Second Chance Family - Cindy Kirk Page 0,14

Ryan was right. With one set of six-year-old twin boys, a four-year-old boy and a set of one-year-old twins, her brother’s household was very busy. Okay, to a woman used to living alone, it was chaotic. Which meant it was way too crazy for an only child grieving the death of his parents.

“It was high school, Trav.” Margaret forced a laugh and waved a dismissive hand. “It’d be pretty sad if I was still holding on to something that happened fifteen years ago. We were just kids.”

Travis’s eyes searched hers. “If you’re sure…”

“Have you ever known me to hold a grudge?” Meg kept her tone light, hoping to dispel the clouds of doubt lingering in her brother’s eyes.

The words nearly got caught in her throat but it was worth the effort it took to spit them out when the lines of tension around his eyes eased.

“If he’s anything like he used to be, Cole is a good man.” As if he’d suddenly rediscovered his appetite, Travis dipped his spoon back into the chocolate pudding he’d been ignoring. “I played ball with him back in high school. He was one of the guys who went out of his way to be nice to Chip.”

“Chip” was Christopher Stone, a boy with Down syndrome and one of their classmates. He’d been the student assistant for the football and basketball teams during their high school years.

It didn’t surprise Meg that Cole had treated Chip the same as he’d treated any other hard- working member of the team. Was that admiration she was feeling? She pushed the feeling aside.

“Whatever happened to Chip?” Meg hadn’t thought of her former classmate in years.

“He’s a bagger at Hinky Dinky. Appears to enjoy the work.” Travis returned the greeting of a very pregnant young woman and her cowboy husband before returning his attention to Meg. “I want to help you move tomorrow. I have surgery in the morning but I can reschedule my afternoon appointments.”

“I appreciate the offer, Trav, but all I have is a couple of suitcases.” It was true. Even if it wasn’t, Travis had done so much for her already. Not only had he opened his home to her, he’d hooked her up with Lexi’s attorney husband, Nick, who’d given her free legal advice.

Travis took a bite of pudding then set his spoon down. “What about the rest of your things back in Omaha?”

“Even as we speak, friends are boxing up my clothes and personal items to ship to me.” Meg swallowed a sigh. Though it felt good to be “home,” there was much about her life in Omaha that she was going to miss.

“It’s going to be rough on you for a while since you don’t have a paycheck—”

“I also won’t have any rent, utility or food costs,” she reminded him. She didn’t want Travis, or anyone else, feeling sorry for her.

“You’ll need spending money.” Travis reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out an envelope. “Mary Karen and I want you to have this.”

Reluctantly, Meg took the plain white envelope from his outstretched hand. She opened it to find a wad of bills stuffed inside. Even as her heart warmed at her brother’s generosity, Meg pushed the envelope across the table. “I can’t accept this. It’s way too generous. You have your own family—”

“You’re my family, too.” He shoved the envelope back. “I can’t tell you how much it means to have you back in Jackson Hole.”

“Still—”

“Still nothing.” Travis’s jaw set in the determined tilt Meg remembered all too well. “Trust me, Mary Karen and I won’t even miss it. Consider it an early birthday gift.”

Meg rolled her eyes. “We don’t exchange gifts.”

“We’re starting a new tradition,” he said with a straight face.

She had to laugh. She knew her big brother and recognized that this was a fight she wasn’t going to win. “Okay, I’ll take your money. But I’m paying you back.”

“Convince even one of our siblings to come home to Jackson Hole and you’ll have paid me back a thousandfold.”

Meg started to chuckle but stopped when she saw his face.

“I haven’t seen Zac in five years,” Travis said, his voice heavy.

“Me, either.” Meg shook her head. Of all their siblings, Zac had been the most creative. The most headstrong. And next to Travis, the one she missed the most.

While she couldn’t guarantee she’d be able to get one of her brothers and sisters back to Jackson Hole, she’d do her best. Not only for the sake of the man sitting