Travis and Tee a Heart to Heart

Travis escorted the delivery boy back to the elevator doors slipping him a generous tip. Gracie had taken the packages back to a spare bedroom now designated as Tee’s room. Travis followed her to see what Jan had bought the boy, looked like enough to kit him out for awhile. Satisfied he walked back to the living room staring out over the harbor. He’d been thinking about Tee and what he could do for him, material wise he would of course want for nothing but emotionally and physically the boy needed somebody to look up to, somebody to depend on who wouldn’t let him down…he hoped he was worthy of the gift his sister had given him.

Laughter in the hallway brought him around, he smiled it was Jan and Tee and it looked like they’d had a pretty good time. He was going to have to work on Jan and find out what her objection to moving to The Glen was, right now he could think of no good reason for her not to be with him and he wanted her at his side.

"Hello darlin’," he greeted Jan with a hug and brief kiss, "what did you do Tee buy out all of Sydney?"

Tee’s bashful smile was visible now that his hair was off his face.

"Come here Tee and let me get a good look at you…aw you look like your mama," Travis said softly, "same big bright eyes I remember from a long time ago and damn if you ain’t bigger than I thought you were…you play any sports?"

"No sir…well one time I played soccer for awhile…I made the team." He didn’t get to play in any games though…they’d had to move on.

"We’ll see if we can’t get you into something…it’s good for a boy to play on a team. I wanted to talk with you a little bit Tee," he glanced at Jan who smiled at him and moved off toward the kitchen to talk with Gracie about dinner.

"I guess you figured out by now…money ain’t a problem around here, but I want you to know it wasn’t always like that. In fact it wasn’t like that last year…this is all new to me too Tee and I’m still trying to get used to being able to do what I want and when I want. I think you’ve had it rough and right now maybe you don’t know what to think, like is this all for real, is it gonna go away tomorrow, does anybody really give a damn about me." Travis adjusted himself on the sofa wanting to light a cigarette but stopping due to the boy who he realized probably had seen much more than a cigarette going up in smoke.

"I just wanted to set your mind at rest about a few things. Nothing is going away Tee, and I’m gonna be here for you because I do give a damn. There will be a few ups and downs until we get used to each other and get to know each other better…but I ain’t going anywhere. You got grandparents out at The Glen who are looking forward to meeting you and who will help provide a home for you. I own a cattle ranch Tee, there’s horses, dogs, pigs and beef cattle for you to get to know. You’ll have to pull your weight now, no slacking off just cause you’re new to all this."

Tee swallowed his eyes big, "yes sir…when do we go to the ranch?"

"In a couple of days Tee and then we gotta do something about getting you into school, the new school year will be starting here soon. You probably noticed it ain’t winter here it’s the back end of summer,"

Tee frowned, "but I already been half a year."

"I know and maybe that will go in your favor when they place you in a grade. Tee you ain’t mentioned your mama at all I’m wondering why?"

Tee dropped his head and fingered the shoe strings on his trainers, "maybe…cause she ain’t been my mama for a long time Uncle Travis."

"Who has been looking after you?" Travis asked.

"Me," he looked up at his uncle.