Wandering Alone
 

Travis left Miss Peeg’s room at Millie’s and wandered back up the street, he’d left Kyle at Barrett’s and his vehicle was parked in front of the store. He finished a cigarette and looked in the doorway; Jean wasn’t working today that sod Kim had given her two days off without pay for taking off with him that afternoon. He wasn’t about to step foot in his store.

He leaned against the outside of the store and thought about what Miss Peeg had said to him about Jean. Sure it had blown up hot in a hurry, but he’d needed that at the time, somebody to love him for awhile, even if she didn’t love him today. He didn’t think she did, for all she could say the words. He’d stopped the security, it was too confining for her. She wanted to drive her own car that was okay he could do that. And if she wanted to stop by the local pub and have a quick drink with March Nova so be it. He’d told her he didn’t share…and he didn’t. Jimmy had given him that piece of information.

“Sorry I took so long Travis, their big men’s department had a problem finding shirts to fit.”

“I told you to contact that guy in Sydney, he makes clothes to fit not the other way around, are you ready to ride?”

“Yeah, we going to Coff’s?”

“No, we aren’t. I don’t know what I want to do, where I want to go.” They climbed in the vehicle, Kyle behind the wheel.

“When is it we leave for California?”

“Next week, you need to get the plane here Tuesday morning. Let’s go to the damn beach.”

Travis was quiet on the ride to the house he’d bought at the beach; he’d moved a few things out there over the past few days so if he wanted to stay the night he could. The heart to heart he and Jean had dashed any hopes she’d move out there. She’d retreated pretty fast he thought, maybe Miss Peeg had been right, he’d pushed too hard. He wasn’t pushing anymore. He directed Kyle to the narrow winding road that took them to the house, Kyle hadn’t been there before and he got out and walked around the house down to the beach.

Travis went inside to the fridge and found a beer. He walked over to the glass window wall and saw Kyle having a look around. He thought about what Miss Peeg said about his mother’s campaign to get Toni back. Taking a sip of his beer, he probably should put a stop to that, probably…he should.