Page 3 of Stand By You
“We were told to dress like this tomorrow so everyone looks alike so if we get separated the zoo employees would know who we belong to,” he said. Then he went over to his drawer and pulled out a matching pair of socks and then he found his school backpack. “For my lunch to go in. We must keep our lunches in our backpacks because the zoo doesn’t allow outside food to be brought in, but if we have them in our lunch boxes inside our backpacks we are allowed to bring them as a group the camp said. Special arrangements.”
Jillian nodded. “It sounds like you are all set for tomorrow then. Let’s go help Mrs. Hudson with dinner. We can set the table for her.”
“Sure.” Travis laid his socks over his T-shirt shoulder on the hanger and followed her to the door. “You never have told me why you couldn’t come pick me up today. Why is that bandage over your eye? And why is your car not in the drive?”
He was too observant. She thought with his excitement over the zoo he wouldn’t have noticed. “Just a little accident that caused me not to be able to drive. I fell and bumped my head,” she said as they headed back downstairs. “Clumsy me.”
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“A little, but I’m fine. Nothing for you to worry about,” she assured him.
“Kinda like last month?”
She stopped walking. “Kinda.”
“You’ve never been clumsy before, Jillian,” Travis said, turning to stare at her. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. Everyone has bad days,” she said.
“Is that all it is?” he asked. “You’d tell me if it wasn’t?”
“Of course.”
“Are you gonna tell dad this time?” he wanted to know. “I didn’t tell him last, just want to know if I need to keep a secret for you again.”
“I didn’t ask you …” she started to say, but realized the boy was loyal to her and smarter than she gave him credit. “There isn’t anything to tell him. But you shouldn’t keep secrets from your father. For me or anyone else.”
“But I do,” he said.
“Like what.” She put her arm on his shoulder and sat down on the step to look him in the eye.
“I haven’t told him how I really feel about Abby,” Travis said. “She’s nice enough. But I don’t like her, not for a mom and I didn’t want him marrying her. We are a family. If he was going to marry anyone it should have been you, Jillian. You should be my mom just like he’s my dad.”
He flung himself into her arms, his unexpected tears soaking her shirt. She held him close as he wept. “Oh Travis, honey, you know that was never going to happen,” she murmured. “I work for your father. He’s my boss. That’s all there has ever been between the two of us.”
“But it could have worked if you tried,” he said through his tears. “Before he met Abby.”
“No. It wouldn’t have. We don’t like each other that way. Not the way your father loves Abby,” she tried to explain setting him away from her and wiping away his tears. “Your father dated Abby for two and a half years before he asked her to marry him. Why am I just hearing how you feel now?”
He sniffed and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. “What if Abby tries to get rid of you now that she has married my father?” he said. “What if she wants you out of our lives?”
Jillian shook her head. “I don’t think Abby would do that, but I understand your concerns and I promise you that I would notgo quietly if your father suggested that I leave my position once he returns from his honeymoon.”
Travis smiled weakly at her, looking like he might begin to cry again.
“I wouldn’t leave you for a million years,” she assured him.
He flung himself in her arms again. “I love you, Jillian. You’ll always be my mom in my heart, no matter who dad marries.”
She squeezed him tight, unable to say anything. She loved him but never considered he felt this way about her. Or that their bond might cause an issue for Mr. McGinty’s new wife. She’d have to talk to him when he returned from his honeymoon for sure and figured out if there was any way she could help Travis accept Abby as his stepmom.
She’d really hate it if she did have to leave the McGinty’s employment to do it.
After a few moments, she released him. “Okay, enough of this. Mrs. Hudson is waiting for our help whether she knows it or not. First thing though, you need to march down to the guest bathroom and wash your face and hands. We can’t have her seeing any sign of those tears when you walk into the kitchen.”
He nodded and gave her a salute before he ran down the steps in front of her. Then she slowly followed, realizing that if her attacker had been successful today she wouldn’t have been here tonight to hear Travis’ confession. She had to be more careful from now on when she went out. It was clear someone was out to get her and until she knew who or why she had to be on guard.
The next morning,Jillian and Mrs. Hudson dropped Travis off at Playland Day Camp on time and then headed to where Jillian had parked her car yesterday afternoon. Travis had chattered nonstop about his field trip, so it was nice for a little quiet whenhe got out. He’d happily joined his fellow field trippers on the sidewalk at the designated meeting spot.
