chapter 14
My parents wanted us to spend the day together and go visit some historical sites. After the talk I had with Travis the other night when I realized that my parents needed this time to reconnect, I also realized how important it was to show them how good we are together as a family unit too. So I agreed to spend the day with them, even though it meant that I wouldn’t see Travis all day.
I got myself dressed and went up to the office to retrieve the car from the lot. I figured while I was up there, I would let Travis know that we were going out for the day. He and I hadn’t made any official plans together, but I didn’t want to leave without telling him. When I walked into the office, I was startled to see Ashley and Travis hugging.
“Thanks babe! Now, I feel so much better. Are we going to celebrate your birthday today? By the way, where is the new car? I thought I would get to ride in it today,” Ashley said, taking a step back and crossing her arms in a pouting way. My heart sank at the sight, and I nearly collapsed to the floor. I knew things were too good to be true, and now I understood why he wanted to keep things between us a secret.
Just as I was trying to figure out how to make my exit without being noticed, I saw Travis turn and smile at me. He didn’t seem at all upset that I had caught him and Ashley together, which made me feel worse. When I didn’t return the smile, he moved her aside and walked over to where I was standing. “Are you okay Paige?” he asked, looking at me full of concern. Is this some kind of joke? I catch you and your girlfriend together as you’re probably making up some lame excuse for why you didn’t spend yesterday with her, and you’re acting as if nothing happened my mind silently shouted.
Instead of repeating my thoughts aloud, I simply responded, “Yes.”
“Do you need help finding anything?” he asked, still puzzled by my demeanor.
“No, I’m good. Changed my mind. Thanks,” I lied, turning to leave before I succumbed to my panic.
“Hey, Ash. Why don’t you go find Scott and tell him that you absolutely want to be his girlfriend? Then we’ll figure out what the plan is for today,” Travis told her.
“I think I’ll play hard to get a little first just to tease him. After all, it is a little juvenile that he told you to ask me out for him. Come on Trav, we aren’t in high school any more.”
“Don’t make him beg Ash, you know he’s never had an easy time talking to girls,” Travis responded.
“You’re right, maybe I’ll just run up to him and kiss him,” she said, excited by the idea.
My mind was trying to play catch up as the conversation was unfolding. It seemed as though Scott wanted to date Ashley, and Travis was just relaying the message. Ashley must have been excited to find out, which was why she was hugging him. She also seemed to be in a really good mood because she could care less about my presence. My heart started to slow and my mind settled. Ashley made her way out of the office, and I literally slumped into Travis’s arms.
“Hey babe! What’s wrong?” he said, rubbing my back gently. “What’s going on?”
I was nervous to tell him what was bothering me. I didn’t want to seem like the paranoid insecure girlfriend who just had a panic attack thinking that her boyfriend was running around with another girl. But I didn’t want there to be any lies between us or withhold the truth, so I told him.
“When I walked in and saw you and Ashley hugging, I freaked. I’m sorry for not giving you the benefit of the doubt and for automatically assuming that you were keeping our relationship hidden because you were dating her as well. I plead a momentary case of insanity. Sorry,” I apologized, reluctantly meeting his eyes to see his reaction. His eyes wavered with pain, and I was nervous that I had completely offended him with my lack of trust.
“Paige, you don’t need to be sorry. I…” He hesitated for a minute before continuing. “Listen, you never have to apologize for things like that. It just shows me that you care. Which I really hope you do?”
Although, he didn’t say ‘I love you,’ his words were still a soothing balm and I felt completely revived from the entire situation. “I do care Travis. More than you know. It’s scary how fast I’ve fallen.” I wasn’t saying the L word, but I was letting him know just how deep my emotions ran.
“Ditto!” he said, grabbing my cheeks and kissing me soundly.
I was left breathless from the intensity of the kiss and saw stars as he let me go. “I’m supposed to spend the day with the gang since I bailed on them yesterday, but if you want I can get out of it so the two of us can spend the day together.”
“Actually, I was just coming in to tell you that my parents and I are going sightseeing for the day, so I won’t be back till tonight. So, go have fun with your friends,” I said.
