by Jack Kinsley
In one swoop, Travis picked him up and rushed him to the patio, where the pup went immediately to a strip of grass. "Just in the nick of time, huh?" he told the pup. Nick? Maybe that's your new name, he thought, but then decided against it.
The pup was welcomed company. He'd only been there seven hours, and he was already a miniature beacon of light. Still, Travis knew he couldn't give the pup the time and love a young boy would be able to. Willy would have the honor of naming him.
After the pup took care of his business, Travis decided it was too late to go back to bed — the sun due to rise within the hour — and the two of them had an early breakfast together. The dog didn't eat as much as he had last night, but Travis believed it would only be a matter of days before the pup was healthy again.
After breakfast, Travis called Willy's mother to ask her permission before bringing the pup over. Months earlier, she had asked Travis for a lawyer recommendation to deal with her delinquent ex-husband, who was past due on child support, and he still had her number in his phone. Her phone rang a dozen times before she finally answered.
"Good morning, Travis," she said his name unexpectedly, informing him that his number had been committed to the memory on her phone. She sounded out of breath, but awake — as if she had finally found her phone hiding somewhere.
When Travis told her why he was calling, she must have ducked into a bathroom or some other enclosed space. Her voice echoed as she spoke in animated whispers and rich, grateful tones.
Travis collected all that he had purchased for the li'l pup, retrieving some items that remained in his trunk. It took him two trips to carry everything to Willy's front door: a week's supply of puppy food, a month's supply of pee pads, a convertible pet yard that would corral him while they were gone, and a large assortment of chew toys. Travis had made certain the toys were made from one molded piece, where pieces couldn't fall off and be swallowed. He also made sure they were not made in China. The pup had already miraculously survived and he wasn't going to be subjected to any toxic China imports of cadmium, lead, or chromium — no lollipops of cancer-causing agents for this little guy.
Travis stood at their door, his legs surrounded by the supplies, the pup over his left shoulder. The patch of warmth reminded him of the days when he'd carried Bella around as a baby and she would fall asleep there, growing heavy and hot. It was the best feeling in the world.
It was Willy who opened the door; he spotted the dog immediately. His face contorted with a look of disbelief and hesitation as his eyes ran along the bags of food, the folded pet yard leaning against Travis's leg, and the toys peering out of the plastic bags. He looked up at Travis, then the dog again, but couldn't say anything — afraid it couldn't be true.
"He's yours, if you want him," Travis said and handed the pup over to him.
"No way. Noo waaay!" Willy took the pup carefully in his arms, his eyes big and bright, his mouth gaping in awe. His mother appeared next to him, still wearing her robe. Willy looked up at her for confirmation.
"What do you think, Will? Hmmm? You like him?" She stroked the pup's head and told Travis, "He's absolutely adorable."
"Can I really?" The boy looked back and forth at them, still not a hundred percent sure this was actually happening.
"Of course," she said.
Will held the puppy out to get a good look at him and then brought him back in tight into the crook of his neck. "What's his name?" he asked Travis.
"He doesn't have one yet. I thought you could name him."
"Thank you, Mr. Martin. Thank you so much." He cradled the pup and tickled his belly.
"You're welcome, Willy. Be gentle with him for the next few days. He's been a little sick lately and needs to get his strength back."
"Oh, I will Mr. Martin. I'll take good care of him."
"I'm sure you will." Travis turned to the boy's mother. "I went ahead and bought a few things for him... Hope that's all right."
"It's more than all right. It's all too much, really." Her eyes were growing wet and Travis was suddenly embarrassed. "You're a very kind man," she told him. She gave him an unexpected hug, pressing her large, braless breasts into him for longer than necessary. Willy joined in and hugged him around the waist with his one free arm. At first Travis was very uncomfortable, but he sensed a genuine sentiment of affection in the circle, and if they hadn't been almost strangers, he would have let himself drink freely from the depth of their sincerity.
