“You even have better relationships with my children than I do,” cried Sara.
“Sorry.” Tasha confused herself with that apology. She had no clue how her relationship with Jim’s children impacted on the one they had with their mother.
“Maybe I should go. Lizzie doesn’t need to hear any of this.” Sara spoke almost in a whisper.
“Look, if you want to talk I’m happy to listen, but we can go inside if you’d rather, into Jim’s office, upstairs or give me half an hour and we will go out somewhere.” Tasha felt confused but felt genuine sympathy for Sara’s confusion.
“Could we go somewhere neutral? If you don’t mind.” Sara offered a very small and weak smile.
Tasha got to her feet immediately and headed indoors followed by Sara where they found Lizzie and Danielle making a huge list of some sort. “What did your dad say about your sleepover?”
“Yes, but there are things we’ll need,” said Lizzie excitedly.
Tasha looked at their list. “You don’t need all of that. Look, don’t buy anything yet, not until you’ve agreed the details with your dad otherwise it’s a waste of money.”
“He can afford it,” said Lizzie.
“Yes,” agreed Tasha, seeing more evidence of Jim and Sara’s children’s lack of understanding of the value of money and briefly questioned if she should just let Lizzie spend, spend, spend. “But that’s really not the point.”
Lizzie replied with a petulant nod. “Danielle’s mom is coming over to collect us and I will come home after dinner if that’s okay, Mom?”
Sara nodded.
Tasha wondered if she wanted slutty Deanna here, not that she had much choice now. She shuddered at the thought of it, then thought about what Sara had said,you are young and pretty with big tits in the right place,so maybe she should introduce herself properly to Deanna. She grabbed her phone and dashed upstairs.
She showered and put on a white lace plunge bra with a matching Brazilian style brief and covered it with a white, scoop necked, sleeveless, fit and flare, cotton, broderie anglaise dress that finished mid-thigh. She added the high, gold, strappy, designer sandals Jim had bought her that first week she was here. She threw her purse into a little gold clutch and pulled her hair into a loose pony tail to the side and draped it over her shoulder so it skimmed her breast. She applied a glimmer of nude lip gloss and added a coat of clear mascara then called Jim as she headed downstairs. It went to voice mail so she called Amanda instead.
“Amanda, it’s Tasha. Can I leave a message for Jim, please?” She watched Sandra letting Deanna in through the front door.
She looked Tasha up and down before seeing Sara who she kissed on the cheek.
“I wasn’t expecting a welcoming committee,” Deanna said tartly.
Not this one anyway thought Tasha.
“Tasha, are you still there?” asked Amanda.
“Yes sorry, just give me a second.” She stood in front of Deanna.
“You must be Danielle’s mom, I’m Natasha, Jim’s girlfriend,” she said, sickly sincere as she offered her a hand. “Give me a second, Sara, I just need to leave a message for Jim.
“Sorry, Amanda, I’m back.”
“I can put you through if you’d rather speak to him,” Amanda offered.
“There’s no need really, he’s obviously busy. Can you just tell him that I may be a little late this afternoon, but I will text him as soon as I’m on my way?”
“I’ll make sure he gets it straight away, Tasha. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks, very good in fact and hopefully Jim’s mood has improved for you.” She laughed.
“Oh yes. He is in a very good mood today.” Amanda joined in with the laughter.
“Good. Look, I know we talked about it before, but would you like to meet up for lunch sometime next week?” asked Tasha.
“That would be lovely, if Mr Maybury doesn’t mind.” Amanda sounded nervous.
Tasha smiled at the other woman’s reluctance to make this decision in case it upset Jim. “Well, I wasn’t planning on inviting Mr Maybury, but I will call you on Monday to finalise it.”
