Disclaimer: Own I don't Ownership have I not.
Ever since you came (since you came along)
It seems like (I couldn't get it right)
I felt I had sunk so low
That there was no way that I could be found (never thought love would find me) -Usher 'Forever Yours'
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Taylor felt joyful and panicked all at the same time. What Chad was telling her was music to her ears. In her heart of hearts its what she'd always wanted with him even when they weren't officially a couple, but she had so many doubts. Then she looked at Chad as he lovingly looked at her and pushed her doubts to the side. Taylor tackled Chad backwards landing on top of him. "Yes! Are you sure now? Cause no backsies!" she said looking at the dazzling ring. "As sure as my mother's obsession with Micheal Crawford." He said with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes. Taylor gave him a strange look but figured that was a positive. Then she kissed him until they were both out of breath. Chad put the ring on the finger of her left hand and then kissed it.
"Come on honey. Let's go celebrate." Taylor said as he helped to pull her up from the ground. They brushed the dead leaves from their clothing and walked around the park a bit before heading back to Taylor's place. She caught a glimpse of the rock on her left hand as they walked down the block and let out a little squeal. "We're getting married!" she yelled to one of her neighbors who was taking out his trash.
"Hey, how about that. Congratulations!" he yelled back. She laughed and hugged Chad's arm closer. Part of her wanted to hold her excitement inside while the other part couldn't help but be elated. He was still going back to LA tonight, but she remembered what he said about living in the moment and gave in to the excitement. There would be plenty of time to over think things once he was back in LA.
Chad looked at his fiancee. He thought that he had seen her happy when she wouldn't stop grinning last night. Right now it was as if her feet weren't touching the ground. That feeling was contagious and he had to admit that he was relieved. There was no plan B if she had given him another answer.
The rest of their time together was uneventful yet full of bliss. Probably because they turned off all the blackberries and phones and computers and focused on each other. However, they could only shut out the rest of the world for so long. Chad had to get ready to get on a plane in a few hours. He tried to keep himself from sulking as he finished packing his carryall. This visit was ridiculously fun but way too short. Taylor came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist nuzzling her face into the curve of his back. "I'm gonna miss you." she mumbled into his back. Chad turned around and pulled her close, "Not more than I'm gonna miss you. Are you still coming to watch me play in Phoenix at Christmas?" he asked expectantly.
"Rabid ferrets couldn't keep me away." Taylor said with a laugh, "The car to take us to the airport is here."
"Rabid ferrets huh? Good to know that violence against small animals won't keep my baby from making it home for Christmas." Chad said with a chuckle as he put on his coat and grabbed his bags. "You know its getting kinda late. You don't have to come with me to the airport."
"As long as your body is in New York and I'm able to touch it I'm gonna be there to touch it. End of discussion." Taylor said grabbing her keys and locking the door behind them.
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Taylor's fantastic dream of warm sea breezes and Chad in a speedo was interrupted by the incessant ringing of her door bell. Groaning she rolled over and looked at the clock, 8:32 am. Taylor didn't know who it was but she'd sure as hell would send them on their way. It hadn't been a solid six hours since Chad had hopped on his red eye back to LA and Taylor was already experiencing withdrawals. She wandered out of her room to the door and the impatient wannabe guests. Looking through her peephole she saw her sisters and mother loitering on her stoop. Taylor closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she leaned her forehead against the door. Why are they here? Usually she would love having them over but she didn't feel like entertaining. She wanted to wallow in self pity.
Banging on the door followed by more incessant bell ringing jolted Taylor out of her stance at the door. Undoing all the locks she opened the door to her family and cool morning air. "Took you long enough." Torrence said as she pushed past Taylor into the house. "Your man had better have breakfast ready because Tamera is about to chew her own arm off." Shit, I can't believe that they believed that big ass lie that Chad told Taylor thought as she hugged Tamera and her mom.
"Don't tell me that so called boyfriend of yours is still sleeping." Tracy said indignantly before gasping at the sight of Taylor's enchanted living room. Torrence and Tamera also looked around at the living room in amazement.
"He's not here." Taylor said simply rubbing the last of the sleep out of her eyes. Tamera caught sight of the rock on Taylor's left and let out a squeal as she pulled Taylor into a giant hug.
Tracy and Torrence stood there looking dumbfounded for a moment. "He may not be here but he certainly left his mark." Tamera said taking a closer look at Taylor's engagement ring.
"Wow, Chad really knows how to make a statement." Torrence said taking in the ring with amazement. "Congratulations baby girl." she said pulling her sister into a hug. "No wonder we kept getting your voice mail yesterday. So where did Chad go? Is he picking up more food?" Torrence asked. Tracy was noticeably silent and aloof and gave Taylor's ring a cursory glance before seemingly inspecting the decor of the living room.
