“I could just walk out, you can't stop me,” shouted Lizzie.
“You could try, but I would call security before you had descended the front steps and then your dad.” Tasha spoke with firmness, deciding enough was enough. “You made a choice this morning Lizzie, a poor one, not to mention deceitful so now you need to face the consequences of that.”
“Tash, I'm sorry, I didn't think.” Lizzie hugged Tasha. “You know I love you.”
Tasha hugged her back and smiled at Abby who was watching the exchange with a roll of her eyes. Feeling her resolve melting Tasha was tempted to send Lizzie and her friends on their way, but Abby seemed to sense this and intervened.
“Maybe you need to explain that to your dad then.”
“Yes,” agreed Tasha. “He'll be back soon and you know what your dad's like, he'll want to know.”
“He'll want to know what?” asked Jim who had entered the house in silence and was now standing next to Tasha with an arm slipping around her waist as he kissed her gently on the head followed by Bobby who looked on confused by all the people standing around the kitchen.
Sandra said a quick hello before excusing herself and looked relieved to be leaving. Tasha watched her back getting farther away and envied her ability to slip out when things looked set to get awkward or fraught.
“Come on, what will I want to know?” repeated Jim.
Tasha felt sick at his possible reaction, but more at the embarrassment Lizzie might feel if he found out while her friends watched on.
“Lizzie and I will explain later, but lunch is ready, and I've invited Lizzie's friends to join us if they want to,” Tasha said a little too lightly and high pitched judging by Jim's suspicious expression.
“Hmmm,” was his only response.
Lizzie looked relieved and clearly had no intention of staying and spending any more time with them than she had to. “No offence, but could we eat outside and use the pool, rather than eating with you?”
“Sure,” Tasha agreed immediately and was glad when Travis and Lexi appeared.
“Daddy,” the little girl called as she propelled across the room and into Bobby's open arms.
Tasha suddenly felt sad and emotional that she had never had that reaction to her own father, ever. Noticing the change in her body language Jim pulled her tighter towards him and stroked her bare shoulders briefly.
“I’m going to get changed.” He headed for the stairs and called to his brother, “Do you want to ditch the suit, Bobby?”
Bobby kissed his daughter then his wife before following Jim upstairs.
“You are too soft on Lizzie and if you don't tell Jim about this morning before I leave here today then I will. I have to,” said Abby seriously.
“I don't want her to be in trouble in front of her friends, but we'll tell him,” Tasha assured the other woman.
“Abs, can Lexi spend the afternoon with me too? I even have a picnic ready for lunch,” said Travis from behind them.
“Please, Mommy, say yes,” pleaded the little girl excitedly.
“Sure.” Abby kissed her daughter and sent her back to the stables with Travis leaving just Abby, Bobby, Jim and Tasha to lunch together in the dining room.
Once Bobby closed the bedroom door behind him, he grinned at his younger twin brother who was already discarding his work wear and heading into the bathroom. Bobby stood out on the balcony and watched the kids poolside and wondered what all the whispering was about.
Jim returned to the bedroom wrapped in a towel. “Bathroom's all yours if you want to freshen up and I'll grab you some sweats and a t-shirt.”
“Thanks. Is everything okay downstairs, with the kids and Tasha?”
“I think so, although something has obviously happened.” Jim passed Bobby some clothes.
“Tasha looks well though, considering, after the other night.” Bobby looked around the bedroom and laughed.
“What?” asked Jim confused.
“If you were showing me round your crib it would be about now that you'd saythis is where the magic happens.” Laughed Bobby, making Jim laugh too.
