Page 9 of Irons

“You always have a home with us. We all love you, Travis.” I reminded him, and it wasn’t a lie. I loved Travis, like not just a crush, but I loved him in a big way.

Travis might have hung out with the bad kids, but he was adorable, and all the girls noticed. He had a bad boy vibe to him, but I knew better. He was kind and held a lot of love in his heart, but he just didn’t know what to do with it. He was tall and muscular for his age, he also had light brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a baby face. He blushed easily and had the most adorable smile and white perfect teeth. He could kiss any girl he wanted, and he did it a lot. It was like the day he turned thirteen he discovered girls and couldn’t get enough. He was changing and it broke my heart.

I wasn’t sure when I stopped seeing him as just my friend next door. He always made me have weird feelings and I always missed him when he wasn’t around. I would daydream about us getting married and having little babies all the time. I wanted him to be my first everything. My first date, my first kiss…all of it. I loved everything about him, from his blue eyes to his strong hands and big feet. I loved how he looked at me, how he laughed, how it felt when he put his arm around me, and the enjoyment I saw in his smile when he would tease me. I might have had the most popular boys calling my house, the most athletic, and most intelligent, but none of them compared to Travis Irons. He was cuter, smarter, faster, tougher, and funnier than any of them. I just wished he would let me be the only girl in his life.

“Why do you care so much?” He asked.

“Because you’re my Travis. I’ve known you forever and I love it when you’re around. I just wish you were around more.” I slipped my shoes off then put my legs on his lap. “My dad and Tony love you too. We just wish we got to see you more.”

He was looking straight ahead toward the trees behind his house. “I don’t know why. I’m a burden and I get into toomuch trouble. You’re all better off without me around. All I bring anyone is grief.”

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces for him. “That’s not true, Travis. You’re funny, smart, and you can do just about anything you put your mind to. You’re a great friend and you’re helpful. When Tony couldn’t figure out what was wrong with his bike, you had it fixed in a day all by yourself. Usually, you make me laugh, but tonight you seem sad.” I tilted my head, wondering what was wrong.

He drew in a deep breath and began his first sentence in a sigh. “There was a child’s body found a few hours west. My mom thought it was Bobby and freaked out for like three days. It came back as not a DNA match, so they have to start all over again. Now they want me to go to LA again for a segment on Oprah, but I have basketball try outs that day. I really thought this time I’d have my chance to play at least one sport.”

“Gaw, I swear what they do is abuse. Why can’t you just stand up to them?” I always got so mad at his parents.

“I have, and when I do I’m told how selfish I am and how I must not want him found all that bad if I’m not willing to help. I know they’re right because I never knew him. How can I miss someone I never knew? I get it, that’s selfish, but the kidnappers may have well just taken me instead. I don’t fucking exist until they need me, and I just want out of it. We all know my brother is dead, but my parents refuse to accept it. I just wish I’d turn eighteen already so I can go off and do my own thing. Instead, I have to get on a plane with the parents I barely know and talk to some lady in front of a lot of people and act sad that my brother is gone. I honest to God wish it were me instead of him.”

I pulled my legs from his lap and turned to hug him. “Don’t say that, Travis. I need you and I’m glad it wasn’t you. Ilove you and I know you love me. Just please hang in there for me. Remember, you promised to take me to our first high school dance. I’m going to hold you to that no matter what happens.”

Present Day

“Are you alright, sweetheart?” My dad put his arm around me and kissed my temple.

“It’s just been a long time, that’s all.” I missed Travis so much and even at almost thirty, I still loved him. I had no doubt what I felt for him as kids was real.

“He’s cashing the checks I send so we know he’s alive out there. They’ve consistently went to Indiana, so I don’t think he’s in the service anymore.”

Despite the pain I felt over missing him, I smiled through it. “Maybe he has his own family now.”

He kissed my temple. “Let’s just hope he’s happy. Let’s go inside, Heather has had your favorite in the crock pot all day.” He let go of me then called for my brother. “Jacob, come visit with your sister and eat dinner. You can come back out and play again later.”

I hadn’t seen Jacob since he was nine, and I was only home for about a year after his birth. I was pretty much a stranger to the boy.

When I joined the Marines, my dad was not on board. He hated it and had a huge meltdown. Then when I joined the FBI, he was proud, but concerned. Heather was my rock and supported everything I did in my life. She was always so positive, and I loved having her as my mother figure, pretty much since I was fourteen years old.

Must Have’s

Travis

I sat with Creed and Magnus at the general store. I always found it amusing to listen to the liars club. They were a group of old men that told wild hunting and fishing stories, but also spread gossip worse than any woman around. They met every afternoon for lunch, and they were usually pretty entertaining.

“Yep, tonight’s the kids homecoming dance. My grandson is taking that Feller girl, and I’ll tell y’all, she’s a cute one.” Bill bragged.

“Yep, they’re all going to end up down at Old Finney town. They’re going to tear it all up and we’ll see all those muddy trucks tomorrow. Damn kids.” Mark added his two cents as he shook his head like the kids should have been ashamed of themselves. I heard enough stories from the old men to know they were probably rowdier in their youths than the kids they were shaking their heads about.

Ellsworth agreed. “Yep, its nothing but trouble. My granddaughter is still holding out for that Disbro boy and she’s not even going to the dance. Damn kids have no clue how one dance won’t make or break their lives. I’ll tell you what’ll make orbreak a kids life, the draft. The little bastards have no clue how easy they have it.”

I could have disagreed about one dance making or breaking a kid’s life.

Fifteen Years Ago

My parents were out of town, and I was supposed to stay with Uncle Tony, but he had a shift. Wrenly was at gymnastics, so I had a girl over. She was sixteen and had a car, and she was fun to hang out with every once in a while. I knew Tony wouldn’t be home until morning, so we had all night.

I guess I fucked up. Stacy must not have shut the back door when she came inside, and Wrenly showed up at the worst possible time.

“I’m not putting my mouth on that thing until you agree to go to the Homecoming dance with me.” Stacy was kissing down my stomach.

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