Tasha didn't see a problem, unlike Abby who explained Lizzie's mistake.
“You know that your dad is going to freak when he finds out you’ve invited a complete stranger to the house and done so by lying and deceiving the security that is in place to keep you all safe, especially Tasha, and by doing all of this you have now compromised her safety.”
“It wasn't like that. He's just a guy from the year above us at school. Daddy probably knows him,” protested Lizzie, thinking her aunt was being deliberately awkward.
“Just a guy who hasn't had his credentials or those of his family checked out. I don't fancy your chances of getting your dad onside with that argument, Lizzie.” Abby sounded almost cross with Lizzie's naivety.
“We won’t tell him.” Lizzie still didn’t understand Abby's obvious concerns and thought she was overstepping the mark on what did and didn’t concern her now.
“You may not, but we, or at least I have to. What if something happens or if Rory tells a friend who tells a friend who tells a friend who tells someone who is a threat to Tasha how easy it was to compromise security here?” asked Abby, growing incredibly frustrated with Lizzie and Tasha, who so far had voiced no concerns about the deceit used to get this unknown boy into the house.
“Don't you think you're overreacting slightly?” asked Tasha now.
Abby shook her head. Okay, so she’d wanted Tasha to speak up but this was not the intervention she was hoping for so went straight for the jugular. “Maybe, but this is not my call, it's Jim’s.”
“Abby, no. This is the first time Jim has left me in weeks and he’ll be back for lunch, so if he has to know we can tell him then, but for now we might be better keeping all the kids together where we can see them. If there's a problem this place is swarming with security.” Tasha saw a steely quality in Abby she’d never seen before and knew she was going to be immoveable in her viewpoint.
“You need to call someone up here to the house, to be on hand.”
“Abby—” Tasha hoped to find a compromise but her soon-to-be sister-in-law cut her off.
“That's my final offer or I call Jim and fill him in and he gets to deal with this now,” retorted Abby who Tasha had no doubt was more than a match for a Maybury man.
“Fine.” Tasha pouted while Lizzie nervously mouthedthank youto Tasha before fetching her friends through.
They all paraded through the lounge and headed out back towards the pool with muted,heyandhito Tasha and Abby. The newest member of the crowd didn't look like he was a danger to Tasha or anyone else. He looked a typical teenager; tall, gangly and awkward. He stared at Tasha for a fraction too long making her feel as awkward as he looked. Sensing it, the blond haired, blue eyed boy blushed and then spoke.
“Sorry, Miss Winters—I—erm—remember seeing you in pantomime a couple of years ago in Bournemouth.” He blushed deeper.
Tasha smiled. “You don't sound like you're from Bournemouth.”
“No. I’m a true Angeleno but my mom is English so we sometimes spend holidays over there. You were an awesome Cinderella.” His words seemed to confuse the others.
“We have a tradition in the U.K. of live shows retelling fairy tales at Christmas time, pantomime, and it appears Rory saw me in one a couple of years ago,” Tasha explained to nods and frowns from the others.
“Come on,” called Lizzie as Tasha's phone rang.
She saw it was Angie and after exchanging pleasantries she wandered down to Jim's office to discuss business with Angie who had chosen to call Tasha when it was four in the morning for her to ensure her sleep wasn't disturbed.
Tasha returned to find Sandra and Abby both in the kitchen preparing some lunch.
“You okay?” asked Abby concerned.
“Uh? Yeah, fine, thanks,” replied Tasha, distracted suddenly.
Tasha joined the other two women in the kitchen and began to chop some salad leaves and as the food was ready to serve Lizzie appeared with her friends.
“We're heading off then, Tash.” She barely paused and expected no objections.
“No chance,” said Abby bluntly.
“What? Why?” Lizzie was already preparing to argue.
“Because your dad will be here soon and I’m sure he’ll want to speak to you,” replied Abby, standing toe to toe with Lizzie while Tasha watched on. Yeah, she was more than a match for a Maybury, any of them, all of them.
“Tash!” Lizzie cried but Tasha knew Abby was right and suddenly felt tired at the prospect of a fight, with Lizzie or Abby and definitely with Jim.
“Abby's right. You're all welcome to stay for lunch though.” Tasha avoided Lizzie's glare.
