“Yes, of course, thank you,” said Amanda as she hung up.
“Sorry.” Tasha turned her attention to Deanna and Sara.
Lizzie and Danielle appeared with Sandra who said, “The girls have just had more of your cake, Tasha, but they did have lunch first.”
Deanna hugged Danielle. “Is Jim at work today? He looked very relaxed yesterday.” She looked around as if waiting for him to magically appear.
“Yes,” said Tasha bluntly.
“Daddy is always relaxed when Tasha’s here.” Lizzie smiled while Tasha’s inner self did a little victory dance.
“Sickening, but true,” confirmed Sara. “And when she’s not, he is far from relaxed so most of us prefer it when Tasha’s in town.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” said Deanna insincerely before turning her attention to Danielle again. “I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.” She eyed Tasha again and enviously looked at her younger, natural breasts peeping out from the top of her dress, subtly, not obviously like her own that had been wedged into a white vest emblazoned with a designer logo and denim shorts that had more arse hanging out than in.
Tasha could really see that this woman was no threat to her. She would never have been lucky number seven, although Jim had admitted that he found her attractive, and why wouldn’t he? She was attractive in a very obvious way and she could have been a distraction for Jim, but surely no more.
“Is Lizzie okay to come with us to the mall?” Deanna glanced between Sara and Tasha.
“Not my call.” Tasha’s phone rang to the sound of Marry Me, again.
“Excuse me.” She felt a little embarrassed by the ringtone, the connotations of it, but was pleased to see Deanna looked uncomfortable.
“Hello, gorgeous boyfriend, you are supposed to be busy,” she chided.
“I am busy, but I just got your message. Why are you going to be late? I hope you’re not bailing on me, we’ve entered into a verbal contract.” He laughed.
“I’m not bailing and am aware of our contract, although I don’t think it would hold up in court,” she joked back.
“Then I think we should get a legally binding contract in place sooner rather than later, Natasha.”
“Do you now, James. Are you bullying me?” she asked smiling.
“No baby, just controlling what belongs to me, just as you like it.”
“That wasn’t quite the context in which I conceded that point.”
“But it is the way I understood it, honey. You belong to me. I own you. I remember you saying it, crying it over and over.” He really was enjoying the memory of it.
“I do recall it myself.”
“I bet you do, but you are distracting me, baby. Why are you going to be late?” he repeated.
“I’m going out with Sara and the girls are just going shopping with Danielle’s mom, she’s here to collect them.”
“Deanna is there?” he asked laughing. “I bet you love that. Have you invited her for lunch? I’m sure you could be real good friends.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t, you love me. Where are you going with Sara?”
“Yes, I do love you, and I don’t know why.”
“I think we both know exactly why. Maybe I should make you tell me while your new best friend is there.” He laughed again.
“I don’t think so. That would just be encouragement if she knew what she was missing out on.” Tasha knew Deanna was no longer listening. “Oh, and I don’t know where I’m going, but I will text you when I’m on my way, so you do some work and I’ll see you later.”
“Okay baby. Remember, no jeans,” he said still amused.
