“I wanted you to hear it from me and nobody else. I’m getting married,” she said bluntly.
He remained silent at the other end of the phone.
“Gerry, are you still there?”
“Yes, sorry, Tash, I wasn’t expecting that,” he replied honestly. “You have completely knocked the wind out of my sails, darling.”
“Sorry,” she found herself saying.
“The rich American?”
“Yes.” She felt uncomfortably at his description of Jim, the rich bit, if not the American.
“I know I was the one that cheated and screwed it all up for us, babe, but I always hoped we’d get back together. I don’t know when or how, but this has just blown that plan out of the water,” he said with a slight wobble to his voice.
“Sorry,” she repeated even if she knew she had nothing to be sorry about.
“He makes you happy though, and you’re sure about this?”
“Yes, very,” she replied with total conviction.
“Then I guess I should say congratulations, so congratulations. I hope he realises how lucky he is.”
“I think so,” she replied as she noticed Jim standing in the doorway.
“Tash, I really have to go. I need to pick Lottie up from nursery today, but stay in touch, okay?”
“Yes, of course. I’m back in London in just over a week. Maybe we could meet up, for lunch or dinner or we could go to a club or something.”
“Yeah? I would love that, princess. Call me and we will definitely do something. Bye babe,” he said and then he was gone.
Tasha looked down at her phone and thought that with Lizzie in tow a club was probably a no-no. In fact, Jim would be less than happy about her meeting up with Gerry, but he would have to get over it.
She was staring down at her phone when Jim appeared at her side.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just a bit weird I suppose, but I’m fine. Gerry and I are going to meet up when I go home,” she said, putting it out there.
Jim frowned. “Where is home for you?” Her earlier thoughts about his feelings about her thoughts and beliefs on where her home was came back to her and wondered, suspected if his real question was,who is home for you?
“London is my home. It’s where I was born and raised, but I see here as home too, my home with you, but it’s weird because actually this is your house still. There are rooms in this house I’ve never entered, and although I have looked around the grounds I didn’t know there was an observatory here until last night. I suppose it will take time to get used to these surroundings, but please don’t read too much into the fact that I refer to several places as home.”
He nodded. “You know I’m going to have an issue with you and Gerry meeting up, especially if Lizzie is there?”
“Yes, but you know that I wouldn’t compromise Lizzie and that I will meet up with Gerry regardless?”
He nodded. “I hate us being so far apart when you’re in London. It does complicate things.”
She nodded as her phone beeped. She looked down to see a message from Juan.
“You don’t mind if I go shopping with Juan tomorrow, do you?”
Jim shook his head. “Of course not. In fact, I may go and play golf with Bobby if you’re out.” He was already typing out a text to his brother.
