“Since when? Since when have your lips ever been sealed?” Tasha asked. “How can you tell us that then leave us bloody hanging? That’s just cruel.”
Abby shrugged as she sipped on her cocktail while Amanda giggled.
Lucy pouted at the idea of the undoubtedly interesting details of Abby and Bobby not being forthcoming. “We need another night out, with far more alcohol before we ask her how she and Bobby got together.”
Philip had been back to see Tasha a couple of times and although he still seemed sad he was a little more settled after spending some time with Ricky’s ex. Maybe she could relate to him as she must have known Juan’s family, known of them and their thoughts and beliefs.
Amanda and Lucy had gone to the bathroom together leaving Abby and Tasha alone.
“Tash, can I ask you something, about Connor?”
“Of course. I’m something of a baby bore so I do love to talk about him.” Tasha grinned.
“Well, it’s kind of not about Connor, but about babies, having babies, about me having a baby,” Abby blurted out.
“Are you pregnant?” Tasha whispered then frowned in the direction of Abby’s alcoholic drink.
“No, but I want a baby. Bobby and I have talked about it and we want another child. Seeing you and Jim with Connor gave me the push to make a decision and after I spoke to Jim about it—”
“Jim? You discussed your family planning with my husband?” Tasha asked, slightly taken aback.
“Not entirely. I just wanted to know if Bobby had said anything to him. I knew he probably had but Jim told me to talk to my husband.”
“And?”
“And we both want another child, but Jim suggested we should look at all options, including adoption because I don’t know if I could cope with another pregnancy or the depression I suffered after Lexi.”
“Is that something you’re considering?”
“Yeah. I have an appointment this week with my doctor to discuss if another pregnancy would be the same and Bobby is looking into adoption and there’s always surrogacy too.”
“It would be lovely to welcome another baby to the family and I would love Connor
to have someone else to play with. I mean it’s not like Philip and Lizzie are suitable to be his peers.” Tasha smiled as she pulled Abby in for a hug.
“I dunno about Philip,” Abby replied. “In terms of maturity. He is currently dancing on a table in just his underwear.”
Leaping to her feet, Tasha swung round and was greeted with the image of Philip in a pair of bright orange underpants knocking back a shot of something whilst dancing on the table as his friends applauded.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Tasha cried, already striding towards him. “Philip,” she practically screeched as he appeared to be about to shed his last item of clothing as some of the bar staff honed in on him.
“But Tash, I’m so sad,” Philip said for possibly to twelfth time.
“I get that.” Tasha spoke a little more gently now having already pointed out how lucky Philip was not to have been thrown out of the bar of arrested for indecent exposure. She shuddered at the mere thought of having to call Jim and tell him his son had been arrested when she was supposedly looking after him. “But this is not the answer, getting arrested.”
“I know, sorry. I didn’t think. Dad would have freaked out, and Juan, assuming he ever speaks to me again. What do I do if he doesn’t come back, Tash?” Philip was beginning to lose the battle with his tears.
Tasha pulled him in for a tight hug. “I don’t know. I suppose you would have to accept that and after licking your wounds you’d have to pick yourself back up and move on. I’m not saying it would be easy. I know it wouldn’t, but that’s what we have to do in life. Look, you need to speak to him, to know what he wants. You deserve to be loved, completely and unconditionally,” Tasha told Philip and meant it. He deserved to be loved like she was loved by his father and although she hadn’t always believed that, she did now. Believed it more and more every day.
“Thanks, Tash. Can we not tell Dad about the table and my near nakedness?”
“Yeah. I don’t think it’s in anyone’s best interest for him to know so unless he asks if you danced almost naked on a table top, we should be fine,” Tasha said with a wink as the others re-joined them.
After a couple of cups of coffee Philip seemed a little more balanced if not happy and with Amanda talking about needing to go home because of night feeds and Lucy groaning at the thought of an early start Abby and Tasha agreed to leave too but all agreed that they should meet up again soon, although Tasha decided it might be best to do it, minus Philip, until he and Juan had resolved whatever differences they had.
Once they returned home Philip went straight to bed whereas Tasha went to check on Connor who was lying awake, seemingly content.
“Hey, baby,” Tasha called causing him to smile and wave his arms around until she reached down and picked him up. “Shall we have some one on one with a little supper thrown in?” she asked him as Jim walked in behind them.
