Homecoming
Wrenly
Heather squealed as she practically attacked me at the airport. My dad stood behind her patiently waiting for his turn. Heather was my stepmother, and I absolutely adored her. They were married when I was seventeen and then my little brother was born a year later.
I looked at my dad and laughed as Heather wouldn’t let go. My dad looked too young to have an almost thirty year old daughter, and as my eardrums were being destroyed by Heather’s squeals, I studied his features. It had been two years since I last saw my dad and stepmom.
My parents met in college. They were both freshman and Tony dated my mom's friend, Heather. Tony’s twin, Robert, was dating my mom’s other friend, Paula. Robert and Paula were Travis’s parents.
My dad said he was in love with my mother, and thought they had a strong relationship. That was until my mom went home for a visit over Easter break their senior year, and was in a freak ATV accident. The quad rolled over on top of her and she fractured a few vertebrae. That was when she found out she was pregnant and didn’t tell my dad. She left school and went to Montana where she had me. I was lucky to have survived the accident, and mom made some very bad decisions. Not telling my dad about me was cruel to him and me both. She suffered through a lot of back and neck pain during her pregnancy from what her parents said. After I was born she became opioid dependent and that’s what sent her out of control with drugs. It always amazed me how she was able to suffer through her pregnancy without any pain medication, but as soon as I was born she started taking them. That was what led to her opioid addiction.
The only ones out of their friend group that got married was Travis’s parents, who also got pregnant in college. They were really close to graduation though, and my dad hadn’t seen Heather again until Tony’s funeral.
Heather finally let go and my dad wrapped his warm and safe arms around me. No matter how tough I was, I was never as safe as I was in my dad’s arms.
We grabbed my bags and left the airport. When we pulled in the driveway, I looked at the house that sat empty next door. Travis still owned it but never came home. My dad maintained it and rented it out, but just paid the taxes and all the bills and sent what was left to Travis. The last my dad knew is that he was in Indiana. Travis didn’t want me in his life, and I’ve respected that by not asking questions.
I shut the car door and took a deep breath as I watched my little brother, and another boy play basketball in Tony’s driveway. It brought back a lot of memories.
Sixteen Years Ago
It was always nighttime when we played basketball in Tony’s driveway. I missed the shot, and Travis threw his head back and laughed.
“One more try.” I lined myself up and made the shot. It was the fall of our eighth grade year. Travis just came home from hanging out with some older kids. I had a sleepover the prior night and just woke up from a nap, but as soon as I saw him arrive at Tony’s I grabbed my basketball and ran outside.
Even in middle school I had a thriving social life. I made friends easily and loved playing sports. I might not have appeared as an athlete, but my small body threw quite the punch. I could run fast, play volleyball, tennis, girls basketball, gymnastics, and softball despite my thin frame. I wasn’t short, but I was thin and didn’t gain weight all that easily.
I wasn’t allowed to date yet, but I somehow got a lot of attention from boys all the time, and some even walked to my house and wanted to hang out. I had a lot of guy friends, which didn’t sit well with my dad or Travis, but it wasn’t all that bad of a thing. I also had a lot of friends. I lived to make friends and made as many as possible wherever I went. Travis was another story. I knew he kissed girls and had girls over when Tony wasn’t home. He was only thirteen and getting into cars with high school kids. He got in trouble at school a lot because he would get into fights. His grades weren’t that great either, but none of it bothered me because I knew the true Travis Irons. I adored Travis, in fact, I could honestly say he was the most important person in my life. Travis was smart and I always knew it. His grades weren’t his fault, it was his parents always pulling him out of school or people neglecting to take him when the bus didn’t stop in front of their houses that was the problem. The poor guy thought he wasn’t smart because he was always confused and lost in class. That’s what happens to kids with poor attendance.
I had my own issues while growing up. My dad stayed on top of them though, and got the help I needed. My mom didn’t spend her time with good people when I was little, so there was some underlying issues for me, on top of what happened in that diner when I was six.
We were both out of breath and thirsty, but Tony wasn’t home, and my dad said I wasn’t allowed inside Tony’s house when he wasn’t there, so Travis grabbed us some drinks and we sat on the back porch. My dad and Tony were both on duty, but our other neighbor kept an eye on me when my grandmother wasn’t staying with us.
“I can’t believe we’ll be in high school next year.” I said.
“Yeah, five more years and I won’t have to deal with this shit anymore. I’ll join the Army, and my parents won’t even know.”
