Page 104 of Irons

“I think you’re doing a great thing, and I can’t wait to meet him. He was pretty little the last time I saw him. I remember holding him as a baby. Emma worked with dad and Tony, so I saw them at some functions. Then of course I knew him through Matt when he was a kid. Paula talked about him a lot but never really had too much to say, other than the last time I was in town she told me he was incarcerated and nothing but trouble.”

His eyes turned dark. “I’d like to see perfect Paula’s idea of trouble. He worked two jobs trying to care for not one, but two, sick parents, which of course was the reason he couldn’t keep up with his grades. That resulted in the loss of his future because of being kicked off the basketball team. Yes, he made some very poor decisions, but he didn’t do it because he was some kind of loser. The kid was desperate for money. I had it rough, but nothing like what he has faced. Dad made good money, I might have been ignored but I always had cash in my pocket, and we were far from poor. After dad got sick and lost his job, they’ve lived in near poverty. I’ve seen one example after another in my life of how shame can ruin lives. My parents were ashamed of me, so they abandoned me. Magnus lost time with his dying mom because if shame. I left and didn’t come back because I wanted to avoid shame, and look at dad and Emma, how they were willing to pay the price of their sons future to hide their shame. I lost years with you because of it and there were repercussions that ended up hurting you more than myself. That’s the one thing I want Brock to learn from all this, you can’t let shame live your life for you. You have to face it head on and eventually it dies away. Life will be so much easier if you let it go.”

I smiled and brushed my lips against his. “You’re so sexy when you’re being so smart.”

“Oh yeah?” He smiled.

“Absolutely.” I pressed my lips against his and there was the spark that always exploded inside me when we kissed.

The doorbell rang and Travis went to pull back, but I didn’t let him. “It’s probably just one of Jacob’s friends wanting him to go out and play. Heather will take care of it.”

He dove back into the kiss, his hands slid under the hem of my shirt and trailed up my back. I moaned against his lips, when I felt his erection under my ass. He was just about to lift my shirt up when there was a knock on the door. I quickly pulled back. “Yes?” I called out.

“Could I please come in?” Heather asked.

“The door is locked.” Travis whispered.

“Sure.” I stood and straightened myself then glanced in the mirror to make sure my hair wasn’t sticking up, my face was a little rosy from the heated last few minutes, but that couldn’t be helped. Creed stayed seated, for obvious reasons as I opened the door and stepped back. Heather entered and shut the door behind her.

“I’m so sorry, I promise I haven’t told a soul, but Paula is downstairs, she knows you’re here. What would you like me to do, Travis?” Heather was as white as a ghost and obviously a little freaked out by the situation.

“How did she know I was here at Clint’s?” He wasn’t being accusing, just curious.

“I have no idea how she knows you’re in town, but she said she heard a rumor and took a chance that it’s Clint you came to see. She also said the rental car out front pretty much confirmed it. I can send her away, or at least try.” Heather offered.

Travis pinched the bridge of his nose. “Christ, of course she has the nerve to just show up.” He looked at Heather. “It’s not your fault or your problem. I’m sure she won’t leave until she sees me. Thanks, Heather, I’ll handle it.”

I was frozen as I watched Travis. My blood turned ice cold, and I had no idea what to expect. He stood and walked over to me, taking my hand into his. “Stay with me?”

“Are you sure?” Not just about staying with him, but seeing her at all. “I can handle it, you don’t have to see her.”

He shook his head. “It’s best to face her. Remember what I said a few minutes ago about shame? I won’t let shame chase me away anymore. I was a kid, one that was lost and abandoned, so of course hell broke loose. Let’s get this over and done.”

Heather opened the door. “You’re making the right and most mature decision. I’ll let her know you’ll be right down.”

“Thanks Heather.”

She walked out and shut the door then he looked down at me. “Stay with me, but let me handle it. I don’t have much to say to her so this shouldn’t take long.”

I nodded. “Whenever you’re ready.”

We walked over and he opened the door. Paula was talking with Heather at the bottom of the steps. The moment Paula saw her son, her hand lifted to cover her mouth and tears began building in her eyes. “Oh my…you grew to be so handsome.”

Paula was always a very pretty woman. She was tall and slender, with dirty blond hair, but a large streak of white grew from her bangs and spread through her long hair, making her appear more blond than she did in our youth. Her hair was down, allowing the white to spread throughout her very loosewavy hair. Her appearance was youthful until you looked into her beautiful emerald green eyes. They held years of pain in them and its obvious she has suffered. Paula was always well put together with sometimes a youthful casual look, and other times she appeared as a professional business woman. She appeared before us in a loose plum wrap blouse that gave her a lower neckline, matched with a dark gray pencil skirt and knee high black boots. She wore yellow gold jewelry and presented much higher class than most women in our home town.

Travis didn’t say anything. Just held my hand and the other hand went into his pocket.

“How can I help you?” He spoke with very little enthusiasm.

She stepped closer and reached for his face, but he pulled us back a few steps. Her hand slowly fell to her side. “I deserve that.” Her face fell into disappointment. “It’s lovely to see you again, son. You’re even more handsome than your father, and so big.” She studied his muscles. “You’re healthy I see.”

“Again, how can I help you?” He wasn’t thrilled.

Underwhelmed

Wrenly

“I was in line at the grocery and a young woman behind me mentioned your name. She said you were back in town but had a concussion? That drew my concern, and I took a chance by coming here. Why Heather didn’t tell me is beyond me.”

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