“Yes, you are, always have been. So you aren’t going to add sissy to my list of undesirable qualities.”
“Do you know Leigh Greenwood?” she asked.
Travis shook his head.
“I thought the author was a woman for years, but then I found out that it’s a guy. His name is Howard and he writes western romance. And I love his western stories.”
“Please don’t ask me to come out of the closet. I like it in here just fine,” Travis said. “The money is great. I love to write in the evenings, but I also like being a man’s man in the carpentry world.”
“I would never do that. You do what you are comfortable with, Travis. Will you sign all my books? I’ll never tell, not even Liz and Darcy. I still can’t believe it.”
“For you, I’d do about anything. I’m so glad you didn’t kick me off the porch when I told you.”
She reached for his hand again. “Does Aunt Birdie know?”
He shook his head. “Only my agent, publisher, Cal, and now you. Not even the model who poses as Teresa knows who I really am, and I’d sure like to keep it that way. No one knew where my first book would go or how it would do, so I chose a pseudonym and that was that. Then it hit pretty big and the publisher wanted a picture on the back of the next book and they started talking about book signings. That’s when my agent and I came up with the actress idea.”
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what we will do,” she said.
“Thank you.” He looked up at the stars, evading her gaze. “Hannah, this is one of those nights.”
“I know, Travis. One where good memories are made. Thank you for trusting me with your secret.”
“I would trust you with my heart, my life, and my soul, Hannah.”
“That’s a lot of promise.” She smiled.
“It’s the truth, darlin’. When you are ready to take this thing between us to the next level, all you have to do is let me know. Until then I’ll be waiting,” he drawled. “But right now I expect we should be getting some sleep. We’ve got a party to get ready for tomorrow. The girls told me they want to go to a movie.”
“That can’t happen because of—”
He put a finger on her lips. “I know, but it doesn’t mean I can’t fix them up with a movie here, does it? Cal and I are going to make a theater in the hangar and we’ll have popcorn and Cokes and candy bars. Not to worry. I cleared it with Gina.”
Hannah didn’t want to go inside. She wanted to sit on the porch, look at clouds shifting across what little bit of moon was showing that night, and rethink every sentence and every nuance of the whole evening. She wanted to go over and over that business of him trusting her with his heart and soul.
“Mama?” Sophie’s thin voice cut through the night. “Where are you?”
“Out here on the porch talking to Travis,” Hannah called out.
The screen’s hinges squeaked when Sophie pushed it open. She crawled up in her mother’s lap and laid her head on her chest. “I had a bad dream. Daddy came in the house to take Laurel and Bella away from us.”
Travis rubbed her back gently. “Your mama would put them running, darlin’. She wouldn’t ever let anyone take Laurel and Bella, but remember their uncle is coming on Saturday and it’s okay if he takes them back to Kentucky to live with their kinfolk.”
“Okay,” Sophie said. “Mama, when is my granny coming to Crossing to see me? Laurel says her granny is real nice. I told her that mine is, too, but when will we see her? And can she stay in our house this time instead of Miss Rosie’s? She can sleep with me in my rainbow room.”
“I’m trying to talk her into coming to Texas for the Fourth of July,” Hannah said, wincing at the memory that her mother had not even been able to stay with Aunt Birdie when she came for fear that Marty would find out.
“Really?” Sophie asked. “That’s not very far away, is it, Mama?”
“No, it’s not, and yes, she can stay in our house. She can sleep with you or in one of the upstairs rooms, either one,” Hannah said.
“Uncle Travis can fix anything,” Sophie said. “Mama, can I sleep with you? Laurel is in her mama’s bed and I’m lonesome.”
“Of course. We’ve got a big day tomorrow, so let’s go get you tucked in.” Hannah stood up.
Sophie wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and her legs around her waist.
“That is one beautiful sight.” Travis grinned.