As they separated, Willy cried out, "Chili." And the two of them looked at him in wonder. "I'll name him Chili."
Travis hadn't noticed, but in the morning light the pup's coat had a reddish hue to it. "So he's gonna be a chili dog?" he asked, and they all shared a laugh. "Or like it's a little chilly on the ol' willy?" Travis shared a more adult joke with his mother. It brought a devilish grin to her face, a beautiful row of bright white teeth shining between her red-painted lips.
It was time to make his exit.
He handed them all the supplies, telling them he was running late for work, and they thanked him a last time. A few steps away, he turned back and asked them not to tell anyone who had given them the dog. "Please keep that our little secret." He winked at Willy. "It's the only thing I ask." And he left.
His generosity drew a last admirable, lingering stare from Willy's mother, and he felt her eyes on him as she watched him walk clear back to his car. She gave him a final wave goodbye. He assumed she was thinking he was an honorable man who didn't like to speak of his charity — not that this was in fact a stolen dog from a man he had nearly beaten to death the night before. Travis was simply covering his tracks.
— — —
Travis walked into the office that morning feeling great. He had successfully avoided the clients and all staff, which was a rarity during most arrivals, and he knew he would see Chili again soon, running around the greenbelt in front of his condo.
It was only seven a.m., but Sarah was already at her desk, on the phone. She looked irritated, a file open in front of her. She closed it when Travis walked in, shook her head at him, and stared at the peculiar Band-Aid stuck to his jaw.
"I'll relay your message to him," she spoke into the phone. "But it's not a question of money at this point. It's a matter of finding him the proper facility, one that can provide him the appropriate program." She listened briefly, and then finished. "I will. Good day to you too, sir." And she hung up the phone.
"What happened to you?" she asked Travis.
"Shaving," he said. "It was a bleeder. Who was that on the phone?"
"Where's the pup?"
"He's safe and sound. Already in his new home." Travis smiled.
"With who?"
"That's not important."
"How were you able to convince Devon and Nathalie?"
"That's not important, either."
"So no details?" She looked disappointed but amused.
"Who was that on the phone?"
She sat in silence, regarding him keenly, as if she were debating whether to continue to grill him or not. She had a last look at his Band-Aid and then gave up and said, "That was Devon the Dog Killer's father."
A spike of panic nailed him in his heart and he unconsciously touched his Band-Aid.
"Not to worry, he hasn't switched into lawyer mode yet, but he is offering a lot more money to get Devon back in here."
"Not a chance," he told her.
"I was hoping you would say that." She smiled at him.
"I need some coffee." He headed for the door.
"Uh, excuse me. When am I getting details about last night?"
Travis smiled. "Don't worry, toots. All is good in the hood." He grabbed the doorknob.
"Wait. One more thing, Travis. You want to tell me why you are extending credit to Dallas? We don't even know for sure if he has a home — let alone if it's sold."
"Would you care for a cup?"
"Coffee, no. An answer, yes."
"Because you weren't there to say no when
Dallas asked me," he told her with a guilty grin.
"What kind of lame excuse is that? Blaming me. You're ridiculous."
"But it's the truth."
"Go get your coffee, you need it...you're still half asleep."
"You sure there isn't anything else I can bring you back? Another beverage, or a snack perhaps? Maybe one of those puff pastries you like so much."
She looked at him queerly, not sure if he was kidding or not. "I'm fine," she said, and shooed him away with a friendly hand to leave.
— — —
After Dani and Dallas had finished their communal breakfast in the dining room, Travis helped Lucy clear the table, but noticed Dani lingering and stealing looks at him. Something was definitely brewing. She normally sat outside with Dallas after meals, but the giant also noticed something was afoot and excused himself for a morning shower.
When it was finally just the two of them, Dani opened the slider to the patio and motioned with a tilt of her head for Travis to join her. Outside, she stretched out on a lounger, and he followed her lead and did the same on an adjoining chair, even though he was fully dressed.
