"Well, I was thinking about maybe sending baby Travis to live with Him. I mean, he's made a valid point when he asked if our son could come and live with him. He's alone and has all the time in the world to spend with his son. I know Travis adores him and would be so happy to raise him. What do you think about that?" I asked. I valued Taylor's opinion but even if he didn't agree, I felt my decision was already made.
Taylor scratched his goatee appearing to be in deep thought. He twisted his mouth and shrugged.
"I mean, if that's what you want to do, Sundy; at the end of the day he's your son. I respect and appreciate you asking for my opinion but that's a decision for you to make. Are you sure about this?"
I sat and thought about it. It was something I wanted to do not for myself, but for Travis as well. I knew it would make his day and he deserved his son.
I nodded my head. "Yes."
"Ok, well, let him know. I'm cool with whatever you want to do baby," Taylor kissed my forehead and walked over to the stove to a pot of stew I had made for dinner.
I retrieved my cellphone and sent Travis a text. I told him I needed to speak with him ASAP and asked if he would come over to the house tomorrow so we could discuss something.
He texted back immediately and agreed to come.
This was something I felt would make us all happy because at the end of the day, we were all family now.
***
I loved spring time, even though it felt more like summer though. It was the perfect seventy degrees outside. Taylor hired a pool cleaner to come clean out the pool because today we were throwing a mini pool party. Cynthia, Mike, Donnell and Heather were coming over later and I couldn't wait. We wanted to get Travis out of the way first because nobody knew about the son I had but Cynthia and neither Taylor nor I wanted anyone to know anytime soon. We didn't want to be judged and didn't want folks in our business. We were expecting Travis around one o'clock. I honestly couldn't wait to share the news to him.
I was sitting at the kitchen counter when Taylor came to tell me Travis had arrived. I remained seated, fingers locked together underneath my chin. Taylor took his seat beside me while we left a chair for Travis to sit opposite side of us. When he entered the kitchen, he headed straight to the chair we had pulled out for him and took his seat. I could tell both he and Taylor were feeling awkward. At one point they were the best of friends and always greeted each other but now, neither one of them spoke a word.
I decided to clear the air and just get right to what I initially invited him over for.
"Well, Travis. I was thinking," I paused to gather my thoughts. I really needed to be sure that this was something that I wanted to do before I did it. Deciding it was the right thing to do, I continued. "What do you think about raising Travis Jr.?"
Travis appeared surprised, while he stared at me with a gawked expression before he actually spoke. "I'll be the happiest man in the world. You know I love my son, Sundy, and me having him would bring so much joy to my life," he answered honestly.
I smiled, knowing I was making the right choice. "I know you'll take great care of him, Travis. I feel he needs to be with his daddy but, I still want him to know who I am. I want him to know I'm his mother, and I would love to get him every other weekend. If you can agree to that, then he's all yours."
Travis smiled and nodded his head in agreement. "You got it ."
I rose from my seat and entered the sun room with haste to get baby Travis so that he could go off with his father. I wasn't sad not one bit. I would still see my baby and I knew he would be in a safe place with Travis. I knew he had a father who loved him dearly and would die for him.
When baby Travis fixed his little dainty eyes on his daddy, he began to squirm and giggle in my arms. He was always happy when Travis was around. Travis stood up and held his arms out for baby Travis to reach out for him, and without hesitation, baby Travis extended his tiny arms out to his father.
"What's up lil man? You wanna go home with daddy?" Travis cracked in his corniest baby voice.
It actually brought a smile to Taylor's face, which was quite shocking to me. I didn't expect that in a million years. As far as I knew, their friendship was over.
Taylor stood to his feet gliding over to Travis slapping hands with him. "You're a great father, brotha. I'm proud of you."
"No doubt boy." Travis's face was unreadable but I knew the astound gesture from his childhood friend was just as shocking to him, as it was to me. Taylor walked out the room and left me and Travis in the kitchen.
Travis bounced baby Travis on his hip. He turned his attention towards me and mouthed, "Thank you, Sundy. Thank you so much."
I smiled, walking up to hug him. "You're welcome. I knew baby Travis will bring so much joy to you."
"He sure will. Now I have to shorten my hours at the office. I want to spend all the time in the world with him."
I smiled and gave baby Travis one last kiss on the cheek. Travis and I looked into each other's eyes and I swear that spark that we had between us before came right back. He could try to hide it all he wanted, but I saw that same lust in his eyes. I chuckled and quickly pulled my eyes away from his before Taylor walked in on us. I headed towards the kitchen exit. "I guess I'll be seeing you two soon."
To be continued...