First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 67

  It's just after four when Kadence and I pull into the driveway. The house looks the same as it always does, but something about it already feels more like mine and Taytum's than just mine. She told me this morning she'd spend the day moving the last of her stuff from her old room, and for some reason that knowledge has sat warm in my chest all day.

  The house feels quiet as I unlock the door and guide KK inside. Her little backpack bounces against her back as she skips ahead of me into the foyer room.

  "TayTay not here?" she asks, glancing around.

  "She went next door to grab more of her stuff," I remind her, setting my purse on the entryway table.

  KK kicks off her shoes and turns toward the stairs, her eyes lighting up. "Look, Mommy! TayTay's boxes!"

  Sure enough, there are two large moving boxes stacked neatly near the bottom side of the staircase. My chest tightens in the best way. She's been working on it, just like she said. It's not just something we talked about anymore. It's happening and soon she will officially have everything here.

  KK twirls in a circle and grins up at me. "I love when TayTay lives here now. It's like she's really part of us!"

  I kneel to help my daughter with her backpack, smiling at her enthusiasm. "She is, baby. She's part of this family now."

  Once KK is settled with her coloring supplies at the dining table, per her request, I head upstairs to change out of my work clothes. The bedroom smells faintly like Taytum's perfume, and I let myself breathe it in for a second before swapping my blouse and slacks for a soft tee and sweat pants then pulling my hair into a loose bun.

  Back in the kitchen, I start prepping dinner. Pasta tonight. Something warm and simple. As I chop the garlic, KK's voice floats over from the table.

  "Mommy?"

  "Yeah, baby?"

  "Can I call TayTay 'Mama T'?"

 My hands still. The question hits me square in the chest, unexpected but sweet. I glance over and see KK watching me with wide, hopeful eyes. "That's a really special question," I say, setting the knife down and walking over to her. "Why do you want to?"

  KK shrugs a little but her smile is shy. "Because I love her. And she loves me and she takes care of me. And she feels like a mommy too."

  Emotion rises in my throat, but I swallow it down and kneel beside her. "That means a lot, baby. Taytum does love you, very much. I think you should ask her though."

  "Okay," she says, nodding seriously, as if she knows how big the moment is.

  The sound of the front door opening pulls our attention. KK squeals and jumps up. "TayTay!"

  "Hey, princess!" Taytum calls, her voice warm as ever. She rounds the corner into the kitchen, cheeks pink from the cool air outside and another big packing box in her arms. Her eyes land on the pot on the stove, the ingredients still spread across the counter and what's already been added for homemade sauce.

  "Smells amazing," she says.

  "I figured you might be hungry after all that moving," I reply.

  "Starving," Taytum grins. "Want me to keep KK occupied while you finish?"

  "That would help. Thank you."

  Taytum drops the box near the stairs, with the other two, and walks up to me. She rests one hand on my hip and with her other she cups my cheek then lens down pressing a soft, delicate kiss on my lips. She pulls back and looks directly into my eyes, "I love you, Dani."

  Even though it wasn't a passionate kiss, for some reason the gentleness of her voice, her touch, the way she said it and the way she looked at me has my heart skipping a beat. I swear my brain short circuits because I just freeze and for a second I forget how to breathe.

  Taytum turns away from me with a knowing, pleased smile on her face and scoops KK up, spinning her around until she giggles. They grab the art supplies off the table then settle in the living room on the floor with crayons and construction paper spread out between them. I glance over as I stir the sauce, watching the way Taytum leans in close to listen to KK's story about her painting, how her fingers move gently as she tucks a strand of hair behind KK's ear.

  As the pasta sauce is simmering and the pasta is boiling, I lean in the kitchen doorway with my tea I fixed and just watch them for a second. Taytum's still in one of her older T-shirts and a loose, black Adidas pants and she's lying on her stomach, chin propped in her hands while KK talks a mile a minute about her new masterpiece. KK's hair is a little messy from the day and her cheeks are still flushed from playing outside in the cool at pre k but her smile is pure light.

  "You think Mommy will hang it on the fridge?" KK asks proudly, holding up a sheet covered in hearts and what might be a very abstract dog.

  "Absolutely," Taytum says. "That's fridge material for sure."

  KK beams and goes back to coloring. Taytum glances up and catches me looking. That smile of hers spreads slowly, like it's made just for me. I feel it all the way in my chest. When I walk into the room, KK looks up and grins. "Mommy, look what me and TayTay made!"

  I kneel beside them and she throws her arms around me before I can even respond. "I'm so glad TayTay lives here now," she says, burying her face in my shoulder. "It's the best."

  My throat tightens unexpectedly. I glance at Taytum and she's watching us both with this quiet tenderness that makes my chest ache in a good way. I am becoming an emotional mess and I know it's partly due to my pregnancy hormones. Hesitantly I turn back into the kitchen to check on dinner.

  It's not a fancy dinner. Just pasta, garlic bread, and a small salad but for some reason it feels like a celebration. A quiet one. Like something good has started, even if none of us said it out loud. Taytum keeps KK entertained in the living room while I finish up, and by the time we sit down to eat, the house feels full in the best way. For a moment it's quiet except for the clinking of forks and KK's soft hums of approval.

  "This is so good, Mommy," KK says with a mouthful of noodles.

  "Thanks, baby."

  Taytum reaches for the bread. "You always go all out. You know that?"

  "It's just pasta," I reply, smiling at her.

  "Still," she says. "It's the way you do it."

  KK chews thoughtfully. "When I grow up, I wanna cook just like Mommy and TayTay too."

  Taytum glances at me and smiles softly. "I think we'd make a great team in the kitchen."

  "Did you know TayTay can draw horses too, Mommy?" KK says, mouth full of bread.

  "Really?" I ask, amused as I look over at Taytum.

  Taytum grins, cheeks a little pink from the attention. "It was just a doodle."

  KK shakes her head firmly. "It was a real horse. It even had eyelashes."

  I laugh, and Taytum gives me a sheepish shrug like she's been caught doing something secret and sweet.

  The conversation moves to what we should do this weekend. KK suggests building a blanket fort in the living room and having a movie night. Taytum immediately agrees, offering to make popcorn and let KK pick the movie, even if it's something with singing animals.

  KK is practically glowing.

  After dinner, I stand up to start clearing the plates, but Taytum catches my wrist.

  "I got it," she says. "You cooked, let me do this part."

  I pause. "You sure?"

  "Yeah," she says. "Go take a break. I'll keep KK busy too." I hesitate, watching her already turning to clear the table with KK chattering at her side. I let myself soak it in for a second, then grab my glass of water and walk to the doorway, stopping for another second to just take it in.