She paused the DVD. “No, not that I’m aware of. Pippa has another year at school and London is Pippa’s home, but I would like her to visit and maybe someday she may decide to try L.A. Why? Would it bother you if she did?” Tasha aimed for curious, but was really attempting to get the inside track on where her soon to be stepdaughter’s head was at.
“I like her,” started Lizzie. Apprehension entered her voice as she continued, “But I don’t know if I’d want another girl living in my dad’s house all the time. That would be weird and he ismy dad.” She emphasisedmy dad, revealing her real fear.
“I get that you’d feel a little jealous, but what about me? Does it bother you to think of me living in the house with him?”
Lizzie moved until she was resting against Tasha’s shoulder now. “You’re different. Daddy loves you and so do I and you don’t try to make him choose between us. I’m not jealous of you. I like you, Tasha.”
“Good. I love you too, but nobody could ever take your place in your dad’s life. He loves you and Philip more than anything or anyone,” replied Tasha with complete belief that what she was saying was true and she had absolutely no issue with that and really wanted Lizzie to see and believe her.
The warm and loving hug she was engulfed in seemed to confirm she did.
“Now, we should think about bed soon because we have a big day tomorrow,” said Tasha.
“Where’s Lucy going to meet us? Here or there?” Lizzie was growing excited.
“Probably there. She’ll have to set up before we arrive,” explained Tasha.
“I like her, she is very funny and Ryan is seriously hot.” Grinned Lizzie, referring to the previous night they’d spent with Lucy and Ryan.
Tasha laughed. “Yes she is and yes he is. We do need to go to bed, but we could wait for your dad to call first and for you not to tell him how hot Ryan is.” They both laughed, imagining Jim’s horror at his daughter thinking that never mind saying it.
Tasha had left Lizzie to watch the end of the film and had just finished putting her pyjamas on when she heard her phone ringing. She ran to get it and found Lizzie fast asleep on the sofa.
“Hello.” She smiled down at Lizzie who looked like a little girl curled up tightly.
“Hi, baby, how’s it going?” asked Jim.
“Okay,” she replied before popping a handful of the popcorn Lizzie had left on the table into her mouth, but regretted it immediately and spat it out thinking of calorie content for the first time in her life.
“You don’t sound it, are you sure you’re okay, honey?” Jim sounded a little concerned now.
“Positive. I just wish you were here, too,” she told him and although she meant it she stopped short of telling him of her concerns about her weight courtesy of the people at the studio. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t told him about it when it happened, but she hadn’t.
“Me too, but I really can’t make it this time,” he said sadly. “Now tell me what you and Lizzie have been up to.”
“Not a lot. We went and did a little shopping this morning then went to my grandparent’s house for dinner and back here where we watched a movie before Lizzie fell asleep on the sofa.”
“She’s okay then, Lizzie?”
“I think so. She and Pippa got on rather well, although she was a little concerned at the thought that Pippa may live with us after we get married.” Tasha sat down next to Lizzie.
“What? Why would she even think that was going to happen? It’s not, is it?” He sounded rather anxious himself now.
“Would it be a problem if she wanted to?” Tasha felt slightly irked that she’d accepted everything that came as part of the package with Jim, but suddenly he seemed panic struck at the thought that he might have to take a turn at accepting other people in their lives. Her people in their lives. In their home.
“I guess not, if that’s what you and she wanted, although it would be weird to be called old, rich guy in my own home,” he joked, or at least deflected, hoping to reduce the chance of things taking a negative turn. “And you know how I like to be in charge, but it would be strange to have someone in our home that wasn’t fully my responsibility,” he began to explain.
“I suppose I can see that, but she now calls you the old guy and she hasn’t expressed any desire to live with us.” Tasha was convinced Jim sounded relieved without replying. “And if she did we would have to tread carefully with Lizzie because she has no desire to share you with anybody else, well, except for me and Philip.” She smiled as she thought of this strange little family unit she was now part of.
“And I have no desire to be shared with anyone else either. Maybe you can work on your sister losing the old guy thing too.” He laughed a little but was obviously serious.
“Rest assured I won’t share you with anyone else, ever,” she told him quite seriously.
He appeared to sense the seriousness of her comment and again changed subject slightly, “Has Lucy sorted your wedding dress out?”
“Kind of. She came round with Ryan last night and we have finalised the details and she took some measurements. Lucy is going to bring it out with her about a week before the wedding and fit it properly then.”
“That’s good and Kayla seems to be on schedule with everything else,” he commented casually.
