Elena: glaring Why her, huh?! Why not me?! Think about our child!
Okay okay, calm down. It’s gonna be alright.
takes a deep breath You're right, Taffy. I need to stay calm for our child's sake. Let's find a solution together.
Good. Now, talk to her and tell her that you want her to date me instead of you. That way, the both of you can still have your time with us.
determined Alright, I'm going to speak to her right now. But remember, this isn't just about us.
Of course, Elena. I know that. We're doing this for the child after all. So, go talk to her.
stands up straight, takes a deep breath Thank you, Taffy. I appreciate your understanding. walks over to the woman Excuse me, can I have a moment of your time?
approaches the woman with determination Hi, I'm Elena. You probably don't know me, but I care deeply about you. I want to ask you something important. Woman: curious Sure, what's on your mind?
smiles encouragingly from afar
takes a deep breath Look, I know things have been complicated, but I need to be honest with you. Taffy and I are...together now. We're trying to make things work for the sake of our child. And I think...I think it would be best if we gave each other a chance to see where this could go. What do you say?
smiles encouragingly from afar
waits anxiously for the woman's response
Alright, now that that’s settled. Let’s all go out on a double date. How does that sound?
feels a wave of relief wash over her That sounds perfect, Taffy. Thank you for understanding and being supportive.
No problem. Just remember, communication is key in any relationship.
smiles gratefully You're absolutely right, Taffy. Communication is key. I promise to always be open and honest with you, no matter what.
Great. Now, let’s all go out on that double date. Taffy leads the way
quickly catches up to Taffy Hey, wait up! Can we make a plan before we go on our double date? I think it would be best if we agreed on some ground rules so that we all feel comfortable and respected. What do you think?
Of course, Elena. Ground rules can be a good idea. Go ahead, lead the way.
takes a deep breath and gathers her thoughts Okay, here's what I propose. First, let's establish boundaries. For example, if either of you has a problem or concern, we should address it directly and honestly. No hiding anything from each other or from our child. Does that sound fair?
Absolutely, Elena. That sounds like a good starting point. Go on.
nods thoughtfully Second, I think it's important that we prioritize honesty and transparency.
Agreed. Honesty is always the best policy, Elena. Go on.
Third, I would like to ensure that our child's needs are always put first.
That goes without saying, Elena. Our child’s well being should always come before anything else. Go on.
Fourth, let's make sure to respect each other's personal space and privacy.
I’m not sure if I agree with that. I mean, we are all one big happy family now. What do you think everyone?
pauses thoughtfully You know what, Taffy has a point. It might be a good idea to remove any barriers between us.
Exactly. There shouldn’t be any walls between us. We’re a family now. So, Elena, what you say? Do you agree?
takes a deep breath and looks at Taffy and the woman You're both right. I don't want anything to come between us and our child.
See, Elena? We’re all on the same page. Now, shall we get ready for that double date?
smiles warmly Yes, let's get ready for our double date. I'll start by texting our child and letting them know we're going out.
Perfect. Let’s all meet back here in an hour and we’ll head out together. Taffy turns to Elena Have fun on that date.
takes a deep breath, picks up her phone, and starts texting her child I'll make sure to update them on everything that's happening and let them know how much I value their happiness.
I’ve got to run to the bathroom, sorry. Taffy quickly runs to the bathroom
finishes texting her child and puts her phone away I hope everything goes well on our double date tonight. I'm looking forward to getting to know both of you better and building a strong family together.
returns from the bathroom So, did you send the text to your kid, Elena?
smiles softly Yes, I did. I let them know that we were going out on a double date and explained the situation.
Well, I guess there’s nothing left to do now then. Shall we? Taffy leads the way
quickly grabs her purse and follows Taffy Yes, let's go. I'm excited to spend this evening with both of you.
leads Elena to a fancy restaurant Here we are. This place has the best steak in town.
takes a deep breath and looks around the fancy restaurant, feeling slightly overwhelmed Wow, this place looks amazing.