"Sure." I said, handing Joey to his daddy.
"You know Tay, I've been thinking." I said.
"About what babe?"
"You know, we don't need that big house. Why don't we get an apartment?" I asked. We had been living in the house that I had grown up in. Drew lived with Isaac and Jill lived with her family across town. That left me with the family house.
"But if we get an apartment, we'll have to pay rent." he said. "And the house is already paid for, and besides, we'll want a big house in a few years. We have one right at our fingertips. Why sell it?"
He did have a good point. "I didn't think about that."
"I've been thinking too." he said. "About the babysitter you've been leaving Joey with...I don't trust her."
"But she doesn't charge much." I protested. "And she's so good with Joey."
"I just have a bad feeling about her." Taylor argued. "I don't care how cheap she is, or how good she acts with him, I want someone who I know won't hurt my son!"
I was touched that Taylor cared so much. I mean, I had known all along that he lovef Joey, but not that much. I was so touched, I burst into tears.
"Babe, what's wrong?"
"Oh nothing." I said in between sobs. "It just wasn't supposed to happen this way."
"What do 'ya mean?"
"Well, you love Joey SO much." I cried. "We weren't supposed to have kids until after college and until we were employed. Then we could be a real family and wouldn't have to worry about a babysitter or anything."
"Hey," he said, tipping my chin upward. "It's okay. My mom says that god has a reason for everything and that he doesn't give anyone anything they can't handle."
I just sat there staring into his eyes for a few moments, looking for any sign of doubt. I saw none. "Okay." I said quietly.
"Everything's gonna be okay." he said.
He wrapped his arms tightly around me, with Joey in between us. "We are a family." he whispered.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." I said, breaking away and wiping my eyes.
Diana appeared in the doorway. "Dinner's ready." she said, smiling.
"We're coming mom." Tay said.
"Okay." Diana said, leaving the doorway.
"Let's go eat." Tay said. "Mom made spaghetti." She knew spaghetti was my favorite.
"Okay." I said, taking his hand, picking up Joey, and heading for the kitchen.
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(This is the rest of Chapter 3)