"How is everything?" he asked her. "Did Sarah add your first session with the personal trainer to your schedule next week?"
"Yes, she did, thanks," Dani answered, but remained quiet.
They sat and looked out over the Pacific while he waited patiently for her to build up the courage to tell him whatever it was that was troubling her. Travis had never spent more than a minute alone with Dani.
"I would normally discuss this with Helen," she finally told him, "but I won't see her until tomorrow morning. And I need to get a man's perspective." Her voice shook a bit when she spoke and her vulnerability drew sympathy from Travis.
"I heard from Nathalie this morning," she continued. "It's the first time I've heard from her since she left here. I suspected she was with Devon, but I didn't know for sure until today. Anyway, something must have happened because she wants to come back here and stay with me."
The thought of Nathalie coming back set off all kinds of alarm bells in Travis's head. Could she have known it was him who beat the crap out of Devon? Did he leave any traces of himself behind? Had she seen him leave?
"What do you think happened?" he asked.
"Honestly, I think she realized what kind of dirt bag Devon really is." She took in a deep breath and then spoke in a confessional tone. "As you might assume, I've never had a man in my life. I was once forced to go with a boy for my senior prom, but that ended with my hands around his neck when he tried to make a move. And I've never really even had a relationship outside of being with Nathalie."
Her candor shocked him. There was a human being in there, behind her stoic façade, and he understood she had lived most of her life trying to live up to the expectations of her father. According to Helen, the man had been a religious tyrant who suspected her sexuality and had suppressed it at all costs, never allowing her the experimentation she so instinctively desired.
"So, my question is...what should I do? Do I take her back? Knowing she's only looking for security? I mean...what would a man do? What would you do in my situation?"
"That's a tough one," he said, though he had little doubt Nathalie would sleep with a wild animal if it were rich. In fact, she had been for the last week, and Travis was wearing the marks to prove it. "You're right, this is definitely a conversation better taken up with Helen, but since you've asked, my first thought is it's better to hold onto the hope that there is someone waiting for you down the road, than to be someone's doormat. Money's never going to buy you love. We've all heard that a hundred times, and we may fool ourselves into believing it for a short time, but sure as shit, once it's gone, they would be, too. Can I ask you something straight?"
She looked nervous and rigid, folded her arms across her great bosoms, but then nodded in agreement.
"You haven't had many sexual experiences. Am I right?"
She hesitated, but then confided, "Nathalie is it, unfortunately."
"Well, you missed a big piece growing up, all the teenage years of dating and sexual discovery. They're never easy years, but there's a lot of learning about who you are in that time. And I'm not saying to go out and start living your life as a Jezebel, but you need to get out there and live — let your guard down, and be open to new experiences...sexual or not. Financially, you have an amazing opportunity to go and explore the world... It's something most people can only dream about."
She gazed out toward the horizon, absorbing what he was telling her.
"And there's no better time to start than right here and now. You have access to some of the top professionals working in personal development. Tap into it and find your inspiration. It won't take long to find out who Dani really is." He smiled at her lightheartedly, and she returned the grin. "It's your choice to take Nathalie back, but you could very well be heading in reverse." He reached up to make sure the Band-Aid was fixed properly on his chin. He was really killing two birds with one stone on this one. He truly believed Dani was better without Nathalie, it just happened that he also, really didn't want Nathalie back at Crystal Heights. "You have everything to offer her, but what can she truly offer you in return? There are a lot of Nathalies in this world, but there's only one Dani."
They sat together in silence for a while, sharing the split panorama of the two blues. Only a lone cloud marked the otherwise perfect sky.
Then Travis told her, "I'm going to bring someone in I think you should meet. She's one of the best life coaches on the West Coast, and that's not an exaggeration. She'd be working here all the time if she wasn't flying around so damn much to meet all her clients. And I'll tell you what I'm going to do: I'll even pay for your first session with her. If you like her, then we can discuss future sessions with her."
