Acceptable Behavior (12 page)

“Bossy!” Sam called after him. He rubbed his hands over his biceps to ward off an imaginary chill.
Is he really bossy, or just self-confident?
Travis seemed to be able to handle all the balls Sam felt like he was juggling. He wasn’t entirely comfortable with Travis telling him what to do, but he knew his lover’s heart was in the right place. And for now, having someone to guide him, someone he could lean on, felt like such a relief. He could live with bossy, especially when it came in the sexy form of Travis Nelson.

* * * *

Travis buttoned his long-sleeved shirt and left it untucked over his jeans. He thought about Sam as he tugged on socks and tied his shoes. He needed to tread lightly, but it was so damned hard.

His mom had called him bossy once as a boy, and they’d had a good-spirited debate about it. He didn’t see how he could be called bossy when he was right. His mother had tried to explain the complicated theory of perception. Other people didn’t automatically see things the same way he did.

He recognized that in the argument Sam had had with his sister just before the accident. Sam thought he was bending over backwards to help Mel. She thought
she
was the one helping
him
by giving him a place to live.

Her argument was bullshit, of course. She was taking complete advantage of his good nature and soft heart. She might not want to admit it, but she had to know it.

Travis didn’t have a sister, let alone a twin, so he didn’t quite get their sibling connection. He just knew what he’d observed, and that was Mel using Sam for her own purposes. Travis wouldn’t allow himself to be used. If she thought she was going to say what he wanted to hear, that she’d stop smoking and using drugs, and he’d automatically believe her, well… She had another think coming. He’d believe that when he saw it.

He cared for Sam and Levi, though, and knew he needed to try to care for Melanie. He’d suggest they stop so Levi could pick out flowers to take to the hospital for her. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

When they arrived at the hospital later, Levi was strutting as proud as a peacock, carrying the bouquet into her room.

“It’s about time,” Melanie spouted. “I’m going nuts here. I need a smoke in the worst way.”

“I picked you out these flowers, Mommy.” Levi offered them to her.

“Aw, thanks, little man.” She tossed them on the tray table next to her bed. “Sammy, where are my clothes? I need to get dressed and maybe that’ll hurry the nurses along.”

Travis couldn’t believe she’d barely acknowledged the gift. Levi was gazing at her, seeking a smidgen of approval, and she was jonesing for a smoke. His blood boiled.

He placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and squeezed.

Sam opened the closet and found a bag with her things inside it. “Here they are, I guess. They’re not in great shape.”

Mel snapped her fingers and reached for the bag. “Whatever, we’re just going home. You may have to do some laundry. I obviously can’t do it.”

Travis cleared his throat and mumbled, “Derek,” at the same time.

Sam caught his message. “Maybe Derek can do your laundry. Has he moved in yet?”

She looked at him snippily. “Well, I wouldn’t know, now, would I? He hasn’t called or dropped by. Did you phone him like I asked?”

“I called the bar, yes.”

“Stupid son of a bitch,” she muttered, and tried to untie her hospital gown, which was tied at the neck. “Help me out here.”

Sam went to her side and loosened the tie.

Mel looked at Travis and sneered, “You want to avert your eyes?”

He grabbed Levi by the shoulders and turned them both away. “I absolutely do. Come on, Levi. Let’s wait in the hall until your mom is decent.” He led the boy out, muttering, “Of course, that could be a very long wait.”

The boy glanced up at him. “Do you think she liked the flowers, Dr. Trav?”

“Sure she did! Your mom is so anxious to get out of here, she didn’t say much. But once she gets them home she’ll put them in a pretty vase so she can enjoy them all week.”

A strange look crossed Levi’s face. “Are we going home to the apartment? Or home to your house?”

Travis squatted so he could face Levi. “You and Sam are coming home with me. I don’t think your mom would enjoy that very much, so we’re going to let her stay at the apartment. She might have a friend come to help her out. But don’t worry, you’ll get to see her every day after school. Sam and I will make sure of that.”

Levi smiled. “Okay!”

Is that relief on his face?
Travis could have sworn the child’s concern was more about leaving his house than missing Melanie.

Sam opened the room door. “Come on in.”

Levi reached for Travis’ hand and they returned to Mel’s bedside.

