Maisie put on a wonderfulsurprisedperformance when the doorbell rang to reveal an array of guests. There were a number of Bobby and Jim’s friends and colleagues, Marc and Marcia, Jon and Helen who had another woman with them, quite a statuesque blonde woman who was very attractive, but imposing, scarily so.
“Great, absolutely fucking great!” hissed Abby from behind Tasha, causing her to turn and stare at her.
“You okay?”
“No, I’m really not,” replied Abby. “Would you like a walk in the garden?” She lifted a bottle of white wine up in case Tasha needed an incentive.
Tasha didn’t require the added incentive, but happily grabbed her glass and followed Abby to a bench in a secluded spot in the garden.
Abby poured the wine and lit up a cigarette before offering Tasha one.
“I don’t.”
With a laugh, Abby replied, “Darling, you are in California, nobody does.”
“Who is that woman, the scary blonde?” asked Tasha.
“That is my husband’s first love.”
Tasha sipped her wine as Abby continued.
“She is Bobby’s college sweetheart and also Helen’s sister. Bobby and Michaela were introduced by Jon and Jim. They dated for three years and when Bobby proposed she accepted, but called it off about six months before the wedding because she had fallen in love with someone else. Bobby was heartbroken, but moved on.”
“Poor Bobby, but it’s in the past, Abby.” Tasha smiled with empathy.
Abby nodded. “Bobby is over her, well and truly, so this isn’t jealousy. She is a complete bitch. She’d fallen in love with Jim, but he wouldn’t go near her, at least not for many years, but she hung on and hung on until she thought she’d landed him.”
“My Jim?” Tasha couldn’t hide her shock and didn’t think she needed to.
“Yeah, but they just screwed when they were at a loose end, at least that’s how it was for Jim, but she adored him, still does. Mickie is totally besotted.” Abby refilled their glasses.
Tasha was grateful for the wine and knocked her glass back in one. She might just need a drink or two in order to process this information.
“Mickie? As in Mickie that he holidays with? With Jon, Helen, Joe, Callie and their kids? The Mickie that he thinks I will be holidaying with this summer?” asked Tasha, hurt more than shocked now.
“Yup!” Abby filled their glasses again, clueless as to Tasha’s oblivion to all of the information she was sharing.
Tasha drank hers in one and held her glass out towards Abby for another refill and tried to confirm what Abby had revealed.
“So, Mickie was engaged to Bobby, but dropped him because she loved Jim and hung on for many years until she bagged him as a...”
“Friend with benefits.” Abby drained her own glass again and lit another cigarette.
“A fuck buddy,” muttered Tasha ironically.
Abby inhaled deeply on her cigarette then with a nod looked over Tasha’s shoulder and cried, “Oh fuck!”
Tasha turned to find Mickie coming to a standstill before them with Bria.
“Hi Abby, how are you? You look well.” Mickie sounded insincere before turning to Tasha, “And you must be Jim’s little friend.”
Tasha laughed, the alcohol suddenly hitting her. “Not quite his little friend; girlfriend, fiancée, shag piece, lover, but not his little friend.”
Bria exchanged a glance with Mickie and sneered. “You’re a little more forthcoming minus Jim.”
Tasha laughed again. “You could say that, but I thought that if I told you to shut the fuck up and wind your neck in at dinner it may be deemed impolite, especially as it was your parent’s table I was sitting at, but not so much now.” With her tone flat, but serious she waited for either of the two other women to react.
Bobby appeared in time to witness the end of their exchange and looked slightly stunned.
