Chapter Sixteen
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GEMMA WAS UP at six and out the door a little after seven, trying not to wake Travis or Charlie. Driving into town, her first stop was The Local Bean for a little best-friend advice.
Gracie looked up from behind the counter as she walked in and gave her a wide, friendly smile. Gemma’s attention was drawn to the frilly green apron she was wearing. It had little pies all over it and said in bold writing, MY PIES ARE HOT AND SWEET, JUST LIKE ME.
Gemma chuckled.
“What up, bestie?” Gracie said.
Gracie was sometimes outrageous, and her mouth was too big for her little body, but she was a loyal friend. “I came by for a little coffee and talk.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty of both. Trisha, I’m taking a break with Gemma,” Gracie said, pulling two cups off the stack. “One shot or two?”
“Two, please.” Gemma went over to their usual table by the window. Sitting down where she could see Gracie, she caught strange looks from several of the patrons and wondered if everyone was talking about Travis and her.
“So, everyone’s talking about you and Travis and your reception,” Gracie said as she sat down across from her and handed her a cup and a bowl of fruit salad, Gemma’s usual breakfast.
“Thanks, but I kinda figured that. They won’t stop staring at me,” Gemma said, taking a sip with a sigh. “That hits the spot.”
“Well, can you blame them? It’s not every day a small-town girl like you marries someone famous. I don’t think it’s been this gossipy since Katie Connors started dating Chase Trepasso. I think you’re gonna be the topic of conversation for a long time.”
Just what I wanted to hear. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Gee, Gracie, that’s just what I wanted to hear. Super awesome comforting skills.”
“Don’t be so sensitive. It’s not like it’s bad. It’s all good, and everyone is really excited about the reception,” Gracie said.
Gemma set down her fork and buried her face in her hands, groaning.
“What did I say?”
She looked up at Gracie and caught the gleam in her eye. “Please tell me you aren’t talking about the cockamamie reception Sam Weathers came up with?”
“Cockamamie . . . I like that. I’m going to use that today; it’s so old school.”
“Gracie . . .” Gemma growled.
Gracie shrugged. “You should feel good. People want to celebrate with you and Travis, and they’re willing to organize it. It’s like someone throwing you a party while you just have to look pretty and get gifts and cake.”
“I don’t want cake, I don’t want a party, and I don’t want to be the center of some titillating round of entertainment for the masses,” Gemma said loudly, stabbing a piece of cantaloupe in frustration.
“Simmer down, drama mama, I was just saying that people like you and want to do something nice for you.”
“But it’s not real,” Gemma said, her voice barely above a whisper now that she’d drawn the attention of the whole shop. Several older ladies were leaning into each other, whispering, while they frowned at her, and Gemma almost frowned back. She was tired of everyone butting their noses into her business.
“Says who? You guys stood in front of an officiant and said your vows. I don’t care how drunk you were, part of you wanted to marry Travis or you wouldn’t have done it. And now he’s living in your house. Close quarters, sexual tension . . . it’s like a recipe for an explosion of white-hot desire and wild, butt-crazy monkey sex!” Gracie said.
There was already enough sexual tension without explosions, but Gemma didn’t want to get into that. Gracie might get the idea to butt her nose in to test her amateur matchmaking skills. There were enough cooks in her kitchen already.
“No. No monkey sex. No explosions. Things are calm and tension-free at my place.”
“Really? Why do I not believe you?”
Because my husband is sex on two legs?
“Look, can you just be supportive gal for a few minutes? I need your help,” Gemma said.
Gracie turned her neck from side to side, rolled her shoulders like a boxer, and clapped her hands. “Okay, supportive gal is here. What’s going on?”
“Travis offered to pay my bills for two weeks so I can take off from the shop and hang with Charlie and him.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Gracie said, but she stopped smiling at Gemma’s glare. “And the problem is . . .?”
“He hates me, and things are really weird with us. One minute we’re joking and it’s like nothing ever happened and the next he’s closed off and looking at me like I’m the villain in an Alfred Hitchcock movie,” Gemma said.
“Without the homicidal tendencies and the rotting corpse of your dead mother in a rocking chair,” Gracie deadpanned.
“Seriously, I don’t know how to make it better. How do I fix this?”
Gracie reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “It’s gonna take time, Gemma, but he’ll forgive you.”
Gemma wasn’t so sure. He might make peace with her, and maybe they could be friends again, but could he ever really forgive her?
