Taylor's Darkness

Lunch Date

Taylor was shocked when she saw her parents still there. She then hung her head and asked, “what punishment am I getting this time?” Collin gently placed his hand on her chin and lifted her head up to look at him. “You are not under punishment. I am so very sorry for how I have treated you and allowing myself to believe Mr. Thorn. I hope one day you can forgive me. We are going to take you to therapy to see if that can help with your night terrors.” Collin said to Taylor who had a look of complete shock and confusion. Sarah smiled and wrapped her arms around Taylor. “I am sorry my love. I finally have gotten through to him. Things are going to be much different from now on. We have signed you and Margaret out for the rest of the day. How about we go have lunch and see if we can’t find a therapist that might help you?” Sarah said to Taylor and Margaret.

Taylor and Margaret both smiled and then headed to their lockers. Collin looked at his mate and asked, “how could I have been so cruel to our daughter? Perhaps…perhaps I should go see a therapist as well. There is obviously something not right in my head. Maybe they can help me understand how in the world I thought it was okay to treat my own daughter the way I have been.” Sarah smiled and said, “Collin, you are a wonderful man. If you wish to go then I support you completely. I am sure that Taylor would be supportive as well.” Collin smiled and they headed outside after signing the girls out. Taylor and Margaret walked outside and saw Sarah and Collin standing around waiting on them. “Hey we will let you two pick the place for lunch. We will follow you in our car.” Collin said to Taylor and Margaret with a smile. “What the hell is wrong with my dad?” Taylor asked herself. She then smiled and said, “okay, we will pick the place then.” They all got into their cars and drove off.

Taylor and Margaret sat in silence for a few minutes after they drove off. Margaret finally said, “okay, I don’t know about you, but that was weird as f*ck.” Taylor busted out laughing and said, “I don’t know what happened. The only thing I want to ask is, who replaced my dad? He hasn’t acted this way with me since I was a little girl.” Margaret nodded and asked, “do you think maybe he finally is seeing how wrong he truly has been? I mean, your mom has been trying for years to get him to see how he has been acting.” Taylor nodded in agreement. “I will be using caution with him still. I do not want to be blind sided when he acts like his usual self with me.” Taylor said as they kept driving. “Where do we want to eat?” Margaret asked with a smirk. Taylor smiled and said, “you already know.” Taylor then turned into their favorite little diner and parked. Sarah and Collin both laughed because they were hoping this is where they wanted to eat.

Taylor and Margaret got out of the car and walked up to the door with Collin and Sarah. They were greeted when they walked into the diner. “Good afternoon. How many will it be?” The waitress asked. Taylor said, “there are 4 of us please. We would like a booth as well.” The waitress smiled and grabbed 4 menus then walked them to their booth. “Please look over the menu and I will be back to get your drink orders.” The waitress said. Taylor looked at her name tag and said, “thank you Peggy.” Peggy smiled and headed back to get an order that was ready. Taylor looked out the window their booth was next too. She started having flash backs of her nightmare. Sarah watched her daughter and figured out she was having flash backs again. Sarah nudged Collin and motioned towards Taylor. Collin frowned and said, “hey Taylor, what do you girls want to do after we eat? It will be my treat. We can go to the mall and you girls can have a shopping spree and there is an ice cream place inside the mall as well as a coffee shop.” Taylor shook her head and looked at her father. “I’m sorry what? You know you can drop the act of the caring loving father figure. You have cared about me my whole life.” Taylor said with so much venom in her voice.

Collin sighed and said, “Taylor, I understand why you are mad at me. I deserve your hatred. However, no matter how much you push me away, I will not give up trying to make it up to you. I know you don’t deserve a father like I had been. I know you are not going to forgive me, but I don’t know a female alive who wouldn’t take advantage of a shopping spree.” Sarah looked at Collin then looked at Taylor and smirked. “How can you even argue with that logic?” Sarah said laughing. Taylor and Margaret both looked at Sarah like she had lost her mind. Soon, Taylor and Margaret started laughing as well. “Okay fine, we can go to the mall for a shopping spree.” Taylor said with a smile. Taylor then realized that her flash backs had stopped when her father spoke to her. No one else besides Margaret have been able to pull her from her flash backs completely. Taylor was even more confused as to how that happened. Finally their food arrived with their milkshakes and they wasted no time eating.