"I would appreciate that, Mr. Martin," she replied without hesitation, having caught his enthusiasm. All the tension had left her body. She wiggled her fat toes slowly in the sun.
"And if we're going to make any headway here...you need to start calling me Travis."
"Okay, Travis," she said, then added, "I must say it's a hell of a lot different talking to you than with Helen, but I think it's what I was looking for. You men really are from Mars, but still...in possibly the strangest of ways, I think you helped me."
"Glad I could be of any kind of help." And he winked at her. He only wished he was at liberty to tell her he'd broken Devon's nose last night and teed off his head with a light saber, to further ease her pain.
They both stood from their chairs and she surprised him by leaning in for a quick hug. It wasn't full body contact, and only a polite gesture without the heat — for which he was grateful — but he liked to think it was a big step in the right direction for her.
They went their separate ways, but Travis got the distinct sense they'd both found a new respect for the other. Dani went into the house and Travis walked around the east side of the house. He looked over his shoulder a last time before he hid in a wedge of shade and privacy and fired up a cigarette. It was already his third of the morning and the taste was smooth and welcomed, bringing him an immediate sense of calm. He'd always found smoking effective in shutting out his distractions, and he now found himself in one of those good stares — where his mind pulled inward and he wasn't really looking at anything, but rather thinking of his plan.
He was going to get rid of Ana tonight — permanently remove her from the picture. It was no longer a matter of choice on his part. He hadn't created the ultimatums, she had. And she would suffer the consequences for putting those events into motion. Flight or fight? Die or fight was more like it for him. He couldn't step aside and let her take everything that was dear to him. He would stand and fight — to the death. He imagined the freedom he would have — how his future would find its natural course again, and he would once again have what was rightfully his. There was no turning back now. There was no doubt in his mind that he wouldn't be able to move fo
rward in his life without erasing Ana from the earth.
"Travis!" Sarah called him from behind. "Are you really smoking?"
Busted.
"You're damn right I am." He owned it.
"What the hell for? Since when?"
"For about three minutes."
"That's not what I meant." She slapped the cigarette out of his hand like a mother would and put it out with the bottom of her pump.
"Are you kidding me?" Despite the scolding, he was grateful she hadn't come a minute later; he'd been about to take out his pill box for a quick pick-me-up.
"No, I'm not. I can't believe you." She stood defiant in front of him, shaking her head.
"What do you need?" he asked.
She stared at him a moment longer. "We still have all the illegal crap Dallas came in with in the safe. I need you to destroy it. What if that prick state inspector made a surprise visit?"
Sarah would break some rules, but only those that would result in nothing more than a strong reprimand. Breaking any laws with actual consequence was never an option. It was illegal to flush illicit substances down a toilet, but it was Travis who would do the honors, and in Sarah's mind this somehow exonerated her.
"Okay, give me five minutes."
"How about now?" she said, and grabbed at the visible block of cigarettes through his pant pocket. He slapped her hand away, panic-stricken for a moment that she had grabbed at his pocket with his med box.
"That's the last time you put hands on me, you disgusting smoker," she said. She turned on her heel and left.
When Travis arrived in the office minutes later, she continued to drive her point home by waving a hand out in front of her nose. "You stink," she told him.
"Thanks, sweetheart."
He went into the safe, collected the drugs to be destroyed, and carried them into the bathroom. He pocketed the meth remaining (he'd taken less than half over to Devon's), and kept the steroids too, then flushed everything else.
"Are you happy now?" he exited and asked Sarah. She had her hand in front of his face with two green Tic Tacs in her palm. They looked like two magic pills. He sighed and took them like a good boy, then went back into the safe and retrieved the black shoebox containing the gun and knife. "You got me thinking about the inspector. I'm going to bring these home right now and put them in my safe — just in case. I'm going to need a couple hours. I need to run a few errands to get some things for Bella."