“No,” she replied nervously, unsure what was going on as she prepared what to say in her head about Mickie when he pre-empted it.
“So, I should tell you about my day, in the spirit of no secrets. I had a call this morning, very early, from Mickie, begging me to meet her so she could tell me something important. My first thought was that she wanted to bitch about you or warn me or something, but she sounded desperate so I agreed to meet her, at a coffee shop.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose as if in pain, but was it caused by Mickie or what he perceived as her infidelity with Gerry.
“I know,” revealed Tasha.
“What?”
“I saw you both. I was waiting for Abby and she was running late so as I glanced out from the coffee shop where I was meeting her I saw you and Mickie hugging and kissing and I didn’t know what to do. I cancelled Abby and came to see you. I just needed to see you, to be with you because I was almost one hundred percent sure that you hadn’t cheated on me with her and you and she didn’t look like it was some secret assignation,” smiled Tasha hoping he wouldn’t be mad with her.
“You should have said something, yet again.” A frown accompanied his barbed dig. “Mickie needed a friend and—” He started before Tasha’s voice interrupted him.
“And only her former friend who had been her fuck buddy that she’s still desperately in love with would do. I hope she had a good excuse to get you there and talking to her again,” spat Tasha venomously, already leaping to her feet.
“Sit down and shut up and let me tell you just how good her excuse was.” He angrily stared up at Tasha now. His calm composure was wearing thin and ready to slip.
Complying sulkily with his order, she slumped into her seat accepting that any moral ground she might have had was quickly slipping beneath her feet.
“Thank you. Mickie has been feeling unwell for a few weeks so went to see the doctor last week,” said Jim until he was interrupted by Tasha again, but this time she was crying as she held her head in her hands while rocking in her chair.
“Oh God. Please tell me she’s not pregnant, please, don’t let her be pregnant,” Tasha cried and realised that Jim was on his knees in front of her. “I can’t compete with that and she will fully utilise a child, your child to her advantage.” Tasha sobbed.
“Tasha, no. She’s not pregnant.” He gently pulled her head from her hands.
Looking at him he still looked angry with her, although his voice was softer. Maybe because he thought she, Tasha, was being selfish and childish by making this about her.
“Mickie had some tests and they’ve shown she has cancer. She doesn’t want anyone to know yet, except me. She needed someone to talk to, a friend,” Jim explained.
“That’s awful, poor Mickie. Are you okay?” She reached down and gently stroked his face.
“I’m fine. I’m not the one with cancer, am I? I know she’s done some bad things and you and she are never going to be friends, but I don’t think I can abandon her now, knowing what I know,” he said cautiously looking up at her.
“No, of course not.” She agreed. “Where is it?” she asked a confused looking Jim. “The cancer?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t ask. She’s seeing a specialist tomorrow and we will know more then,” Jim told her sadly.
“Okay.” Tasha was unsure what else she should or could say and was fighting every instinct not to be pissed off by hiswe will know morebecause as far as she was concerned there should never be a we that was Jim and Mickie together.
“I kind of re-invited her to the wedding though,” said Jim nervously.
“No!” Tasha’s voice was low but firm. She got to her feet, almost knocking him over in the process.
“Tasha, she is an old friend who has a disease that may kill her.” He was up on his feet and standing over her.
“No!” Tasha repeated. “She is an old friend with a disease that may kill her and that’s awful, but she is still a bitch that despises me and has tried to drive a wedge between us on more than one occasion using despicable means, and I am yet to be convinced that her cancer won’t be the latest means, so no. I don’t want her there. This changes nothing about that for me. Sorry.” She held his gaze.
“And if I insist,” he said quietly, almost in a whisper but there was no mistaking his anger and fury.
Tasha shrugged. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that if when I arrive to marry you she is there, I will leave, before any wedding takes place. I have told you before that I mean it. If she is at our wedding I will not be.” Tasha spoke with a flatness she didn’t feel but a firmness she did.
“She is ill, Tasha,” cried Jim.
“And that is sad, but it doesn’t change how I feel about her and the things she’s done. What would you do if I invited my parents and Liam and expected you to just roll over and accept it and to be friendly with them on the day?”
“That is a ridiculous comparison. They are worlds apart from Mickie. You are being stupid and petty and right now I would have thought your indiscretion with Gerry might have given you a greater understanding of how Mickie might feel. Although, she was at least single when she and I had our affair,” he spat causing Tasha to physically and emotionally recoil. She was unsure what to say now but as it turned out she didn’t need to respond because Jim wasn’t done. “I never thought you’d be so cruel and selfish,” he barked at her, making her take a step back.
“Maybeyoushould invite my parents and Liam. You could all compare notes on my pettiness, stupidity and cruelty, oh and their particular favourite, my selfishness. Fuck, maybe if you ask nicely my dad and Liam could give you a few pointers on exactly how to treat me, how I deserve and need to be treated to ensure I behave in the required way.” She was almost crying as her words hit him before she turned to leave.
“Tasha, please,” he called after her as his phone rang.
