Page 97 of Country Music Cowboy
Loretta nodded. Her stomach hurt over all of this. He was her father. Not much of one, but the only one she had.
“No, of course not.” Molly nodded.
“But I can’t stand by and see Loretta torn apart by headlines.” Travis shrugged. “I feel for Donnie Gram, I do. I know how hard it is to stop drinking and stick with it. But if there was ever a reason to try, with every damn thing you had, it would be for her.”
Loretta turned to stare then. What had he said? Could they hear her heart racing with the mic clipped to the front of her dress?
“For his daughter?” Molly clarified, leaning forward for his answer.
“Sure.” Travis smiled. “If he’s smart enough to figure out how to get paid to show up, cause a scene, get arrested, and cause another scene, he’s smart enough to stick to a recovery program. But the motivation isn’t there. He won’t get paid to get sober. He’ll get paid to keep throwing dirt on his daughter’s name.”
“Paid by who?” Molly asked.
“The highest bidder, I imagine.” He shook his head. “I know it’s hard to imagine, but not all news outlets are as ethical as you andGood Morning USA, Molly.”
“It’s not just for money. I mean it is, but it isn’t.” Loretta scrambled to explain. “He has a gambling problem; when he needs money, he needs it right away.” Which didn’t make her father sound as sympathetic as she’d hoped. Why was she still trying to get him sympathy? Because that’s what she’d grown up doing. Making excuses for him.
Molly blinked. “Interestingly enough, we received a video this morning. An unedited version of the videoTNMreleased. It paints a slightly different story about the events of that evening.”
Which was news to Loretta.
“The truth has a way of coming out.” Travis nodded.
Why didn’t Travis seem surprised? But she knew… Deep down she knew. Travis had done this. Why?
“Considering everything that had come to light this morning, is there something you’d like to say to your father, Loretta?” Molly asked.
“I’m not sure.” Where to start? In the end, whatever she said or didn’t say wouldn’t matter. He only heard what he wanted to hear. “I want to say I’d never turn my back on my father. I worry about him every day. I hope he’ll find the strength to take care of himself and get healthy.” She swallowed. “I’ve sent him money before but I always worry I’m supporting his habits—the drinking and the gambling. It’s terrifying to think I could be sending him what he needs to keep making himself sick. And if I stop? He finds someone else to send him the money—at my expense.”
Travis held her hand. “Damned if you do and damned, publicly, if you don’t.”
Molly shook her head. “That’s quite a dilemma.”
“But I can’t do it anymore.” Loretta sighed. “I can’t keep worrying about what he’ll do next or what skeleton he’ll pull out or what he’ll make up to get money. I’m not going to live in fear anymore.” She glanced at Travis then.
“People think being a celebrity is all fame and money and parties.” Travis shook his head. “That’s not bad but there’s a darker side to it all. Everyone wants a piece of you. You don’t know who’s after what or what they’re willing to do to get it. Until you find out and get your legs knocked out from under you. Even then, it’s not over—not if the press gets a hold of it.” He glanced her way. “Really it’s about finding the people who help keep you grounded. The ones who believe in you, no matter what.”
Loretta couldn’t look away. His words resonated.I believe in you.
“On that note, Travis, you said you had a new song you wanted to share?” Molly asked.
Travis nodded, taking the guitar one of the assistants handed him. “I do.”
“You do?” Loretta asked, smiling. “You’re full of surprises.”
Travis winked. “Always.”
***
His heart was in his throat, but he sang through.
I heard your heart is guarded, that you’re cold as ice.
But one look told me different, I think I’ll roll the dice.
One night is what you offered, I said yes to your rules.
But now I want forever, it’s up to you to choose.
