lady. “Mom, this is...”
“Tasha,” said his dad. “Lizzie has told us all about you and it was all good. Especially the bit where you call him James,” he explained laughing.
As they sat in the farmhouse style kitchen drinking coffee, Tasha discovered Maisie and Jack Maybury lived there and the vineyard had been run by Jack since Jim had bought it after his dad retired, specifically because it was something Jack had wanted to do. They were very sweet and treated Tasha kindly, while it was obvious they both adored Jim.
“So,” said Maisie. “Lizzie says you’re an actress and a model.”
“She called youthatrecently?” asked Jim with a very wry smile.
“You know Lizzie.” Jack smiled at thoughts of his granddaughter.
“I’m not really a model. I do sometimes model, but I’m an actress back in Britain.” Her explanation was nervous. She really was concerned that the Mayburys might assume she was out to use their son, like Sandra had, maybe still did.
“But she won’t let me make her a star, Mom, what can you do?” Jim, sensed her fears again.
“Jim could help you a great deal,” said Maisie with no judgement or apparent inference.
Tasha nodded. “But I don’t want him to. I like to succeed or fail on my own merits.”
“Very commendable. I like scruples and integrity.” Jack sounded just like Jim.
She smiled and asked, “So what did you do before you retired?”
“I was a history teacher in high school and Maisie was a social worker.”
Tasha smiled at the irony of Lizzie’s feelings towards history in spite of her grandfather’s career.
“You should ask Lizzie if she’d like some extra tuition. She seems to have discovered a love of history.”
Jim’s words made Tasha shake her head at the sheer horror they’d evoke in Lizzie.
“Really?” Jack’s voice was filled with total surprise.
Jim nodded. “She and Tasha had a talk about history and suddenly she loves it.”
“I will call her back later,” smiled Jack as Tasha and Jim exchanged a smile that Lizzie’s love of history may be short lived.
“You are a cruel man,” Tasha whispered to Jim.
“I thought you liked my cruel streak?” he asked with a grin at the idea of his father’s call to Lizzie and for his cruel streak Tasha really did love.
“Will you stay for lunch?” asked Maisie.
“We’d love to.” Jim gave his mother a huge smile. “I was going to give Tasha a guided tour first, though.”
“Well, if you need anything just yell. I’ll be in the office with the accounts.” Jack was already on his feet and preparing to leave the room.
“Dad, I’ve told you, let the accountant do the accounts or give them to me to look at as I’m an accountant.” Jim spoke to his father with gentleness but also sincerity making Tasha smile at his interaction here as the child.
“Maybe you could have a look. But they look healthy enough to me.”
