Right away I went to work on finding something that I really wanted to do. I searched my mind and exhausted every idea, and the only really appealing option was to get a job teaching somewhere.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to teach full time, so I decided to go around to the different schools and see about substituting. Then I decided to run an ad in the newspaper about giving singing lessons or assisting.

Since Taylor was being so great to me, I decided that I should do something for him. Only I didn’t have a clue about what to do. I wanted to do something really nice and special to show him how much I appreciated what he was doing.

"Hey, Trace, what would you do if you wanted to surprise Isaac with something really special?" I asked one afternoon while Tracie and I were sitting in her living room.

"Tell him that I’m pregnant," Tracie chuckled. "I’ve never seen him happier."

I looked at her pointedly. "That is not an option for me right now," I said.

"Well … then get a sitter for the weekend and go away somewhere where you and Taylor can just be alone," Tracie shrugged.

Me and Taylor? Alone for a weekend? No kids? No music studios? No houseguests? No Seth? Slowly a smile spread across my face. I loved that idea. It was perfect!

So that evening when I got home, I started making some calls to find out about different places where we could stay. I found out about some cabins in Tennessee that they rented out for the weekends, and I thought that it sounded romantic.

Then I talked to Heaven and Angelina to see if they would be willing to watch the kids for the weekend. That turned out to be no problem because I told them that I would kick them out on the streets if they didn’t do it.

After that I had to call up Isaac and see if he or Zac would be able to get Taylor out of the studio and cover for him while we were gone.

My plan was to pack up Taylor’s stuff and go to the airport and have Isaac or Zac bring Taylor to the airport, where he would find me waiting to go.

I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to surprise him. I thought a weekend getaway would be really good for us. I figured that maybe we could get back some of the romance that we had been missing and do some talking.

By the time that Friday had arrived, I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. I had to really watch myself because I was afraid that I was going to slip up and accidentally say something to Taylor, but I managed to keep quiet. After he left to go to the studio, I hurried upstairs to our room and began to pack.

"Hey," Allie smiled as she peeked into the room.

"Hey, Al," I replied, looking up from Taylor’s dresser. "Come in."

"Almost ready?" Allie asked.

"Almost," I smiled.

"I hope you and Taylor have a great weekend," Allie commented.

"Thanks," I said. "I do too."

"Well, I just wanted to check some things," Allie said.

"Okay, what?" I asked.

"Okay, Hannah is allergic to peanuts, right?" Allie asked.

"Yes, and anything with red dye in it. It makes her break out," I replied.

"Zeke isn’t allergic to anything," Allie said. "But Saffie is allergic to …"

"Anything with red dye in it. It makes her break out."

"Okay," Allie smiled. "I just wanted to make sure because Heaven and Angelina asked me to watch the kids tomorrow afternoon because they both have to work."

"Well, I will wish you good luck and god speed because I love my kids, but they are a handful," I grinned.

"That’s what everyone keeps telling me," Allie laughed. "I hope I’ll be able to survive."

"I’m sure you will do fine," I said.

"Thanks," Allie smiled.

"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" I asked.

"Yeah," Allie nodded. "I have an older brother and an older sister, but they are a lot older than me."

"Oh really?" I asked with interest as I put some of Taylor’s clothes into a suitcase.

"Yeah, I was adopted," Allie confessed.

I suddenly stopped what I was doing and looked at Allie. "I didn’t know that," I said.

"Not many people do," Allie shrugged. "My parents … my adoptive ones … were really great people though."

"What about your real parents?" I asked. "Do you know anything about them?"

"I just know that my dad died before I was born," Allie replied. "And apparently my mom couldn’t take care of me on her own."

"Have you tried to find her?" I asked curiously.

"I thought about it, but then I felt like my adoptive parents might feel like they weren’t good enough or something," Allie replied. "I might try to find her when I’m a little older, but right now I’m content with not knowing."

"As long as you’re happy," I smiled.

"I am," Allie replied. "I’m so glad that I met Heaven and Angie. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here."

"But you’re from Oklahoma, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, Oklahoma City," Allie nodded. "But I’m just so shy that it’s hard for me to make friends."

"Yeah, I know that’s rough," I said. "If I hadn’t met Audrey when I moved here, I probably would have moved back to Cali."

Wow, that comment really felt like a slap in the face! If I hadn’t met Audrey … hell if I hadn’t met Audrey, I would have probably been living a completely different life. It just then occurred to me how much someone’s life could change because of one little thing.

"Well, I think I’m finished packing," I commented as I shut Taylor’s suitcase, and I glanced at my watch. "Now I better I go say goodbye to the kids and get ready to go. Otherwise, I’m going to be late to meet Taylor for his surprise vacation."

Needless to say, Taylor was very surprised to see me standing there holding two suitcases when he arrived at the airport.

"What are you doing here?" Taylor asked.

"I’m kidnapping you and taking you away for the weekend," I grinned.

"Oh, really?" Taylor smiled.

"Yep," I nodded.

"Is it still kidnapping if I’m willing to go?" Taylor asked.

"I guess not," I said. "Well, that plan just went out the window."

"Well, if it will make you feel better, then you can tell everyone that you kidnapped me," Taylor said.

"Okay," I smiled as I grabbed his hand. "Now let’s go!"

"So, what’s the occasion?" Taylor asked once we were on our plane on our way to Tennessee.

"I just wanted to spend a romantic weekend away with my husband," I replied.

"So, who’s watching the kids?" Taylor asked.

"Heaven and Angelina," I replied.

"How did you manage to plan this without me finding out?" Taylor asked.

"I’m just sneaky that way, I guess," I grinned.

"Well, I guess I’d better keep my eye on you from now on then," Taylor joked. "Who knows what else you’re doing behind my back."

I forced a smile, but I couldn’t help but feel a little twinge of guilt in the pit of my stomach. I still felt guilty about not telling Taylor about Seth, but I decided not to think about that. I was not going to think about Seth anymore during the weekend, and I was going to have a great time with my husband.

Once the plane landed, we got a rental car and went to our home for the weekend.

"Ede, I think you’ve outdone yourself this time," Taylor grinned as he wrapped his arms around my waist after looking around the cabin. "This is great."

"I’m glad you think so," I smiled as I kissed his lips gently. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he smiled as he kissed my forehead.

I let out a soft contented sigh as I rested my head on his shoulder. "I’ve missed you holding me in your arms."

"I’ve missed holding you in my arms," he replied as he ran his fingers through my long hair. "You’re so beautiful."

"No, I’m not," I smiled into his shoulder. "But thanks for saying so."

"Baby, don’t argue with me on this," he said. "You are beautiful."

I simply smiled to myself as I inhaled Taylor’s cologne, shampoo, and something that was just purely Taylor as I closed my eyes. Everything felt so right as I stood there in his arms. Nothing else mattered to me at that moment. I wanted nothing more than to stay there in his arms for the rest of my life.

"So, what are we going to do with ourselves all weekend?" Taylor grinned.

"Well, I can think of a thing or two," I smiled as I leaned back and looked up into his eyes.

"Oh, really?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Come with me and I’ll show you," I grinned as I started toward the bedroom.

"I think I’m really going to enjoy this weekend get away," Taylor said as he followed after me.

I bit my bottom lip softly and smiled to myself. "Me too."