Guarding Her Heart | t.swift

Chapter 46: Through the Holiday Haze

When the tour ended, Taylor decided to head home to Nashville to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family. Andrea had been insistent that Quincy join them, and after some coaxing, Taylor managed to get Quincy to agree.

Quincy was constantly lost in thought. The lack of work left her with little distraction from the holiday hurt. Taylor noticed the distant look in Quincy's eyes but wasn't sure how to ask about it.

Andrea was gentle with Quincy, patient and understanding for the hurt that followed her at such a time. She did her best to make her feel included, wanted, and cherished, which Quincy was grateful for even if she couldn't show it.

On Thanksgiving Day, the house was filled with the comforting aroma of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the traditional trimmings.

The family bustled around, preparing the meal and setting the table. Quincy tried to immerse herself in the activity, helping where she could, but her mind kept drifting back to the past.

As they sat down for dinner, Andrea gave a warm speech about gratitude and family. She then turned to Quincy and said, "We're so grateful to have you with us this year, Quin. You've become such an important part of our lives. I believe I speak for everyone when I say you've become part of the family, and we hope you always feel welcome here."

A chorus of agreements filled the air, Austin adding a playful punch to his agreement.

Quincy felt a lump form in her throat. The kindness and acceptance from the Swift family touched her deeply. She managed a small, appreciative smile and nodded, her voice too choked with emotion to respond.

After dinner, as everyone settled into the living room for dessert, Taylor finally found a quiet moment to sit with Quincy.

"You've been really quiet lately," Taylor said softly, her eyes full of concern. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Quincy hesitated, the familiar urge to shut down and hide her feelings bubbling up. But then she looked at Taylor, at the genuine worry in her eyes, and something inside her softened.

Maybe it was time to let someone in, to share the burden she had been carrying for so long.

Taking a deep breath, Quincy began to speak. "The holidays have always been difficult for me. I lost my mom and my sister around this time of year, and it's just... it's hard to feel any joy when all I can think about is what I've lost."

Taylor's grip on Quincy's hand tightened slightly, neither of them thinking about Quincy's newest wounds. "I'm so sorry, Quincy. That's... unimaginable. I can't even pretend to know what that's like."

Quincy looked down at their intertwined hands. "It's a pain that's hard to describe. And being around everyone, seeing them so happy and celebrating... it just feels like a reminder of what I've lost."

Taylor nodded, her eyes shining with empathy. "I understand. Well, I mean, I don't really understand, but I get what you're saying. And I want you to know, you don't have to go through this alone. We're here for you."

Quincy looked up, meeting Taylor's gaze. "Merci, Taylor. It means a lot to me."

For the rest of the evening, Quincy felt a bit lighter. The pain and sadness were still there, but sharing her feelings had eased the burden slightly.

Austin had joined the women, and together, they sat on the grass eating dessert. After a few moments of silence, Taylor spoke up, her voice soft. "You know, you don't have to pretend to be okay all the time. It's okay to not be okay."

Quincy sighed, her shoulders relaxing a bit. "I guess I'm just used to putting on a brave face. It's what I've always done."

Austin gave her a small smile and an affectionate nudge. "Well, you don't have to do that here. Not with us."