A Swift Romance - Tayvis

Ice Cream and Uncle Travvy

A few years later

"Hey, honey!" I open my arms, waiting as one of Travis' nieces, Bennett, races to me. "How was school today? Did you have the best day ever again?"

"Yeah! We made pictures! I draw baby!"

I pull away as she shoves a paper full of random scribbles in my face. She places her hands on my belly, moving them around like crazy to get the baby to kick while I figure out the drawing.

"Aw, that's so pretty. You'll have to hang it on your fridge at home."

"Auntie Tay?"

"What baby? Is the strap too tight?" I start buckling her into the car seat, but getting around her is much more complicated now.

"Uncle Travvy, say we get ice cream today."

"Oh, he did?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, Uncle Travvy says a lot of things. We could see him at work, and he could take us for ice cream."

"I want nanilla and pinkles!"

I start driving as she goes on about her crazy day at school, not leaving out any details. She talks so much and fast that she doesn't even notice me not saying anything and blocking her out. I start to hear the music, eventually knowing she must have finally given up, and I quickly glance back to see her taking off her shoes.

"Bennett, we'll be at Uncle Travvy's work any minute. You must keep those on, or you can't get out of the car."

"But I wanna show my toes."

"Why?"

"Mommy painted them."

"Well, I'm sure they look beautiful, but you can't walk around without shoes, and I can't carry you anymore."

"Cause baby go big?"

"Yeah, the baby keeps growing. She's excited to meet you."

As we pull up to Arrowhead, Travis runs over to meet us. He quickly opens Bennett's door, shoving her shoes back on as I go around the car to see what he's so excited about.

"I have a surprise for both of you. You're going to love it."

The two of them lead the way hand in hand as I slowly follow, looking around at everything, trying to figure out what the team is doing as everyone is standing around.

"Oh my God, you walk so slowly now. Her legs are like a quarter of yours, and you can't keep up."

Travis eventually waits for me once he sees how far behind I am. I flip him off as I make my way up to them.

"I can't help it. She's laying so forward now it's harder to walk."

"You waddle!" Bennett looks up at me, laughing, "Like penguin."

"She's not wrong.."

"Oh, shut up. This is all your fault."

He eventually leads us to a giant ice cream cart he managed to get in the stadium, causing Bennett to freak out from pure excitement.

She runs right up to the window, jumping up and down to see all the pictures while Travis stands with her, reading everything even though she's already made up her mind.

"What kind do you want?" Travis turns to me as Bennett orders hers. "They only have normal stuff here, not any weird combinations you've been eating."

"Just get me the vanilla with peanut butter cups and chocolate syrup. I'll try to be normal today."

I drag Bennett to a table while Travvy waits for everything, trying to entertain her.

"What will you do with your mommy and daddy when you go home tonight?"

"We play with my new toys. And cower."

"Annnnd daddy say we go playground!"

"Sounds like you're going to have a fun night." Travis walks over with everything, sitting beside me. "Are you going to tell us all about it next week?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I forgot," I turn to Travis so only he can hear. "They asked us to watch her, Wyatt, and Elliott Saturday night so they can go out. I told them I'd have to ask you first."

"You think she'll sleep if we watch her? Won't it be like last time when we had to take turns being up with her?"

"Well, she is three... so yeah, there's a chance that happens."

"As long as she doesn't eat all my cereal again. That was mean of her."

"So if that was mean, what would you consider it when you threw out my leftover pizza the other day?"

"A favor. It had pineapples and pickles on it, Tay. I was saving our child from having to eat it."

I look over to see Bennett holding her ice cream cone, standing on the edge of the bench, ready to jump off and play.

"You better sit down, or you'll drop your ice cream. You can't get a second one."

"I wanna play."

"Well, put the ice cream on the table, and you can play."

"You won't eat?"

"I promise I won't. Just stay right here."

She lays the cone on the table, letting the whole thing roll around before running over to the grass to play with the other kids, who all look like they're up to no good.

"Maybe she shouldn't play with all of them," Travis gets protective as he watches. "They were poking each other in the face with sticks earlier. One almost lost an eyeball."

"Well, then go get her. She loves playing with you anyway."

I steal his ice cream as soon as he gets up, watching as he runs up to grab her from the pile of children fighting over rocks and where to throw them.

He pulls her away from them, helping her look through the grass for little leaves and twigs so they can try to build a little house out of it.

"Look!" She runs up to me, holding a leaf excitedly. "It's pink!"

"That's so awesome! Tell Uncle Travvy you want it at the top of the house so everyone can see it."

Travvy helps her place it on the top once she runs back over, listening to her tell him about the little house and where she thinks all her dolls can sleep.

"Did you have fun today?"

I turn to her as I start driving, waiting for a reaction.

"I think you made Uncle Travvy really tired."

"I had sooo much fun."