Invisible String

42

Travis blinked. "You want me to invite people to spontaneously fly in for cocoa and string lights?"

"It's not that crazy. We know dramatic people," I grinned. "Just send it. Whoever shows up, shows up."

He chuckled and typed it out. "If Selena shows up in head-to-toe tinsel I'm blaming you."

"Deal," I said. "But if she brings more marshmallows, I win."

He hit send, looked at me with a smirk, and held his phone up. "Message delivered. Let's see who bites."

Within ten minutes, the group chat was buzzing.

Selena: I'm already in town. I'll meet you there with bells on. Literally. I have a scarf with jingle bells.

Sabrina: If you bring hot boys and hot chocolate, I'll Uber to the airport right now.

Austin: Do I get free cocoa if I wear a Santa suit?

Tree: Do I need to bring extra gloves for Lily?

Travis glanced at me as the messages rolled in. "You're a menace," he said with that lopsided smirk, handing me the phone so I could scroll. I laughed quietly, trying not to wake Mira, who was nestled into my chest now with her hand splayed out dramatically like she was already dreaming.

"Remind me to pack the toddler mittens," I murmured, setting the phone down on the counter. "And Lily's pink hat. If we forget it, she'll claim it's 'too cold to smile' again."

Travis grinned and wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing his chin to my shoulder as he peeked at Mira. "She's gonna be a popsicle if we're not careful. Think she's big enough for the carrier under your coat?"

"Barely," I whispered, kissing the top of Mira's head. "But I'll wear her anyway. One last snuggle ride before she's too big."

He was quiet for a beat, then said, "I like this tradition. Lights, cocoa, spontaneous family chaos."

I leaned back into him. "Same. It's the perfect distraction from the chaos we don't control."

Just then, Lily barreled into the room in her sparkly boots, already half-dressed for outside. "I found my snowflake wand! I can be the Snow Queen of the park!"

"You've always been royalty," I said with a dramatic bow.

She giggled and twirled, nearly knocking over Travis in the process. He laughed, scooping her up and spinning her once. "All hail Queen Lily of the Sugarplum Sidewalk."

And just like that, we were bundled, loaded into the car, and off to meet whoever was wild enough to join us under the Christmas lights.

Travis's phone buzzed again as we were pulling into the parking lot near the light display. He glanced down, chuckled, and handed it to me.

Kylie: Sorry, guys. We can't make it tonight. I'm basically a bowling ball with legs. Baby boy is almost full term and sitting on every nerve I have. Have fun and send pics ❤️

I smiled softly as I read it aloud.

"Aw, poor Ky," I said, glancing at Travis. "She's so close."

"She's a champ," he muttered, pulling into a spot. "That's gonna be us again one day, isn't it?"

"Speak for yourself," I teased. "I'm still healing from Mira's birth trauma-by-teeth. I think she came out teething."

Travis laughed as he parked and twisted around to look at the girls. Lily had her face pressed against the window already, eyes wide at the lights across the park. Mira, in her puffy pink sleep sack and fleece hat, was blinking up at me in total confusion, like she had woken up on the moon.