loml

two

We went to the park in Travis' car at Poppy's request. She loved his car and all the little buttons and things to look at, since it was a pretty nice car. Travis had a lot of money from his family inheritance and his architecture firm, and it showed. That was the thing we disagreed most about; money and what we did with it. Travis had grown up wealthy, I had not. I didn't want Poppy to grow up thinking you could buy your way into everything, and Travis wanted her to have everything she ever wanted. He spoiled her a lot, but I did my best to counter that by teaching her the value of money and work. Well, as much as you could with a five-year-old.

"Look!" Poppy squealed in excitement as we walked into the park, pointing towards the field where the princesses were. Kids and families were everywhere, sitting on the grass, singing and dancing along. "It's Aurora!" She squealed in delight, and I smiled fondly at her. Sleeping Beauty was her favorite movie at the moment, and I'd seen it more in the last six months than anyone needed to in a lifetime, but Poppy loved it.

We walked over to the field and found a spot on the grass in-between all of the families. Travis and I sat down as Poppy stayed standing so she could see, delighted with the princesses and the singing and the whole event. I watched my daughter, tears welling up in my eyes yet again. God, I just couldn't stop crying today. 

"Here." Travis nudged my arm, handing me a tissue.

"Thanks." I managed a small laugh. "I'm sorry, just, a little overwhelmed today."

"Hey, I get it." He smiled at me. "She's growing up. You're allowed to be emotional over it." His voice dropped an octave so only I would hear him. "I cried about it this morning." I smiled, shaking my head at him as I dabbed at my eyes, wiping tears away. "So, have you thought about it yet?" Travis asked after a minute of silence.

"Travis." I sighed, the smile slipping from my face. "I said no."

"You said you'd consider it."

"I did, and my answer is no."

"But it would be so much easier on you. You know it's not a problem for me."

Here we went again. We'd had the same conversation about five times already over the last few weeks. I hadn't budged, but Travis hadn't stopped pushing. Travis wanted to put Poppy into a flashy private school, but I wanted to pay half of all her fees. I couldn't afford the school he wanted for her, so he'd offered to pay the whole lot. I'd refused and found her a school that was still good but well within what I'd be able to afford. She was enrolled, but Travis still kept asking.

"I said no Travis. Dansel is a good school, and Poppy's already taken the tour. She likes it, she wants to go there." I sighed, deciding maybe I could relent a little. "If it really means that much to you, we'll look at private when she gets to high school. That fair?" Compromise Taylor, it's all about compromise.

"Alright." Travis agreed with a small nod. "I'm sorry. I know money's a touchy subject for you. I just want her to get the best out of herself."

"I know." I looked over at our daughter, who had drifted forwards to sing along with the other kids. "Also, she..." I hesitated. "She asked me about us this morning. About why we weren't together anymore." When I turned my head, Travis was already looking at me, his pale green gaze finding mine and settling there. I swallowed. 

"What did you tell her?" He asked quietly.

"Just that things had changed between us."

Travis nodded. I stared into his eyes, suddenly very aware of my body, more than I should be. A shiver ran down my spine; a feeling I hated. Over the last few months I'd been having this fluttery feeling whenever Travis and I were close, but I'd been forcing it down every time. I couldn't involve myself with him like that again. If it didn't work out a second time, well, I couldn't do that to Poppy. And it was highly unlikely he'd still feel anything for me all these years later.