I hated hearing those things, but it was true. Travis was pretty much raising himself and the only time his parents gave him any attention was when they needed him for a photo shoot or a news interview. I could remember a few years ago his parents got a tip that Bobby was in Portugal. They left the country and didn’t even tell Travis or anyone else. Tony was so pissed, and he didn’t get along with his twin brother all that much anymore. Tony wanted to get custody of Travis, but his parents always put a stop to it. They’d spend time at home for a while, then go back to their search.
“You always have a home with us. We all love you, Travis.” I reminded him, and it wasn’t a lie. I loved Travis, like not just a crush, but I loved him in a big way.
Travis might have hung out with the bad kids, but he was adorable, and all the girls noticed. He had a bad boy vibe to him, but I knew better. He was kind and held a lot of love in his heart, but he just didn’t know what to do with it. He was tall and muscular for his age, he also had light brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a baby face. He blushed easily and had the most adorable smile and white perfect teeth. He could kiss any girl he wanted, and he did it a lot. It was like the day he turned thirteen he discovered girls and couldn’t get enough. He was changing and it broke my heart.
I wasn’t sure when I stopped seeing him as just my friend next door. He always made me have weird feelings and I always missed him when he wasn’t around. I would daydream about us getting married and having little babies all the time. I wanted him to be my first everything. My first date, my first kiss…all of it. I loved everything about him, from his blue eyes to his strong hands and big feet. I loved how he looked at me, how he laughed, how it felt when he put his arm around me, and the enjoyment I saw in his smile when he would tease me. I might have had the most popular boys calling my house, the most athletic, and most intelligent, but none of them compared to Travis Irons. He was cuter, smarter, faster, tougher, and funnier than any of them. I just wished he would let me be the only girl in his life.
“Why do you care so much?” He asked.
“Because you’re my Travis. I’ve known you forever and I love it when you’re around. I just wish you were around more.” I slipped my shoes off then put my legs on his lap. “My dad and Tony love you too. We just wish we got to see you more.”
He was looking straight ahead toward the trees behind his house. “I don’t know why. I’m a burden and I get into too much trouble. You’re all better off without me around. All I bring anyone is grief.”
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces for him. “That’s not true, Travis. You’re funny, smart, and you can do just about anything you put your mind to. You’re a great friend and you’re helpful. When Tony couldn’t figure out what was wrong with his bike, you had it fixed in a day all by yourself. Usually, you make me laugh, but tonight you seem sad.” I tilted my head, wondering what was wrong.
He drew in a deep breath and began his first sentence in a sigh. “There was a child’s body found a few hours west. My mom thought it was Bobby and freaked out for like three days. It came back as not a DNA match, so they have to start all over again. Now they want me to go to LA again for a segment on Oprah, but I have basketball try outs that day. I really thought this time I’d have my chance to play at least one sport.”
“Gaw, I swear what they do is abuse. Why can’t you just stand up to them?” I always got so mad at his parents.
“I have, and when I do I’m told how selfish I am and how I must not want him found all that bad if I’m not willing to help. I know they’re right because I never knew him. How can I miss someone I never knew? I get it, that’s selfish, but the kidnappers may have well just taken me instead. I don’t fucking exist until they need me, and I just want out of it. We all know my brother is dead, but my parents refuse to accept it. I just wish I’d turn eighteen already so I can go off and do my own thing. Instead, I have to get on a plane with the parents I barely know and talk to some lady in front of a lot of people and act sad that my brother is gone. I honest to God wish it were me instead of him.”
I pulled my legs from his lap and turned to hug him. “Don’t say that, Travis. I need you and I’m glad it wasn’t you. I love you and I know you love me. Just please hang in there for me. Remember, you promised to take me to our first high school dance. I’m going to hold you to that no matter what happens.”
Present Day
“Are you alright, sweetheart?” My dad put his arm around me and kissed my temple.
“It’s just been a long time, that’s all.” I missed Travis so much and even at almost thirty, I still loved him. I had no doubt what I felt for him as kids was real.
“He’s cashing the checks I send so we know he’s alive out there. They’ve consistently went to Indiana, so I don’t think he’s in the service anymore.”
Despite the pain I felt over missing him, I smiled through it. “Maybe he has his own family now.”
He kissed my temple. “Let’s just hope he’s happy. Let’s go inside, Heather has had your favorite in the crock pot all day.” He let go of me then called for my brother. “Jacob, come visit with your sister and eat dinner. You can come back out and play again later.”
I hadn’t seen Jacob since he was nine, and I was only home for about a year after his birth. I was pretty much a stranger to the boy.
When I joined the Marines, my dad was not on board. He hated it and had a huge meltdown. Then when I joined the FBI, he was proud, but concerned. Heather was my rock and supported everything I did in my life. She was always so positive, and I loved having her as my mother figure, pretty much since I was fourteen years old.