Daylight - Taylor Swift

Chapter 32

May 28th, 2017 / June 2nd, 2017

Taylor came back inside from the garden about ten minutes later, Jo and Andrea were just about finished the dishes. Andrea had apologized to Jo on Scott's behalf, because she could tell Jo was embarrassed about what he had said during dinner as well as how he just handed everything with Taylor.

"I probably shouldn't have inserted myself," Jo admitted with a quick sigh, "I've just been listening to her worry about it and I think she's right, plus, I couldn't stand around and watch her get yelled at like that."

"Oh, you did the right thing, honey. Taylor's got strong shoulders but she needs all the support she can get if she's going to do it. I think she's needed a big reason to throw everything to the wind, and her getting outed and having someone like you might just be it," the mother reassured the brunette, putting the dish towel on the handle of the oven after drying her hands.

Taylor padded into the kitchen with a long face, stepping right past Andrea and to Jo. She bumped into her chest with a thud, wordlessly hugging her and expecting to be hugged back.

Jo frowned, wrapping her arms around the girl, nice and tightly. She kept her eyes off of Andrea, not worried about seeking approval over affection in that moment, just worried about Taylor's heart, "You'll be okay."

"Mhmm," Taylor hummed, turning her head to stop burying it in Jo's neck. She looked at the coffee maker and other appliances on the other side of the countertops, mumbling, "I wanna go home now."

"We've have too much to drink if we wanted to drive, you call security to drive us to the apartment?" Jo inquired. She took her left hand and moved it up towards Taylor's hair, scratching her head softly to try and comfort her.

"Mom, can Jo and I stay here tonight?" Taylor turned and asked, too drained to pack the cats back up again and go all the way to the apartment.

"Yeah, you go up to your usual room when you're ready. Take the cats with you though, Kitty is on alert at night," Andrea answered, she knew that was coming and already made up the bed.

"Thank you," Josephine gave a watery smile. Taylor didn't say goodnight to her father as she gave Jo a kiss on the cheek and hugged her mother, going to scoop up the cats and contain them for the night.

Jo said goodnight to Andrea, and although it was still early, they had spent the week in Virginia which was an hour ahead, as well as retiring early because they were afraid to go out after dark. She stopped in the living room quickly, not wanting to be impolite before Scott went back to his own home.

"Mr. Swift? Do you have a moment?" Jo asked, standing wearily in the archway.

"Hmm?" He hummed nonchalantly, gesturing for her to come sit.

"I just wanted to apologize for inserting myself into that argument, not because I agree with you but because I understand your concern about her safety and well-being. I had to say though, that I think it would be worse for her not to speak out than to. I haven't known Tay as long or as well as you do, but this is something she truly is passionate about and she hasn't been doing that well since she found out that there's a real possibility of Marsha Blackburn running for Senate and winning. I really do love your daughter, and I know you and I see differently on a lot of things, but I think one thing we can agree on is that we both just want her to be happy with her choices and not feel so... so silenced and trapped in this giant spotlight she has on her."

Scott listened intently, nodding his head while he leaned back and exhaled his breath, "I see. You'll have to forgive me for how rude I was earlier. I've welcomed a few too many of Taylor's flames into the family only to watch them hurt her, but she's really an adult now and you seem to have a wonderful head on your shoulders so I'm going to shake your hand and thank you for some good company tonight, and that I appreciate you coming to talk to me alone. I look forward to brunch tomorrow morning."