“Promise me. I’m begging you. I know how embarrassing it is to be in trouble with a parent in front of other people—”
He cut her off as he took her hand in his. “I promise. Just tell me, baby, I’m getting scared here.”
Tasha explained how Rory happened to be in the house and the tactics Lizzie had used to gain his entry through security. Abby looked on and exchanged several glances with Bobby as Tasha not only recounted events, but defended Lizzie's actions at every opportunity to Jim’s and Abby's annoyance.
“I think my daughter and I need to talk.” Crossly, Jim got to his feet, preparing to pursue Lizzie, determined to get some answers and dish out some kind of chastisement for breaking his rules by breaching security.
“No!” Tasha leapt up too. “You promised.”
“Fine,” he huffed, clearly regretting his earlier promise. “But at least let's go and find out who the hell this boy is.”
Sitting poolside, the four children were laughing as Tasha, Jim, Bobby and Abby joined them.
“Hey, Daddy,” smiled Lizzie as she looked up into the shade that Jim standing over her had created.
“Hey, sweetie. Nice to see you again Danielle, Dylan,” he said before turning to Rory. “And you are?”
“Rory, Mr Maybury, sir,” he replied nervously.
“And do you have a surname, Rory?” Jim smiled, putting the boy at ease while Lizzie began to shift very nervously, understanding why her father had approached them. He knew what she’d done.
“Yes, sorry, sir, Rory Di Marco.”
“Di Marco? Any relation to Gina?” asked Jim.
“She's my mom,” smiled the boy broadly.
“The Gina Di Marco?” Tasha stood open mouthed.
“Yes, honey.” Jim turned back to Rory briefly. “How is she? I can see you take after her. I think you were only about seven the last time I saw you. And your dad, how's he doing?”
“Good, thanks. Dad is overseas shooting,” started Rory then laughed. “For your studio so I guess you knew that.”
Jim grinned. “Say hi to your parents.” With Tasha’s hand tucked in his, he led her back into the house followed by Bobby and Abby.
“Oh my God! Rory's parents are Gina and Paolo Di Marco,” Tasha squealed making Jim laugh.
“Yes.”
“I know buttheGina and Paolo Di Marco,” reiterated Tasha, adding far too many e's on herthe.
“Yes honey,theGina and Paolo Di Marco, the same Paolo Di Marco who could have been shooting you in Morocco right now if you'd taken me up on my offer to fill in for my pregnant leading lady,” Jim told her.
“No way. Fuck! Why didn't you tell me that?” she cried and found herself pulled into his grip and held firmly against him.
“Baby, we both know you would still have said no.” He stared down at her darkly.
“I think I would probably have told you to go and screw yourself,” she said defiantly, but more so making reference to their first night together. She shrieked as she realised Jim's hand had landed squarely across her behind.
“Jimbo, get a frickin room!” cried Bobby laughing.
“We have a room, a house full of them and people in each of them, so for now, Natasha, we will focus on flights to Vegas.” He grinned before heading off to his office followed by Abby, then Tasha and finally Bobby.
Bobby pulled Tasha back and once he was sure they were alone he awkwardly began to speak. “Can I have a word, Tasha, in private?”
“Yes, of course.” She pointed towards the dining room and wondered what he might want with her. What he was going to say that couldn’t be said in front of Jim.
Once the door was shut behind them, Bobby turned to face her and although he was smiling he looked less than happy. “There's no easy was to say this Tasha, so…I’ve had a call from a public defender, the one who is representing your dad.”
