Scott
"Hey, uh, Mr. Swift? Would it be cool if we grabbed dinner before the show? I know that usually you hang out backstage with Tay but maybe we could catch up, if that's alright with you. I've got something I wanna discuss."
I hadn't expected the knock on the door of my hotel room as I was getting ready to meet everybody over at the stadium and I especially hadn't expected to see Travis alone.
"Come on in, son," I'd offered, hiding my surprise. "Taylor back at your hotel?" They were staying at a beautiful place he'd booked for them, not too far from mine.
He had nodded. "Yeah. Told her I had to go do an errand and I'd be back in a half an hour. Security ran me over."
Night two and it's our last tour stop in Milan. Last night's show was incredible and we would be heading to Germany next. Travis, who'd been here both nights, is leaving early tomorrow morning to head back so he can get ready for training camp.
It had been nice to have him around. He'd made certain Taylor took time to relax; pampered her with scheduled massages and nice dinners. She actually listened to him when he suggested she slow down (I got why she tuned me out sometimes, I really did) and I was glad for it.
Now, he seems nervous, almost fidgety, twisting the band of his watch. It isn't like him; he's usually the most laid back guy in the room.
"Of course, Trav," I pat him on the shoulder, "nothing's wrong, I hope."
Taylor would tell me to stop jumping to conclusions, but based upon how uncharacteristic his behavior is, I'm slightly concerned.
"No, no. Nothing like that. Just wanted to run something by you."
I pause, taking note of what he'd said when he first came through the door. "Travis, not trying to be nit-picky here, but you called me Mr. Swift. Before."
"Oh." Travis looks like a deer in headlights and I hold back a chuckle. "Did I? Didn't even notice. Sorry, Scott. I know that you and Mrs. Swi---I mean, Andrea, prefer your first names, so..."
I smile. "It's not a big deal. I only even said anything because you've been calling me 'Scott' for such a long time now, it just caught me slightly off guard is all."
It just lined up with him being off-kilter and kind of jumpy, actually, now that I can better observe him.
"Well, I'm sure Taylor will be fine if we run out and grab a bite. There's a nice place right down the road from the stadium, I think. Little trattoria."
"Yeah, yeah, sounds great. Uh, I'm gonna get back now. Maybe we could meet in say...an hour?"
"It's a plan."
Whatever he had to say, I'm more concerned about him and his well-being that what he actually has to tell me. I've come to trust him deeply because I got to witness first hand how much he loves my daughter. Not only loves her, but protects her, cares for her, is the first person she can go to in times of difficultly. It was what I'd always wanted for her.
I know, as her father, I was probably the harshest critic of people she dated over the years. Her mother was always warning me to keep my mouth shut, never to offer unsolicited advice or anything like that and for the most part, I'd managed to keep most of my opinions to myself. I got a long with everyone, anyway, and the way I had figured it, as Taylor got older, she would go with some choices in that department I didn't necessarily agree with, but growing up was making your own mistakes. My father had taught me the same and I had tried to pass the same lessons down to Taylor and Austin.
Of course, her happiness was the most important thing in all of this and I only ever said anything once. One time and I never regretted it, either. It was a risk, bringing it up at all and I went forth, knowing fully well that Taylor wouldn't have appreciated it. I'd debated, lost sleep over the question I had...of course, I had spoken to her first, we both had, Andrea and I, to see what was going on.
