Never Grow Up (A Sequel)

Goodbye (Part 2)

'Tay, I just think...'

'I don't want to'.

'Tay, hear me out, okay?'

'I said, I don't fucking want to! I'm not fucking going out there, Travis, don't fucking ask me again'.

'Tay. Please don't, I didn't mean...'

'Give me my baby and get the fuck out'.

Travis sighs, seeing the tears fall down Taylor's face as she screams at him and then crumples, landing on the bed, her arms outstretched. He's fighting a losing battle, he knows, so he gives in, handing a crying Charlotte over, watching as she latches her on to feed.

'Didn't I tell you to leave?', Taylor whispers, not looking up at him, and the pain of her words pricks at Travis behind his eyelids.

'Love you, Tay'.

Silence is all that responds to him and he leans heavily against the door when he closes it, the weight of the day crushing down around him. He knows it's weighing on Taylor, too, knows it's the reason for her outburst. Her first birthday without her dad. It kills him, though, that she refuses his comfort, is shutting him out.

'Daddy?'

Melody's voice makes him look up and he softly smiles at her, despite the tears still running down his cheeks.

'Hey Melly girl', he replies, sliding down the door and sitting down on the floor, opening his arms wide for her to run into. She immediately does, nuzzling her head against his neck.

'Why is mommy sad? It's her birthday. You're meant to be happy and have cake on your birthday'.

'I know sweetheart. Mommy is just still sad about Gramps. But she'll be okay, okay? And we can still have cake for Maddie'.

He laughs a little as the little girl cheers and then flies out of his lap and down the stairs, where everyone else was gathered. Sighing, he pulls himself up, before whispering against the door. 'I love you, Tay. I'm here, okay? Just call for me'.

The silence was expected, and Travis turns to walk downstairs again, steeling himself to explain that no, Taylor would not be joining them. Today was her birthday and Maddie's 12th birthday, so he had invited Patrick, Brittany and their kids, as well as Donna, around for some dinner and cake, trying to make the day as normal as possible for both of them.

Except it had been just a little over two weeks since Scott's passing, and Taylor was really struggling. The funeral had been last week, and she had refused to exit their bedroom for anything other than the kitchen or the bathroom ever since, her grief overwhelming. Andrea had been staying with them, but went to visit Austin, and that's when the hostility started. She seemed to shut down, not letting Travis in - not letting any of them in, even little Theo, who stood at the door and yesterday and sobbed for his momma, until Travis had heard him from downstairs and rescued the little soul.

'Let's have some cake, huh?', he says, reaching the living room, skipping over the explanation of Taylor's absence. It works, the other adults playing along, but he notices Maddie's sigh, her watery eyes, the way her hand grasps on to Donna's.

'Come here bug', Travis says softly, once everyone else has walked into the kitchen, and Maddie runs into his arms, before he crouches down in front of her, wiping away the tear that is running down her cheek.

'Mom is just really sad, sweetie. But she loves you so much. She just isn't really in the mood to celebrate. We'll have some cake, okay, and then maybe take some up to her?'

'Okay', she nods, accepting another hug from him. 'I just thought she'd want to blow out our candles together like we always do'.

'I know, sweetie. But sometimes, people are so sad, they don't really act like they usually do. And mom, well - she is really sad about Gramps. And she's allowed to be, so we just have to be there for her, okay? Just know she loves you so much'.