Invisible String

22

The car pulled up to the building just after sunset, the golden light casting a soft glow on the sidewalk as I glanced over at Austin beside me. His leg was bouncing, nerves vibrating off of him in waves, but he tried to keep his face calm. I reached over and gave his knee a quick squeeze.

“Breathe,” I said, smiling as I unbuckled my seatbelt. “They’re going to be more excited than anything.”

He nodded, swallowing hard. “Right. Kids. Family. No pressure.”

The driver opened the door, and I stepped out first. The familiar hum of New York filled my ears — sirens in the distance, footsteps on pavement, a dog barking somewhere nearby. But it all faded when I heard a high-pitched squeal from the building entrance.

“MOMMY!”

Lily barreled down the hallway in her socks, her curls bouncing and one of her barrettes missing. Travis followed close behind, Mira cradled in his arm like a football. I barely had time to crouch before Lily launched herself into my arms, nearly knocking me over.

“Hi, baby,” I breathed, kissing her cheek and holding her tight. “I missed you so much.”

Travis smiled as he approached, stopping short when his eyes flicked up to Austin. “Hey, man.”

Austin looked unsure for a second, then gave a small nod. “Hey. Thanks for… y’know.”

Travis shifted Mira into his other arm and offered his free hand. “We’ve got plenty of space. You’re family.”

Austin shook it, a little stunned. “Thanks. Really.”

Lily leaned back in my arms and squinted up at Austin. “Who’s that?”

I smiled and turned her slightly. “That’s Uncle Austin. He’s going to stay with us for a little while, okay?”

Lily studied him for a second, then smiled brightly. “You can sit next to me at dinner.”

Austin actually laughed — the tension in his shoulders eased just a bit. “Deal.”

We headed inside, up the elevator and into the apartment. The moment we stepped through the door, the warmth of home hit me — the scent of Travis’s cologne lingering in the air, Mira’s toys scattered across the living room rug, and the faint hum of the sound machine from the nursery down the hall.

Austin stood just inside the doorway, taking it all in like it was a museum — something he hadn’t experienced in a long time. I glanced back at him and smiled.

“You’re home.”

He nodded slowly, his voice quiet. “Yeah… yeah, I think I am.”

—

Travis and I finally had a moment to breathe after dinner. The girls were down—Mira fast asleep in the bassinet and Lily knocked out on the couch after insisting she wasn’t tired. Austin was in the kitchen rinsing dishes, trying to be helpful. I appreciated it, even if he didn’t need to do much.

I leaned against the kitchen island, sipping on sparkling water, watching Travis as he loaded a few plates into the dishwasher. Austin dried his hands and turned around, leaning back against the counter.

“So…” he started, glancing between the two of us, “we should probably talk about the whole… alcohol thing.”

I nodded, setting my glass down. “Yeah, I figured we’d get there.”

Travis gave a small sigh and wiped his hands on a towel. “I told Tay we’d clear the place out if you were coming.”

Austin looked surprised. “You don’t have to do that.”