As she’d told John, if
Travis still saw his wife when he was with her, you wouldn’t know it. Her
brother had suggested it was possible Travis was holding back because he was
doing a job for her family, and didn’t mix his private life with his
professional one.
Melissa didn’t have answers yet, but something needed to change
soon. She couldn’t bear to be with him like this, not knowing what was going on
inside him. Maybe nothing was going on, and she was
fantasizing at her own peril. That thought just about killed her.
Travis didn’t return until it was getting dark and time to go
home. She’d fixed peanut butter sandwiches. Luckily, it was food Casey liked.
When his dad walked in, Casey asked if they could sleep over, but his father
nixed that idea so fast it surprised even Melissa. Since his return she’d sensed
his preoccupation.
In the car on the way down, Casey made up for his father’s
silence by telling him about the squirrels that had come out to play instead of
the pig-whistlers. While he regaled Travis with their activities, Dexter chewed
on one of the toys he’d commandeered.
They looked like a happy family coming home from a trip to the
mountains, but the picture was false. Melissa’s stomach was in knots by the time
she drove them back to her town house.
They all got out of the Jeep, and Casey said, “I wish I didn’t
have school tomorrow.”
“But you do,” Travis said, without his usual warmth.
Melissa bit her lip. “Good night, Casey. Thanks for bringing
Dexter.”
“He loved it. We had fun!”
“So did I.”
“See ya!”
“Good night, Melissa.” Travis’s low voice worked its way
beneath her skin, igniting every nerve ending. She felt as if he’d brought her
out of a deep sleep. Now she didn’t know where to go with all these awakened
feelings.
Travis bundled his son and dog into his truck before she could
say good-night back. When she reached the door of her condo, he waved to her
before she let herself inside.
Too uptight to relax, she got busy doing laundry, then talked
with her mom for a few minutes before taking a shower. When Melissa was finally
ready for bed, she still couldn’t settle down.
After wrapping a robe around herself, she went into the living
room to watch the ten o’clock news, hoping it would help her get sleepy. She’d
just pressed the remote when her cell phone rang. Her heart thudded as she
reached for it. When she saw who was calling, she could hardly breathe.
“Travis.”
“Sorry for calling you this late.”
“It’s all right.” More than all
right. “I’m still up.”
“I got a call from work while I was out hiking earlier.
Something’s come up that requires me to be in the office tomorrow. But the guys
are keeping you under constant surveillance, so you can go up whenever you
want.”
“That’s great. Thank you.” Except the idea of being at the
cabin without him suddenly didn’t seem as appealing. Their two sojourns up there
had spoiled her. It wasn’t just a matter of him making her feel safe. She’d come
to enjoy his company. Really enjoy it. “Do you think you’ll be able to get away
from the office at some point?” You’re pushing it,
Melissa.
“I’m counting on it. After school I’ll pick up Casey and bring
him to the cabin with Dexter.” The news gave her heart a workout. “I’m afraid my
son worries about me leaving him when I have business away from Salt Lake. He’s
still afraid that I might never come back.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Her voice caught. Losing
Travis was too tragic to contemplate. Casey needed him terribly. “Tell you what.
If you’re going to do that, I’ll fix dinner up there,” she said without
hesitation. “I promise I can do better than peanut butter sandwiches.” She’d
been afraid she might not be seeing him tomorrow, and now was ecstatic. “What
else does Casey like besides pizza?”
“Candy and doughnuts.”
* * *
M ELISSA ’ S LAUGHTER WAS
Travis still saw his wife when he was with her, you wouldn’t know it. Her
brother had suggested it was possible Travis was holding back because he was
doing a job for her family, and didn’t mix his private life with his
professional one.
Melissa didn’t have answers yet, but something needed to change
soon. She couldn’t bear to be with him like this, not knowing what was going on
inside him. Maybe nothing was going on, and she was
fantasizing at her own peril. That thought just about killed her.
Travis didn’t return until it was getting dark and time to go
home. She’d fixed peanut butter sandwiches. Luckily, it was food Casey liked.
When his dad walked in, Casey asked if they could sleep over, but his father
nixed that idea so fast it surprised even Melissa. Since his return she’d sensed
his preoccupation.
In the car on the way down, Casey made up for his father’s
silence by telling him about the squirrels that had come out to play instead of
the pig-whistlers. While he regaled Travis with their activities, Dexter chewed
on one of the toys he’d commandeered.
They looked like a happy family coming home from a trip to the
mountains, but the picture was false. Melissa’s stomach was in knots by the time
she drove them back to her town house.
They all got out of the Jeep, and Casey said, “I wish I didn’t
have school tomorrow.”
“But you do,” Travis said, without his usual warmth.
Melissa bit her lip. “Good night, Casey. Thanks for bringing
Dexter.”
“He loved it. We had fun!”
“So did I.”
“See ya!”
“Good night, Melissa.” Travis’s low voice worked its way
beneath her skin, igniting every nerve ending. She felt as if he’d brought her
out of a deep sleep. Now she didn’t know where to go with all these awakened
feelings.
Travis bundled his son and dog into his truck before she could
say good-night back. When she reached the door of her condo, he waved to her
before she let herself inside.
Too uptight to relax, she got busy doing laundry, then talked
with her mom for a few minutes before taking a shower. When Melissa was finally
ready for bed, she still couldn’t settle down.
After wrapping a robe around herself, she went into the living
room to watch the ten o’clock news, hoping it would help her get sleepy. She’d
just pressed the remote when her cell phone rang. Her heart thudded as she
reached for it. When she saw who was calling, she could hardly breathe.
“Travis.”
“Sorry for calling you this late.”
“It’s all right.” More than all
right. “I’m still up.”
“I got a call from work while I was out hiking earlier.
Something’s come up that requires me to be in the office tomorrow. But the guys
are keeping you under constant surveillance, so you can go up whenever you
want.”
“That’s great. Thank you.” Except the idea of being at the
cabin without him suddenly didn’t seem as appealing. Their two sojourns up there
had spoiled her. It wasn’t just a matter of him making her feel safe. She’d come
to enjoy his company. Really enjoy it. “Do you think you’ll be able to get away
from the office at some point?” You’re pushing it,
Melissa.
“I’m counting on it. After school I’ll pick up Casey and bring
him to the cabin with Dexter.” The news gave her heart a workout. “I’m afraid my
son worries about me leaving him when I have business away from Salt Lake. He’s
still afraid that I might never come back.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” Her voice caught. Losing
Travis was too tragic to contemplate. Casey needed him terribly. “Tell you what.
If you’re going to do that, I’ll fix dinner up there,” she said without
hesitation. “I promise I can do better than peanut butter sandwiches.” She’d
been afraid she might not be seeing him tomorrow, and now was ecstatic. “What
else does Casey like besides pizza?”
“Candy and doughnuts.”
* * *
M ELISSA ’ S LAUGHTER WAS
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