Decisions
Wrenly
My dad was sitting across from me at the kitchen table, waiting for me to tell him what I found out and what I decided.
“It’s a community of veterans that provide investigative skills and also private security. There’s all kinds of retired special ops agents and they use the community to help victims of domestic violence. Not only do they help rescue them, they provide protection, legal services, and vocational training. If I take this, I’ll have an adorable little log cabin on the lake.” I slid the papers to him and when he saw the salary and benefits offered his eyes grew.
“Wow.” He scratched his beard. “All these benefits too?”
I nodded. “Yes, and they also have other businesses, and I’m sure you’ve heard of Creed’s Motorsports.”
He thought about it for a minute. “Can’t say I have.”
“They have an MC, and they build custom bikes. I’m surprised you’ve not heard of them. They’re in a tiny little town called Cold Springs.”
He was looking down at the papers, but his eyes slowly met mine. “Did you say Cold Springs? As in Cold Springs, Indiana?”
I smirked. “You know it?” I knew he did because he mailed checks to Travis.
He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “What the hell is really going on here, Wrenly?”
I laughed just a little. “Travis is one of the founding partners of the entire thing. In fact, he’s president of the motorcycle business. Before you ask, no I haven’t seen him.”
“So, he all the sudden sends you this job opportunity after all these years?” He sounded like he was suspicious of some sort of nefarious plot.
I shook my head. “No, I was told he was not a part of the recruitment process. He was told about it after they found me and wanted to give me an offer. He has requested to stay out of it, and my decision is based on the actual job opportunity. He was out of the country on business when I was visiting.”
He sat forward. “Alright, so he has nothing to do with it. Did they say anything about him? If he’s okay or anything at all?”
I felt my eyes light up. “Dad, they said he was in Delta Force, and they also said he has a good reputation for being the most patient and kind one of them. I’m so proud of him, he built something amazing with his old Delta Force team. He was a part of one mission in particular that made all of them legends. I didn’t know the names of the operatives on the team, but I heard about it. I always knew he would be something amazing, but I never dreamed he would go this far. I didn’t even know this far existed.”
Dad smiled. “Tony would be proud.”
My heart broke a little when I thought back to those days. His parents spent way too much time fighting over what would be best for their family just to flake out and do nothing for their family at all. Uncle Tony loved Travis as his own son and what Dad said was true. Tony would have been very proud of Travis.
“I can see it written all over your face. You’re accepting the job, aren’t you?” He had a halfhearted smile on his face.
“Yes, I called and left a message for Creed today. I’ll send in my resignation to the FBI tomorrow. Stone also accepted it, and we’ll start the same day. What he offered is kind of like an executive position.” I wanted to add that I couldn’t wait to see Travis, but I kept that to myself.
“Let me ask you this, Wrenly. If Travis wasn’t a part of this, would you still take the job?”
My heart sank. I thought he knew me better than that, I don’t make big decisions like that without being serious about it. “Of course I would still take it. If I wanted to disrupt Travis’s life, I would have went looking years ago. He made his choice and left, so of course I wouldn’t quit the FBI and move all the way to Indiana if I wasn’t serious about the job.”
He leaned forward and squeezed my hand. “I trust you’re making the right decision, I just hope he doesn’t let you down. He left this place and never returned for good reasons. I understand why he never wanted to see his parents again. Hell, if it weren’t for Heather, I’d probably never speak to Paula again. It’s hard to forget how poorly she treated Travis. She literally abandoned him when he needed her most.”
I rolled my eyes. “Then to top it off they both had time for affairs, his dad especially. I can’t believe he had another kid when Travis was only eleven and kept a whole damn family a secret.”
My dad shook his head. “It wasn’t exactly a secret. Tony and I both knew he got Emma pregnant. So did his parents, the marriage was just a sham for the media. By the time it all came out, Travis was gone, and they were divorcing because Paula was pregnant. Well, that and Robert was drinking. It’s a shame, she is active in her daughter’s life and just now cries about all her regrets. I don’t care how much she begs, she will not get his address out of me.”
I hated seeing Paula, but she and Heather were still good friends. My politeness toward Paula was only for Heather’s sake. I respected Heather but could never understand why they were still friends. Heather never met a soul she wouldn’t be friends with because she’s just that amazing, but I’ve had a hard time being anywhere near Paula. I was that way around Robert as well, and maybe worse because he had a three year old son by the time Travis left and never bothered to tell him. Robert and Paula decided not to tell Travis because they figured he would have acted out and they didn’t have the patience for it. They remained close friends after the divorce and all the way up until Robert’s death.
“I guess Heather didn’t witness the worst parts of it.” I said. Just thinking of it made me sad for Travis.
“Let’s change the subject. Why does the name Creed sound so familiar?” Dad asked.
“Oh that, yeah he married Morgan Rossi. I met her and she’s really nice, but pregnant with twins. They’re also adopting the cutest little girl.”
Dad’s eyes grew. “ The Morgan Rossi?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you’ve heard about their relationship. It has been all over the media.”
Dad started laughing and I was completely lost. “What’s so funny?”