“Yeah, I’m sure it will be a blast watching Scott and Ashley make-out all day,” he complained, rolling his eyes at the thought.
“Well, soon enough, we will be giving them the same show, I’m sure, so don’t be too hard on them,” I advised, waggling my eyebrows.
“This is true,” he said, kissing me again. I had to get going because my parents were waiting for me, so we said our goodbyes and I got in the car to go pick them up.
My dad was fully engrossed in his walking audio tour of the Ethan Allen homestead, so my mom and I took the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee. Although we liked visiting historical sites, she and I are similar in that we would rather be shopping. It must be a girl thing.
“So, what’s going on with you and Travis? He came by the RV yesterday looking for you and I gave him your number,” my mom admitted.
“I know you did and thank you for that. He ended up coming into Burlington and we spent the day together.”
“Really? See, I knew he would come around. Moms always know best,” she teased.
“So true!” I agreed.
“Well? What did you do?” she asked, prying for the details.
“Oh, it was so much fun, mom!” I gushed, unable to hide the joyous feelings I was having.
“That good huh!” she said, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Mom, NO!” I shrieked. “We just spent the day touring around the city. He took me to all of his favorite spots, and I got to meet his friends. Then, he took me to a pottery place where we actually made ceramic bowls to be donated to a soup kitchen.”
“What?” my mom interrupted.
“Travis found this place online and learned that they are working on this project called ‘The Gift of Soup.’ So, he called up the owner and got us a private session.”
“Oh, My Gosh!” my mom practically shrieked in excitement. “Paige, he is a keeper. As much as I love your father, and I truly do, when he was your age he was not that romantic. Neither were any of the other boys for that matter. Travis is amazingly mature for his age, and very sweet. I can tell from talking to his mother that they have brought him up well. Wow, now I’m going to tell you that he is exactly the type of guy I always hoped you would find,” my mom said, repeating the words that Lucille had told Travis, which made me laugh.
“Calm down mom, I don’t need you picking out your mother of the bride dress yet. But I will say, I’ve fallen, really fallen for him.”
My mom reached out squeezing my hand, and spoke with tears in her eyes. “I’m happy for you sweetie! Remember always to give him the benefit of the doubt because boys can, excuse my French, f*ck up royally. But they are guys, and it takes them a while to learn our ways,” she remarked giggling. Her advice could not be more accurate because I had already discovered from the morning’s debacle just how important it was to do that.
“Thanks mom! Words from the wise are always appreciated,” I responded, squeezing her hand back.
My mom and I finished our coffee giggling away at all of the stories I shared with her about Travis as a kid, and then made our way back to find my dad. “All right, I suppose you ladies are ready for some shopping now, huh?” my dad asked, wrapping his arm around my mom’s waist.
“We are fine, today is about you and seeing the sites. We can shop any ole time,” my mom replied.
It was sweet to see my parents being so considerate and loving towards one another. It had definitely been a while since they had canoodled in front of me, and I was happy that things were working out so well for them. “Well, my darling, I know this might sound a bit surprising, but I have had my fill of history for the day and would rather take my girls into the city, buy you two something beautiful and shiny, then take you out for dinner. How does that sound?” My dad’s offer was so sweet and there was no denying just how much he loved us.
My mom responded by giving my dad a kiss that made me have to look away, but I was very enthused about the new plan. “See Paige, I chose right!” my mom said, smiling sweetly and hooking my arm with hers. The three of us made our way back to the car and drove into Burlington to start our shopping spree. It felt like we were finally becoming a family again and I was perfectly content.
After a full and very long day of shopping and food, we finally made our way back to the campground. I was excited to be back, and wanted to find Travis. I couldn’t wait to share how much fun we had had and the news about how well my parents were getting along. Plus, I wanted to show off the new charm bracelet that my dad had bought me. He and my mom both picked out a charm to put on it. My dad picked out a little fairy and said, “You will always be my magical pixie.” And my mom picked out a little number three and told me that, “We are and always will be the perfect three.” I felt that her message went deeper and that she was trying to tell me that she was never going to divide our family. Although we had never talked about divorce in the past, I had always questioned if that would happen when I left home. Now, I was certain it wouldn’t.