Mad Woman✓

32. Happiness

"There was happiness because of you." 

   POV JOE

We just woke up from our two-hour nap and Taylor is upstairs doing whatever it is she is doing and I just went to the grocery to get us something to eat for lunch. I am just putting the pre-baked bagels in the oven to finish them off when my phone rings.

It's Patrick.

"Hey", I say, putting him on speakerphone. "Hey, what time are you coming to the hospital?" he asks.

"We are having lunch in a few, so I think in about an hour, hour and a half. Why, is something wrong?" I ask, a little worried.

"No, no", he says quickly, "I just.. Penelope is here too, with me.. And I know you know her, but you haven't met her as my girlfriend yet, so.."

I laugh, "Is this a formal invitation to meet the love of my little brother's life?"

"Don't be a dick, Joe."

"I would never, especially not to you", I grin.

"Taylor is coming too, right?"

"Yep, that's the plan."

"Okay, that's good. I think Penelope is gonna like her. You are just gonna make her feel awkward, so-" "Hey, stop downgrading your big, super grown-up, super cool, number one, bestest brother", I laugh, "I will try to not be awkward and embarrass you."

"Thanks. Just be nice."

"I will, Pat.. See you in a few."

"Okay, bye, see you."

I chuckle and set my phone aside. I start slicing up fruit to make us a smoothie.

Everything is ready when Taylor walks into the kitchen, wearing my T-shirt and purple socks.

"Hi", she says, walking up to me and kissing me.

I smile and kiss her back, "Hi."

"Patrick just called", I say as I slip my hands underneath the shirt, "We're meeting his girlfriend today."

"Oh, really?" Taylor asks surprised, "That's so cute. Is he stressed out about it?"

"A little. But he was relieved when I said you were coming too."

"Yeah, well, my social skills are, like, a tad better than yours."

"Eat your lunch", I tell her, dropping my hands and I smack her butt. She shakes her head at me, but I see a tiny smile she can't hold back.

"Can you believe that twenty-four hours ago, we were sitting outside in the sun and now we're here, in the snow?"

"The whole talk show feels like it happened weeks ago", I say, sitting down beside her at the kitchen island.

She nods, sipping from her smoothie, "I am glad everything is over now, though. We can actually live normal lives now... Kind of."

After we finish lunch, Taylor goes upstairs to get dressed.

I wait downstairs, scrolling through my phone until she comes back.

She is wearing mom jeans and a turtleneck and on top of that one of my T-shirts. And a pair of heeled boots, making her about as tall as me.

"God, you are beautiful", I tell her.

"So are you", she smiles, caressing her fingertips over my cheek.

I tilt my head to the side and frown at her, "No, I am handsome. Not beautiful."

"No", she smiles, "You are beautiful.. A real little princess."