I Hate California

twenty nine

To be honest with you, I didn't want to look at the results either. Taylor ended up sitting on the the lid of the toilet and all I could do was try and whisper comforting things into her ear. The timer on her phone went off and she immediately pushed me away from her as her eyes widen from fear. I approached the sink and looked at myself in the mirror and took one last look at Taylor who watched my every move.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Pregnant.

Was what all five of them read. I was frightened. I didn't know what to say, what to do. I stared at the tests carefully, making sure I was reading it right. None of the lines were faint, they were as clear as day.

"W-What is it Joe?" Her voice trembled. I looked her in the eyes as tears appeared and carefully wrapped her in my arms.

Shocked by my movements, she wrapped her arms around me, "Am I pregnant?".

I nodded my head as I kissed her head, assuring her that it was going to be okay.

"You're pregnant, all of them are positive" I tell her and she lets out a silent cry. I feel her tremble in my arms and I continue to rock us back and forth, rubbing her back. I couldn't do much but just support her and let her know that I was right here, I wasn't going to leave.

She looked up at me with her tear stained face and her lips trembled, "I had sex with Travis, Joe".

I shook my head, no matter whose kid this is, I wasn't going to leave her. I wasn't going to let her run away from me again.

I continued to hold her as she cried into my chest, "I don't care, I won't leave you".

"I need to know that this baby is yours, it needs to be yours" She pleads into my chest.

We knew that she needed to wait a few weeks into her pregnancy to be for sure and then we would be able to get a DNA test done. I was worried for her to perform on that stage. She continued to assure me that she was going to be careful, that she would stop if it got too much for her.

"If I really need to, like really, really need to then I'll stop. I'll postpone the shows and give everyone refunds, flights, stays, and everything. I won't let anything happen to this baby" She tells me and I trusted her, after her first miscarriage, she wasn't going to let anything harm another one of her babies.

That's when we heard banging on the bedroom door and she quickly hid the pregnancy tests and we exited the bathroom as she dried her tears.

"Why'd you guys lock the door? You told me, no locking!" Sage screamed after I unlocked it, letting her in.

I chuckled at her little anger voice, "I'm sorry darling, I must've done it by accident".

Taylor gives her daughter a soft smile and sits back down on the bed.

"Mommy, can you play with me?" Sage asks walking over to her. Taylor ruffled Sage's already messy blonde hair and nodded. Sage pulled her arm with her right hand and led her into her bedroom.

The hardest part wasn't over yet, Sage didn't know, know one else knew. I knew that Taylor was terrified to tell Sage, terrified to tell her that her Mother was going to have another baby and Sage hasn't had her Mother to herself for even a whole year yet.

-

"Mommy, are you tired? I know you perform again soon" Sage says looking up at me. We finished playing CandyLand and we sat on the floor of her bedroom as I put the pieces away.

I smiled at her, "I'm just a little tired, but it's normal. Don't worry baby, I'll be okay for my next shows".

My heart tightened, knowing how observant my daughter was. I wanted to tell her, I wanted to tell her right away, but I was afraid. Would she want a little sibling? She's so attached to me, she side eyed everyone I gave the 22 hat to after her. Complaining after the show on why she didn't get them again and even instructed me that I couldn't hold another little girl's face or kiss their hands, I could only do that to her.

I needed to spend as much time with her as possible, I wanted to make this all about her and bond with her as much as possible, which meant that she needed to be with me everywhere now.

Joe and I talked about the traveling and he agreed to it all which surprised me, just making sure that Sage wouldn't get too overwhelmed with traveling and us making sure her health always comes first. I decided that my parents needed to come into the picture with helping take care of her on tour while Joe's parents are still in London.

I quickly rang my Mom, telling her that Sage would continue to tour with me and I knew she would be overjoyed to take care of her grandbaby.

"Of course! Your Dad and I can't wait to see her again!" My Mom exclaimed through the phone.

"Thank you so much, it means a lot to me" I thank her, I didn't want Joe to handle Sage all alone. Sage was going to have a whole army in front and behind her at all times during my concerts.

"Hey, maybe Sage can finally meet the cats" My Mom says, making me chuckle. I've mentioned them to Sage, here and there. Honestly, I don't think she's a cat person, Joe's parents have a dog and thats the only animal she's even been with in person, which is why I was kind of afraid to introduce the cats to her.

"Oh god, we'll see about that. How are they?" I ask her. I haven't seen my cats in months, every since Sage and Joe first went to New York, I had my Mom take them home to Nashville.

My Mom continued to tell me how the cats could really care less about where they are and basically ignore my parents, unless they were hungry. Sounded like them.

"Mommy" Sage says walking into the room. She wrapped her arms around my waist and stayed there as my Mom and I said our goodbyes. She wanted to surprise Sage on tour, so Sage wasn't going to know until she saw them, herself.

I needed to tell her, a part of me was telling me to wait, but at the same time I wanted her to be one of the first to know. I needed to know what she thinks. We decided to join Joe downstairs where he was answering emails on his laptop at the dining table. Sage jumped into his lap and he smothered her in kisses, making me smile at both of them.

-
Hello! Oh my goodness there are so many things I have planned for this story, but I've got to take it one step at a time. Anyways.... I'm so excited for you all to see what comes next, the surprises, more excitement, and the drama... ;)

See you in the next chapter!

ALSO, Taylor has been acting UP on stage, so much confidence and just her being her hot goofy self, just go for it girlie.