Too Much
Wrenly
His mind was working on overtime and so was mine. He experienced so much in one day and I wasn’t sure how he was keeping his thoughts straight. I felt guilty for begging him to come home for me. He was facing everything he avoided for all those years. He was brave to face it all, just so that we had the peace we needed to grow our relationship. He knew there was a chance this would happen, but he came home with me anyway.
Paula left before the pizza arrived and Travis didn’t take one bite. I managed a couple of bites, but I learned quickly that my stomach was in knots and wanted nothing to do with food. My family wasn’t home yet when we climbed into bed. It was quiet for a while as Travis laid on his back with his hands behind his head. He stared at the ceiling for a very long time.
I cringed when he opened his mouth and didn’t speak a word yet, but I knew it was coming. “Is my mother blackmailing us or someone else?”
I scooted in closer then curled into him. My head rested on his shoulder, prompting his arm to wrap around me. “I don’t think it’s blackmail, but I do think she has something important to hide and she’s willing to give you leverage with it.”
“Should we meet with her or just let it go?”
“I’m not going to pretend that it was hard to put the pieces together. I heard everything the two of you said, especially the part about Bobby being in the ocean. You were about to say something to incriminate yourself so that’s why I flew into the room to stop you. Am I wrong in my presumption that you eliminated Bobby’s killers?”
He didn’t allow himself to answer quickly so I waited. “You know I can’t answer that, Wrenly.”
“That’s one way to confirm it without actually confirming it. Just so you know, I would have done the same thing. I know how things work at Creed’s Lake.”
He pressed his lips to my head then spoke. “I’m concerned. She mentioned your dad and it’s something big enough that he keeps it from Heather. I don’t want him brought into my situation with Paula.”
“You don’t think she has something she holds over my dad and is willing to use it for leverage, do you?” I asked.
I felt him scratch the stubble on his face with his free hand. “It wouldn’t be much leverage if it’s something to hurt Clint.”
“I think we should meet her. She obviously knows some powerful people, and we need to know if Creed’s Lake is at risk.” I said.
“Especially if it’s something that could be negative for Clint.” He answered.
We talked and finally made the decision to meet with Paula the next day and not mention a word to my dad. He also told me about Stacy at the dinner and it was a short break from the tension radiating from him as we laughed about it. I knew Travis didn’t sleep much, he tossed and turned which stirred me a few times through the night.
He woke early and dressed for a run, I jumped up and decided to go with him. The air was cool and crisp making it the perfect morning for a long run. We stopped in at the diner and had a coffee after our run, then went back to my parents to get ready for brunch with my grandparents. My dad was leaving the same time as us, saying he had a meeting and would see us later. He wasn’t in his uniform, so I wasn’t sure exactly where he went. Probably to the school since he sometimes volunteered.
On our way to the restaurant, he wanted to stop in at the shop where Brock worked. There was a hello, but not an introduction for Brock and I because we had already met on several occasions. Not just through Matt, but through the friendship between our parents. I haven’t seen him in a few years, and I was amazed by how tall he had grown.
Brock was able to clock out for a break and his boss suggested we talk in the break room.
“She refuses to discuss the power of attorney you suggested.” Brock informed Travis.
“Then it’ll have to come down to talking with Tricia.” Travis said.
“How does that work legally? We don’t have a lease or any kind of an agreement.” Brock asked.
Travis pulled out his phone and did a Google search. “It says here that if the property sells the new owner must honor the lease agreement, but if there is no agreement the landlord has to give sixty days’ notice to vacate. I’m not sure if Tricia has an attorney, but it’s a good idea for her to consult one. I’m assuming the house was left to Tricia, is that correct?” Travis asked.
“I don’t know the specifics, but I overheard grandma once say the estate was to be divided between the living children.”
Travis looked down at his phone for just a moment but didn’t type anything before he shrugged his shoulders. “We need to talk with Tricia. I’m sure she has no desire to kick your mom out, but she has to see how the house is falling apart. That’s not good for her or the resale value. Did you look through brochures last night?”
“Yeah.” Brock rubbed his eyes like he was tired, and he actually did look tired. “I liked the one on the lake the best. I’m just confused because we need to apply for it, and I need mom to agree before it can be done. I guess we need to speak to Tricia sooner than later.”
Travis bounced his knee up and down as he sat back with his arms crossed. “Didn’t the receptionist say it takes about sixty days for the application process?”
Brock nodded. “Yep and there’s the application fee. It’s not that bad and I can swing it, but damn it seems with that kind of money the process should go faster.”
Travis leaned forward. “I’ll tell you what, call the facility and ask them if you can cash pay for the first sixty days. I’ll front you the money and we’ll try to get you to Indiana sooner than sixty days. Wrenly and I have a lot to do in the next few days and…” He paused then rubbed the back of his neck, like he had a new idea. “Scratch everything, I just said, and I’ll give you a call tonight, okay?”