Travis sat down in front of his computer, and the next scene appeared on the screen as if by magic. An hour later he’d written more than a thousand words and was so satisfied with the scene that he saved it, backed it up, and went to bed. He’d dreaded telling Hannah about his other job, but now that it was done, a weight had been lifted off his chest. He didn’t tell her that he’d kept a first edition of every single one of his books already signed to her just in case he ever got up the nerve to tell her. Or that her reaction was far better than anything he’d ever hoped for.
Finally, he went to sleep and dreamed of growing old with Hannah and Sophie right there in that house. He would love to have a yard full of children looking like his beautiful Hannah, but he would be content to be a father to Sophie if that’s what Hannah wanted.
The sun was a big ball of heat outside his window when he awoke the next morning. He could hear two little girls giggling and smell the aroma of breakfast and coffee drifting up the stairs. The soft drone of female voices said that the whole crew was there, not just Jodie and Hannah, but Darcy and—he cocked his head to one side. Yes, that was Aunt Birdie and Miss Rosie, too.
A few years ago, he’d given up on ever being a part of Hannah’s life. No matter what a scumbag she’d married, she would be one who took her vows very seriously and would never leave him. So Travis had closed that chapter in his life and moved on. He and his father remodeled a house for a schoolteacher, and he’d asked her out on a date. His father adored Angela. She adored his father, and it looked like she might be the right woman for him.
Right up until he asked her to move in with him. She’d smiled sweetly and said that she would, but there was already someone somewhere in his past that was first in line.
“How do you know that?” he’d asked.
“Women know these things, sweetheart. You can’t give me what you don’t have to give. You still dream about her and call out for her in your sleep,” she’d answered. “Don’t try to replace her with someone else.”
Travis had started to argue, but he knew Angela was right. He’d left her at the door with a quick kiss on the cheek, told his dad that he was moving back to Crossing to do odd jobs in Cooke County, and started packing up his truck that very night. He gave himself one year to get over Hannah and to write two more books. He’d gotten three books written, much to his agent’s delight, but he had not gotten over Hannah.
And then six weeks ago, she’d gotten the divorce papers, and his whole world turned around. There was hope—a possibility—and he wasn’t going to sit on his hands and let it get past him again.
The ringtone said his father was calling. He crossed the room in a few long strides and picked it up from the nightstand beside the bed. “Hello, Dad. What’s going on?”
“I got married today,” he said abruptly.
“It’s about time. Congratulations?”
“I’m going to do remodeling jobs around Panama City Beach and this area. Guess I’m following in your footsteps.” He laughed.
“Congratulations. Are you coming home for July Fourth?”
“Not this year. We’re on our honeymoon cruise, and it’s one of those long cruises that lasts a month. I just wanted to let you know because we won’t have phone reception all the time. How are things with you and that O’Malley gal?”
“I’m taking one step at a time. Did you tell Miss Rosie that you got married?”
“Naw, but you can. Tell her I’ll be home for Christmas like always. Crossing—it don’t have such good memories for me, son. But that don’t mean yo
u can’t be happy there. Good luck with Hannah,” his father said.
“Thanks and enjoy the cruise. I’m happy for you, Dad. And for Linda. It’s time to hang your hat on the same nail every night,” Travis said.
“I think it might be. See you at Christmas. I’ll call every chance I get. They tell me cell phone service is spotty in the places we’ll be. Who would have ever thought an old carpenter from Crossing, Texas, would be off to places like Italy and France?”
Travis chuckled. “One never knows what might happen to the folks in Crossing. Hug Linda for me. ’Bye.”
He dressed, checked his reflection in the mirror, decided against shaving that morning, and picked up his glasses. Today was Friday. He and Cal had work to do and a theater to whip up in part of the hangar for the girls. His stomach growled as he started down the stairs, and he was thinking about bacon and biscuits when he looked down and there she was.
The lyrics of an old country tune popped into his head. The singer said that he looked up and an angel stood across the crowded room. Well, Travis looked down and there was his angel, Hannah, standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Cal is pitching a fit to get down to the hangar. I thought you might be ‘reading.’” She made quotation marks in the air with her fingers. “So I held him off as long as I could.”