He shook his head. “I wonder how Travis reacted to that one. He had a poster of her in his things when they were sent from Nebraska. He didn’t even want to go through the box and had me throw it out. I went through it to make sure there wasn’t anything important.” He had to wipe a tear away from laughing, but I laughed too.
“I forgot about that, all the guys did. If they saw her now they wouldn’t know what to think. She’s really pregnant, like huge and it’s funny. Her husband follows her around like a lost puppy. All the guys wait on her and treat the whole pregnancy like it’s their responsibility to take care of her.” I was smiling, wondering how Travis was with her. I’d never forget when I hung out with the wives at the club on ladies night. They said Travis was just as hot as Creed and all the girls wanted him, but he kept his distance. The women tried to rank the guys by hotness and Creed, Travis, Mike, and Magnus were tied at number one because they couldn’t decide. I couldn’t imagine what Travis looked like in person and couldn’t wait to see for myself.
I heard the front door fly open and someone running inside. “Dad! I’m going to play basketball! I’ll be back before supper!” I could hear my brother’s book bag hit the floor then the door slammed back shut. I looked at Dad and he was shaking his head.
“Wow, I’m offended. I always had to finish my homework before I could go out and play.”
He chuckled. “He has way too much energy and needs to burn some of that off before he can sit still long enough to do it. Besides, I was more than aware that you never did your homework first if Travis got off the bus with you. Heather should be home soon, so I guess I should get supper started.” He stood but looked down at me. “It sounds like an amazing opportunity, but I just wish you’d settle a little closer to home.”
That was always his argument. He hated that I was so far away.
“I know, dad, but you are busy, and I need to establish a life of my own. I’ll visit whenever possible, I promise.” I stood and kissed his cheek before going upstairs to work on my resignation letter.
Once in my room, I peeked out the window and saw my brother playing with the neighbor. The sight brought back memories.
Eighteen Years Ago
“Get down from there, Wrenly!”
“Why? Are you too scared to come up after me?” I teased him.
Travis was holding both our book bags. “The branches aren’t strong. Come on, I’ll go down to the creek with you if you just come down. I promise.”
“Okay!” I quickly climbed down as he ran up and put our book bags on the porch.
I took his hand and pulled it. “Let’s go!”
He laughed. “Chill out, I’m coming!”
“You’re too slow.”
“I am not!” He defended himself.
Suddenly, I took off running and he chased me. Not only was I faster than him, but I was taller and stronger than him too. He chased me all the way down to the creek and didn’t catch me. He ran up at the perfect time when I jumped off a rock and into the water, which splashed his jeans and shoes.
“You are so dead!” He jumped in after me and chased me up the creek. It wasn’t deep, but I jumped from one rock to another.
“You’re going to slip and get hurt. Slow down!” He yelled after me.
Of course, like always he was right. I slipped, twisted my ankle and then hit my tailbone on another rock.
“Dang it, Wrenly, I told you!” He offered me his hand and pulled me up, but one step on that ankle sent a shock of pain up my leg.
“Ouch!” I almost fell but he caught me, then put my arm around his shoulders and helped me up the bank.
“It hurts.” He helped me sit but I yelped again because my butt hurt when I sat down.
“Just lay back and let me look at your foot.” I laid back in the mud and old leaves and he lifted my leg before he took my shoe and sock off.
“Can you move it?” He asked.
“Yes, it just hurt when I put my weight on it.” I whimpered.
“It looks fine, but we should get you up to the house and put ice on it.” He put my sock on me, and I watched as he took such gentle care of me. He was getting as dirty as me by sitting on the ground with spots of mud under him. I liked how sweet he was always with me and how he was always worried I would get hurt. The sun shined on his almost blond hair, and he was so cute. All the girls in class thought so too. While in class Daphne gave him a note and I was dying to know what it said. She kissed a boy over the summer, and it was like she thought she was the prettiest girl in our school. I did not like the way she acted around him. It was totally fake, and he acted like she was really weird.
Once he had my sock and shoe on, he helped me up then put my arm around his shoulders. We made it up to Tony’s house and he made me sit on a kitchen chair then went to the fridge for ice.
“Why did Daphne give you a letter today?” I asked as he made an ice pack.
He shrugged. “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”
“Do you think she’s pretty? Are you going to kiss her? You know, she kissed a boy at her church camp this summer. She’s a total slut.” Yeah, I’d put an end to it before he even thought of kissing her.
He chuckled. “She kissed one boy and that makes her a slut?” He sat down in a chair and motioned for me to put my leg on his lap.
“Well, yeah. She’s only eleven and won’t be twelve until Thanksgiving. She’s already talking about her stupid birthday party. It'll probably be a slut fest.”
He laughed at me.
“What could possibly be so funny? She probably has mouth diseases, like cold sores or something.”
He shook his head. “Kissing one boy does not make anyone a slut. A slut is someone who kisses a lot of people, like Tony. He’s a slut, not a twelve year old girl.”
I gasped. “She’s eleven for one and Tony can’t be a slut because he’s a guy.” I corrected him.
“The whole word is stupid. Just forget it exists, and no, she does not have mouth diseases just because she kissed some dude.” He laid the ice pack on my now naked ankle, and I flinched.
