“Lizzie. She was worried about you and after she called Jim from London, he just kind of mentioned it.” Sara smiled at her. “No more than that.”
“Why would you diet? You have a body to die for,” cried Abby.
Amanda chipped in now. “And Mr Maybury is totally besotted with you, as you are. He struggles to take his eyes off you whenever you’re around.”
“Yes, Amanda is right. I have never seen him quite so smitten with anyone, and I include myself in that,” said Sara seriously.
“And I know Bobby reckons you arethe oneand he knows Jim better than anyone,” said Abby completing the comments.
“Do you lot usually work as a pack?” asked Tasha laughing.
“Sorry,” replied Amanda as the others laughed too. “But what made you think you needed to change?”
“More who than what,” Tasha replied cryptically.
“I God damn knew it,” cried Amanda. “Let us guess who?”
“Mickie,” they all chorused, although Tasha did notice that Abby looked surer of herself than the others.
Tasha nodded nervously. “At least a friend of hers, but Jim set her straight and her friend I think.”
“You think?” asked Sara.
“Yes, I know he and Mickie have fallen out, but I meant I think he set her friend straight too. I forgot to ask,” said Tasha wondering what had happened to Alan.
“I bet Amanda knows,” said Sara bluntly as all eyes turned to her.
Tasha smiled. “It’s fine. I don’t expect you to tell me even if you do. I’ll ask Jim myself.”
“Thank you,” said a relieved sounding Amanda.
“I don’t believe it,” hissed Sara, suddenly distracted.
They all followed her glance and with the exception of Tasha they stared open mouthed at the woman who had just entered the restaurant.
“Who are we staring at?” Tasha’s question was asked in a hushed whisper, although she was unsure why. It wasn’t like the woman the others glared at was close enough to hear or be offended by the question she’d asked.
“She’s coming over. I really hate that bitch,” Sara said vehemently. “I would love to punch her for what she did.”
Shestood at their table and as Tasha surveyed her she thought she seemed kind of familiar. She was wearing a very tight, white t-shirt over a very short, black leather skirt and high heeled leather boots that finished at her thighs. She was about six feet tall in her heels and had long, blonde locks flowing down her back. She was staring down at Sara with bright, almost clear blue eyes that somehow seemed to lack any warmth.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” she asked as the waiter returned and removed their plates. “Abby how are you, and Bobby?” she asked first.
“Good, thanks,” replied Abby bluntly.
“And you two?” she asked gesturing between Sara and Amanda. “One of my predecessors and one of my successors.” She laughed.
Tasha heard her message alert sound in her bag and wondered whether she should just take it out and leave the others with their mutual acquaintance. She didn’t hear Sara or Amanda reply, but suddenly became aware of the woman’s eyes on her.
“And you, if rumours are true, are the final successor to us all.”
Tasha frowned, confused.
“Tasha, this is Maddie, she was married to Jim too,” said Abby.
Suddenly, Tasha felt a little lost by events. This was number three, the bitch who messed with the kid’s heads, Lizzie especially.
“Nice to meet you.” Tasha sounded ridiculously polite and British as she got to her feet. “If you’ll excuse me.”