“No, I read too late and forgot to set an alarm.” He winked.
Cal poked his head out of the kitchen. “I sent Hannah to see if you’d died up there. I’m the one who sleeps until noon and works until the wee hours of the morning, not you.”
“Guess you are contagious.”
Travis brushed his hand against Hannah’s as he passed by her, and the whole room lit up like a Christmas tree.
Christmas!
Only six months away.
The season of miracles and magic.
Could he give her an engagement ring by then? Would that be too soon?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The buttery scent of popcorn floated on the night breezes from the hangar to the backyard as Hannah, Liz, Jodie, Darcy, Aunt Birdie, Miss Rosie, and the three children started out to go to the movies that evening. They’d only broken the rule about leaving the house a couple of times, and it made Hannah nervous that evening, but she’d rationalized that it was dark, there were no neighbors who could even see them, and it was the last night Jodie and her daughters would be staying with them. Still, she was glad when they were inside the hangar and no angry ex had popped up out of the grass to cause a fight, or worse yet, start firing a gun at them.
Everyone had their movie ticket in their hand except Bella, who probably would have eaten hers. The tickets were a nice touch and made the girls feel like they were really going to the movies to see the Chipmunks playing in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Cal had not only rented the show, but he’d printed the tickets and delivered them to the door that morning.
Travis met them at the door, and immediately Hannah’s heart kicked in an extra beat at the sight of him in starched jeans, a white pearl-snap western-cut shirt, and a bolo tie with the Lone Star emblem at his neck. His dark hair was slicked back and his boots shined. And sweet Jesus, he smelled like heaven. Hannah wished she’d dressed up and worn makeup.
He bowed from the waist and said, “Your tickets, please, princesses, and then the usher will show you to your seats.”
“Oh, Uncle Travis, we’re just Sophie and Laurel.” Sophie giggled.
“But Sophie and Laurel are royal princesses.” He lowered his deep voice. “I know you are sneaking in so the paparazzi don’t know where you are.” He paused and looked around.
A camera flashed several times from behind the curtains hanging over the doorway into the office.
“I guess you didn’t get past them, but I promise our guards will keep them out of the movie room,” Travis said.
Sophie giggled again. “What’s the poppytotzie?”
“It’s the people who take pictures of famous princesses and movie stars and then sell the pictures to magazines,” Travis said as he held up his finger and answered his ringing phone. “But wait a minute, I have a phone call. Cal says he caught the sorry sucker trying to take your pictures. He is your bodyguard tonight and won’t let anyone or anything near you.”
Laurel giggled. “Here is my ticket.”
Sophie put her ticket in Travis’s hand. “Can we go inside now?”
“Yes, you may. Your seats and popcorn are waiting.” Travis slung open the curtains, allowing them entry into the semidark theater room.
“Oh. My. Goodness,” Jodie said. “It looks so real.”
“We aim to please here at the Hangar Movie Palace.” Travis smiled.
Two long black leather sofas flanked by three recliners were arranged in a semicircle around two hot-pink beanbag chairs for Laurel and Sophie. A small playpen was set up at the end of one of the sofas and had half a dozen toys ready to entertain Bella.
“Seats have been assigned,” Cal said. “Jodie, you will sit on the end of this sofa so that you can take care of Bella. Darcy will sit in the middle, and I will take the other end. The recliners are for Aunt Birdie and Miss Rosie, and the one right beside Jodie is a recliner slash rocking chair in case you need it for Bella. The other sofa is for Liz, Hannah, and Travis. Liz, if you need it, just flip that handle on the side and the end becomes a recliner.”
The adults took their places, and Travis passed out drinks and popcorn. A huge plastic bowl of miniature candy bars was sitting on the floor between the two little girls, who were whispering behind their hands.
“This is the best movie place ever,” Laurel said.
“Yes, it is.” Sophie reached inside the brown bag for a handful of popcorn. “And this is better than the show downtown. It’s got more butter on it.”