“That’s cold!”
He rolled his eyes. “Duh. That’s why they call it ice.”
“Okay, back to slut girl. Are you going to kiss her?” If he said yes, I was going to kick him.
“No.”
I scrunched my nose. “She’s really not all that pretty.”
He tilted his head. “She’s your friend, isn’t she? Why be so mean?”
I shrugged. “Herpes, duh.” I like the way he always looked at me and I didn’t want him to look at another girl that way. “Have you ever kissed a girl?”
His eyes met mine. “No, have you ever kissed a boy?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m definitely not going to kiss some random boy, so no. My reputation is intact and will stay that way.”
He sighed. “It’s not a big deal. Tony kisses all kinds of girls, and I heard your dad does too.”
I gasped. “My dad does not kiss girl’s.” I gagged.
“He does a lot more than just kiss girl’s. What do you think he does when you stay with Grandma Patty? He has sleepovers too.”
“Ugh, he does not!” He was being such a liar.
“I’ve seen them leave your house in the morning when you’re gone. Tony said something about your dad getting caught in the backseat of his cruiser with some chick. It’s normal to do stuff like that, Wrenly.” He was holding the ice pack on my ankle, but I was squirming because my butt still hurt really bad.
“That’s gross, and I’m not ever kissing anyone but you. You’re going to kiss me someday, Travis.”
His face turned red. “Change of subject because that’s not happening. I think I’m going to try to go to basketball tryouts on Thursday. My dad said he would pick me up from school.”
I felt sorry for him because he always had high hopes, but he never got to do any after school stuff. Tony worked second shift, and he was the only one in his family that would be willing to give him a ride, but of course he worked and couldn’t pick him up. Plus, the school already told him he couldn’t be in any sports until his attendance got better.
“I have tennis after school on Thursday, maybe Grandma Patty can give you a ride.” I offered.
He shrugged. “Yeah, maybe. I’m supposed to go to my house though. My mom isn’t leaving until Friday morning.”
“I hate it when you have to go there.” I pouted. He was never happy there because they always fought. At least he was old enough to hang out at Tony’s and didn’t have to go to the other places all that much. He was bored at his grandparents and his aunt had a new boyfriend. Betty, his mom’s friend was really weird, and he hated it there. He had to go to those places still, but on nights like tonight he rode the bus home to Tony’s because he couldn’t remember where he was supposed to go. His parents were in town but were really busy with some sort of missing kids network thing. I didn’t understand any of it.
He didn’t reply very quickly, just looked down at my foot. “I wish I could be here every day, with you.”
He had no idea how much I wanted that too. He was my best friend, and I loved him as much as I loved my dad and grandparents. “I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without you.”
His cheeks turned pink as he lifted the ice to look at my ankle, then he put it back down. “I wish I could just live here all the time. You make it feel like home.” He glanced up at me. He knew how much we all loved him, but me especially.
Present Day
Heather came home as I was working on my resignation letter. Heather was an amazing step mother, but she was also beautiful, kind, and always the biggest cheerleader. Literally, she was a cheerleader. I wasn’t sure why she and Tony didn’t work out in college, but it was my dad that benefitted. She was a cheerleader for the Cowboys when I was a kid and that was why she was never around. After that she became a flight attendant and has been doing international travel ever since. She made very good money, so when they had my brother it made more sense for my dad to go part time with the department. Sometimes I would laugh about it, because one day my dad was a single cop living like a true bachelor with his best friend next door, then the next he was a single dad of a six year old daughter he didn’t know existed. He became an amazing dad and later a wonderful husband. I loved Heather right away, but she wasn’t around for all the hardest times.
She came home specifically for Tony’s funeral and that was when she swooped in and saved us. My dad was having a really hard time with Tony’s death and with what happened to Travis. The morning after Tony died, I found my dad drunk and crying on Tony’s doorstep. Then when Travis got into trouble he tried everything to help him. He hired a really good lawyer and even tried to get custody of Travis. Robert and Paula were even willing to sign Travis away, but the state had custody of him and things didn’t work out the way we hoped. Travis didn’t want us, he never wanted to return to our little town. I knew my dad still struggled with it and felt like he let Tony down. Heather supported everything my dad tried to do for Travis and eventually she became my mom. I absolutely adored her from the moment we met. After they got married we traveled all over the world every summer, even with Jacob being a little baby. Then of course I got pregnant, and the family vacations stopped.
After dinner, I took Jacob out to a movie and then to get ice cream so dad and Heather could spend time together. I was trying to build a relationship with him, but there was such a huge age difference that I was more like an aunt that came to town every now and again.
If my son would have lived, he would only have been a year younger than my brother. I knew that was something that would always haunt me every time I saw my brother. I would imagine my son would somewhat look like Jacob, but have Matt’s eyes and dark hair. Maybe they would have been best of friends and would have grown up together. I even watched all of his mannerisms and memorized his laugh. Would they have been into the same things? Maybe my son would have played football and already be on a pee wee team. It was all my fault, and I couldn’t shake the guilt and grief. Being home was never easy, and it somewhat helped me understand Travis a little better.