Invisible String

59

It was the kind of quiet morning that felt rare lately. Baylor had just gone down for his nap, Mira was drinking milk while cuddled up next to Lily on the couch, and I was halfway through folding a mountain of laundry. Travis was in the kitchen making coffee, humming some half-remembered tune from the radio.

Then his phone rang.

I barely looked up until I heard the tone in his voice change.

“This is Travis,” he answered, voice casual at first. But after a pause, he stood up straighter. “Oh—yes, of course. She’s here with me.”

I looked up, a little worried now. He turned to me slowly, eyes locked on mine.

“Yeah. One second.” He covered the phone with his hand. “Tay—it’s about Mira.”

I dropped the shirt I was folding. “What about her?”

He motioned for me to take the phone, and I did, trying to keep my voice even as I said, “Hello?”

“Mrs. Kelce? I’m with New York Child and Family Services. I know this is sudden, but I wanted to reach out to you and your husband directly. You were listed as the adoptive parents of Mira Rae Kelce, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.” My voice was tight. I braced myself.

“I know you haven’t taken any new placements in years, but we always try to prioritize keeping siblings together. Mira’s biological mother, Emma… she had another baby. A little girl. Seven months old. Unfortunately, the situation she was in was unsafe. She’s currently in emergency foster care.”

I blinked. My knees hit the couch behind me and I sat down slowly. “She’s Mira’s full sibling?”

“Yes, ma’am. Same mother, same legal background. We’re calling because we know how close you are to Mira’s case. You’re already in the system. You would be the first call before we explore other placements.”

I looked across the room at Travis, who was already frozen, watching me. Lily and Mira were oblivious, humming along with the TV, heads leaned together.

My heart was pounding. Seven months old. Another baby. Mira’s sister.

“I… I don’t even know what to say,” I said honestly, blinking back a thousand thoughts at once.

“You don’t have to decide right this second,” the voice said kindly. “But time is important. We’re trying to move her to a more permanent home quickly. You and Mr. Kelce are in a unique position to provide that stability—and that connection.”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “We’ll talk about it. And call you back today.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

When I hung up, I just stared at the phone in my hand.

Travis sat beside me, not saying anything for a second.

Then he said it quietly: “Another baby.”

“Her sister,” I whispered. “Another biological sibling. For Mira.”

We sat in silence, both of us staring at the girls on the couch.

Our three had come to us in such different ways—Lily through open adoption, Mira in that beautiful blur of heartache and surprise, and Baylor, the most shocking miracle of them all.

And now, here was another baby. A child who already belonged to Mira in a way no one else ever would.

“I know we said we were done,” I said softly.