Brock seemed confused. “I can’t let you cover mom’s expenses. You’re already doing enough with everything you’re doing for me.”
“Consider it a loan, and I promise it won’t break your bank to pay it back. I’m not just doing this for you and Emma, it’s somehow for me as well. In a weird way it’s like making right of something that was very wrong in my life. I should have been here a lot sooner for you, but instead you got stuck caring for our dad all alone. That shouldn’t have been the case. He might have been a shit dad, but he did have a hand in giving me life. I don’t owe him anything, but I do owe myself the opportunity to make peace with myself over not facing my past.”
I knew what Travis was thinking but too proud to say. He needed family, his own blood relation, for a very long time and he has a chance to have that now. He doesn’t know Brock, but he is his brother and feels like he owes it to the boy. Brock is not at fault for anything that Robert did that hurt Travis.
We all stood, and Travis stuck his hand out to shake Brock’s but surprised the boy when he pulled him in and gave him a dude hug with a slap on the back. “You’ve paid your dues, Brock. It’s time you start focusing on your own future.”
“Thanks man, I can’t thank you enough.”
When we got back into the Tahoe I couldn’t help myself from looking at Travis in amazement.
“What?” He asked as he put his seatbelt on.
“You amaze me. You don’t owe any of these people anything.”
He started the vehicle. “That kid could have held a lot of resentment toward me. He was innocent in all of it, yet he took on all the burden. I wasn’t here and he was, so I owe him for taking care of my dad.”
“A dad that never took care of you, Travis. It wasn’t your burden either.”
He glanced at me with a smile. “It’s what Tony would have done. He never would have let Brock suffer the way he did.”
I smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “That’s true, but I think maybe Creed led an example with Karter and Weston?”
Travis chuckled. “Not really. Creed made those boys prospects, and he did straighten them out, but that’s not what I’m doing with Brock. He already paid his dues, and he doesn’t need discipline. He needs…” He paused so I finished it for him.
“He needs someone to love him and treat him like family. The same things you needed at his age.”
“Don’t make it all sappy.” He chuckled as he put the vehicle in drive. “I have the means to help him, and it’s not a handout. He wouldn’t accept the help if it was, that boy has pride.”
I reached over for his hand and held it as he drove, never losing the smile he just put on my face. I am so proud of the man Travis became, and I realize he wouldn't be the man he is today if he didn’t face the hardships he did.
My grandparents were excited to see Travis again. I couldn’t count how many times they both told Travis they were proud of him. We lost track of time while catching up, and made our way back to my parents in the afternoon. Travis went to my bedroom to have some privacy to make some calls. Jacob was out with Heather and dad didn’t seemed to have returned from his earlier meeting.
We told dad we had some things to do that evening and left the house promptly at five o’clock. Travis plugged in the address his mom gave him into the GPS, and we were both a bit surprised when we pulled into the parking lot. It was an asphalt parking lot that obviously hadn’t received any maintenance and had weeds growing in the cracks. The old white block one story building had seen better days, and the windows were covered in plywood.
“What could she possibly have to do with this place?” Travis asked as we both looked at the very familiar and abandoned small building.
“Dad has never indicated to me the MC disbanded. In fact, he talks about still going on rides with them.” I replied.
There was a white SUV sitting next to us and it was empty. “That’s her car.” I pointed at it.
“Let’s go on in, she’s obviously waiting inside.”
There was an old rusty blue door left partially open and Travis was very careful opening the door. Inside stood Paula, looking far different than she did the day before. She was leaning against the wall while looking out a hole in the plywood that covered the window, but turned her head to see us and smiled.
She was no longer dressed like she was about to conquer the corporate world. Instead, she was youthful in her casual appearance. Her hair was twisted up in a clip, she wore a three quarter sleeve V-neck burgundy sweater, a perfectly fitting pair of jeans and a pair of ankle boots with silver jewelry. Still put together nicely, but also looked to be tired. A lot like Travis who didn’t sleep well that night.
She gave him a warm smile. “Thanks for coming.”
Travis stood with his hands in his jean pockets and gave her a nod before he looked around us. “This place has changed.”
I looked around what was once the clubhouse belonging to my dad and Tony’s MC. There were a few tables, chairs that had fallen over, an old bar that no longer had stools or liquor lined up behind it. There was the old dart board where Travis and I played darts a few times. The dropped ceiling was missing some boards and there was graffiti on the walls.
“We’ve upgraded on the other side of town, but this.” She looked around her. “Is where it all started.”
“We’ve upgraded?” Travis asked.
Paula clasped her hands in front of her. “You knew Charlie was part of the MC with your uncle.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He is still a part of the MC, and I guess that makes me his old lady.”
Travis chuckled. “I’d hardly call yourselves an MC.” I saw his point, his mom was far from an example of an old lady in a biker club.
Paula took a few steps closer. “Why is that?”