Uncovered Secret: Taylor Swift Has A Daughter - Fanfiction

Chapter 17: Confronting Joe

As I dialed Joe's number, my fingers trembled slightly against the cold screen of my phone. The ringing seemed to echo the pounding in my chest. Bridget had shown an unwavering support towards me, confronting John Mayer fearlessly. It was my turn to stand up for her, to address the unfulfilled promise that left a void in her heart on a day meant to be filled with joy.

The call connected, and Joe's familiar voice filled the silence, "Taylor?"

His voice still had that calm soothing tone that once comforted me, but now it just brought a rush of conflicting emotions.

"Joe, we need to talk about Bridget's birthday," my voice was steady, but the concern laced each word.

"I figured you'd call about that," he said, his voice carrying a note of indifference that stung.

"Joe, she waited for you. You promised her," I held back the emotions threatening to spill over.

"I know, I know. But seeing her life becoming a public spectacle... it's not what I want for me. I don't want everyone to know what I'm doing."

His words felt like a jab, a reminder of the stark difference in our lives that once drove us apart.

"It's not about you Joe, it's about her! And she's handling it wel, better than we both anticipated. She's strong, just like us," I tried to keep the conversation on track, focusing on Bridget's feelings rather than our past differences.

"Well, that's where we differ, Taylor. I value my privacy, and I can't have that with the life you've chosen to expose Bridget to," his tone was cold, detached.

Before I could respond, he continued, "And there's something else. I have a fiancee now."

The words hit like a bolt from the blue. He had moved on, a reality I hadn't been prepared for. Of course, this was bound to happen, it's been years since we separated. But we always stayed cordial for the sake of Bridget.

"Oh, congratulations," I managed to say, though my mind was racing with a thousand thoughts.

"Thank you. See, this is the beauty of leading a private life, Taylor. There's so much you didn't know," he retorted, his words carrying a thinly veiled jab at the life I had chosen.

The bitterness in his tone was a stark contrast to the love and care I had always associated with Joe. His words cut through, but it wasn't about me, it was about Bridget. Our Bridget. The thought of her tear-streaked face last evening fueled my resolve.

"Joe," I breathed out, barely containing the torrent of emotions. "There's so much you don't know too. You don't know that Bridget has started writing poetry, each verse filled with a wisdom beyond her years. You don't know that she has a love for the old classics, just like you. You don't know that she stays up late into the night reading, or that she's absolutely amazing at sports."

I could feel my voice tremble, but I pressed on, "You don't know that she spent last night, her birthday night, crying because you weren't there. You don't know how she talks about you all the time, wonders what you're doing, if you'd be proud of her."

The silence on the other end of the line was deafening, but I had more to say, "You don't know how her eyes light up when she talks about the times you took her to the museum, the park... You've missed so much, Joe. And it's not just about privacy or the public eye. It's about being there for her, through thick and thin, through every little milestone and every stumbling block."

The silence continued, and when Joe finally spoke, his voice was devoid of the warmth I once knew, "Taylor, I need to protect my life too. I have someone else to think about now."

His words were a cold splash of reality. The Joe I once knew seemed to have retreated behind a wall I couldn't breach.

"I hope you understand," he added, though his voice carried no trace of hope, only a detached finality.

The conversation ended, leaving a gaping hole of unresolved issues and unspoken emotions. But my focus wasn't on Joe or the life he chose to lead. It was on Bridget, my sweet, resilient Bridget.

I knew I had to be there for her, to fill the spaces left vacant by unkept promises. One thing was for certain - Joe just became a deadbeat dad.

As I hung up the phone, the silence in the room seemed to echo the void left by the harsh reality that had just unfolded. My heart ached not for me, but for Bridget. The door creaked open, pulling me from my reverie. It was Bridget, her eyes brimming with tears yet holding a fierce determination.

"I... I heard," she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips before she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. I felt a shudder run through her body as she buried her face into my shoulder.

Holding her close, I whispered soothing words, trying to absorb the storm that raged within her tender heart. As a mother, my instincts screamed to shield her from the pain, from the disappointment that threatened to cast a long shadow on her youthful spirit.

We sat down on the couch, her head resting on my lap as I gently stroked her hair. The silence between us spoke volumes, a mix of understanding, shared pain, and an unbreakable bond that had weathered many a storm.

"I just don't get it, mom," she finally murmured, her voice quivering with the effort to hold back her tears. "Why doesn't he want to be part of my life anymore?"

The question hung in the air, a heavy cloud threatening to suffocate the joy that had once filled our lives.

"I wish I had the answers, sweetheart," I whispered back, my own voice choked with emotion. "But always remember, no matter what, I'm here for you. We have a beautiful life filled with people who adore you. And who knows, your dad might come around one day."

She nodded, her grip tightening around me as if drawing strength from the unyielding bond we shared.