Travis Brings it Home

Bill and Sarah McGee were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their grandson and were not disappointed when Travis ushered him along in front of him when the door was opened.

"Well what a fine looking young man, how do you do Tee, I’m your granddad," Bill shook his hand.

"Oh move Bill, let me get a look at him," Sarah bent to look in his face, "you have the look of your uncle Travis about you when he was your age, I’m so glad you’re here, I’m your gramma."

"How about letting the rest of us get into the house," Travis said

They all moved into the lounge, "Jan how good to see you," said Bill giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "it’s been awhile."

"Yes it has," said Jan taking a deep breath. Sarah had moved to the other side of the room talking with Tee.

Travis slid his arm around Jan and gave her a little squeeze. Jan leaned into him grateful for his warm presence. She looked up at him meeting his gaze and smiled.

Kyle returned with Jan and Tee’s luggage he walked down the hallway and put Jan’s in Travis’s suite at the end of the hall, not sure where Tee was going he placed the bags on the floor and came back to the lounge.

"Travis have you got a room picked out for Tee?" he asked

"Oh put him in our wing," Sarah said standing up.

"He goes in next to me," Tee said looking at Kyle

"But Travis, I thought the blue room," Sarah went a little pale.

"I don’t know what color the room you’re gonna have is Tee but you can decide what you want in there, it’ll be yours."

Tee clearly didn’t know what he was supposed to do or say. Jan felt for him and gave him a smile and a wink. She would have held out a hand to him and brought him to her but dared not with Sarah standing by him.

"Come on Tee let’s go see what you’ve got to work with," Travis motioned him to his side and walked down the hallway with him.

"Well," Sarah said looking at Bill; she had yet to acknowledge Jan.

"Sarah, he’s gonna be Travis’s boy…you see how its gonna be now…let it go. Be his gramma Sarah, the boy needs a gramma." Bill said moving over to her side.

Sarah sat down on the sofa, "I’m not sure exactly what I am supposed to do Bill I don’t know where I fit in anymore. This is not my house, these are not my people. This is not my home."

Bill looked over at Jan who had moved behind a chair and was standing quietly. "Jan would you like a drink?"

"Yes, thank you I would." She moved and sat in the chair across from the sofa.

"Sarah…one for you?"

"Yes please," Sarah raised her eyes and fixed them on Jan, "so…Jan."

"Yes Mrs. McGee, how are you?" Jan asked pleasantly.

"I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here I’m sure you’re welcome."

Jan smiled a little smile, "I’m sure that I am."

****

"What do ya think Tee?" Travis said moving about the room, "it can be anything you want it to be any color, posters all over the walls, soccer balls in the closet…it’s yours."

Tee walked over and looked out of the window, it was dark and not much to see but where the garden lights cast a glow. "Uncle Travis…I never had a room of my own…except the one in Sydney that I slept in. I don’t know what to do with it."

Travis walked over and put his arm around his shoulders, "you’ll figure it out Tee, don’t think you have to do everything at once. This is to be your home boy, just let it come to you. That room in Sydney is also yours; we’ll be going back and forth. I have business ties there and that’s where Miss Jan has her work but this is home and ain’t nobody ever gonna take you away from it. You’ve got a home and a family now.

Tee looked up at his uncle, "thank you sir."

Travis looked into the boy’s eyes and felt his own starting to sting. He blinked a few times mussed Tee’s hair and said they’d better see about some tucker.