Taylor opened the apartment door, allowing Ian to walk in front of her. "Bring your bag into the room," she instructed Ian, who looked at her for a moment before toddling his way toward the room he shared with his mother. Taylor placed her purse in the recliner as she let out a sigh. She was worried about finding a job. It had only been a couple of weeks since she moved in with Travis, but things weren't going as smoothly as she planned. It felt like she had put in hundreds of applications but had very few callbacks and only two interviews - one Travis helped her get. She walked into the kitchen and reached into the cabinet. She pulled out a bag of animal crackers and then a plastic snack bowl out of another cabinet. She placed a handful of crackers into the bowl before pouring some milk into one of Ian's cups. She walked into the living room and sat the bowl and cup on the floor in front of the television. She turned on the television and went into the NetFlix app. Once the app fully loaded in, she resumed the educational cartoon, Ian was watching previously. "Ian, honey," she called, and he appeared in the doorway. "You're gonna miss your show."
"Pause," he told her with a giggle.
"Why?"
"Time potty break," he said, slurring his words. Taylor smiled and began walking his way. Ian laughed before turning and running to the bathroom. Since moving out of Joe's house, Ian had been doing a lot better developmentally. Maybe it was a benefit to have both parents in the house every day, talking to him and playing with him. It wasn't just her trying to help him progress. He was saying a lot more words, stringing together three and four-word phrases, and Taylor had managed to fully potty train him in a matter of weeks.
Once Ian had done his business, she helped him wipe and wash his hands. They made their way back into the living room, and Taylor sat Ian in front of the TV. Then, she went into the kitchen and began preparing dinner. Not long after she began, Travis came through the door. "Daddy's home!" he announced, dropping his bag beside the door. Taylor glanced over at him and smiled.
"Daddy Trav!" Ian called.
"Hey, son," Travis greeted him, making his way to his son. Ian grabbed an animal cracker and handed it to Travis.
"I share," Ian told him as he sat. Travis took the cracker from him and placed it in his mouth.
"Thank you," he said as he chewed. "You started the show without me," Travis stated, ruffling Ian's curls.
"Mommy," Ian exclaimed, pointing in the kitchen of the kitchen. Taylor let out a little laugh after hearing their interaction. Ian had really thrown her under the bus. It was amazing how he had gone from such a mommy boy to a full-on daddy's boy since moving in with Travis. They absolutely adored each other, and Taylor couldn't be more happy about the bond that the two of them had formed.
"Mommy didn't wait for me?" Travis asked the little one, with a fake shocked look on his face.
"No," Ian responded, placing another animal cracker in Travis's mouth.
"Mommy, how dare you?" Travis asked, looking back at Taylor, who poked her tongue out at him.
"Shhh, daddy Trav," Ian hushed him, causing Taylor to laugh a bit. Travis watched television with Ian, then went over his alphabet and numbers with him as Taylor cooked. Once Ian and Travis were done, Ian walked up to Taylor and gave her his empty cup.
"Tell Daddy to give you the bowl, too," she said, and Ian turned to look at Travis. He made his way to his father and held out his hand.
"Daddy Trav..." He stood there trying to remember everything Taylor had told him. "Mommy," he finally said and pointed.
"What does Mommy want?" Travis asked, pushing Ian to remember the word that Taylor told him. Ian shrugged and looked back at Taylor, then back at Travis. "Does Mommy want the bowl?"
"Bowl," Ian repeated with a nod. Travis let out a chuckle and handed Ian the small bowl.
"This is nice. This is how things should always be," Travis said, watching Taylor prepare the salad to accompany the Lasagna they were having for dinner.
"What?" Taylor asked as she took the bowl from Ian.
"Our family. Me playing with Ian while you make us dinner, Mama."
"Oh, this is embarrassing for you. I'm cooking for Ian and myself... Daddy," Taylor taunted.
"I like the way you call me Daddy," Travis replied with a smirk.
"Shut up," Taylor stated as she threw a carrot at him. Travis moved out of the path of the carrot, picked it up, and threw it back at her, causing Taylor to let out a slight squeal. Taylor took the lasagna out of the oven and placed it atop the stove allowing it to cool. Taylor prepared the plates and placed them on the table. "Time for dinner," she announced. Travis stood Ian up and sent him towards his mother. Taylor situated Ian in his high chair at the table and took her seat. She looked over at Travis, who was still sitting on the sofa. "Hey, Daddy," she called, and he looked over at her. "Your food is getting cold."
"I thought I wasn't invited," he replied with a smirk.
"Ian persuaded me," she told him with a giggle causing Travis to chuckle as he got up.
"Yep, he is one hell of an arguer," Travis stated as he took his seat. "Dinner smells lovely. I hope it's as wonderful as the cook, mama." Taylor smiled. Travis chuckled as he picked up his fork and began to attack the lasagna.
YOU ARE READING
addicted. (a tayvis short story)
Fanfiction"and i know you'll never change your ways, if I don't give you up now." TRIGGER WARNING: this story contains mentions of substance abuse (alcohol) and domestic violence.
