Adopted by Taylor Swift

Chapter 35: Playdate

February 3, 2019

Taylor's Perspective

It's been less than two weeks since the court case against Astrid's (biological) dad, and everything has been going good since then. My album, 'Lover' is almost completely done, all that's left are any remaining adjustments to mixing and doing the photoshoot for the album.

I had promised them a special afternoon. Something just for them — no interviews, no rehearsals, no stress. So I called up one of my favorite people in the world: Blake.

“I've got two ten-year-olds going stir-crazy,” I’d said to her over the phone yesterday.

Blake laughed. “Perfect. I’ve got a house with two tiny wild animals. Bring them over.”

So this morning, we packed up the essentials: snacks, jackets, sketchbooks, Elijah’s favorite blue beanie, my notebook, and Astrid’s sparkly pink backpack. She wore it even though we weren’t going anywhere fancy. She just liked to have it.

We pulled into Blake and Ryan’s driveway a little after 11 AM. Their kids — James and Inez — were waiting by the window like puppies, fogging up the glass.

“Elijah, Astrid,” I said while turning in my seat with a smile. “You both ready for some fun?”
“YES!” they chorused. Elijah was already halfway out of the car before I could grab the sunscreen.

The second the front door opened, the chaos began in the best possible way. James immediately tugged Elijah toward the playroom, where a massive blanket fort was waiting. Ryan had made waffles. “Technically brunch,” he said, handing me a mug of cinnamon coffee. “But there’s maple syrup, so the kids have no idea.”

The playroom was a hurricane. Dolls in one corner, superhero capes in another, and Elijah with a cape on, his arms outstretched, jumping from a beanbag yelling, “FLYING NINJA MODE!” James chased after him with a lightsaber, and Inez rolled herself into the carpet yelling “BURRITO!”

I caught Astrid watching from the couch. Her eyes were cautious again, like she wasn’t sure if she belonged.
I sat down beside her.
“They like you,” I whispered to her.
She blinked at me.
“They don’t even know me.”
“Then this is the perfect way to start.”

A few minutes later, she was drawing on the Magna Doodle with Inez. They were designing their “dream castle,” which apparently had a dragon room, a glitter slide, and a massive karaoke stage. I pretended to be shocked, but really wasn't knowing how much Astrid and Elijah both love music.

Blake and I sat in the kitchen, listening to the sounds of their joy echo through the house. Every so often I'd glance at them and watch what they were doing, what sort of fun or chaos.

“They’re going to be okay,” she said quietly, placing a hand on mine.

I looked over to where Elijah was doing dramatic slow-motion falls onto a pile of pillows. Astrid was laughing again, her eyes glowing with uncontained, pure happiness.

“Yeah,” I said. “They are.”

The hours pass by and it gets close to 2:30pm. Me, Blake, and Ryan are all making some snacks for ourselves and the four kids who are running wild in the house.

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**Later that Night**

Back at home, I tucked them into bed. Elijah fell asleep with his blue beanie still on and a stuffed dragon in his arms. Astrid wasn’t asleep yet. She lay there silently, eyes open in the dim light.

“Did you have fun?” I asked, brushing her hair from her forehead.

She nodded slowly. “Yeah… I think they liked me.”

“I know they did.”

“Do you think… do you think we can go back sometime?”

I smiled and kissed her cheek. “Absolutely. They’re already asking when.”

She turned over, finally closing her eyes. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

“Thanks for being my mom.”

My throat tightened. I didn’t need a legal document to make me her mom. I just needed that.

“I’ll always be your mom,” I whispered back.

And I meant it with every part of my heart.

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Number of Words: 670

A brief chapter basically to introduce Elijah and Astrid to Blake and Ryan's kids, James and Inez.

I plan to be writing more, hopefully the next chapter won't take as long and will be longer.