“We covered this. I am, regretfully, declining your invitation,” Rachel replied, her impression of their mom not nearly as good as Dave’s. Then again, she hadn’t had decades of practice with it.
“Gavin isn’t coming this year.” Travis peeled off that bandage. Yanked it clear free. “Did he tell you?”
Judging by the shocked expression crossing her face—the way her eyes got bigger, her mouth dropped open, and her eyebrows fell together, Gavin hadn’t told her. Because of course he hadn’t.
Before Travis could count to three, Rachel slapped on that expression she used to appear totally impassive before dishing out punishment for her boys. He’d seen her brandish this weapon and, frankly, thought it was sexy as hell.
Except this time she directed the look straight at Travis, hitting him directly in the solar plexus.
“That can’t be right.” She glanced at Dave for confirmation.
Dave,whose jaw was ticking with apparent irritation.
He nodded. “It’s true. He should’ve mentioned it to you, so we could invite you up, and you might say yes.”
Travis shook his head to knock out whatever jar of moths had taken up residence in his brain and made himself speak.
“Trav?” Dave asked, yanking Travis back to the present. “Thought we agreed I’d do the talking.”
They had. That was before. This was now.
“You were taking too long.” Travis took three steps forward. Yeah, Travis had gone off script. Somebody needed to get things moving.
“Why don’t you go check in with the twins?” Dave asked, tilting his head toward the stairwell. Offering an out that Travis hated he wanted to take.
Travis followed his gaze to the staircase.
“Or go fix some grub in the kitchen,” Dave continued.
This tactic was their mother’s. When she wanted to send someone away, Mom sent them to bake or do a chore. Food fixed anything,in his mother’s estimation.
Especially sugar.
“The boys can’t go without a parent.” Rachel leaned against the stairwell bannister. “I’m not okay with that.”
“Yeah. We figured that’s what you’d say.” Dave held his hands up, palms facing her. “That’s why we’re here to convinceyouto come.”
In truth, they always invited Rachel on the annual family trip. They invited her to the family everything. His mother was on a mission to see Rachel and Gavin happily married again with more grandbabies. She didn’t care that Gavin had moved on with Dakota and that Rachel seemed happy with her life.
“You know, Rach—” Travis shoved his hands in his pockets. “We can take the boys with us.”
“Without Gavin or me?” She looked at him like he’d suggested they dance naked in the driveway. “No.”
“Rach.”
“Drop it, Travis,” Dave said quietly.
“The boys will just have to miss this year.” Rachel’s head was already shaking, subtle like. “I’ll call Gavin…”
“Heads up that if you say no, Mom will probably visit soon.” Travis knew she may not have enjoyed him visiting, but she’d absolutely hate a visit from his mother. “She wanted to come with us and make it a whole thing.”
“There’s no way I can take two months off to come play at the lake.”
“Is there anything we can do to lighten your load?” Problem-solving Dave was in the house, ready to take on the weight of Rachel’s world.
“Work doesn’t take a holiday,” she said.
“Still, Trav and I can help you out.” Dave was practically giddy with his willingness to sniff out a solution. It’s what he did because it’s what he was good at. Gavin told everyone what to do. Dave figured out solutions. And Travis? Well, he had the gift of ensuring everyone had a good time.