“I only been to the movies one time,” Laurel said softly.
“It’s true,” Jodie said. “Any spare money that we had went into beer. This is a real treat.”
Cal used a remote control to start the movie on the biggest television screen Hannah had ever seen. Where on Earth he planned to put that thing in his small loft apartment was a complete mystery. It started off with two previews and then went straight into the movie about the famous chipmunks who were afraid that Dave was about to marry his girlfriend. If he married the woman, the chipmunks would get a horrid stepbrother in the deal, so they had to stop the proposal.
Five minutes into the film, Travis laced his fingers with Hannah’s, and he held her hand on his leg throughout the whole movie. Could he be her soul mate? Or would she ruin their friendship by letting it move to another level that didn’t work out? She could never forgive herself if things suddenly became awkward.
With the kids in bed that Friday evening, the four women all wound up in Hannah’s living room. Jodie sat on one end of the sofa with her broken leg outstretched toward the end where Liz sat. Hannah and Darcy faced them, sitting cross-legged on the floor on the other side of the coffee table.
“What was your first thought about that movie?” Hannah asked.
“That it was crazy funny, but it sure hit a sore spot with me,” Liz answered. “I’m not sure I’ll ever trust anyone enough to dive into a relationship with him. With kids or not.”
Jodie threw her two cents into the conversation. “I’m young, but I wouldn’t want to get involved with someone who has kids for fear that mine and his wouldn’t blend. Maybe I’ll wait to even think about that until they are grown. Right now, I’m just grateful to be going home to my roots.”
A long, pregnant silence filled the room. Finally, Darcy broke the quiet with a giggle. “Can we adjourn this meeting and talk about a good man before we tell Jodie good-bye tonight?”
“Yes, we can,” Jodie said. “I want to hear about Cal. Did you hang back for a good-night kiss?”
“Yes, I did. Every single time he kisses me, I swear, my feet float and my whole body tingles.”
Hannah was about to nod in agreement but stopp
ed and rolled her neck as if she was getting kinks out. Travis affected her the same way, and it would be really easy to be jealous of Darcy and Cal and their ability to fall in love without baggage.
Jodie clapped her hands. “If a man like Cal ever comes along and makes me feel like that, I’ll rethink my stand.”
“Your husband didn’t?” Darcy asked.
Jodie shook her head slowly. “Truth is, I didn’t even like his kisses so much. I hate cigarette smoke and he kept one lit all the time. Beer and cigarettes came before groceries and electric bills.”
Darcy frowned. “And you married him?”
“Sometimes a young girl doesn’t listen to her heart. I wanted out of Kentucky. Besides, I was pregnant,” Jodie said with a shrug.
“I just wanted to be married,” Liz said. “And Wyatt had moved into that house here in Crossing and he was a little bit charming. Until the first time he came home and I’d rearranged the furniture and took down some pictures. The charm was gone and the first bruise appeared.”
“And you?” Jodie looked at Hannah.
“I’ve been divorced less than a month. Too soon to call shots right now.” Hannah sidestepped the issue. “Changing the subject here. What time is your brother arriving tomorrow?”
“He’ll get into Dallas at seven in the morning, rent a car with a car seat, and pick me up by eight thirty. Nine at the latest. I want as little fanfare as possible with the good-byes. Laurel is going to be so sad about leaving Sophie, and yet it’s been wonderful for her to have this experience. I have my suitcase packed and my quilt tops ready to go,” Jodie answered.
“I want you to take Sophie’s old car seat and some books for Laurel,” Hannah said. “It’s a long way to Kentucky, and Laurel will need things to keep her entertained.”
“Thank you—again,” Jodie said. “And if any of y’all are ever in Kentucky, you just ask around in Harlan about the Bennett family. They’ll put you in touch with my granny, and she’ll tell you how to find me. We live way up in the hills and the last three miles is dirt road, so don’t drive a fancy car.”
The Lullaby Sky Page 21
