Protecting Leah

Thanksgiving and Confusion

Taylor's P.O.V

Thanksgiving on any other year would have meant travelling to Saint Louis to see my mom's family, but this year since it was Leah's first thanksgiving we decided to skip it. Mom's family were so nice about it too and so we promised to send pictures of Leah so they knew what she looked like. I love this time of the year though, for starters Starbucks gets pumpkin spiced lattes and it snows and then before you know it I've had my birthday and Christmas has arrived. But this year I was pacing myself it was three days out from thanksgiving and Leah was back to normal the day after her incident. She and Austin had become even better friends after a dinner at my parents when Austin taught her how to balance a spoon on her nose. She loved it and decided to do it all that night before her and Austin had crashed on the couch watching 'Up!' but that night was also the night my parents ambushed me into talking about my love life.

*FLASHBACK STARTS*

"Look I just don't want to talk about it with you, not now." I claimed as my parents kept throwing questions at me left, right and centre. "But Taylor I know that with Leah you are worried about meeting a guy but that girl needs a father!" My dad stated as he slammed his fist down on the table. I flinched as mom told him to calm down before she turned to me and spoke. "We just don't want you to miss out on a large chunk of life by stubbornly choosing not to get married." That in itself threw me over the already fragile edge I was on. I sat up straight and held my shoulders square as I looked my parents dead in the face. "I am twenty four years old. I will be twenty five in three weeks' time so what I chose to do with my personal life is exactly that 'my personal life' that means that you do not get a say in it." I spoke with vengeance as I watched my parents glance at each other. "Look Taylor, we support every dumb decision you have ever decided to take upon yourself..." with that my mind raced. Memories of burning myself  with a hot glue gun and taking off a large chunk of skin to my most recent decisions which included adopting Leah and that was when I entirely lost it. Standing up from the table so fast that the chair flew backwards I leaned across and spoke meaningfully. "I mean this now and it stands forever that if you two can't support 'dumb decisions' that I make which coincidently includes my daughter in the next room then I will not darken this doorstep again, nor will the phone ring again or an incoming Skype call be made. I do not appreciate on the night of my daughter's first thanksgiving dinner that you both chose to attack my personal life. If you don't mind we won't be staying for coffee." As I stood and collected my coat from behind me I called out to Leah who came forward with Austin. "What's wrong mommy?"

"Nothing baby, we are just going home now." She nodded and hugged Austin before jumping into my arms. I looked to Austin who stood there confused and back at my parents huddled in the archway of the dining room. "Call me when you decide you want to support my life. Until then, don't bother." Then I left but as I went I heard Austin say, "You chose tonight out of all nights to do that. What the hell is wrong with you two? She is a mother, she has a career and runs her business to the best of her ability. Why would you dare think you can tell her that she needs a husband and a father for her daughter..." I didn't hear more than that as I walked to the car and quickly placed Leah inside but before I could drive off Austin came out and waved me down. I rolled the window and he quickly said, "Can I stay with you guys for a while?" I nodded and he got in. Before long we were home.

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

Leah's P.O.V

Tonight was a strange night, we quickly left nana and granddads and as we left Uncle Austin came too. Mommy didn't say much when we got home so Uncle Austin gave me a bath and read me a story before tucking me in. "Where's mommy?" I asked him. "Mommy's not feeling to good tonight kiddo, you can see her in the morning. Okay?""Okay Austy." Then I rolled over and went to sleep, I woke in the morning to the smell of bacon, that meant one thing. Breakfast I managed to push my covers aside and slide off the bed and walk to the stairs but before I went down I noticed mommy's door was still closed. I left the stairs and went back to my room to get Brownie before I went to mommy's door and pushed it open. Luckily it wasn't closed properly as I could see mommy was still sleeping. I climbed up from the end of the bed because it was the only place that I could use to get up, since she had her bench there. I crawled over to her and put my hand on her cheek, "Mommy, are you awake?" She groaned in response and then opened her eyes as Uncle Austin came into the room. "Leah what are you doing in here?" I looked at mommy and she looked sad, "Talking to mommy..." He took my hand and picked me off the bed and as we left he said, "Just leave mommy right now." I gulped and nodded as he sat me down on the ground before walking back to mommy and shutting the door firmly. I felt so confused. Did mommy not want me anymore?