Not a Chance(38)

Arden had asked Nick to come with her, but he was busy at work and he didn't know the Raymers well enough to care. She'd tried to appeal to his sense of compassion, but that had resulted in the eye-opening realization that compassion wasn't one of Nick's stronger character traits. So she sought out Travis.

She drove to the garage to ask if he would be going. When she got there, he was in his office, dressed in a black suit and tie, clean-shaven and with his hair combed. He was standing at his desk typing something into his computer when she walked in. She stopped dead when she saw him, amazed at the transformation. He smiled up at her.

"Pretty dress," he said.

She'd put on a simple, black calf-length dress with a merlot colored sweater. He would look amazing next to her dressed like that. "Nice suit," she said, looking him up and down. All she could think was...wow.

He quirked a half-grin at her and then looked back down at his computer. "What are you doing here, Princess?"

She sighed. Same old Travis. Funny she would think of him like that already, not even knowing him two weeks. "I thought we could drive over to the funeral together."

Travis nodded. "Sure. No Nick?"

"Nope."

He frowned in thought, put the computer in standby and then grabbed his keys. They didn't speak on the way over. Arden kept some distance when they went in the church together, but Travis kept opening doors for her and ushering her in and out of them, so anyone looking would know they were together.

People were milling around in the foyer. Arden tried to break away from Travis's side to say hello to Emma, but Travis kept with her. She gave Emma a hug and kissed her on the cheek. That damn girl had a couple of tears trickling sedately down her cheeks. Emma was the picturesque perfect female, always displaying just the right amount of emotion at just the right times. And with Dustin at her side, tall, handsome and oozing masculinity, she looked mature...complete.

Arden stood taller and linked her arm in Travis's. He looked down in surprise. She smiled up at him as though nothing unusual were going on. They sat in Travis's usual pew towards the front. Dustin sat with Emma. Arden was pleased to be sitting with Travis alone. But then Kristen showed up and sat on the other side of Travis.

"Hi, Arden," Kristen said softly, leaning forward to see past Travis. She offered her hand.

Arden gave her a tight-lipped smile and shook her hand.

Travis leaned back and put his arms around both women. Kristen leaned into him and rested her hand on his thigh. Arden sat stiff and glared up at him.

"Relax," he said to her. "I'm never going to be wedged between a sexy brunette and a hot blonde again. Let me enjoy the moment."

Arden tried not to smile. She scooted next to him so that their legs were touching. His hand was soft on her shoulder.

Then the service started and Arden forgot all about her feelings for Travis. June had two daughters, including Ashley Strauss, from another marriage. Rory had two sons. They each got up and spoke about their parents. In the background on the wall was a photo slideshow. Underlying the whole thing was the knowledge held by everyone in that room that June and Rory had frozen to death in the house they'd been evicted from.

Arden couldn't stop the tears from pouring down her face, but she fought with all her might to keep from sobbing. She sat up, her back straight as an arrow and she dabbed at her tears with tissues she'd crammed in her purse. Kristen's shoulders were shaking as she cried into Travis's chest. He kissed her on the head and massaged her shoulder. Then he took his other arm from around Arden and held Kristen close.

Arden did her best to ignore them. She even pulled a tissue from her purse and offered it to Kristen. When the service was over, everyone mingled, briefly, to pay their respects to the family. Travis kissed Kristen goodbye and then drove Arden back to the garage. He pulled up next to her car, but left his engine running and his hands on the wheel.

Arden didn't look at him. They sat their for several moments in silence. "Did you see in the paper about Lloyd Redding?" Arden asked. Her voice sounded weak and tired.

"Mm-hm," Travis replied.

"Did you know him?"

"Yep."

Of course he did. Travis knew everyone. Arden exhaled loudly. "I feel guilty," she said.

"For what?" Travis sounded annoyed.

"For having so much when others have so little."

Travis was silent for a beat. "You think if you had nothing that this world would be a better place?"

Arden didn't know the answer to that question.

"If you gave away all your money, it might help a few people for a little while, but this world would still be a shitty place to live with tough breaks and hard times everywhere you turn. Just be glad you've got what you've got and do your best to be a good person. No sense feeling guilty."