Tucked Away

Travis drove out of The Glen and headed toward Coffs Harbour.

“We’re going to Coffs?” Jean asked a little confused.

“No, Sawtell.”

Jean looked at his profile and left him alone for the rest of the drive. He was angry that she could reason but she would wait until he decided to tell her what was wrong with him.

Travis had studied the map that was emailed to him but he was in unfamiliar territory now and slowed when he came to road signs. He finally found what he was looking for and turned down a winding narrow paved road that ended at a house.

He reached in the back seat for the lunch bags and glanced at her, “Come on, get out.”

Jean looked at the house and back at him opening her car door, “Do you know somebody here?”

“Yeah I do,” giving nothing away he went through the door onto a screened front patio and felt above the door for a key and opened the house. It was much as it was depicted online, fully furnished and functional all was needed was a trip to the grocery store in the little village. He placed the bags down on an end table and walked to the glassed doors and windows on the ocean side, “Come and look.” He turned and held out his hand.

Jean walked over to the windows, “It’s lovely.”

“Welcome to your new home.” He said quietly not looking at her.

“Travis…you bought this place?” Her mind couldn’t comprehend the amount of money it must have cost.

“Yeah, I always wanted a place on the beach,” he turned to her, “now seemed like the right time.”

“You mean for me to live here?”

“I bought it for you and yes I do expect you to live here. You don’t like it?”

“Yes…it’s…I can’t believe you’d do this, this is too much Travis.”

“It’s not that fancy a place, three bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, dining area. It was the location I liked, it’s private.”

Jean dropped his hand and turned around back to the room, “Travis it’s not that I’m not grateful for what you’re doing for me, but you have no idea how this makes me feel…I feel like a…mistress you’ve tucked away.”

“I have tucked you away, but not as a mistress Jean. If I could do anything else I would, I’d take you home with me but I can’t. Until the divorce is filed I can’t risk it, I won’t risk you at any rate. You have no idea how important you are to me. Good Lord woman, I was ready to kill something when I walked into Barrett’s, just having you in the car with me brought me back to my senses. You’re something special Jean, I don’t want you to feel I am demeaning you by doing things for you. I’m doing it out of love.”

He was behind her and Jean turned into his arms, “As long as it’s love, as long as you still love me.”

“You think I’ll ever stop? You need to get to know me a little better.” He kissed her and held her against him for a minute, “We better eat Andy’s sammies.”

Jean was finishing up her sandwich and soft drink, “Why were you so upset or is it none of my business?”

“I had to go see Roberts this morning, he was handling Tee’s custody for me. A trial date has been set in Los Angeles, I have to be there for Tee’s sake and I have to find a damn lawyer in LA. He says he’s not practicing in the States anymore but I know damn well he could handle it for me, he’s a bastard Jean, no other way to put it.”

“I’ve met him, he bought me a drink one night while I waited on a takeaway.”

“Stay away from him, he’ll have you in fucking Coffs in a motel.” Travis lit a cigarette.

“No he won’t. I’m not Jan and…I’m not Toni either I’m afraid you’re going to have to put up with me for a long, long time.”

“That I can do,” he smiled, “I’m sorry Jean, it’s hard for me to put it all behind me, I’m trying but every once in awhile like this morning it boils up again. I wanted to smash his face in, I can’t believe she went back to him.”

“I’d say she loves him. You still love her don’t you?”

“Oh maybe a little part of me does but I always knew it wasn’t returned. That was the thing that hurt, there wasn’t anything I could or would do that could change that. I told you the first night we were together I was an emotional wreck You’ve got your work cut out for you honey.”

“I think I can handle it, emotional salvage may be my new occupation, I’m probably going to be fired today for leaving with you.”

“I doubt it,” he tilted his head and smiled, “We…ah probably need to go pick out a bedroom.”

She blinked her eyes and slowly shook her head, “You are something else Travis McGee.”