Thursday January 18th 2024
2 weeks later.
It was Taylor's first week unemployed. She's been trying to find another office that was close by and interested in hiring a hygienist. So far, no luck she was starting to broaden her search to even oral surgeons just so she could at least have her foot in the door somewhere.
"How's the job hunt going?" Joe asked when he got back from the gym.
"Huh, harder then I thought, I've sent two applications in so far but I doubt they'll want me, they said there's 10-20 other applicants. For both."
"Damn."
"Exactly."
"Well you've got a good resume, good references, a ton actually. I wouldn't completely shut it out."
"I guess." She said with a sigh. Joe could tell she was stressed and frustrated.
"Hey, why don't you take a break with me."
"Huh, I'm not in the mood right now babe, can we do it later?"
"No no no, not sex. I meant let's go out and do something."
"Oh. Like what? It's the middle of January?"
"Let's go ice skating." He suggests.
"Ice skating? Since when do you wanna go ice skating with a bunch of tourists." She cocks her head.
"Since they're calling for a big snow storm tonight and I guarantee you all the tourists cancelled their weekend trip to New York City."
"I should really apply to at least 2 more places first." Taylor says looking back at her computer.
"C'mon Tay, you've done enough for today, take a break, let's go have some fun."
"Huh. Fine. But you better have plans for lunch too cause I'm starving."
"Ha, I think we can arrange something." He says. They bundle up and head out. They got lunch before heading to ice skate per Taylor's request. They had more fun then anything just people watching, taking guesses on who was a city native and who wasn't. It gave them a good laugh while they ate. Taylor was distracted on and off, Joe couldn't help but notice she kept checking her phone.
"Are you waiting for something?" He finally asked her as they walked to the rink in the brisk cool air.
"This one office was giving me trouble with their application online so I emailed them and I'm waiting for them to send it to me to fill out."
"Gotchya."
"Is that not okay?" She questioned.
"I just wanna have a fun day, can you just try not think about that right now. I'm not on my phone with work or anyone, I'm giving you my full attention, because I want to."
"I know, I'm trying to but I guess you don't understand how long of a process this is going to be for me."
"Baby I do, but-"
"Then let me stress about it."
"I don't want you stressed, there's no reason for that, why you stressed?" He asks.
"Gee I don't know, we're only about to undergo a mighty fine fertility treatment soon, don't you think we should have plenty of money to cover it?"
"Taylor we're fine, if we weren't I wouldn't have offered to spend 80 on a date day."
"Ya we're fine now! I don't think you understand how expensive this is gonna get, and then how expensive the baby…babies are gonna be!" She said with emphasis. She was clearly more stressed then Joe even knew, he held her hand as they kept walking.
"I do know, but I also know that people have kids all over the world, all across this country, all over this city…we aren't the first ones doing this babe." He reminded her.
"Whatever. If you're so loosey goosey about it then why am I even getting a new job. Why don't I just stay home, be a stay at home mom. You can make all the money and run the household beings it seems like that's what you want to do."
"Woah woah woah, hold on." He pulled her off the sidewalk out of the way of foot traffic and faced her.
"What? It's true." She crossed her arms.
"That is nowhere near true. All I want from you today is to check out and have fun with me. That's it."
"Well you seem to like to tell me what I can and can't do."
"When? What are you talking about?"
"Well the other night you went out with your friends and it was no big deal but yet I mentioned I wanted to have a girls night however long ago and you complained we haven't seen each other for a few nights because of your schedule. Which made me have to forget my girls night."
"Is that it? That's what this is about?"
"You needed an example so I gave you one."
"And that's all you can think of? That I wanted to spend quality time with my wife…you're right how rude of me." He says smartly.
"Whatever, you asked."
"Huh. Are you on your period or something?" He asked. Taylor took offense and punched him in the arm.
"Ow!"
"Don't ask me that!" She said gritting her teeth.
"Well I think if I knew the answer It would be very beneficial for me…damn, that hurt." He said rubbing his arm.
"Well I'm waiting for it so congrats, you win, you cracked the code on why you're wife's such a bitch today."
"Stop. That's not how I wanted it to sound. You're not a bitch. But it does make a little more sense as to why you're so high strung...you can't disagree with that."
"Of course not, you're the man of the house, can't disagree with you."
"My god, please stop. Please. You're making my head hurt. Let's just drop all this bullshit. This is ridiculous." He says surrendering with his hands out infront of him.
"Ok." She agreed and walked back onto the sidewalk, Joe followed, held her hand again and they acted like nothing ever happened.
By the time they got to the ice skating rink they were laughing and having a good time. Joe was right about the lack of tourists being here today, they were few and far between.
"I haven't done this in years." Taylor said while they sat on the bench and put their skates on.
"Me neither, I feel like it's a skill you don't really forget though." He shrugs.
"Oh no I never said I was good at it haha!" She laughed making Joe laugh.
"Ya I'm gonna embarrass the hell out of you." She says still laughing.
"You'll never embarrass me." He stands and puts a hand out for her. She takes it and they head for the ice. He hesitantly let's go of her hand to let her get used to it, she can't be that bad right?
"There ya go, see… you got it." He says watching her slowly start moving with the crowd. He follows her and then out of nowhere she falls. Her laugh is hysterical and Joe can't help but join in.
"Ha, you okay?" He helps her up.
"Yes haha!" She brushes it off and they keep going.
"Now you're getting the hang-" Joe didn't even finish the sentence before she fell again.
"Haha…ow." She says.
"Baby maybe we should get you one of those training things they give the kids." He says helping her up again.
"No no no you said I could never embarrass you, now you gotta deal." She says with a playful laugh.
"Then maybe you just don't let go of my hand alright?"
"If you insist." She says taking his hand in hers.
They skate more, this time they almost got all the way around the rink without her falling. Joe almost came down with her this time, giving a few bystanders a good laugh.
"It's good they don't serve alcohol." He says joking.
"Oh my gosh I'd be totally laid out! Haha!" They laugh with each other at the thought.
"I'd say."
"Joe, my butts gonna be so bruised"
"You wanna stop then?"
"No, I'm having fun. How bout you just make sure I don't fall."
"Babe I'm trying! Haha, you're very unpredictable is all. Like one second everything's great, and then the next it's like someone just came up and pulled you by your ankles, backwards." He explains, she cracks up laughing.
"So I mean I can try harder but I'm kinda flying blind here." He adds when she has nothing to say other then her contagious laughter.
"You're right, let's just go around one more time and if I don't get better we'll go, I don't wanna give up so soon." She suggests.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night babe." He says patting her back, they take each others hand and head around again.
——
Fun day for them! I think Joe did a good job at getting Taylor to forget about finding a new job. Hopefully something comes along soon though so she can breathe and feel confident about their finances! Thanks for reading, leave your thoughts!