“Are you in much pain?” Sam was asking her.

“Off and on. They gave me some good shit, it knocked me right out. Gotta make sure they give me a script for that.” She glanced at Travis. “I guess you could always write me one, couldn’t you?” Melanie smiled, but there was no mirth in it.

He gazed at her evenly. “Sorry. I only prescribe for my patients.”

“Oh that’s right. You’re not a
real
doctor,” she sneered. “You’re a
pediatrician
.”

“He’s a real doctor!” Levi insisted.

Travis squeezed his hand.

Sam looked at the boy. “Of course he is. Mom is teasing.”

The nurse came in with paperwork for Melanie to sign, along with her obviously important prescriptions. Twenty minutes later she was free to go. Sam helped her into the obligatory wheelchair and placed the flowers in her lap. Clutching the bag with her things, he wheeled her out. Travis and Levi followed behind.

“We’ll bring the car around,” Travis offered, and took Levi with him to the parking lot. As he buckled the boy into the back seat, he commented, “We need to get you a proper booster seat. We’ll have to do that later today.”

“What happened to my other seat? It was in Sam’s bug.”

“Good question, Levi. Sam should probably see if there’s anything salvageable from his Volkswagen.” He got in and drove to the entrance where Sam and Mel waited with the nurse.

Sam opened the front passenger door for Mel.

Travis hopped out and opened the rear door. “Here you go. You’ll want to sit back here with Levi.”

Mel had started to climb in the front. She looked at him pointedly and moved to the back.

Travis closed the door for her. He returned to his seat.

Sam thanked the nurse who took the wheelchair and went back inside before he got in the front. He glanced over at Travis. “Thanks.”

Reaching for his hand, Travis squeezed it. “You bet. Let’s get Mel home.”

She said, “You don’t have a booster seat,” to Levi. Leaning forward, she muttered, “You should know that he needs a car seat.”

“We’ll get him one today.” Travis glanced at her in the rear-view mirror.

“It doesn’t matter, he won’t be riding in this car again.” She glanced around. “Though it is pretty snazzy. What’s a car like this cost?”

He couldn’t believe her tactlessness. “About three times what a bar waitress earns in a year,” Travis replied.

Sam’s eyes bugged out and he shot Travis a look.

Travis shrugged and whispered, “It was a rude question.”

Sam let it drop, and apparently so did Mel. They rode to the apartment in silence.

Travis pulled to a stop in front of the complex.

“Hope everything is all in one piece,” Sam commented.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Melanie asked.

“Because I don’t have any keys, so I had to leave the place unlocked last night.” Sam turned to Travis. “We really need to find my car and see if I can get my keys back. I had some stuff in the trunk, too. Not sure if I’ll be able to get it out.”

Mel added, “My keys and phone were in the console by the gear shift.”

“We’ll look for them,” Sam agreed. “God knows where they ended up.”

Travis nodded. “I’ll make some calls, and see where your car was taken. Hopefully we can go look at it today. It won’t be pretty.”

“No doubt.” Sam sighed.

They got out of the car and filed into the small apartment.

Mel picked up a black leather jacket from the sofa. “Looks like Derek was here.”

“Made himself right at home,” Travis muttered.

She frowned at him. “He was invited.”

Travis stared right back. “Good. Just so you know, Sam and Levi have been invited to stay with me. So we’ll be leaving soon.”

“I don’t think so.” Mel shook her head.

Sam stepped forward. “Yeah, we will. It’s just for now, Mel. You can’t take care of Levi with a broken arm and this’ll give you a chance to heal. We’ll do what needs to be done, and I’ll bring him to see you after school. Every day, if you like.”

“I don’t like. I don’t like it one bit.”

He sighed again. “Look, it was your idea to bring Derek here. It’ll be too crowded with all of us. This is the perfect opportunity to give everyone some much-needed space.”

She appeared resigned, but still not happy. “Who’s going to fill my prescriptions?”

“I’ll do it.” Sam rifled through her hospital bag and pulled out two slips of paper.

“Do it today. I’ll need those painkillers.”

“I know,” he answered dutifully.

She dropped onto the sofa. “If I let you take him, you’ll have to bring him back whenever I want. You got that?”

“I got it.” Sam sounded deflated.

