I woke up to someone gently shaking me, "We need to leave soon, I need to change her clothes" Joe says standing beside the bed.
I look down to see Sage tucked into my side, her blonde hair all over, covering her face. I can't believe they're actually leaving.
"Sage, time to wake up" He says rubbing her back as she groans and rolls over.
She still doesn't get up and he decides to gently pick her up and I watch as he carries her out of the room. I sat in bed, staring at the wall in front of me. There was nothing else I could do to make them stay just an extra day, and extra day with my daughter was all I wanted.
The rest of the morning was mostly quiet, unless Sage was asking if Joe had packed all of her new toys.
"You be a good girl for Daddy okay? I love you so much, I'll call you" I tell her and kiss her cheeks and forehead.
She wraps her arms around me, not saying a word and I pick her up, swaying us back and forth as Joe watches by the door. I try to put her down and she tightens her grip and I felt my shirt getting wet.
"I don't wanna leave" She whispers softly into my chest and I look down to see tears slowly falling down her cheeks.
I look over to Joe who has his head down, "I'm going to call you as much as I can, after I'm done with my shows, I'll see you okay baby?" I tell her and she just stuffs her face back into my neck.
I watch as Joe buckles Sage into the car and my bodyguards finish loading their suitcases in the back of the SUV. Joe joins Sage, getting in from the other side and I look at Sage through the window and she is looking down at Piggy, not wanting to make eye contact with me.
I knock onto the window and it catches her attention and blow her a kiss, she gives me a soft smile before looking back down into her lap. I didn't know how hard this was going to be, but I felt angry; angry at how Joe was handling this situation.
As the car drives out of the garage, I close the door and look around the empty living room that used to have some of Sage's toys scattered in the corners, her snack plate wasn't on the kitchen counter anymore and the T.V. wasn't set to Disney Junior anymore.
I sighed and dialed my Mom.
"How are you hun?" She asks answering the phone.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, "They went home, they were supposed to leave tomorrow, but they just left" I say.
"What? Why'd they leave a day early?" She asks in a shocked tone.
"Well, first Sage had an allergic reaction from peanut butter and ended up going to the ER and while Joe and I were talking, I felt like I was just getting bashed and then he decided that it was best that they leave Mom" I say through the phone.
I needed to focus on what was important in the moment and that was to get ready for my other shows. When I come back home, I'm going to figure out this whole situation.
"Mom, she didn't want to let go of me when they were getting ready to leave, she cried" I whisper.
"Oh hun, I bet it was hard for her, she's getting attached to you now, which is good" She states and I nod.
-
"Okay, can you help Daddy hang up your new dresses boo?" Joe asks Sage as he unloaded all of their suitcases and we're getting settled back in.
Sage had been very quiet ever since they left Taylor's apartment and Joe would only get a word out of her if she was hungry or needed to use the bathroom.
Sage nodded and went to grab a dress for him to put on the hanger.
"What's wrong baby?" Joe asks her after hanging it in her closet.
"Can we call Taylor?" She asks quietly looking at her Dad with her big bright blue eyes.
Joe sighed, "Of course we can" he says and grabs his phone out of his pocket, ringing Taylor.
It only took a couple rings and Taylor answered.
"Hello?" She asks through the phone.
"Hey, Sage wanted to call you" Joe tells her and hands the phone over to Sage.
"Taylor, I miss you" Sage whispers into the phone and Joe goes back to hanging up her clothes as she sits back down onto her bed.
"Oh, I miss you so much hun, what are you doing right now?" Taylor asks.
"Daddy's putting away my new clothes you bought me!" She tells her more excitingly, happy about her new wardrobe.
Taylor lets out a chuckle, "Do you wanna FaceTime baby?" She asks and Sage immediately nods her head.
Taylor rings her on FaceTime and Sage answers it in a second.
Taylor was in her room, laying against her headboard and smiled at Sage.
"Look at you pretty girl!" Taylor says and Sage gives her a small smile.
Sage turns the camera to show Taylor her bedroom, "You never go to see my room! Look!" She exclaims and Taylor takes in all of the details.
Sage then turns the camera to Joe who was sitting on the floor, "There's Daddy" she says.
Taylor waves and Joe waves back.
"Your room is so beautiful Sagey boo!" Taylor tells her and Sage nods.
"Daddy let me pick out the colors and designs for the walls!" She tells her.
Taylor smiles at her, just happy to be able to talk to her daughter. She could tell that Sage was in a sad mood when she had first spoken to her and was glad that she could bring her happy mood back. She couldn't help but just think about how she could've had Sage in her arms for just another day.
The Mother and Daughter continued talking on and on about what Sage had done right when they got home and their plans for the next couple days. Taylor mentioned her concerts coming up and suggested that Sage come along for a concert, if she got Joe's permission and they could be in the VIP tent, if Sage wanted.
Joe secretly loved seeing Taylor and Sage bond, he knew that he wanted Taylor permanently in Sage's life. As he watched his daughter talk to Taylor on the phone, he watched as her eyes lit up through every question Taylor asked and every compliment given to her.
"It's getting late baby, we need to get ready for bed" Joe announced which caused Sage to frown and look back at Taylor at the screen.
"I'll call you tomorrow baby, you need to get your sleep" Taylor says and Sage shakes her head.
"I'm not even tired though!" She exclaims, letting out a small yawn and quickly covering her mouth trying to hide it, only receiving a laugh from Taylor and Joe.
"Say bye to Taylor babe" Joe tells her and Sage looks at Taylor.
"Bye Mommy" She frowns and Taylor melts on the other side.
Joe looks over at his daughter, stunned.
"Bye my baby girl, sweet dreams, I love you so much" Taylor says blowing her a kiss and the call ends.
YOU ARE READING
I Hate California
FanfictionSage, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her whole life, it's just been her and her Father, Joe. Joe's been working his whole life to make sure Sage has everything she could ever need and want, especially since her Mother isn't in the pictu...
