She started the jeep and slowly pulled out of her spot before driving through the parking lot and out onto the highway. She headed toward town and allowed her mind to drift to the day Travis came home from overseas. She and Scotty had been so very excited. They’d waited at the bus station all morning. When the bus had finally arrived and he’d gotten off the bus, they’d rushed to hug him. It was then, in those first few seconds that she realized something wasn’t right. He hadn’t hugged them back, and he’d stepped back away from them. Her mind could see it as though she was living it all over again.
“You sure this is the bus, Libs?” Scotty asked.
“Yes, this is it. He’s probably letting everybody else get off before him,” Libby said, practically bouncing in place.
“Wait! I think I see him!” Scotty said.
“Where?” she asked.
“Right there!” Scotty said, pointing to the windows at the back of the bus.
“Yes! I see him!” Libby said, squealing a bit.
They moved to the front of the bus, and watched until finally, Travis came down the steps. He was a bit unsteady, but still, he came down the steps alone and made it on his own.
“Travis!” they both yelled and rushed him.
As they threw themselves at him and wrapped their arms around him, hugging him, happily babbling about how much they’d missed him, he patted Scotty’s back and took a step back, away from them.
Libby looked up at him as she slowly lowered her arms. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, fine. Just tired,” he said, offering her a stiff smile.
“Oh, of course! You must be exhausted. You should have let us pick you up from the airport. It would have been so much quicker for you,” Libby said.
Travis shook his head. “No reason for you to be any more inconvenienced than you already are.”
“I’m not inconvenienced,” Libby said, her senses going off telling her everything was not okay. “We’ve been busy cooking, and we’ve got some of all your favorites stored in the fridge at home. Or, if you prefer we can stop somewhere and get you something.”
“I’d like to get home, if you don’t mind. It’s been a rough trip,” he said, reaching down and kneading his upper thigh muscle distractedly.
“Sure, no problem. My jeep is right over here,” Libby said, pointing to the parking lot. “Where are your bags?” she asked.
“Just the duffle,” Travis said, shrugging the shoulder that he’d flung his duffle bag over.
“Okay, well, let’s get you home then,” Libby had said, as she turned and moved toward her jeep. She listened to Scotty behind her as he peppered Travis with questions, and when he got only very limited answers, he changed to rattling incessantly about school, about the trees, about his friends, and even his part time job.
Travis listened politely enough but did little more than nod and smile where it was appropriate.
When she pulled into his driveway, she parked her jeep and got out, to hurry around and get his duffle before he did. But he’d have none of it.
Travis opened the passenger side door and put his right leg out, getting it balanced on the ground before putting his left on the ground beside it and using the vehicle to hold onto while he stood. Then he reached for the duffle that Libby held.
“I got it,” Libby said, smiling at the man she’d thought of constantly while he was away.
Travis didn’t answer, he stared at her expressionless and held his hand out in front of her.
Libby realized that he wasn’t going to let her carry his duffle so she handed it over.
“Thank you,” he said formally, as though she was a hired driver or something.
“I like your military cut,” Scotty said as he followed Travis toward the house. “I like your long hair better, but the short cut looks badass,” he said.
“Thanks,” Travis said. “They don’t give you much choice.”
“No, I can’t imagine they would,” Libby commented, trying to join in on the conversation.
Travis took the key from above the door where they always kept a spare and let himself into the house. Then he stood aside while Scotty entered the house, but stepped in front of Libby. “Thanks for the ride, Libby. I appreciate it. You really should have let me make other arrangements, though.”
“Oh my gosh, no! I waited a long time for you to come home. No way I was missing your arrival,” Libby said, smiling up at him.
Travis gave a nod, and pursed his lips. “About that. I’m sorry, but I should have been more clear when I left. It was wrong for me to allow you to think it was okay to wait for me.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Libby asked, her entire demeanor indicating her confusion.
“You don’t have to worry about Scotty anymore. Thank you for caring for him while I was gone, but I’m home now. I’ve got it covered,” Travis said again, beginning to shut the door.
“What are you talking about? I took care of Scotty because we’re family.”
“Scotty and I are family, you’re a friend,” Travis answered.
“A friend?” she asked, her indignation beginning to flare.
“A friend,” Travis repeated.
“We talked about marriage, Travis. That’s quite a bit more than friends,” Libby said, her hands on her hips.
“We were kids, Libby. Kids don’t know what they’re talking about,” Travis said calmly.
“Mate! You called me your Mate. We may have started out kids, but we were not kids when you left, Travis.”
“I was wrong. I appreciate all you’ve done, but I’ve got it from here,” Travis said. He closed the door and locked it, still holding the spare in his hand. He turned around and pressed his back to the door, his hands flat against it at his sides.
“What did you do? What is wrong with you?” Scotty yelled.
“It’s for her own good,” Travis said.
“For her own good? You just treated her like a stranger on the street for her own good?” Scotty asked.
“You wouldn’t understand it, Scotty,” Travis said.
“I’ll tell you what I understand. She’s waited, missing you right along with me, every single day. I watched her cry because you weren’t here. I watched her suffer as much as I did, counting down the days until we got the call you’d be coming home, and then I saw her cry tears of joy.”
“She’s better off,” Travis said, his jaw clenched.
“You know what? I think you’re right. Because you’re not the same person that left us. You’re an asshole. And as far as I’m concerned, you can keep this damn place, I’m going to live with Libby,” Scotty yelled, before running to his room and slamming the door behind him.
Libby still stood outside the front door, listening to the yelling going on inside the house. She was trembling, numb from shock at the way Travis had just discarded her as though she didn’t matter. But at hearing his words to his brother, she understood. He was struggling and thought she’d be better off without him. Libby took a deep breath, and turned around, walking to her jeep. She got in it and turned the key. She swiped at her tears, irritated they’d made their way from under her eyelids, then took another deep breath. “This is not finished. I’ll give you a day or two to get your bearings, and I’ll be back. You’ll see, we belong to each other,” she said, with a sharp nod to confirm her decision.