Fearless

Chapter 26 - Confetti Falls To The Ground

July 10th

Taylor

It's been months of long days and endless hours on the road, but finally we've reached the final show of my first ever headlining tour. Its been one hell of a year but I have never been more proud of anything in my life.

I became a mom and I traveled for ten months with my baby and I never missed a single show. I couldn't dream of a better outcome for this tour than to be able to say that I did this as a single mom, that's the message I wanted to give my daughter and that's what I accomplished.

Karlie had to go out of town for a shoot but she's back later today and she's coming straight here for the last show. Getting to play Gillette stadium is an absolute dream and I want everyone I love here for this.

"Why are you being grumpy, Lottie? Is uncle Tay boring you?" I pout at the toddler as Taylor frowns, faking offence as the fussy toddler knocks down all of her bricks in a huff for the millionth time. "I could never bore her, could I?" He makes a silly voice and Violet's attitude quickly changes back to her usual bubbly and giggly self for a minute at least.

"She's just grumpy cause she misses Karlie, she doesn't like her mama being gone," Violet has struggled since Kar went back to work after the accident, especially since she's in the really clingy phase and Karlie is her absolute favourite person. "I'm not going to say I told you so, but I did push you to text her."

I roll my eyes as I laugh, he never let's me forget that one little detail. "I know and I love you for it," we both laugh as I shake my head and Violet stares up at him, she really loves her uncle Taylor.

"They're ready for sound check, Tay," Liz pops her head in and I nod, "you wanna go for a walk, Vi?" She babbles as I pick her up and settle her on my hip and then we all make our way out to the stage for sound check. Tay keeps Violet occupied off to the side and I grab my microphone from the tech guys before joining the rest of my band in the middle of the stage.

"This is crazy," I laugh as I look out into the empty stadium, this is the biggest venue we've ever played and there is so much joy in knowing that in a few hours I get to perform the songs I wrote on my bedroom floor to a sold out crowd in this stadium. "This is down to all your hard work, kid," Paul pats my shoulder as he stands beside me and I look to him with a smile, "I couldn't have done it without you guys." I wrap him in a hug and he hugs me back, my band really are like my second family and I don't know what I would do without them.

Karlie

When I get to the stadium I get a text from Tree saying that the driver is going to drop me off and someone will meet me to take me to Taylor. It's the last show of her first ever world tour and I promised I would be here so it's been a hectic day but I was determined not to let her down.

The driver drops me off and security immediately escorts me into the building. "Hey Karlie, she's still in sound check so I'll show you to the stage," Erika, Taylor's assistant, is the one who meets me inside and I give her a warm smile as she leads the way through the stadium. "Right through there," she smiles as she points the way and I thank her again, letting her get back to her job.

I go in the direction she pointed and I quickly spot Taylor with her band and Violet being occupied by her Uncle Taylor and Auntie Abbie. I'm quickly spotted too and Liz points Taylor in my direction, but Violet's little face lights up the second she sees me.

"Mama!" She's standing beside her uncle Tay and before any of us really realise what's happening, she starts toddling towards me all on her own. "Hey baby girl," I laugh in disbelief as I pick her up, kissing the toddler's little face as Taylor comes over, "you're such a clever girl, Vi!" The blonde covers her face in kisses, "she's been desperate to see her mama since you left, but I didn't know she was that desperate."