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Rupert, in what he thought was a seamless transition to keep Taggie at his side, “employed” Taggie to cook for his kids. She was more like a playmate than a nanny. Taggie’s naturally affable disposition was all that was necessary to keep the children happy.
Rupert teased Taggie if she would mind wearing some sort of uniform, perhaps a tennis skirt and tank top, to make it seem more legitimate. She blatantly refused with a small smile.
On their first weekend with Rupert, Tabitha begged for Peter Rabbit’s Den. It was a small upscale restaurant in a neighboring town. Rupert took the kids there frequently because they all loved the food and Tabitha loved the restaurant’s murals, which were pastel in color and depicted woods with wood life such as rabbits, deer, and squirrels. It did look quite storybook-like Rupert thought. Rupert wanted Taggie to share in the experience too. Taggie adored the atmosphere as much as the Tabitha. It was a perfect night for both his girls.
On Sunday, Taggie was up and in the kitchen first. She makes blueberry pancakes for her and Rupert and chocolate chip pancakes for the siblings. An hour later, the four are sitting at the breakfast table, Taggie and the kids on one side, Rupert on the opposite side. Both Tabitha and Marcus seem to have fallen under the Taggie spell. She seems to nurture them without any scolding or negativity. It works well with Tabitha who is naturally defiant, just like her father. Marcus, just turning twelve years old, is likely enjoying having a beautiful young woman a few feet away.
Rupert is pursuing the newspapers, checking out headlines, and pretending to listen to Tabitha’s tales. He knows Taggie will alert him if he needs to nod or “no.” Tabitha has calmed down since her arrival and he likens it to the fact she’s feeling more secure around him. Since Helen and he’d divorced, he had only had the kids for a few weeks in the summer and two days before Christmas, the 22 and 23rd. Rupert agreed to all this as the children were so young and he had no interest in changing diapers or bottle feedings. Now that the kids were able to care for themselves he wondered if Helen and she should readdress the issue. Maybe he should ask for more time during their Christmas holiday, perhaps even Christmas Eve.
“Okay, Tabitha, what are we doing today?” Rupert smiles at her. “I know you have an itinerary for us all worked out.”
“Oh, dad-dee, I want to go into town and have lunch for lunch, then swimming in the afternoon here or a movie, we could go see the Bond film.
“Tabitha, it’s not out yet. It’s not out until the end of the month.” Marcus adds.
“I know that MARCUS! They are planning the last one so everyone can get ready for the new Bond.” Tabitha responds with a level of snarky that only she would be able to get away with.
“I haven’t seen a Bond film before. Are they good?” Taggie responds.
“Seriously?!” Rupert looks up from his newspaper, in horror. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“No. No kidding whatsoever.” Taggie smeared butter onto Tabitha’s pancake, helping her.
“Well…I guess we are going to have to educate you in Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and the double-o program. Right, Marcus? Tab?”
“Yes, Daddy attended a party at Buckingham Palace and had a picture with James Bond.”
“Well, the actor who portrays him. He isn’t real, Marcus.” Rupert whispers and winks to his son.
“Oh, Buckingham Palace?” Taggie inquires. Rupert gives a nod to Taggie.
“Daddy, I want to be a double-0, too.”
“It’s not going to happen, it’s only for boys,” Marcus explains.
“Daddy, can I be a double-0?” she asks.
“Of course you can. You can do whatever you want to do. Just have to decide to do it.”
Tabitha sticks her tongue out towards Marcus, making a snarky face.
Rupert paid no attention to Tabitha’s antics. No one did. It was just Tabitha. Rupert finished with the news and began to talk to the kids, asking them what they liked best about the week, and what they would like to do today after the theatre. Tabitha wanted to go to the toy store and Marcus the bookstore. They were very predictable thought Taggie and just like her sister would have been at that age; No one ever asked her where she wanted to go when she was younger. She never went anywhere. Her father was working all the time and Maud was pretending to be an actress at home to the kids, and a mother when they were in public. She was always pretending to be someone she was not.
Taggie thought Rupert was acutely aware of his limited time with the children and he wished and planned to spend time with them. Active time, engaging them with the arts, sports, and travel. And he seemed to know more about the kids, even with only seeing them a fraction of the time than Taggie thought her father knew about her. Her mother knew absolutely nothing about her because Maud did not care. Taggie chose not to think about Maud or Declan anymore or her lackluster childhood.
Taggie enjoyed the film, she sat, once again, between the kids, with Rupert on the other side of Tabitha. This was by the kid’s request and Rupert, again, was mystified both of his spawn had fallen for Taggie so swiftly.
During the movie, he found himself gazing her way, watching her reactions to the film. He kept his arm on the back of Tabitha’s chair, his knuckles grazing Taggie’s exposed shoulder blade. On the first touch, Taggie felt like Rupert had shocked her; her toes curled and her insides, too. She glanced over at him, making eye contact, and he responded by licking his upper lip, exposing his tongue to her. Bugging out her eyes, she implored him to stop before Tabitha noticed. Taggie faced the film screen again, but never heard another word of film.
The Bookstore had nearly three shop fronts and a small section with local authors' books, including Lizzie’s. Tabitha galloped to the young adult section, while Marcus explored Tolkens and other Classics. Rupert and Taggie found their way to a discrete corner, where Rupert and she sat, and Rupert read to her from one of Lizzie’s novels. It was sweet and innocent, innocuous to any bystander who happened past. After an hour or so, Tabitha found Taggie and Rupert in the Cooking Section. “Daddy, may we dine out tonight?” As they approached the register, Rupert thumbed through the stack of 10 books Tabitha had selected, and Marcus carried his own. Distracted by the children, Rupert did not notice the woman talking to the sales associate.
