The car came to an abrupt standstill and Jim immediately got out then opened the door next to Lizzie. “Out! Now!”
Whatever was going on there was no denying something had happened, Lizzie was clearly upset and her level of upset was easily surpassed by her father’s level of anger.
“This will not take long,” he said to the others more softly and after Lizzie got out he shut the door firmly.
“Shit,” said Juan.
“I do love Lizzie, but she really can be a bitch when she goes all bratty,” said Philip.
Tasha watched as Jim led Lizzie far enough away from the car so that they couldn’t be heard, although she had a feeling Jim would be doing most of the talking, but they were still in sight. Tasha took off her seat belt and turned to face the boys.
“Have I missed something because she skipped upstairs to get ready and by the time I saw her again you were forcing her into the car?”
“There is something going on between Mom and Lenny I think, but she was fine with them. She doesn’t really want Dad to come to the concert, but he’s only coming to make sure you don’t throw yourself at Andy Steele and then she found out that Uncle Bobby was meeting us at the beach and she wasn’t too happy. Plus, when the four of us go out together she usually rides up front with Dad and he had already told her she had to sit in the back, but she was still heading for your seat which is when you saw mehelpingher into the back,” explained Philip.
“So, all of this is because of me being here?” Tasha’s nerves triggered a rush of guilt, something she hadn’t felt before when with Jim. Her instinct to blame herself for everything that was wrong in the lives of those closest to her was usually reserved for her siblings and always connected to her parents.
“No, of course not. It’s because Lizzie is being a bitch,” said Juan bluntly. The harshness of his words hung between them but they were tinged with something else, concern. Concern for her.
“Juan is right, Tash,” Philip reassured her. “Plus, she doesn’t really get along with our cousin, Alexa. She is only ten and rather shy and Lizzie has very little patience with her.”
“I see,” said Tasha and wondered if she was cut out for all of this complicated step-children business. It was all very grown up, unlike her. She thought back to Sara’s comment…maybe she had a point.
“We can’t let her spoil Dad’s day though,” said Philip
Tasha nodded and looked back over to where Jim was still speaking to Lizzie, or at her at least.
“Batten down the hatches,” muttered Tasha as Jim and Lizzie headed back towards them.
As they got back in the car Jim’s phone rang. “Hi, yeah, happy birthday to you, too. Yeah, great, although it’s currently hanging in the balance.” He stared at Lizzie in the rear view mirror. “You? Yeah, good, okay. You may get there just before us, but we can meet on the board walk, yeah, see you later.” He hung up and turned to Tasha, “Belt up, baby, the beach is waiting for us.”
He gently squeezed her knee and put her music back on while Tasha noticed that Lizzie appeared to be minus hers, but slightly less sulky.
“Ooh turn it up, I love this one,” cried Philip as he began to dance to Pitbull and they all began to dance and sing again together.
“Tonight I want all of you tonight, give me everything tonight, for all we know, we might not get tomorrow, let’s do it tonight.”
“And now I am at the school dance.” Laughed Jim.
Tasha looked across at Jim and held his arm as she continued singing, “Grab somebody sexy, tell ‘em hey, give me everything tonight.”
Even Lizzie managed a smile as Philip cried, “Somebody pass me a bucket.”
They arrived at the beach and as they made their way onto the pier they turned to the cry of, “Jimbo, about God damn time.”
Jim hugged the man, then the lady and child with him. She assumed this was Bobby; there was a strong resemblance between them, although Bobby was slightly shorter and stockier than Jim, but had the same dark, full head of hair and dark, brooding eyes.
“You all know each other except for Tasha; Tasha, this is my older twin Bobby, my sister-in- law, Abby and my niece, Alexa. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Tasha.”
“Hi, Tasha.” Bobby hugged her. “So, what exactly is it you see in my juvenile brother?” He laughed as he made reference to the speaker phone conversation he’d heard.
“I really don’t know,” she replied, making Bobby laugh more. “Happy birthday.”
“Can we get some lunch before we hit the beach?” asked Abby. “Alexa was up at six thirty and we had breakfast by seven fifteen,” she explained.
“Yeah, course,” replied Jim, moving onto Tasha’s lack of food consumption. “Tasha hasn’t eaten today so lunch would be a good start.”
They all headed towards a café on the pier where Jim’s larger hand encased hers.
