“I don't think I said anything. Jim, on the other hand, set him straight and told him it would never happen. Can we keep Jim's ideas about Dan to ourselves until I've spoken to Dan properly and got a handle on what's happening with him?”
“Of course, darling, but I should tell you that Jim may find an unlikely ally in your grandfather if he insists you cut Dan loose while he maintains a relationship with your parents.”
“Great. The two of them barking orders,” said Tasha with a stifled yawn.
“Tasha, are things okay, with you and Jim? I couldn’t help but sense some tension last night.”
“Things are fine between us, but not so much so with me and Lizzie.” Tasha found it a relief tell her grandmother the details of her recent falling out with Lizzie.
“Oh dear, how awful. That poor girl, the pregnant one. Although it must be hard for Lizzie too.”
“So, you think I was wrong to be angry with her? That I overreacted?” Tasha felt startled that her grandmother wouldn’t be on her side.
“No, of course not. She hurt you. Her ill thought out actions hurt you and angered you, rightfully so. You shouldn’t be taken for granted and used as a solution to other people’s problems and mistakes, but I don’t think that’s entirely what she did.”
“No?”
“No, darling. She can see how amazingly supportive you are of the people around you and if her friend had to be in this position I think Lizzie thought there was no better person to help her than you. More than that, she knows the mother you are to her and Philip and now to Connor and that was what she wanted for that poor unborn baby, but she got it all skewed in her mind and acted impulsively.”
“But she never once thought of me in any of it.”
“No. She didn’t, and that was wrong. You were right in everything you said to her but there will come a point where you have to forgive if not forget. You know Jim will only allow you to punish his child for so long,” her grandmother pointed out.
“Is that what I’m doing, punishing her?”
“Isn’t it? The fact that she wanted to and could have come with you suggests you might be.”
Tasha knew her grandmother had made several valid points as a long and loud yawn escaped her.
“Go back to bed, Tasha, before your son decides he's had enough sleep and makes the early hours his new breakfast time.”
“Thanks, Grandma. Goodnight.” Tasha offered her grandmother a kiss to the cheek and a warm and loving smile.
Once back upstairs, in the room she'd slept in on numerous occasions, although not on enough occasions if she was honest. Tasha smiled at the sight of Connor sleeping in a cot that her grandparents had bought especially for their great-grandson's visit. He was stretched out with his arms lying above his head. The dummy he’d previously had in his mouth was now cast aside leaving Connor's mouth open slightly, breathing gently. Suddenly, Connor began to make mutterings that in turn made Tasha smile. The mutterings were followed by a strange little growling sound that made Tasha let out a laugh that led to the baby stirring slightly.
“Ssh.” She put the dummy back into her son's mouth, jiggling it slightly until he latched on and was sleeping soundly again.
Still smiling as she climbed into bed, Tasha jumped as Jim spoke, “Hey, baby, you okay?”
“Mmm, I couldn't sleep, jet lag, so I got up and had a cup of tea with my Grandma.” She smiled at her husband's rested face.
“That's nice. What time is it?” Jim looked disorientated.
“Half-past four.”
“Jeez, we need to pick better flights in future or we'll charter a plane and sleep all the way here.”
“Sleep? You think if we chartered a plane we'd sleep, Mr Maybury?”
“Good point. Connor could sleep and we could fuck.” Grinned Jim.
“You seem very lively this morning,” Tasha told him, reaching up to stroke his hair.
“Do I indeed? What about you, honey?”
“Wide awake.”
“In that case.” Jim reached across and cupped one of Tasha's naked breasts. His thumb firmly stroked her nipple, bringing the nugget of flesh into a stiff peak.