“We’re back, Suze,” Rupert says to the sales associate.
A blonde quickly turns towards him, her face lighting up at the presence of Rupert. Rupert cannot believe his lack of fortune during the encounter. Tabitha holds Taggie’s hand and tells her which books she will read first. The pair exchange pleasantries and the blonde turns to the children, to introduce herself.
“Hello, I am Lisa. Your father’s friend…” she glances in Rupert’s direction but he does not add anything more nor does he introduce the children to her. Rupert is ice cold; however, Taggie introduces the pair. “Hi Lisa, this is Marcus, and this is Tabitha.” Both children nod politely but say nothing. It’s almost as if they are frozen from their father’s chill. Lisa decides to push her way through it. “Now who’s older?” Tabitha glances at Rupert, with almost a look of disgust, as if she is angered to share any of her life with this woman. Rupert recognizes it and it’s as if he’s snapped out of shock and into a jolt. “Tabitha, tell Lisa how old you are now?”
“Ten,” she says. No more, no less. Tabitha is not her usual verbose self. Then, Lisa does the unthinkable, “We should all go out to dinner while you’re here.” Marcus looks befuddled now. Taggie looks torn between tears and utter confusion. Yet, Tabitha decides to shut the whole dinner down, “And why would we?” Taggie swallows and tries to breathe. She’s almost winded. Still holding Tabitha’s hand, Tabitha tightens her grip. The woman chatters on about summer and how much time she has available. Finally, Rupert chimes in, “Well, it was wonderful chatting Lisa…”
“Good grief, can we go, daddy?” Tabitha interjects, and Rupert shakes his head as if to tell her later. “Well, we have met,” chimes Tabitha to Lisa. Lisa is taken aback, and her body language changes to one of annoyance and disbelief. Tabitha looks at Rupert and says, “Daddy, hurry up and pay. I am ready to leave. So is Marcus.” Taggie is trying not to cry as she and the kids walk towards the car. Rupert is left behind, to finish his conversation with the woman. “What a total bitch.” Tabitha says.
Taggie, in shock, says, “Tabitha, what did you say? Wait, don’t repeat it. Do you know what it means?” Marcus explains they both do and that their old nanny used to call people bad names all the time. Taggie, sits in the back of the car, rather than the passenger seat next to Rupert, and Marcus moves to her seat at Tabitha’s order. Tabitha reaches into the pocket of the seat and retrieves two fresh tissues. “Here,” she whispers to Taggie. The trio watches Rupert and Lisa exit the Bookstore. Rupert looks uncomfortable and nods towards the car, indicating he needs to go. Lisa leans in to hug and kiss Rupert. Tabitha darts to the front seat and honks the horn thrice. Scaring everyone on the sidewalk including the blonde who jumps. Rupert almost laughs when he sees it’s Tabitha but can pull it in.
“I take it back, she’s a scheming cunt.” Tab says, looking over to her brother.
“Tab, you can’t say those words, they are not appropriate.” Taggie scolds.
“Well, certainly not inaccurate. Taggie–don’t speak to Daddy when he gets in the car. I’ve got this.”
“Well I do so appreciate you all abandoning me…” he laughs.
“Oh, that was your mess, Daddy. And I saved us all from dinner with her. No, thank you. That is NOT happening. EVER!”
“Tabitha, while I am very appreciative of your horn usage, you could be more polite…”
“Daddy, mummy said we did not have to engage with your harlots, and if they approach to run the other way.” Taggie couldn’t control herself and began to laugh uncontrollably. Rupert started to laugh, too. Tabitha was as serious as ever.
“Where are we having dinner? I am famished…and make sure that toad doesn’t follow us.”
“Tabitha, you know mummy said degenerates, not harlots.” Marcus shrugged his shoulders.
After the kids fell asleep, Taggie said, “I am sorry, about the bookstore. I felt so out of place. I didn’t know what to do or say, and then Tabitha…” she scrunched her face. “I was jealous and I just didn’t act or react.”
“Darling, it’s my fault. I should have introduced you and the children. I don’t have to deal with situations like these. I never have had the kids out and about and bumped into…women. And…I can’t put my arms around you or make some sort of physical gesture to signal we are together because…well because we haven’t told the children anything. I was perplexed as to what to do or say. So when the children and you ran to the car, I told “Lisa” otherwise known as the harlot, I was in a relationship. And no, I have not slept with her, but there was flirtation at a function a few years ago.”
“Good,” she grins. “I am very happy you didn’t sleep with her but, maybe you shouldn’t tell me if you sleep with women because if you say nothing then I’ll assume…”
“Good heavens, whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it, angel. I want you comfortable and happy”.
On Sunday after church, the foursome brunched at a small cafe, where several of the other church members dined. Each stopped by the table to greet the children or send a polite nod. “Why don’t we swim this afternoon? I am paying a fortune for the pool and you need to use it some.”
“I don’t know how to swim,” Taggie said.
“We know how. We’ll show you.” Tabitha points to Marcus and herself. Taggie is caught by how sweet she is. While she can be a complete horror at times, she chooses whom to unleash herself on. “I don’t even own a bathing suit.”
“I think there’s one at the house.” Rupert says, and Tabitha murmurs, “Oh of course there is one, daddy.” rolling her eyes dramatically.
And again, Rupert can’t help but laugh at being called out by his ten-year-old. She is rougher on him than Bas. ‘Christ, little Helen…except this one’s adorable.’
“Tab, can we make a deal, no more cynicism at my expense today, please?”
“What do I get?”
“My love and devotion.”
“Deal, Daddy. I love you.”