"No, he's back in LA for team obligations." Taylor said making her way to the kitchen and looking in the fridge. She had just enough food to pull together a decent brunch even though she felt like kicking them out and crawling back under the covers of her lonely bed. "I can't believe y'all believed that fib he told you Friday night."
"How were we supposed to know that your boyfriend is a big ass liar." Tracy said with so much venom that it made Taylor's head snap around. Taylor felt confusion swirl around in her tired brain and the usually long fuse of patience with her mother grew short. The mild bad mood she was in only started to grow darker and she found herself about to snap.
"Ma, what has Chad said or done to make you talk about him with that tone?" Taylor asked her mother calmly trying her best not to react emotionally.
Tracy seemed to think about what she said for a moment before she answered "He changed his mind before about the two of you. What's to say he won't change his mind again? Men do that all the the time Taylor. Even though you never said anything I know that he broke your heart because you loved him. I know what heartbreak can do to a person. What makes you think that he can be trusted?"
"Are we talking about Chad and me or you and dad?" Taylor cut straight to the point looking her mother dead in the eye.
"What does daddy have to do with any of this?" Torrence cut in.
"She's never gotten over him." Taylor said still holding her mother in her gaze "Ma, I know he left you brokenhearted but you weren't the only one he did that to. I can feel the bitterness that you still have towards him. Its only gotten worse. Why?" Taylor asked sensing that her mother was withholding information. Tracy McKessie started to squirm under the gaze of all three of her daughters. From the day that she had returned from her stay at the mental institution she hadn't talked about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of their father. She and the girls had gone into survival mode and since Torrence, Tamera nor Taylor ever said anything she assumed that they had come to terms with it in their own way. It had been almost twelve years and Tracy was still reeling. She would not let him come in and disrupt whatever peace of mind they had found.
"Its nothing. I just...Taylor...you just need to be careful, especially in career that Chad has decided to pursue. You have all kinds of women out there and he just might decide to exercise his other options. People get into all kinds of things living that lifestyle. You shouldn't depend on him for anything." Tracy finished.
Taylor didn't know if she should be angry or break down crying. Her mother was lying and continuing to try and poison her feelings for Chad. She didn't respond to Tracy's bold taunt because Taylor wasn't sure if she didn't trust men in general or think that her own daughter didn't have the strength to find and keep real love. Taylor didn't want to let her mother's poisonous ideas get to her but doubt was starting to play on her insecurities.
Torrence on the other hand had no problem confronting her mother. "Are you trying to tell Taylor that Chad can't be trusted or that she'll never find lasting love? You know, I don't think you should answer that. I knew that you were a piece of work but to completely discourage your child from believing that someone would love her enough to want to keep her is a new low. You should be ashamed. If dad's abandonment did this to you then that bastard better not ever show his face." Torrence said plopping down on to the couch. Tracy just stood there stoically before responding "I don't owe any one an explanation. I was the one to clean up the mess left behind and piece this family back together. I know I'm not perfect but, damn it, I did the best I could. I wish you girls were more appreciative of that."
Taylor sighed and went back into the kitchen. Willing herself not to let the tears that were burning the back of her eyes fall. She started pulling out pans and a cassarole dish for the strata that she was about to prepare. Tamera followed Taylor without saying anything to her mother or sister. She came up behind Taylor and gave her a hug. "For real baby sister, congratulations. I'm really happy for you and Chad." Tamera said turning Taylor around to face her. "In their own twisted and self centered way Ma and Torrence are trying protect you." she said noticing the unshed tears in Taylor's eyes.
"They can save it. Especially Ma. I know she's lying about something. She must think I'm stupid and she should know better. This is far from over." Taylor figured if she really wanted to know the truth she'd have to find out on her own. "So, are you just going to stand there or are you gonna help." Taylor said shrugging off Tamera's touch and trying to keep her mother's words from echoing in her head. The sooner she could get her family fed and back on their way the better. This day started out bad and had only gotten worse.
After Taylor said farewell to her family she did a short internet search for her father. What was interesting was that he still lived in New Mexico in a subdivision close to her childhood home. Seeing this brought up so many questions. Her mother may not be willing to truthfully discuss her father's absence but Taylor was determined to get answers. She decided to fly into Albuquerque a week before she was due to meet Chad in Phoenix and sort this out.
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Sorry to have left you guys hanging like that. I took on some different responsibilities that kept me from being able to sit down and write. Only 2 more chapters to go. Next chapter we get a revelation about Mr. Mckessie. Reviews=love Please?