The sun was shining brightly over Jason and Kylie's home in Rhode Island, casting a warm glow over the backyard where the kids were already playing. Taylor and Travis pulled into the driveway, excited for a day filled with family fun and a much-needed distraction.
As they entered the house, they were greeted by the delightful chaos of laughter and the vibrant colors of princess costumes scattered across the living room. Wyatt, Ellie, and Bennett were in full princess mode, wearing shimmering dresses and tiaras.
"Auntie Tay! Uncle Trav!" the girls squealed, rushing over with open arms.
"Hey, princesses!" Taylor exclaimed, dropping to her knees to embrace them. "What are we doing today?"
"You have to be a princess too!" Bennett declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Before Taylor could respond, the girls were pulling out a bright pink tutu and a sparkly crown from their stash.
Travis chuckled, leaning against the doorway. "Looks like you're about to be outnumbered."
"I think I'm already outnumbered," Taylor laughed, allowing the girls to dress her up. The tutu felt ridiculous but incredibly fun, and the crown settled on her head like a badge of honor.
"Now you look perfect!" Wyatt cheered, clapping her hands together.
After the dress-up session, it was time for arts and crafts. The girls led Taylor and Travis to the dining room, where they had laid out colorful paper, markers, glue, and glitter.
"Let's make royal crowns!" Ellie suggested, her enthusiasm infectious.
Taylor sat down with the girls, ready to dive into the arts and crafts. "Absolutely! We can make the sparkliest crowns in the kingdom!"
Meanwhile, Travis hung back, watching the scene unfold with a smile. He appreciated the joy Taylor brought into the girls' lives. After a few minutes, he decided to join in, grabbing some paper and markers.
"Alright, I'm going to make a crown too!" he announced, eliciting giggles from the girls.
As they crafted their crowns, Taylor glanced over at Jason and Kylie, who were sitting nearby, sharing a quiet conversation.
"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" Taylor whispered to Travis, motioning for him to join her away from the kids.
"Sure," he replied, following her into the kitchen, where they could speak privately.
"Tree worked immediately to get those photos and articles taken down," Taylor explained, her voice low but firm. "She's been incredible, but I've decided to distance myself from Blake."
Travis nodded, taking her hand. "That's probably a good idea. It's better to protect your peace."
"Exactly. I still want to be friends with Ryan, but Blake? I just can't. It's not fair to you guys, and the kids didn't choose any of this," she continued, her heart heavy. "You guys thought we were just having a quiet dinner, and now they're being dragged into this mess."
"I get it, Tay. You're doing what you need to do for yourself and for them," he reassured her.
After their discussion, they returned to the dining room, where the girls were excitedly showing off their colorful crowns.
"Look at ours, Auntie Tay!" Wyatt exclaimed, proudly wearing her creation adorned with sequins.
"They look amazing! You're all going to be the best princesses in the land!" Taylor praised, feeling her spirits lift again.
Just then, the girls grabbed both Taylor and Travis by the hands, dragging them into the living room. "You have to play with us!" Ellie insisted, her tiny hands pulling at Taylor's tutu.
As they made their way into the living room, the girls decided it was time for a royal dance party. "Auntie Tay, you have to dance!" Bennett said, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Okay, okay! But first, we need to make Uncle Trav a royal too!" Taylor suggested, knowing how much Travis loved to play along.
The girls squealed with delight and immediately began rummaging through the dress-up box. In no time, they had a pink tutu and a sparkling tiara ready for Travis.
"C'mon, Uncle Trav!" Wyatt said, practically bouncing on her toes. "You have to wear this!"
Travis laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, but only because you asked so nicely!"
As he put on the tutu and tiara, the room erupted with laughter. Taylor couldn't help but join in, snapping a quick photo on her phone to capture the moment.
"Look at us, the royal family of Rhode Island!" Taylor declared, striking a pose with Travis, who was grinning despite the ridiculous outfit.
Jason and Kylie joined in on the fun, dancing alongside their kids and Taylor and Travis. Laughter filled the air, the warmth of family wrapping around them like a cozy blanket.
"Who knew we'd have such a royal celebration today?" Jason teased, laughing as he twirled his daughters around.
As the dance party continued, Taylor felt a wave of relief wash over her. Despite the challenges lurking outside their little bubble, she was grateful for this moment. Surrounded by family, joy, and love, she knew they would weather any storm together.
Eventually, they all collapsed onto the living room floor, breathless from laughter and dancing.
"Okay, that was epic!" Travis declared, still wearing his tutu. "Best dance party ever!"
"Totally!" Bennett chimed in, leaning against Taylor with a satisfied smile.
As the evening progressed, they shared stories, played games, and continued to embrace the lighthearted spirit that brought them together. In that moment, all was right in their world, and Taylor couldn't help but cherish every bit of it.
Requests ~~~~~~~>
