“Of course it is. Your daughter is growing up and you don’t like it. I get that, but for your information the boner was for me. Ask Abby?” She laughed again, a little louder now.
“That is no funnier than my own thoughts. Are you playing with me?”
“No.” She laughed as her phone rang. “Hello,” she answered, still laughing.
“Hi, Tasha, it’s Kayla. I’ve made a few calls to friends and I was wondering if you’re free on Thursday to meet up and look at invitations, flowers and menus?”
“Jim is out of town for a few days from Thursday,” she started. “Hold on Kayla, let me put you on speaker.”
Kayla repeated the details and Tasha was surprised when Jim said, “Do it without me. Tasha knows what she wants so you don’t need me there.”
“Oh, works for me. So, Tasha, one thirty. I’ll email you the full address, see you Thursday.”
Tasha looked down at her phone and laughed. “She’s the female version of you. She doesn’t even say goodbye.”
“Goodbye is a waste, say what you need to and you’re done,” he said seriously as they pulled up in front of a large detached house, similar to Sara’s. “Although, I usually say goodbye to you.”
Tasha stepped out of the car and was hit by the early evening warmth in the air. She was glad to have opted for black, leather flip flops and an orange maxi dress with her hair left down. Lizzie was heading towards the back of the house and Jim followed, taking Tasha with him.
They found everyone around the pool with music playing and the barbecue fired up with Jack flipping burgers like a professional.
“Happy 4th of July,” everyone called as they came into view.
Abby was the first to greet Tasha. “I believe we have a wedding date of less than a month.”
Tasha nodded. “I’m not sure how that happened. It was kind of my idea and yet I feel like Jim has masterminded the whole thing and I bet it’s the same date he had planned with Amanda.”
“I would put money on it.” Abby laughed as Jim appeared with Bobby who was talking to Tasha as Jim and Abby moved away.
“Can I ask you something?” Tasha asked Bobby.
“Sure.” Suspecting the need for privacy he led her to a vacant table on the opposite side of the pool.
“Should I have a solicitor? An attorney?” she clarified. “Before I get married?”
“Not really, but I would normally recommend everyone has access to legal advice before entering into any contract.”
“I see.”
Tasha wondered if she should ask Bobby to recommend someone to her when he continued.
“You should have your pre-nup looked over by an attorney. Jim’s marital attorney works for my firm, but I can recommend a couple of very good ones,” he offered.
“Thanks, but I don’t think there will be a pre-nup.”
Bobby looked stunned at that piece of information, his brief silence confirmed it. “What? I don’t mean to rain on your parade, Tasha, but Jim always has a pre-nup in place and I would imagine your marriage will be no different.” The bluntness of his words reminded her of Jim.
She shook her head. “I think we should have one because when people separate that’s when it gets messy and I like the idea of having everything agreed when you still love each other. It protects everyone else, like Lizzie and Philip, and your parents, doesn’t it?”
Bobby nodded, agreeing with everything she’d said but was confused as to why she thought there wouldn’t be a pre-nup in place before her marriage to his brother.
“I called Jim yesterday and he was on another call and I heard him say,just sort out any legalities relating to Tasha being a foreigner and don’t worry about a pre-nup.I did wonder whether he’d realised I could hear, but he always knows what he’s doing, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does. I like you, Tasha. I like that you could have said nothing and literally been laughing all the way to the bank if things go wrong, but you want to protect him, don’t you?”
She nodded, relieved to have told Bobby what she’d heard and reassured that he would act in Jim’s best interests.
“I will get you some attorney’s numbers and leave the rest with me.”
