Invisible String

42

"I'm three!" Lily said, puffing out her chest like it was the most important detail in the world.

"Well, three looks fabulous on you," Selena said with a wink, then looked over at me and Travis, her expression softening. "You guys look so happy."

I smiled as Travis stood up to give her a one-armed hug, still holding Mira. "We are," I said, my voice a little quiet. "Somehow, we really are."

Selena stepped over and hugged me, too-tightly. "You deserve it, Tay."

Mira reached out and grabbed a chunk of Selena's hair, babbling loudly. Selena laughed and gently pried her fingers free. "Oh wow, strong grip. You're definitely a Swift."

"She's Mira," Travis said proudly, "a little chaos in a fleece suit."

"Perfect," Selena grinned. "You want me to take a photo of all of us?"

"Yes," I said instantly. "Yes, please. Wait, no-get in one with us first."

Travis flagged down a teen nearby with a camera and asked if they'd snap one for us. So there we stood, our tiny crew of bundled chaos, all grins and messy hats and cold noses. Mira tried to eat Selena's glove, Lily held her blinking wand like a torch of victory, and Travis rested his chin on my head like he always did.

Click.

I knew in my bones this was one of those photos we'd look back on one day and remember exactly what it felt like to be here. To be us.

"Okay," Selena said, scrolling through the pictures after, "I'm framing this one. And this one. And... probably this one, too."

"You're basically part of the family now," Travis said with a grin.

"Basically?" she said with mock offense.

"Fine. You've been adopted. It's official."

Selena raised her cup of cocoa. "To family, found and made."

And right there in the glowing lights, with Mira snuggled into my chest and Lily dancing under the snow machine that had just kicked on, I felt it again-that sense of deep, quiet magic.

"Slutty Christmas or not," I whispered to Travis, "this might be my favorite December ever."

Snowflakes drifted down slowly, twinkling in the lights strung between the trees. Lily was stomping her boots in rhythm to a caroling group down the path, her mittened hands flailing as she danced in a circle. Mira was tucked under my coat, her little hand curled around my thumb, eyes fluttering with that drowsy look that told me she'd be out cold within minutes.

"Your kid just did the worm in the snow," Selena said beside me, sipping her hot chocolate with a smirk.

"She's committed," I replied, shaking my head but smiling. "You should've seen her when she found out cocoa came with marshmallows. She lost her mind."

"She gets it from you," Travis teased as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder again, warm breath tickling my skin through the scarf.

"Oh, definitely," Selena nodded. "You went full feral over that peppermint mocha last week."

"It was limited edition!" I said defensively.

"You cried," Travis whispered into my ear, and I smacked his arm with a playful glare.

We walked further into the park, the light displays getting grander the deeper we went. There were trees glowing in every color imaginable, snowmen playing trumpets, and even a giant lit-up sleigh kids could climb into for photos.