Hope For Us Yet

Chapter Ten: A Second Chance

"Mom, I don't need more vitamins", Taylor assures Andrea, who is feverishly checking to see if we have absolutely all the essentials we need. Her parents, along with Jerr and Austin, have agreed to accompany us on our trip.
"You could catch a bad cold, Taylor, and then be too sick to come home", her mother insists.
"Dad, talk some sense into her".
"You know that what I say won't change a thing, sweetheart", he laughs.
"Your health is important!" Andrea says.
"My health is perfect!" Tay says and zips up an overflowing suitcase.
Austin walks in with a video camera. "Day one of our road to a second chance", he says, pointing it at Tays flustered face.
"What are you doing?" she groans.
"I felt like this should be documented. I mean, it's a pretty amazing thing. What you're both doing".
"Partly my idea", Jerry says, strolling in with another suitcase. "Is everyone ready?"
"I think so. Do we have everything?", I ask.
"I've checked over all of our things seventeen times. I think we're good to go!", Andrea says, confidently.
"If mom says we're good to go, we're good to go", Taylor smiles. "Everyone up!", she says, and we grab our luggage and clamber out the door.

Austin continues his filming. "Thoughts right now? Anyone?" he asks, moving the camera around to get some reactions.
"Did we feed the cats?" Taylor asks, completely ignoring Austin's prompt.
"Yes", Andrea answers.
Austin is clearly annoyed. "I was hoping for something along the lines of, I dunno, gee! I wonder if we're getting a boy or a girl! Or hey, I'm excited that this is finally happening!"
"It's a girl. Austin, you're going to get a lot of good footage once we actually arrive at the place", Jerry says.
"Yeah, but I'd love some feedback on the situation right now".
"Feedback? How about I'm really not in the mood for you, Austin!", Taylor yells. Austin laughs and switches off the camera. "That part's a keeper".

"How come you don't want a boy?", Jerry asks as she drives down the busy road.
"It's not that we don't want one, we'd just think it'd be easier to raise one since we're a two mother family", Taylor says.
"And I am not buying them any more stuff", Austin adds.
"How bout some tunes?" Jerr asks, switching on the radio.
"And the players gonna play, play-"

"No!", Taylor says and leans forward to change the station. "Aw! we haven't heard that in a long time, Tay!", I whine.
"Good", Taylor breathes. "I'm honoured that they want to play it so much, but it's been ten years!"
Andrea laughs and turns around to us, "Ten years and counting, honey".
"Everyone, shh! It's Indy!", Jerry hushes. And it is. My sister is being interviewed about her latest single. We lean in and listen intently.

"It's a very personal thing. Um, I'm sure that's obvious to anyone that's heard to it", she says.

Hope Isn't Far is about me. Minutes after it was released it was in the Top Something on MTVs Whatever, as Indy had described it. I had crumbled on listening to it and finding out who it was written for. It's such a beautiful song. It's my power ballad. My strength on a tough day. The thing is, nobody knows it's about me. I've kept my issues to myself. Of course I wouldn't want the public knowing. As sweet as it would be, I don't want to be showered in "stay strong" messages and "never give up" encouragements. It'd just be so uncomfortable. And unnatural.

Besides, I'm going by Jerry's word and keeping a balanced mind. I have Taylor, my sunshine, my dearest everything. I have my parents, supporting me all the way. I have Indy, who has expressed her support through her beautiful music. Angelo is complicated. A shadow. But just like shadows are, I know he's always there. And I can't forget Jerry. I had always been so oblivious to her support, but that's over now. She smirks at me through the sun shade mirror as if she knows what I'm thinking of.

"Are you sure you know where the hotel is, Jerry?" Andrea asks anxiously. Scott lets out a deep sigh. I try not to laugh.
"Yes, I'm positive", Jerr assures.
"Why Chicago of all places?" Austin asks, the camcorder out again.
"I have a friend that works in the agency", I say. "I thought, why not get a little extra help?"
Taylor squeezes my hand and lovingly smiles at me. She leans in and kisses my cheek.
"That's adorable", Austin says, leaning into our faces.
"Austin!" Taylor groans.

