GETAWAY CAR

66. The Light Of Freedom On My Face

January 3rd 2018

•••
Taylor's POV

After a very drunk New Year's Eve, there was a very hungover New Year's Day on which Karlie and I were both feeling a little rough. Yesterday we had a playdate with Blake and her girls and after their protests the other night, Cara and Gigi came along too. It was nice spending time with our friends, but being in New York stresses me out so I can't wait to get back home tonight.

"Are you ready to go, the car is waiting downstairs?" Karlie pops her head around the bedroom door as I finish buttoning Maisie's coat, and I look up with a smile as I nod. "We're all done, aren't we Maisie bug?"I coo as I pick up my daughter, carrying her on my hip as I follow Karlie back downstairs to where my mom and dad are waiting with Tilly in her car seat.

Today we are doing The Tonight Show, and I'm so nervous about it, especially after agreeing to bring the girls. We're not sure whether they're going to be with us during the interview or not yet, because they're too young to predict how they're going to act, but I'm still nervous either way. I haven't done a public appearance since before I was pregnant with Maisie, and that was nearly two years ago.

"It's going to be okay." I feel a hand squeeze mine and look up to Karlie who's smiling gently at me. "I know, I'm just not in the habit of doing this anymore, I'm a little nervous." She picks up Matilda's car seat from the ground as my dad hands me the changing bag, and I hold Maisie on my hip. "I know, but I promise we'll be okay." I nod in response and then we leave the apartment, followed closely by my parents into the elevator.

Just like always, Ian is waiting at the bottom with two of his guys. "This is a new experience." He chuckles as he walks us to the door and I nod, "not one that I wanna become accustomed to." He nods and the second he opens the door, my head goes down and I hide Maisie's face in my shoulder. It's easy to hide Matilda since she is still small enough for her car seat and we have the car seat cover to hide her from the cameras, but Maisie is bigger and fussier and that's a whole different story.

I make my way to the car as quickly as possible, security clearing the way for us to walk, and my dad opens Maisie's door for me as I mouth a thank you. Karlie walks around the other side and puts the car seat in the middle and my parents get into the second car as I fix Maisie and slide into the back beside Tilly. We always do our best to ignore the cameras and act as if they're not there, hoping that one day they'll just give up and go away.

•••
Karlie's POV

"Taylor, it's okay to relax." I sigh as she paces the room with Maisie in her arms. We're in a dressing room as we wait for our hair and makeup team to get here, and Taylor is radiating nervous energy. Andrea and Scott went to get lunch, and Tilly is napping in her stroller beside the sofa, and until Taylor picked her up Maisie was playing on her blanket with some toys around her.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know what he's going to ask and it makes me nervous." Taylor doesn't stop her pacing and I sigh as I get up, I know that's not really what's bothering her. I walk over and hold her by the shoulders so that she stops walking, and I make her look into my eyes. "Gimme the baby." She reluctantly hands Maisie over, and I kiss her cheek as I sit her back down on the ground where she was previously playing. "Now, come and sit down and talk to me about what's really bothering you." I give her my best reassuring smile and lead her back to the couch.

"It's nearly been a year." She sighs and I squeeze her thigh. I know exactly what she's worried about. "He's in prison, babe. There's nothing he can do to hurt you or our girls." I hold her face in my hand, stroking her cheek with my thumb. "How are you so neutral, you nearly died, Karlie." She looks as if she's about to burst into tears, so I quickly scoop her into my arms. "Because I know that if I think about it, then I'm going to have to admit that what happened to you was my fault. I was the one that took Maisie out of the house, I was the one responsible for her, I was the reason he ended up with her. If I had never left the house then we would've had proper security and we would've been safe, and you would never have had to go to him, you would never have been-" I'm getting upset now, and Taylor stops me before I can finish my sentence, leaning her forehead against mine as she gently pulls her fingers through my hair.