Travis Takes Toni Home
The plane landed in Coffs around 8:00PM; Travis and Toni were back in their territory now. The three days in Sydney had seemed like a vacation to Toni, except for cooking breakfast and the one meeting with a solicitor she’d had nothing to do but relax and be with Travis. Things would change now and she felt a little uncertain.
Kyle placed their bags in the back of the SUV. “Where do you want to go Travis, you goin’ home or to the beach?”
Travis was torn; he wanted to go home but didn’t want to leave Toni alone her first night at the beach house. It frustrated him that she wanted to stay at the beach, what the hell difference did it make now anyway
“Toni I need to go home, there’s Tee I got to think about, come with me just for tonight if you’re so damned determined to live at the beach we’ll move you in tomorrow. Do you think people are going to care, do you care what they think?”
“No, I really don’t it’s just that I’d feel funny living with you at Glenridge. Your parents are there.”
“You know Mum doesn’t care, come on…hell I ain’t taking you to the beach, Kyle we’re going home.”
They pulled up in front of the main house at Glenridge and Tee was off the porch running to his uncle and grabbed him around the waist. Travis hugged him tight, “I’m glad you’re home Uncle Travis.”
“Yeah me too Tee, hey look who I brought home with me,” He turned and took Toni’s hand.
“Mrs. Roberts, I mean Toni!” Tee was grinning ear to ear.
“Hey Tee honey, how are you?” Toni hugged him.
“Even gladder now,” he walked between them into the house.
Sarah came into the entry way, “Welcome Toni,” she gave her a hug and hugged Travis catching his eye and smiling.
Bill McGee got up dropping the remote onto the coffee table and came out of the den. He also hugged Toni and welcomed her to Glenridge.
Toni felt a little overwhelmed she hadn’t expected such a welcome, it was like a homecoming. The McGee’s were a warm and friendly family and soon she was in the kitchen with Sarah making a pot of coffee and putting together a plate of snacks.
“I’m so glad you decided to come home with Travis, not that the beach house isn’t nice but it’s not home for him. I went out there with Tomalee and cleaned and stocked the pantry for you. You’ll probably want to do something about the furnishings.”
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do now, I had planned on staying at the beach house but somehow Travis got me here tonight.” Toni was tucking ham into little rolls and tasting a bit herself. “Not that I mind but I thought until things were settled it would be wise for me to live alone.”
Sarah laughed, “I doubt very much if Travis is going to leave you to live alone. Tomorrow you must come down and see our house, it’s partially furnished now and as soon as the beds are delivered we’ll be moving in.”
“You must be excited,” Toni smiled liking Sarah very much.
“I am dear, and you and Travis will have the house as it should be. Of course Tee will be with you I hope that’s not going to be a problem.”
“Not for me, I like the little kid.”
“That’s good because he likes you too; you know he thinks of Travis as his father.”
“Yes I know, he told me about that the day we went for the boat ride. Do you think this is enough?”
“Should be, just something to nibble on. You’ll have Tomalee to cook for you and her niece to clean for you and Tomalee is a treasure.”
“I’ve not had servants in my adult life, my mother used to keep a maid. It’s going to take some getting used to.”
“Neither had I until we moved here and it took me awhile to find my place in the kitchen, don’t worry luv you’ll do just fine and Tomalee will help you. Now then let’s take this in shall we?” Sarah picked up a tray with cups and a coffee pot leaving a tray of biscuits and ham rolls for Toni.
It was going to be okay, Toni thought as she set the tray down on a table in the den. She turned and looked around at the comfortable room Bill was talking to Travis on the sofa, Tee sprawled in a chair. It seemed she had a new family.
