Invisible String

46

Just a few moments after Travis hit send on the text to Kylie, his phone buzzed loudly. He glanced down and saw her name flashing on the screen.

“Looks like Kylie’s calling,” he said, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.

He swiped to answer, and immediately her breathless voice came through. “Travis! Oh my god, I just got your message. Are you guys okay? Where are you? Can I come? I’m— I’m ready to meet him!”

Travis took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm but warm. “Hey, Kylie. Yeah, we’re doing okay. Taylor’s resting now. He’s beautiful, really healthy.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before Kylie said, “I’m on my way. I want to be there for you both. And the girls— they’re excited too.”

I watched Travis close his eyes and smile softly, relief and gratitude washing over his face.

“Tell the girls we love them,” he said quietly. “We’ll see you soon.”

Kylie’s voice softened. “We’ll be there soon. Hang in there, you two.”

He ended the call and looked over at me. “They’re coming.”

I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of family closing the circle around us — just in time for Christmas.

As I helped our little guy latch on, feeling the softness of his tiny mouth against me, a question weighed heavy on my mind. I glanced up just as the nurse walked back in, and I gathered the courage to ask.

“So… I drank the entire time I was pregnant with him,” I said quietly, voice trembling a little. “How will that affect him?”

The nurse’s face softened with understanding. “Thank you for telling me, Taylor. The effects can vary — some babies might have developmental delays or other challenges, but every child is different. The important thing is we’ll keep a close eye on him and provide any support he needs.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I just want to do right by him.”

Travis reached over and squeezed my hand gently. “We will, Tay. No matter what, he’s already so loved.”

The nurse smiled reassuringly. “That love is the best place to start.”

I looked up at the nurse, worry creeping into my voice. “So… he won’t have withdrawals, right? I mean, I didn’t drink every day, but it was enough.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “It’s possible for some babies to experience withdrawal symptoms, but it really depends on how much and how often. Since it wasn’t every day, there’s a good chance he won’t have severe symptoms. We’ll monitor him closely over the next few days just to be safe.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself. “Okay. I just want to make sure he’s going to be okay.”

Travis tightened his grip on my hand. “He’s strong, and he’s got us.”

The nurse smiled gently. “That’s exactly what he needs.”

I glanced down at our little guy nestled against me, then looked over at Travis with a tired smile. “You know,” I said softly, “we didn’t really pack any clothes for him. We didn’t expect to be bringing a baby home today.”

Travis chuckled quietly. “Yeah, just a surprise addition to the Christmas list.”

I called the nurse over gently. “Hey, do you think we could get some clothes for him? Something small, maybe newborn size?”

She smiled warmly. “Of course! We have a supply of baby clothes here—you can pick out whatever you like. I’ll bring some by in a few minutes.”

I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. Even in all the unexpectedness, these little things made it feel real, like we were really starting this new chapter.