Meeting Mother

Gena Stanley waited up for Toni to return from the airport with Travis McGee. She looked at the clock on the kitchen wall, it was way past her bedtime but her curiosity was such that she couldn’t leave it for morning. She wanted very much to meet the man Toni had left Richie for. She’d been surprised at her daughter, despite the terrible things Richie had done she thought they were trying to work things out. He must be something special she thought pouring herself a cup of coffee and carrying it to the den. She saw the car lights coming up the drive and stopped moving to the window peeking through the blinds. Of course it was happening way too fast and Gena wondered if it was the real thing or something exciting for Toni.

Toni opened the door and she and Travis came in. Her mother came out of the den, “Hello there, so you’re Travis McGee.”

“And you have to be this lovely lady’s mother, I’m glad to meet you Mrs. Stanley.” Travis hugged a startled Gena around the shoulders.

Gena smiled up at him, he smelled awfully good, boyish good looks and a smile that lit up his eyes. “Well come in and sit down I just made some coffee; Toni why don’t you do the honors.”

Toni passed a look to Travis and headed for the kitchen.

“Have you swept my daughter off her feet Mr. McGee?”

Travis tilted his head, “I don’t think so and please call me Travis. I think it’s a little more than that Mrs. Stanley, I love her and I intend to do everything I can to make life good for her.”

“It’s just that everything has happened so fast it makes me wonder a little.”

“It hasn’t been that fast for me, I’ve loved her for a long time and I’ve been patiently waiting for her to make up her mind.”

“And you think she has, just like that?” Gena sipped her coffee.

“Yes…I do. We’ve both been through a lot these past few months and we’ve been friends, been there for each other. Now it’s gone beyond friendship.”

“You’re lovers?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so although she never said as much. I appreciate your honesty Travis and I wish you luck with her. I’m not giving you my blessings on this union not until you are both free. I expect you will be discreet and not cause her any public embarrassment or her husband, Richie. I’m not happy with him but still he doesn’t deserve this. Two wrongs don’t make a right in my book.”

“No ma’am, I’ll do everything I can to protect her you can count on that. My mother thinks a lot of Toni and she’ll do everything in her power to look out for her. I don’t know if she told you but my mother and father live with me along with my nephew, Tee who I just got legal guardianship of. They all know her and love her.”

“That’s good to know Travis because I do worry about her out there in Australia, I know her father is close by but still a mother worries.”

“I’m sure you do,” he smiled, “but she’s well taken care of now and she’s loved.” He looked up as Toni came in with two mugs of coffee and handed one to him her eyes flicking from her mother to Travis.

“What are your plans for when you both get home?” Gena asked looking from one to the other.

“She has a place to go if she wants it, I have a beach house I bought recently and she’s welcome to stay there.”

“But your house Toni and the land you can’t let that go…”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with it Mumma, I don’t know if Richie is still there or not.”

“Your Grandmother left you that land.”

“I know she did.”

“Well then you should hold onto it Toni, it’s not jointly owned is it?” Travis asked.

“No, no it’s mine,” Toni thought about her house and gardens but she’d shared that with Richie and he wasn’t to be a part of her life anymore. “I don’t know yet what will become of it.”

“Well maybe you can lease it out or something.” Travis offered.

“We’ll see. I think I may stay at the beach house for awhile, until things are settled. I can move my things into there can’t I?”

“You can do anything you want to with it honey I told you it was yours.”

“Where do you live Travis?” Gena asked

“I’ve got a large cattle ranch we call a station, I raise beef cattle Mrs. Stanley and I’ve got a house there, my parents have built a house about a quarter of a mile from mine that they’re getting ready to move into.”

“His place is huge, Mumma and beautiful.”

“So many places to live…” Gena looked at Toni.

“What I’m thinking Mrs. Stanley is that when Toni can come to me, she’s going to make it home, right now it’s a house.”

Gena smiled at Travis, “I’m sure she will she’s a born nest builder. It’s way past my bedtime and I’m going up to bed.” Gena gathered her cup and saucer, “You should have told me Toni,” she met her daughter’s eyes with a wry smile on her lips, “I wouldn’t have had to make up the guest room.” Gena left them and took her cup to the kitchen and went to her room.

Toni’s eyes rounded and she looked at Travis who smiled, “Took care of that little problem.” He said.

“We can’t…not in my mother’s house Travis,” Toni whispered.

“How old are you Toni?”

“Thirty-one.”

“You’re past the age of consent.” Travis pulled her over to him on the sofa and kissed her softly, “and you did say yes.”

“I don’t believe I did say yes, not in so many words but…yes Travis…yes.”

Gena Stanley closed her bedroom door; he was charming and handsome and rich and he was in love with her daughter, what’s not to like? She could find no fault with him but her daughter’s behavior was something else.