Liam looked across at Jim and appeared to be preparing to speak.
“You think yourself lucky that you are not sharing cell space with her no good father for the rest of your days and rest assured that if I ever find you in breach of the restraining order again I will fucking kill you. Do we understand each other?”
Liam nodded sheepishly as Jim pulled his phone out and called Jerome Stewart again, who with some reservations about the legalities of Jim's proposal agreed that they could draw up confidentiality agreements as big companies did with employees.
“You make sure you're there the day after tomorrow at two and I will ensure your payment is made, Mrs Bailey,” he told Joanna formally.
“You should call me mum.” She smiled.
Tasha looked across at Dan who looked as freaked out as Tasha felt but only Jim spoke.
“Not even if hell freezes over. Now, get the hell off my wife's happy place,” he told the two people opposite him who readily complied.
****
Jim drove back in the hire car with Dan. They followed Tasha back in Celia's car, but very little had been said by any of them after Joanna and Liam left the bandstand. Tasha was gathering her thoughts behind the wheel of the car that was now parked at the front of the house when Jim opened the door startling her.
“Come on. I am guessing we may have missed dinner and Connor may need feeding. He was sick a couple of times.” Jim took her hand to pull her out. “And then we are going to have a very serious conversation about keeping yourself safe.”
“James,” she offered in her own defence and as a protest.
“Later,” he replied with determination as he tightened the grip on her hand to lead her indoors.
Entering the house Tasha heard her son crying and immediately followed the sound of it until she found him being carried around the living room on his great-grandfather's shoulder.
“Hi Gramps,” she called as she was swamped briefly by Pippa and Celia.
“Thank goodness you're back,” cried Paul. “You are going to be the bloody death of me.” He lowered the little boy into his arms and offered him to his mother. “Physical violence is never the answer, but there are times when I am sorely tempted to put you across my knee, young lady.”
“You and me both,” muttered Jim while Tasha silently stared between her husband and grandfather.
“Sorry.” Smiled Tasha as she lifted her baby into her arms and viewed him with concern. “Oh baby, you look poorly. He's very hot.” She pushed his sweaty hair back off his face.
“He's been sick another couple of times,” Pippa said seriously.
“Should we call a doctor?” Tasha’s question seemed to show her confusion and inexperience as a first-time mother.
“Babies sometimes get sick, Nat,” said Paul reassuringly. “Maybe see if he'll take some water,” he suggested.
Tasha looked across at Jim who was closing the distance between them.
“He is hot and he looks sick, baby, but Paul's right. We'll keep an eye on him and if he's no better in the morning we'll call a doctor, okay?”
Tasha nodded as she sat down with the bottle containing some previously boiled water her grandmother offered her.
“Sorry, I forgot the stock cubes,” Tasha suddenly realised.
“Don't be silly,” she chastened in response. “I have kept you all some dinner.” Smiled Celia as Connor reluctantly accepted some water before becoming restless and tearful again.
Tasha patiently nursed her son for the next forty minutes as he dozed. At her husband and grandfather's insistence she even ate most of her dinner, albeit one handed. Jim explained what had happened and Dan promised everyone that he knew he’d made a huge mistake in getting involved with Joanna and Liam, regardless of his original reason or emotional confusion.
Paul voiced the words everyone else was avoiding when he said, “Dan, we love you, we all do, but drugs! You got off lightly and ignorance is no defence in law or morally so I really hope you have learnt from that mistake. What are you going to do now? With your life and your future?”
“I know Gramps and I’m so sorry, for all of it. I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to Tash tonight. I was thinking about moving away, making a fresh start with college and work.”
“Oh Dan,” cried Celia sadly.
“Celia, maybe it would be good for Dan,” interrupted Paul seriously.
