Our Invisible String (Complete Version)

29 (Travis Version)

Then I stepped back and looked around the room. It looked perfect, and I was so happy with what I'd done. I just really hoped Taylor would like it.

Speaking of.

I left the nursery and went down to Taylor's room, taking all of her clothes were they were jammed tightly in one drawer and putting them out so they had space in the closet. Then I took the sheets off her bed, taking her mattress and moving it into the hallway. She'd mentioned once that she often had a sore back from her old mattress, so I changed it for the new, softer one I'd bought and put the old on in my trailer as well as changing out her pillows, just because. Then I put the new lavender sheets and pillowcases on – a purple girl just like Abby – and made up her bed.

That was all I'd planned but I quickly checked the rest of the house, putting a few things away just to make it easier for Taylor. I did the living room and kitchen before going down to the bathroom, putting in a new bottle of shampoo for Taylor since I'd heard her mention she'd run out.

Noticing she'd left her hairbrush out, I picked it up and opened one of the drawers to put it back. Placing it down, I went to close the door before my eyes caught on an open pregnancy test box in the corner. I hesitated. I shouldn't. That was Taylor's business.

But god, had I gotten her pregnant already? It had only been about three weeks, so I probably would have had to get her pregnant on the ski trip for it to show up on a test. I knew I should wait for her to tell me, or maybe she hadn't taken it yet, but I couldn't stop myself from reaching out and picking up the box.

Taking the test out, I put the box down and turned it over in my hand. My heart quickened as I read the words on the screen, and I grew still. Pregnant: 4-6 weeks.

4-6 weeks.

I hadn't been with Taylor for a month yet. So this pregnancy test, this positive test, it couldn't be my baby. It was impossible. So had Taylor been seeing someone while we'd been talking, or had she hooked up with someone? I wanted to believe that there was a logical explanation for this, that maybe she'd taken it this morning and wanted to tell me in person, or something. Something. There had to be something.

My mouth dry, I put the test back exactly where I'd found it and closed the drawer. Perfect timing too; Andrea texted me to tell me that the three of them were coming home and were five minutes away. Trying to put the pregnancy test out of my mind, I left the bathroom and moved my car onto the street so Taylor would have a place to park. Then I locked the house and waited by the door, my heart pounding.

They arrived almost exactly five minutes later, and I saw Taylor's curious smile peeking at me through the window as she pulled up. I waved at her and she waved back, her eyes lingering on me as she went to get Abby from the back. Andrea winked knowingly at me as the three of them walked up, moving to take Abby from Taylor's arms.

"What are you doing here?" Taylor asked in a surprised but delighted tone. "I thought you had practice?"

"Not exactly." I took both of her hands. "I have a surprise for you, and for Abby."

"Really?" Taylor whispered, unable to stop smiling, and I nodded.

"Close your eyes." I told her as Andrea unlocked the door.

Taylor obediently shut her eyes and I started carefully leading her into the house. Andrea followed with Abby, who was quiet, watching us curiously. I took Taylor down to the nursery door, turned her to face it, and then murmured in her ear for her to open her eyes. She did, and her mouth fell open, eyes immediately filling with tears when she saw Abby's name in purple letters on the door.

"Travis..." She breathed.

"Hold on, you haven't seen the inside yet." I motioned for her to go ahead. Taylor swallowed, turning to reach for her daughter. Andrea passed Abby over.

Taylor balanced Abby on her hip, reaching out and opening the door. She gasped as it swung open, tears spinning down her cheeks. I watched as she walked inside, looking around with shock on her face like she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Abby clapped her hands together, making little baby sounds as she grinned, obviously loving it. My heart fluttered as I watched them both smiling, and Taylor kept looking around for a long minute before turning to look at me.

"Travis did you do all this?" She whispered, and I nodded. "Why?"

"Because I knew you really wanted her to have her own room." I said. "And you work so hard, and I wanted to do something nice for her birthday." I motioned to Abby.

"Baby that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for us." Taylor breathed, obviously fighting tears even as they slipped down her cheeks. "This is so incredible. I can't believe this." She shook her head, moving over to us. "Mom, can you take Abby for a second?"

Andrea nodded, taking the toddler. She moved into the nursery to show Abby around as Taylor took my hands, standing with me in the doorway. I looked down into her eyes as she lingered with me, gazing up with pure adoration in her eyes.

"Travis, I can't believe you did this." Taylor whispered.

"Of course, princess." I squeezed her hands. "You two have been so incredible and I love you both so much. You're my family, and I wanted to do something."

Taylor shook her head as if she still couldn't wrap her head around what I'd done, lifting up on her toes to kiss me softly. I could taste the salt of her tears as she kissed me, but she was smiling so widely I knew they were happy tears. Pulling her close, I slipped my hands around her waist as she lifted her arms up against my chest, lingering there.

"Alright, keep it cool." Andrea commented from nearby. "No sex in a baby's space."

"Mom!" Taylor complained, turning to look at her, but she couldn't stop smiling.

"Hey, I'm holding the evidence of the last time, so don't give me that." Taylor's mother kissed Abby on the cheek.

"Mom, ew!" My girlfriend insisted. "Stop!" Andrea just chuckled, shaking her head.

"I've got something else to show you." I whispered in her ear, and Taylor raised an eyebrow at me curiously. "Come on." I took her hand.

I took her down to her bedroom, opening the door to show her the few little things I'd done. Taylor gasped, placing a hand over her mouth when she walked in. I smiled proudly to myself as I watched her go over to the bed and touch the pillow gently before turning to me.

"You are so incredible I don't even know how I deserve you." She told me.

"Princess I'm the one that doesn't deserve you." I walked over and took her face in my hands. "You're so incredible, and strong." I kissed her. "And I'm so proud to be with you." Then I paused. God, I had to ask. "Taylor?" I whispered tentatively. "I...I know there's probably an explanation for this, but I found a pregnancy test in your bathroom when I was putting things away and I just...it said four to six weeks and we've only been together for three and..."

"Oh, Travis." Taylor placed a finger over my lips. "Travis that's Abby's. That's the one I took when I found out I was pregnant with her, and I just kept it for sentimental reasons. It's old."

"Oh." I blew out a breath of relief. "Oh my god I'm so sorry princess, I shouldn't have thought that."

"No it's okay, I would have thought the same thing." Taylor touched my cheek. "But Travis, I want to make it very clear that I haven't been with anyone since Abby's dad, and you're the only one. You'll always be the only one."

God I loved this woman. I kissed her, claiming her mouth, sinking my fingers into her hair passionately. She let out a little gasp, surging up to match the heat of my kiss. I sighed into her mouth, glad there indeed had been a good explanation. I wouldn't have moved an inch from her side if she was pregnant with another man's baby, but god I was glad it wasn't true. The only baby I wanted her to carry was mine.

"Mhmm." Taylor sighed. "You know you should stay tonight, because I think we need to christen this mattress."