Jim handed Connor to his mother's waiting arms before placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
“Now that I know the house isn't burning down and Mommy was just excited by your strange smiley face, Daddy really needs to get dressed and go to work.” Jim smiled before bestowing another kiss on his son. “What time's your appointment?” he asked as Tasha held her son close.
“Eleven thirty.”
“Baby, I'm sorry I can't come with you,” started Jim.
“It's fine. I’m quite capable of having a smear, an internal exam and arranging birth control without you.” She hoped to relieve some of Jim's apparent guilt at being forced to go into work rather than take her for her post baby check-up. “I'll let you make it up to me later if you really want.” She grinned suggestively but was interrupted by the sound of Lizzie thundering up the stairs.
“Daddy, Tasha, Connor,” she shouted.
Connor jumped while Tasha and Jim laughed.
“I'm coming,” called Tasha. “Breakfast in ten minutes, Mr Maybury.”
“Be there in seven, Mrs Maybury,” replied Jim, heading into the wardrobe.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Lizzie revealed the reason for her unexpected visit. “Can I hang out with you today, Tash?”
“I have an appointment with my doctor this morning, but we could do something later.”
“Are you sick?” Lizzie sounded worried.
“No, just a regular check-up after having a baby.”
“I thought you were going to see Amanda today?” Jim was already getting to his feet.
“I can rearrange.” Smiled Tasha. “So, I'll get showered and dressed after breakfast. We'll go to the doctor's office, then we can have lunch and maybe some shopping, I think Connor could do with some bigger sleep suits.”
“Cool Tash, you're the best.” Lizzie leapt to her feet and hugged Tasha before turning to her father. “Daddy I need some new jeans.”
“Then get some new jeans, sweetie. I need to go, but you be good, and Tasha call me when you get done with doctor.” Jim kissed them all in turn and left.
Tasha was parking the car near the doctor's office when Lizzie decided to start a serious conversation. “Tash, you know Dylan and I have been thinking about sleeping together for a while?”
“Yeah…” Tasha paused and waited for Lizzie to continue.
“But after the stuff with Mickie...” she trailed off.
Straightening after strapping Connor into his stroller, Tasha placed an arm around Lizzie's shoulders reassuringly.
“I get it, Lizzie. That whole craziness with Mickie scared us all and threw us all off balance for a while so I understand why you wouldn't feel able to make that decision immediately, although I remember how close the two of you were getting, you and Dylan.”
“We're kind of ready now and I was wondering about birth control,” admitted Lizzie nervously.
“I think technically it's illegal for you both, but knowing that, if you have decided, both of you together, I think you're being very sensible to take precautions. Have you spoken to Sara about it?”
“No! God, Mom would be really embarrassing about it, so no.”
“So, are you asking me whether you should do it or which contraceptive would be best?” Tasha wished she wasn't being asked this by Lizzie, Lizzie as in her husband’s daughter, but was also quite touched by it.
“We've already decided, Tash, so we don't need permission, but I know you can get a shot, and you had an implant.”
“Jeez, Lizzie, if my luck with the implant is anything to go by.” Laughed Tasha looking down at Connor who was being pushed along the street by Lizzie. They both laughed before returning to the importance of their conversation.
“I never used anything other than condoms before I met your dad,” revealed Tasha to a surprised looking Lizzie. “They stop you getting pregnant and prevent diseases and I know you are about to tell me that you and Dylan are exclusive, which I don't doubt, but sometimes people do things and aren't as exclusive as you might think or want, so I would say go with condoms.”
They reached the building that housed Dr Marshall's office.