We arrive at nearly five o'clock. Our hotel is a four star down some busy street of this busy city. Taylor gets a call. Austin readies his camera. We crowd around Tay in her car seat.
"Michael, hey!...Uh huh...Yeah, we've just arrived!...Really?...That's wonderful!...That's sooo cute!"
"What's he saying?" I whisper. She holds my hand and beams at me in response before more blunt words are said. After two more minutes, she hangs up.
"The baby is laughing and smiling, and Michael said it's like she knows we're coming!" Taylor says.
"This is gonna be great!", Austin says, switching off the camcorder. "The baby, I mean. Not my movie... which will also be great".
Taylor rolls her eyes and smirks at her brother.

We go to the reception desk and find our hotel rooms. The beds here are round. I never really understood round beds. If you're a restless sleeper at night you could easily fall out, I'm sure. But I don't complain.
"Two days!", Tay says excitedly. "Two more days and we can...we can...". Happy tears begin to form and spill from her pretty face.
I kiss her cheek and dab my sleeve at her eyes. "We've been crying over a lot of things lately, haven't we?", I sigh.
"It's what makes us human", Taylor sniffs.
"Is that so? And what else makes us human, Taylor? You've intrigued me".
"Lots of things. Smiling, laughing, the ability to know that cats are superior to dogs, sing-"
"Excuse me?" I interrupt. "Need I remind you of this nice incident?" I pull back the collar of my shirt to reveal a little gift left from Meredith's claw. It looks like I was attacked by a wild animal. I guess I was, though. It definitely wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"Ugh! Will you let that go?" Taylor groans.
"Not until you teach that cat some manners".

***
I wake up shortly after Taylor. She's smiling, probably after watching me sleep for the last ten minutes. She sighs. "I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight!"
"Me neither", I smile. "I guess we could always-"
"Don't even go there!", Taylor giggles.
"I was going to say do a bit more research about this. Adopting for the first time and all. What were you thinking, Miss Swift?", I say, my words breathy when saying her name.
"My parents are in the room right next to us! I'm not taking my chances. I'll break their hearts".
"I just realised it's always me asking for it".
Taylor laughs, "Because I'm better than you?"
"Oh", I exclaim. Taylor throws her head back laughing. I climb on top of her. "I had you screaming our first night".
"Yeah, I dunno what happened there", Taylor teases. I hit the side of her head. "Ella!", she giggles.
There's a knock at the door. I stand up to answer it.
Jerry waits in the hallway. "We're all going out for a bit. Want to join us?"
"I'm up for that", I say, looking over at Taylor.
"Same", she says and begins to rise from the bed.

For the next few hours we roam the streets, looking in shop windows, hanging around cafés and being interviewed by Austin. "I can't breathe!", Taylor says excitedly. I smile as she answers her brother's questions. Jerry taps away on her laptop looking for anymore helpful information on adoption. Everything feels so calm. That soon changes, however, as I spot a shady figure standing outside the café. Looking directly at me. He slinks away behind the wall.

Markus.

His intense stare is making me feel weak. Without realising, I grip onto Jerry's arm. "What's up, kid?", she says, still focused on the laptop.
"Oh, nothing... excuse me for a sec".
It's him alright. Dear god, if he's still planning on trying to get Taylor back...
"Really? You're still trying?", I say. "How did you even find out about us? How did you know we were here?"
Instead of answering, he grabs my coat and drags me into the alley close by. Clever thinking, confronting a crazy, abusive man by yourself, Ella. But he doesn't attempt to hurt me. Instead I'm pinned against a wall by my hair. I'm really considering cutting this damn thing short.
"Was that Taylor with you?" he asks, not aggressive, but still firm.
"Yes, and you're not going anywhere near her".
"Let's not repeat ourselves", he sneers. "You're getting your kid tomorrow?" I remain silent. "Answer me!"
"Yeah. Why? What are you going to do?"
He doesn't answer. Instead he glares and leaves. I'm left to wonder what horrible things he could be up to. But what could he possibly still be capable of? What is he trying to accomplish? Taylor obviously doesn't want him back. So who is he fighting for?

I try to forget and go back inside the café. He's an idiot, I really shouldn't be worrying. No, I'm going to focus on everything good right now. Everything wonderful that's happening, this amazing gift we've been given.

No one is stopping me from becoming one of the happiest mothers alive.