Taylor lay in bed, the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the steady flow of the feeding tube her constant companions. The morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of the master bedroom, casting a warm glow over the room. Travis had left early for the game, his good-luck kiss still tingling on her lips. She watched him leave with a mix of pride and longing, wishing she could be there to support him in person.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Taylor stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. She had been on strict bed rest for weeks, and the confinement was wearing her down. Today was a special day; the Chiefs were playing at home, and the pull to see Travis in action was stronger than ever. The idea of sneaking out began to take root in her mind. And it made it even more intriguing to be able to taste the feeling of freedom again and not on house arrest.
Taylor knew the risks. She was now 37 weeks pregnant with triplets, a high-risk pregnancy that required constant monitoring and rest. But she also knew that her heart yearned to want to get out and to be by Travis's side, to cheer him on in person. The more she thought about it, the more determined she became.
She carefully disconnected the feeding tube and heart monitor, her hands trembling slightly. She couldn't risk being discovered by Andrea, who would be in soon to check on her and still had no idea that Taylor was having triplets. Taylor moved slowly, making sure everything was in place before she slipped out of bed. She dressed quickly in loose, comfortable clothes that would hide her condition as best as possible.
Once she was dressed she walked into the living room where her daughter Ophelia sat watching tv
"Mom where are you going you know you're not supposed to be up walking around and doing physical activity." Ophelia said.
"Ophelia I swear to god if you tell your father I'm leaving I will not hesitate to ground you and you don't want to mess with an angry pregnant woman, let me have my freedom for once!!!!" Taylor said raising her volume just ever so slightly.
"Okay mom you win just please don't let dad see you and please be careful." Her daughter replied and Taylor nodded walking out the door.
---
Taylor managed to make her way outside the house without drawing any attention. Her heart pounded with a mix of excitement and fear as she called for a car. She knew the driver, Greg, was discreet and trustworthy, having worked for her for years. When he arrived, he gave her a concerned look but said nothing, simply helping her into the back seat.
"Where to, Miss Swift?" Greg asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
"To the stadium, Greg," she replied, her voice steady. "And please, don't mention this to anyone."
Greg nodded and drove off, his eyes occasionally flicking back to check on her. Taylor leaned back in the seat, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this, but the thought of seeing Travis play in person gave her a sense of determination she hadn't felt in weeks.
---
The stadium was a hive of activity when they arrived. Taylor pulled a baseball cap low over her face and donned oversized sunglasses, hoping to avoid being recognized. Greg helped her navigate the bustling crowds, leading her to the VIP section where Travis's family usually sat.
When she reached the seats, she was greeted by Travis's mother, Donna, and his brother, Jason and Kylie. They were initially shocked to see her but quickly enveloped her in warm hugs.
"Taylor! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting?" Donna asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"I couldn't stay away, I was getting tired of Travis being my quote helicopter parent to me and I it feels like being on house arrest along with just laying there thinking about the fact that I'll now be stuck living with a feeding tub for the rest of my life." Taylor admitted, smiling weakly. "I needed to see Travis play. Please don't tell him I'm here."
Donna exchanged a look with Jason, who shrugged. "Well, you're here now. Let's make sure you're comfortable," she said, guiding Taylor to a seat.
The game was intense, every play filled with high stakes and palpable energy. Taylor's heart swelled with pride as she watched Travis dominate on the field. She cheered and clapped along with his family, feeling a sense of normalcy she hadn't experienced in a long time.
As the game drew to a close, the Chiefs emerged victorious. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Taylor felt a rush of exhilaration. She couldn't wait to see Travis and share in his joy. But her excitement was short-lived as she felt a familiar, and very unwelcome, pair of eyes on her.
---
Travis had been in the locker room, celebrating with his teammates, when a teammate mentioned seeing someone who looked a lot like Taylor in the stands. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly excused himself, making his way to where his family said they were to meet with him.
He spotted her immediately. Taylor was standing with his family, laughing and talking, looking more beautiful than ever. His initial joy at seeing her turned to worry and anger. She was supposed to be on bed rest, not out at a crowded stadium.
"Taylor!" he called out, striding towards her.
Taylor turned, her smile faltering when she saw the expression on his face. "Travis, I—" she started panicking which made the heart monitor start to beep faster.
"What are you doing here?" he interrupted, his voice a mix of relief and frustration.
"I needed to get out," she said softly. "I couldn't stay away."
Travis's expression softened as he pulled her into a gentle embrace. "You shouldn't have taken this risk. What if something had happened?"
"I'm fine, really," Taylor insisted. "I just wanted to be here for you."
Travis sighed, holding her close. "I appreciate it, but your health and the baby are more important. Now we're leaving."
"Okay," Taylor whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Travis." She started to cry.
"Thank you Travis you made a pregnant woman cry," Kylie said. "Let her have her freedom just for once!"
"Kylie please don't she's already having heart issues and and digestive issues, her stomach became paralyzed immediately after we found out she was pregnant and she started having heart issues with it and that's when she got diagnosed with POTS." Travis said in a calm but serious tone.
As Travis grabbed Taylor's hand leading her out the exit of the stadium Taylor didn't look anywhere but the ground. She felt guilty and ashamed for what had happened she never had meant to make him mad.
Together, they made their way back home, with Greg ready to take them home. Travis kept a protective arm around Taylor, grateful that she was safe but determined to ensure she followed the doctor's orders from now on. The excitement of the game faded, replaced by the quiet understanding that their family's well-being came first.
As they drove home, Taylor leaned against Travis, as she was trying so hard not to cry her sniffing and the heart monitor were the 2 things you could hear through the dead silent car ride. Once they got home Travis helped her inside where he helped her get to bed and as soon as she got into bed she was out cold. He made sure to hook back up the feeding tube to the machine by the bed before he left.
He then went to go talk to Ophelia about how this happened.
"Why and how did your mom get out of the house?" He asked.
"Well she kind of threatened to ground me and then said to not mess with an angry pregnant lady and then proceeded to finally say to let her have her freedom. Trust me dad I tried to stop her she wouldn't listen." Ophelia replied and Travis nodded walking back to his and Taylor's bedroom. He got in bed right beside her and placed his hand around her big bump and fell asleep with her.