“And then there’s Mike . . .”
“Don’t worry about Michael; he’ll come around. Besides, I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be very busy coming up. Too busy to be mad at you,” Gracie said, standing up.
Gemma’s eyebrows jumped as she processed that. “You and . . . Michael?” Gemma asked, surprised.
“Of course not! Not me. Yuck.” She shuddered for emphasis and added, “Not that he isn’t a cutie, but I remember when he used to do that ramen-noodle nose thing . . . I still have nightmares. No, there’s a new veterinarian in town, and she’s a kick in the pants. I referred Michael to her to set up her computer, and he was all riled at me yesterday.”
“Why?” Gemma asked.
“I don’t know, something about almost being eaten by her cat; I wasn’t really listening. But she’s super cute, she’s available, and she’s got a rocking personality.”
“Are you playing matchmaker again?”
Gracie struck a pose. “Just call me cupid.”
Gemma finished the last bite of her fruit and stood up. “Thanks for listening.”
Gracie got up from the table and hugged her tight. “Everything will work out. I’m a firm believer in soul mates and happily ever after.”
Gemma sighed. “I wish I had your optimism.”
“Trust me, sweet cheeks. I know true love when I see it.” Gracie turned to walk away singing, “‘Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match . . .’”
Gemma walked out of the shop shaking her head. Gracie really needed to stop concentrating on everyone else’s love life and find her own happily ever after. She was too romantic to be alone.
TRAVIS WOKE UP to Charlie’s face a few inches away from his, staring at him, and it took a second to remember where he was.
And that this boy is my son.
“Finally! I thought you were going to sleep all day. I do this to Mom sometimes and it wakes her right up, although she usually calls me a little beast. So, wanna go do something?”
Man the kid had more energy that any kid he’d ever met, which had been few and far between.
Shaking the cobwebs from his brain, Travis sat up. “Sure, let me just wake up for a minute. What do you want to do?”
Charlie bounced onto the bed next to him. “I don’t know. Mom left a note, saying she’d be home around one.”
Travis looked over at the clock. It was nine in the morning. No wonder he was tired. He had tossed and turned until around three, thinking about Gemma and how, despite everything she’d done and lied about, he still wanted her. Last night he couldn’t stop thinking about that afternoon in her hotel room, her warm mouth sliding over him, and . . . well, it had been a hard memory to shake.
How could she have slept with him without trusting him?
“Hello? Dad? Can we go?” Charlie said, breaking into his thoughts. He was still getting used to the fact that Charlie called him Dad with such ease.
“Go where?” Travis asked.
“To the shelter! I like to ride my bike over there sometimes to look at the dogs. Mom keeps saying we’ll get one, but it has to be a perfect match, otherwise Penny will get upset.” Charlie scrunched up his nose.
“Penny?” Travis asked, suspecting it was a cat. Gemma had always adored the fuzzy little snobs, so much so he was surprised she’d never had more than one.
“Yeah, Mom’s cat. She’s okay, but she’s not a fan of dogs. When Callie comes over, she brings her dog Killer, and Penny always hisses and growls at him,” Charlie said.
“I’m pretty sure that’s just a cat being a cat,” Travis said, getting out of the bed and grabbing his bag. “I’ll go take a shower, we’ll grab some breakfast, and check out the shelter, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes!” Charlie said, running out of the room.
Travis smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t believe how quickly the kid had wormed his way into his heart. He was quite the character, and his mom was right; his high energy and cheerful demeanor reminded him of the girl he’d met in high school.
That girl was still under there, but could he trust her again? Travis still wanted her; that much hadn’t changed. Forgiving her was essential to his plan, especially if it meant giving his son something he had always craved: a stable, loving family.
Besides, she did promise me three dates . . .
No matter what happened between Gemma and him, though, he would make sure Charlie knew he was here to stay.
THEY WALKED INTO the Rock Canyon Veterinary Hospital and Shelter an hour later, and Charlie said, “Hey, Dolly.”
The dark-haired receptionist looked up with a smile. “Charlie, back so soon?”
“Yeah, I brought my dad to come look with me.” Charlie slipped his little hand into Travis’s and said, “This is my dad.”
Dolly held out her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Bowers. I love your music.”
“Thanks,” Travis said, giving her a firm shake.
“Just head on back. Cats to the left, dogs to the right,” Dolly said, pointing to a pair of gray doors with clear labels.
