Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,23

for a few rings until he answered.

“Hey, you good?” Richie said, concern clear in his voice.

“Yeah. I’m okay. Do you think you could do without me for a couple of days?” Libby asked.

“Yeah, definitely. Riley and the guys will finish up that roof this morning. Only had to put gutters on it. Then they’re taking a break until after the holidays. With them pitching in if needed, we’ve got this. What’s up?” he asked.

“You heard Travis talking about setting up the Christmas Village here for families to come to and cut down their Christmas trees?” Libby asked.

“Yeah,” Richie answered.

“I’m going to help him get everything ready. If you need me, just let me know. I will be there every minute that you need me to be, so let me know if you end up shorthanded and I’ll come to work, then go to Travis’s after. But I have a lot to do — baking, painting, decorating,” Libby said. “I want to make it as nice as it was when his parents used to do it.”

“Naw, we shouldn’t need you. Go ahead and help Travis. Sounds awesome. I can’t wait to come see it.”

“You promise you’ll let me know if you end up short handed for a shift?” Libby asked.

“I do.”

“Okay. If you need me, I’ll be there right away. Don’t hesitate to call me.”

“I’ll let you know, Libs. Have fun, and open your heart. Maybe we can come out on Sunday and see if you need our help,” Richie said.

“We hope to be opened on Friday. But yeah, come on out.”

“See you then if not before,” Richie said.

“Bye, Richie.”

Libby ended the call and laid her phone down on the coffee table. She’d made the decision to help Travis full time — at least until it was up and running. “That’s done,” she said, getting to her feet to go back into her bedroom and get dressed. Twenty minutes later she was in her jeep driving to Travis’s house.

~~~

Travis sat up and swung his legs over the side of his mattress. He reached for his prosthetic and strapped it on, before standing up to go to the bathroom and get dressed. He looked at himself in the mirror. “She’s going to trust you again,” he said quietly. Travis looked away from his reflection, brushed his teeth, then opened his bedroom door to go make coffee.

He was in the kitchen, and had just set the coffee pot and plugged it in when there was a knock at the front door. Travis looked at the time on the microwave and his forehead wrinkled. Who the hell would be here at 6:15 A.M.? He walked over toward the door and paused at the front window to pull the curtains back enough to peek out. His face broke into a wide smile as he hurried to unlock and open the door.

“Good morning,” he said, standing back and allowing plenty of room for Libby to enter.

“Morning. I have arrived. What are we doing first?” she asked.

“What about work?” Travis asked.

“I asked Richie for a few days off so I can help you get everything ready for Friday. We’ve only got three days,” she said.

“Thank you, Libby. I really appreciate it.”

“Not a problem. Now, what’s first?” she asked again.

“Coffee,” Travis said.

“Oh, thank god,” she said, walking in and placing her purse on the small side table near the door like she used to do. “I didn’t take the time to make any this morning.”

“Oh, that’s a no no. Gotta have the coffee,” Travis teased, closing the door behind her.

“Yes, coffee is life.”

“And if I wasn’t making coffee?” Travis asked.

“I was going to insist we test the flavored coffees we bought last night,” Libby admitted.

Travis laughed. “Let me guess. You wanted to test the peppermint and dark chocolate flavor?” he asked.

“Yes! But at this point, any coffee is good.”

“I just put on a pot of the peppermint and dark chocolate coffee.”

“You’re kidding!” Libby said, trailing Travis back into the kitchen. Once there her eyes fell on the coffee cup he’d been planning to use this morning, already sitting beside the coffee pot waiting for it to finish. Libby smiled and reached out a finger to run over the handle of the Satan Clause coffee cup. “You kept it,” she said.

“I did. I’ve kept everything you ever gave me, or planned on giving me,” he confessed.

“Here, how about this one for your coffee?” he asked, opening a cabinet and handing her a mug with a picture of an elf