Collin knew he wasn’t going to get Taylor’s forgiveness easily or possibly at all. However, he wasn’t going to stop trying. He owed her so much and had so much to make up for. After everyone finished their food they got up and Collin went and paid for the lunch. They all got into their vehicles and headed to the mall. Taylor already made up her mind that she was not going to just forgive her father. She was skeptical that he would even keep trying. They walked into the mall and they instantly began shopping. Collin asked, “who wants coffee? I will go grab them and bring them to you.” “I’d like a marshmallow mocha latte, hot please.” Taylor said to Collin. “I want a white mocha frappé, large please.” Margaret said to Collin. “I’d like the same as Taylor as well.” Sarah said to Collin with a smile. “Okay, I will return with coffees.” Collin said, then headed to the coffee shop. He needed some coffee as well.

Taylor walked into a clothing store and found some jeans she absolutely loved. “Oh Margaret, look at these. Aren’t they cute?” Taylor asked Margaret and she held the jeans up. Margaret turned and looked at the jeans and smiled. “Oh those are really cute. Do they have them in my size?” Margaret asked walking over to Taylor. Taylor giggled and held up another pair in Margaret’s size. “Like I wouldn’t look for both our sizes.” Taylor said as she handed them to Margaret. Margaret smiled and held up a top that she knew Taylor would love. Taylor looked at the shirt and grinned. The shirt was black, with holes down either side of the shirt. It had a band’s name on it that they both absolutely loved. “I thought you’d like this. Here is your size.” Margaret said as she handed the shirt to Taylor. Taylor saw her dad out of the corner of her eye. Collin was passing coffee to Sarah. He walked over and handed both Taylor and Margaret their coffees. “Thank you dad.” Taylor said to Collin making him smile. “You are very welcome. I will be helping your mom. If you need us let us know.” Collin said and he walked over to Sarah.

“I’m not sure he is going to give up trying to make up for all the bullsh*t he put you through Taylor.” Margaret said as she side eyed him. Taylor shrugged and said, “I guess we will see. Oh, look at this cute jacket.” Taylor plucked the jacket from the rack and showed Margaret. They grabbed enough clothes to go try on. Taylor put an outfit on and looked in the mirror. “Do not go outside of this room at night. Keep the door locked always.” Taylor heard as she began having flash backs again. It was a voice of a little girl, but all she could see was the violence and the odd looking creatures. Taylor shook her head and then saw she was still in the dressing room. She hurriedly changed back into her clothes and put everything back on the hangers. Taylor walked out of the dressing room and took the clothes with her to buy. Margaret walked out of the dressing room, holding her clothes she intended to buy. Taylor smiled as she and Margaret both went up to the register so that Taylor’s dad could pay.

Taylor and Margaret went to many more shops in the mall before they finally left to go home. Taylor was in a pretty good mood by time they got back home. She dropped Margaret off and then drove back to the pack house. Taylor parked her car and went up to her room. She put the bags on her bed and began putting her things away. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Taylor sighed and figured it was her dad coming to take all of her new things away. She opened the door to see her mom smiling. “Do you need help putting away your things?” Sarah asked her daughter. Taylor smiled and said, “no, thank you though. I got everything put away. So, when is dad coming in to give me my punishment?” Sarah frowned and said, “he isn’t. I also wanted to tell you that I have set up an appointment with a therapist for you to start going to seeing. I am hoping that they can help you with your night terrors and how you have flash backs from them. I am so sorry I was not able to convince your dad sooner.” Taylor looked at her mom like she grew two heads. “Since when does mom need dad’s permission to do anything?” Taylor thought to herself, but decided to say, “okay, hopefully they can help.”