Lady in RED || Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

She feared the worst

Amid the media frenzy that followed their pregnancy announcement, Taylor and Travis decided to stay hidden at their Bahamian retreat. Their beachfront home offered seclusion, a sanctuary away from the cameras and chaos while they waited for the buzz to die down. But even in paradise, life had its obligations. Travis had been called to a meeting with the Chiefs' ownership and management team, and the time had come for him to leave for Kansas City.

His bag was packed and sitting by the door, waiting for security to bring the car around. Taylor stood in his arms, her head resting against his chest, unwilling to let him go just yet. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat calmed her, even as her heart ached at the thought of him leaving.

"Only a couple more weeks," Travis says, his voice low and comforting as he leaned down to kiss her gently, "and then I can announce my retirement."

Taylor's grip tightened around his waist. "I know it's selfish of me, but I still just want you to myself," she admitted, her voice muffled against his chest.

He smiled, his hand moving to stroke her hair. "I get it, babe. But I've got a few loose ends to tie up while I'm in KC. Send me a list if there's anything you want from your closet or if your staff needs me to bring anything back."

As the black SUV pulled up outside, Travis gave her one last squeeze, reluctant to let her go. He tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply, his lips lingering on hers as if to make up for the time they'd spend apart.

"Sweetie," he said softly, his voice full of affection, "I love you. I'll be back before you know it."

Taylor placed her hand on her now obvious baby bump, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness. "We'll be waiting for you."

The next day, the ocean breeze drifted through the open veranda, but Taylor could barely appreciate the beauty of the view. It was 10 a.m., and Travis should have been deep in his meeting by now. She paced back and forth, her arms crossed over her chest, her nerves prickling at the edges of her calm.

Last night, Travis had FaceTimed her before bed. He'd stayed on the call until she drifted off to sleep, his presence soothing even from miles away. Still, the worry lingered. From the moment his plane landed in Kansas City, he'd been mobbed by paparazzi, a swarm of cameras waiting for a glimpse of the couple whose announcement had set the internet ablaze. Thankfully, the security team had kept them at bay, but the situation was unsettling. They'd even had to increase security for their families.

A text buzzed on her phone, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Good morning, sunshine. I missed waking up with you, Travis had written.

Taylor smiled softly as she typed back: I miss you too. Can you call me as soon as you're done with your meeting?

Will do. Love you, came his quick reply.

Love you more, she responded, setting the phone down but keeping it within reach.

By 11:48 a.m., Taylor was checking the clock every few minutes. She figured the meeting had to be wrapping up soon, but she couldn't stop herself from worrying. To distract herself, she started tidying up the living room, moving pillows and organizing books without much purpose.

Linda, the house manager, arrived shortly after, clipboard in hand. She was a calming presence, a maternal figure who had quickly become one of Taylor's favorite people. With four children and nine grandchildren, Linda always had advice, wisdom, or a listening ear to offer.

As they went over the grocery list and staff requests for the week, Taylor found herself spilling her concerns. "Linda, I don't know if it's the hormones or my nerves, but Travis being in this meeting longer than expected is worrying me," she admitted, her voice tinged with unease.