“And none of this ‘we’re too busy right now’ crap. My son is the most important thing in my life.”

“I know,” Sam repeated.

Travis had heard enough. He picked up the bouquet Melanie had tossed on the coffee table and asked Sam, “Is there a vase we can put these in? The most important thing in her life picked these out and I promised him we’d put them in some water when we got here.”

“Sure.” Sam opened cupboards until he found a juice pitcher the appropriate size. “This’ll work.”

Travis removed the outer plastic wrap from the flowers and stuck them in the pitcher, then added water. He set them on the coffee table in front of Melanie.

She reached out and grabbed his arm. “I don’t like your attitude.”

Travis gazed at her levelly. “Right back atcha, sister. You might want to remove that hand before we have to see about getting you a second cast.”

She released her hold but continued the menacing stare. “You’re a big talker. Do you have the balls to back up your threats, cake boy?”

Sam jumped. “Mel, stop it! You’ve never used such derogatory slang about me before, why would you do it to Travis?”

Travis held up one hand. “It’s okay. I’m going to chalk this up to the pain meds and her head not being in the right place at the moment.” He tried to pierce Mel with his icy stare. “Make no mistake about this. You’ll understand the true meaning of a threat if you slur Sam or me again. Like it or not, I care about him and I won’t stand by and watch you continue to push him around.”

Her face contorted in anger. “Sam and I share blood ties. You have nothing to say about our relationship. And I don’t ‘push him around’. We do things for each other.”

Sam muttered, “What have you done for me lately?”

Travis smiled.

“You need to get out!” Mel screeched. “Both of you! Go! Now!”

Travis grabbed Levi’s hand. “We’re going. Say goodbye to your mother, Levi.” He headed to the door before the child ever had a chance.

“Don’t you take my boy! Come here, little man. Stay with Mommy.”

Travis paused and looked at her. “He’s not a ‘little man’. He’s a child who needs love and attention. At this point in your life, I don’t believe you’re capable of providing either.” He glanced at Sam. “We’ll be waiting in the car. Come on, Levi.” Travis led him out.

“Come back here!” Melanie yelled.

Tightening his grip on Levi’s hand, Travis kept walking. When he reached the car he stopped and knelt to look Levi in the eye. “I’m sorry you had to see that, sweetheart.”

Tears streaked the child’s face. “I was afraid you might leave me there.”

“Not today, buddy. I know you love your mom, but she’s got some problems right now and they need to be worked out before she can care for you properly.” He brushed the tears away with his thumbs.

Levi sniffed. “I don’t like it when she yells and uses bad words.”

“I know, and I’m sorry about that, too. Lots of adults yell and use bad words, but we shouldn’t do it in front of our children. It’s a hard thing, because we get caught up in the moment sometimes.”

Levi slid his arms around Travis’ neck. “Can we go home now?”

Travis hugged him close. “Pretty soon. We have a few stops to make first.”

Sam joined them and Travis rose. “Everything okay?”

His lover nodded. “For now, anyway. I think I got her calmed down. I told her we’d bring something for her to eat when we came back with the meds.”

Travis cupped Sam’s neck and pulled his face close for a kiss. “You’re a good man. Let’s get going, then. We’ve got a list of stops ahead of us.”

Chapter Seven

Sam inspected the twisted hunk of orange metal that used to be his car. “What a mess.”

“That’s putting it mildly. We’re lucky you escaped with only the sprained wrist.” Travis took a step closer. “Stay back, Levi. There’s lots of broken glass.” He peered in where the driver’s window had once been. “Your keys are still in the ignition. Let’s see if they’ll come out.” He reached inside carefully and managed to pull them free.

“Great.” Sam breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you see Mel’s keys or phone anywhere?” He gazed in through the passenger window.

“They could have been ejected when you rolled. Wait! I see something.” Travis pried the door open as far as it would go before squeezing inside to snag another set of keys. “Her phone’s on the floor on your side. If you can get that door open you should be able to reach it.”

Sam wedged the crumpled door open enough to retrieve the phone. “Good. This’ll make Mel happy.”

Travis stood and dusted off his jeans. “My one goal in life.”

Sam shot him a look and proceeded to the front of the car. “Now, if I can just get the bonnet open.”