Not a Chance(41)

Travis ushered Duane out of the courthouse by the collar of his jacket. They walked to his car and then Travis turned to face him.

"Did you do it?" he asked.

Duane rolled his eyes. "What do you think?"

Travis shoved his hands in his hair and squeezed his eyes shut. "Jesus Christ, Duane."

"I was drunk."

Travis gaped at him. He wondered if he'd ever been this stupid.

"Well maybe if you hadn't kicked me out," Duane said. "I was starving."

Travis ground his teeth in frustration. He didn't know what to do. Should he just drive away? "You got a place to stay?" he found himself asking.

"Sleeping on Luke's couch."

"Luke. Great."

"Well what do you want me to do?" Duane asked.

Travis sighed. "Look, Dustin don't want you in the house. But if there's anything you need..."

"I don't need anything from you, Travis. You can just go to hell."

"Fine," Travis said. "But listen, you've still got a job if you want it. You show up and work and you'll get paid. Okay?"

Duane just shrugged.

Travis patted him on the back and drove back to the garage.





Arden sat with Alice, Emma and Shannon at a back booth in Sweet Nothings. It was late, after the dinner rush, and they were relaxing with some tea and conversation. Arden felt so at home with these women. It was good to have friends. They made big problems seem small. Even Alice, with all of her marriage problems, seemed to breathe a little lighter when they were all together.

A frail looking pregnant woman waddled into the café. Arden recognized her at once, just from the descriptions she'd heard.

"Is that Travis's ex?" she asked.

Emma looked over her shoulder. "Yep. I met her yesterday. Excuse me." She stood and Shannon followed her.

Alice leaned forward. "You think that's Travis's baby?"

"No." Arden didn't just say it because she wanted it to be true. She knew Travis. He would marry her in a heartbeat if he found out it was his baby.

"What do you think he'll do about it?" Alice asked.

Arden shrugged. "He'll take care of her and the baby. They aren't his responsibility. But he'll do it anyway."

Alice nodded. She was going to ask another question but then Emma brought Tonya over. Shannon disappeared to the kitchen and came back with a plate of cucumber sandwiches. Tonya sat next to Alice and Emma pulled a chair up for herself. Emma introduced them all and Arden was surprised when Tonya didn't seem to recognize her. Maybe Travis didn't talk about her.

The four friends watched a few moments as Tonya inhaled two sandwiches and licked all the cream cheese off her fingers. She looked up and saw them all staring at her. "I haven't eaten all day," she said, her mouth crammed full.

Arden couldn't disguise her disgust. But she berated herself for not being more forgiving toward a woman who was that much pregnant. "So, Tonya," Arden said, "what brings you to town?"

"Well, I needed a place to go. My last man kicked me out and I couldn't think of anywhere to go."

"Don't you have any family?"

Tonya looked up and glared at her. "My mama lives over in Bixy. My aunt lives here. They ain't interested in taking me in."

"And Travis is?" Arden asked, lifting one condescending eyebrow.

Tonya glared harder. "I reckon that's my business and his."

Arden lifted her chin and looked down at her. Tonya dropped her gaze. Just then the bell over the front door jingled and heavy booted steps alerted them all to the presence of a man. Arden looked up and saw Travis entering the café. He was glancing around frantically until his eyes landed on their group. He seemed to exhale relief before darkening with anger. He marched towards them.

Tonya looked up at him and smiled.

"Ladies," Travis said by way of greeting. Then he turned to Tonya. "You should be at home resting. Let's go."

"I'm eating." She picked up another sandwich and shoved it in her face.

Emma grabbed another chair from a nearby table and shoved it at Travis. He took it reluctantly and sat down. He looked at Shannon. "Just tell me what I owe you for whatever she's eaten."

"Don't worry about it, Travis."

"No, I'll take care of it."

Shannon reached out and put her hand over his. She looked him sternly in the eye. "I said don't worry about it."

Arden watched his jaw tense. Then his gaze dropped. He nodded and murmured "thanks." Arden couldn't believe the nerve of this bitch putting Travis in such a horrible position. He would be running around town cleaning up after Tonya for however long she stayed. He was going to have to pay her hospital bills too. Arden wondered whether he'd gotten her a doctor yet.