“I don’t think she’s sick,” said Lucy reassuringly as she saw the concerned expressions on the faces of Lizzie, Pippa and Dan now. “I think she’s probably just stressed with wedding plans and work, that’s all and I’ve known Tash a long time and she is not a diet kind of girl.”
“What did your dad say?” asked Dan curiously.
“He said the same as Lucy, but told me not to worry about her because everything will be fine when she’s settled in L.A.” She grinned and added, “Daddy takes care of everything at home and makes everything okay.” She spoke with total confidence in Jim.
“I am sure he is right.” Jake gently hugged Pippa who still looked concerned for her big sister’s health and wellbeing as Tasha returned and took her seat before ordering a coffee in place of a dessert.
When they arrived back home they all regrouped in Tasha’s flat initially and after Jake and Dan headed off for a new club that had opened locally, Tasha left Pippa and Lizzie interrogating Ryan about being a fire fighter while she headed next door to try on her wedding dress.
Lucy uncovered the white dress and Tasha gasped as she saw how beautiful it was; it was even more beautiful than she’d imagined, even in its current state as a basic outline and shape of a dress.
Tasha stepped into it and smiled at her reflection, as did Lucy.
“Do you like it?” asked Lucy nervously.
“I love it,” replied Tasha as Lucy zipped her into the dress.
“I may have to take it in a bit, you have lost weight, Tash,” Lucy told her.
“Have I?” Tasha felt quite pleased with that news, unable to hide her grin.
“Yes, but you don’t need to. What the hell is going on, Tasha?” Lucy’s concern was increasing as she began to pin the dress.
“Nothing, well, not really. I had a meeting with some people from the studio and they said that I could do with losing some weight,” she admitted.
“Really? They’re wrong. You are gorgeous and healthy. How much weight?”
“About two stones,” Tasha revealed. “But I don’t even know how to do that.”
“Two stones! You are mad, they are mad. If you lose two stones you will be seriously underweight and unhealthy. Even if you did need or want to lose weight, starvation is not the way to do it, but you are perfect. What did Jim say?” Lucy changed tactic slightly.
“I didn’t tell him,” admitted Tasha and waited for her friend to let rip. She didn’t wait long.
“Then you need to. Apart from anything else if he is employing people who are advising actors to make unhealthy decisions he has to know and be responsible.” Lucy’s earlier concern was replaced with annoyance. “I’ve seen beautiful, healthy girls destroyed by knobs giving bad advice so you have to tell Jim, or I will,” Lucy insisted. “This is how eating disorders start and I have seen enoughbeautifulmodels who had to vomit the contents of their stomach on a daily basis to maintain their beauty so you tell Jim.”
Tasha knew she was right and nodded before Lucy returned her attention to the dress.
“Right, that’s the length sorted, but I won’t take it in until you’ve sorted this whole weight loss out. Now let’s discuss decoration and detail.” Lucy grinned as she got out a book containing sketches and samples.
Tasha had returned home more than happy with her wedding dress and after Pippa and Lizzie had gone to bed she poured herself a very small glass of wine and text Jim.
The reply took a few minutes and even though she was looking down at her phone she still jumped when the message arrived.
Tasha began to fidget as her arousal moved up a notch. She missed Jim, she really did and not just physically. As much as her body was reacting to the idea of him touching her, preparing for him to make love to her she missed being with him in more simple ways; eating breakfast, talking about everything and nothing, laughing together, sharing a beer and a movie and as much as she sometimes doubted what he got from their relationship she knew he missed her in the same ways.
