Invisible String

18

I exhaled sharply, almost like I forgot how to breathe. My hand flew to my mouth as I blinked back tears. Travis dropped his head and let out a shaky breath, then turned to pull me and the girls into him.

"I further rule that no further contact is required or expected of the biological mother, Ms. Carter, unless initiated by the legal guardians in the future," the judge continued.

Emma's face was unreadable - blank, maybe even stunned - as her lawyer tried to whisper something to her. But I didn't care. My daughters were safe. They were ours.

Permanently. Legally. Undeniably ours.

"Court is adjourned."

The sound of the gavel was the most beautiful thing I'd heard in months.

As we stepped out into the hallway, the girls still close, Travis turned to me, eyes glassy. "It's over."

I nodded. "It's really over."

Lily looked up, scrunching her nose. "Mama? Why you crying?"

"Because I'm happy, baby," I whispered, kissing her cheek. "So, so happy."

I reached for my phone with my free hand, heart pounding all over again - but for a different reason this time - and sent a text to the family group chat:

Taylor:

It's official. The girls are ours. Forever. 🥹💗

The responses flooded in instantly - from Andrea, Tree, Jason and Kylie, even Austin.

Kylie:

SOBBINGGG 😭😭😭 I'm so proud of y'all.

Mom:

My grandbabies. Oh thank God. 😭

Jason:

Time to celebrate. I'll bring the cake. Or six.

Travis chuckled beside me, reading them too. He leaned in and kissed the top of my head. "Let's go home."

And for the first time since this began, I knew exactly where that was.

I stepped into the hotel lobby with Mira snug against my chest in the carrier and Lily dragging her tiny suitcase behind her, still humming the same made-up song she'd been singing since breakfast. Travis had our bags stacked on a cart, sunglasses on, clearly ready to be out of LA. I couldn't blame him - I felt it in my bones too. We were done here.

I shifted Mira gently and pulled my phone from my back pocket, already dialing.

"Hi, it's Taylor," I said as soon as the line picked up. "Can you have the jet prepped and ready within the next two hours? We're heading back to New York today."

The voice on the other end confirmed and gave me a quick update on weather and crew status, but my mind was already in motion - mentally running through diapers, bottles, pump parts, and whatever snacks Lily hadn't already devoured.

As I hung up, I turned toward Travis. "We're set. Two hours."

He nodded, glancing down at Lily, who was now trying to wheel her suitcase backwards for some reason. "Perfect. Think we can survive the airport chaos with both of them?"

I gave him a tired but genuine smile. "We survived court. We can do anything."

Travis grinned, walking over to plant a kiss on Mira's head and then one on my cheek. "Home," he said quietly.

I let out a long breath, the kind that makes your shoulders drop a little lower. "Finally."

The ride home was... rough. Like, the kind of rough that makes you question if private jets are even worth it when you've got a three-year-old melting down and a three-month-old who suddenly decides she hates air pressure changes.