Charlie started pulling him toward the dog door, but as he passed the cat window, Travis saw a fluffy little Siamese looking out at him. He stopped Charlie’s dragging, unable to take his eyes off the tiny thing, which would fit in the palm of his hand. Normally he wasn’t a big fan of cats, but the ugly creature sure tugged at his heartstrings.
“Hey, Dolly?”
Dolly came over. “Yes?”
He pointed to the runt through the glass. “Who’s this squirt?”
“That’s Stormy. She’s the last of her litter and keeps getting passed over because she’s eight weeks but half the size of her littermates. She’s got a tiny stubby tail, and well . . . she’s kind of homely.”
Travis looked at the small triangle face and pale blue eyes watching him curiously. Turning to Dolly with a smile, he said, “I’ll be back for her.”
Dolly’s eyes widened, and then her expression melted into that dreamy one most of his female fans wore. “Why, bless your heart. I’ll make sure she’s all ready to go.”
Charlie wrinkled his nose. “What do you want a cat for? Cats are jerks.”
Travis laughed as Dolly huffed. “Charlie, why would you say something so hateful?”
“Because that’s what Uncle Mike says. He says when you call a cat, they’ll ignore you until they want something, but dogs will follow you anywhere.”
Dolly shook her head. “I’ll go start that paperwork.”
“Dad, come on,” Charlie said insistently.
Travis followed Charlie into the dog room, and the noise was deafening. Charlie went to the first cage and pointed at a black-and-white dog jumping vertically in his kennel. “This is Taylor. He’s a border collie mix and he can catch the ball in midair.”
“How do you know that?” Travis asked.
“’Cause they let me take some of the dogs into the play area when they have time. I told Mom about him, but he chases cats.” Charlie moved on to the next cage and the next, naming the dogs and their attributes. Travis was reminded of his childhood again, dying for a home or even a pet, something that was his. A couple of his foster homes had had animals, and he remembered a chocolate lab named Rex he’d played with every day. It had broken his eight-year-old heart to leave Rex behind when he’d moved on.
When Charlie got to the last cage, he stopped. “Who are you?”
Travis came up behind Charlie and pulled down the name card. “Annie Oakley. Bloodhound. Owner surrender. Loves kids and other animals.”
Travis looked down at the big dog with soulful brown eyes and the longest ears he’d ever seen. “I think she could fly away with those ears.”
“She’s beautiful,” Charlie said in awe.
Travis looked down at his son, mesmerized by the dog. Annie trotted forward and whimpered, sticking her nose against the gate, and Charlie reached through the chain link to rub his hand over her nose. Travis watched Charlie, his heart squeezing at the wide grin that spread across Charlie’s face.
In just a day, Travis had realized that the difference between himself and his son was that Charlie still had the innocence that had been torn from Travis after too many disappointments. There had been no one in his life to protect that part of him, and he had lost it early on.
But Charlie had been well cared for not just by Gemma but by Mike and Gracie, too. No doubt the rest of Rock Canyon had had a hand in raising his son as well.
“Hey, girl. How you doing?” Charlie’s soft coo brought him out of his musings, and he smiled as the dog licked Charlie’s hand and he giggled.
Dolly poked her head in and smiled. “I was wondering if you would notice our newest addition.”
“Can we take Annie into the play yard?” Charlie asked, bouncing from foot to foot. Travis saw that the woman didn’t seem surprised and wondered how many afternoons his son spent here.
“Sure. Let me get a leash.” Dolly grabbed a red leash off the peg. “She’s a trained hunting dog. Her owner died and his daughter couldn’t keep her, so she turned her over to us. She won’t be here long once people find out about her.”
Dolly went inside and slipped the leash over the dog’s neck, leading her out of the kennel. Annie went straight for Charlie, automatically sitting in front of him, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth.
Charlie wrapped his arms around her neck, and seeing the look of pure happiness on his face, Travis was lost. He’d missed out on so much, but he could do this.
Taking the leash from Dolly, he said, “We’ll take her, too.”
Charlie pulled back, his eyes shining. “You mean it?”
“You heard Dolly. She’s a special girl. And she likes cats, so your mom will like her, too.” And be less likely to kill me.
With a whoop, Charlie released Annie’s neck and launched himself at Travis. Squeezing his waist hard, he said, “I love you, Dad.”
Travis eyes burned with tears as he held Charlie close. “I love you, too.”