Gulf Coast Wedding by Maggie Miller
Chapter Four
Travis secured the best seats available in the bleachers and spread himself out to reserve the section as well as he could. He doubted there would be a huge turnout to see nine and ten-year-olds play football at three P.M. on Saturday, but all the same, he wanted to make sure they had seats together.
It helped that he’d arrived early because he’d had to bring Clayton, but so had the other parents. Travis smiled as he watched his grandson on the field, warming up with all the other kids. Number eleven. When Clayton looked his way, Travis waved.
It took a second, but then Clayton waved back and got a big grin on his face.
Travis sat back, elbows on the row of metal seats behind him, feet kicked out on the one in front. Today was a good day. And not just because he was about to watch his only grandson play in his very first football game.
As Travis took in the moment, enjoying the clear blue sky and bright sun, he was fully aware of how blessed his life was. He was grateful, too. For all of it. For having Clayton and Sam back in his life. For Georgia and her family. Even for Levi and the new path that his and Sam’s relationship was suddenly on. Certainly better than the previous one.
Sure, there were still bumps in the road. Some big ones, like Lavinia. But in the big picture, she wasn’t what mattered.
And maybe, after Monday, she really wouldn’t matter. He took a deep breath. Could that really happen? Could he unseat the woman who’d held sway over this town for decades? Seemed impossible to believe and yet, it felt possible.
Maybe that was the influence of his current mood and the clear day.
But he’d had so many people tell him they were voting for him that it was hard to think otherwise. He knew better than to count his chickens before they were hatched, however. He had to consider that Lavinia could very well hang onto that seat and continue to use her power and influence to bully them.
Maybe, just maybe, if her margin of victory was narrow, she’d understand it was time to change. He wanted to think that, but he’d known Lavinia almost all his life. Change wasn’t in her vocabulary.
“Hey, Travis.”
Travis glanced over to see Levi approaching. “Hey, there.”
Levi settled in next to Travis, but his eyes were already scanning the field. “Number eleven, right? Did I miss anything? I had some wedding stuff to take care of.”
“Number eleven, and no, nothing really going on yet.” Travis couldn’t imagine what wedding stuff Levi was working on, but it was good to know he was involved.
Levi nodded, smiling. “I see him.”
“How’s it going?”
Levi looked at him, still smiling. “Good. Really good. I need to ask you a favor, though.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Could you spare an hour or so tomorrow to look at a house?”
Travis’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of house?”
“One I’m thinking about buying for Sam and me.”
Travis sat up. “Really?”
Levi nodded. “I talked to a realtor in town, and they sent me a list. There’s one on Windham and Oak that looks promising. It’s an older subdivision, Salt Pines, but I’m okay with that.”
“Bigger lots in those older developments.” Older houses, too, though. Travis had a feeling it was either a very expensive flip that was totally remodeled, or a house that needed a total remodel.
“Hey, more land is better, right? Anyway, I made an appointment to see it tomorrow at two. I’d love for you to come along and give us your professional opinion. I’m sure it needs work.”
“You have a link to it?”
“Sure.” Levi held up his phone. “You want me to send it to you?”
“Yes.” Travis pulled out his phone. “Does Sam know about this?”
“Not yet. I’m going to tell her tonight. As romantic of a gesture as it might be to just buy the house, I’m not about to make a decision that big without her approval.”
“Smart man.”
“Thanks. This one has a nice backyard and it’s in the same school district so Clayton wouldn’t have to change schools.” Levi tapped his screen. “There you go. Sent.”
Travis opened up the link and took a look. It was a three-bedroom, two bath ranch-style with a two-car garage, a small pool and a fenced backyard. Four blocks from the beach. Needed some long-overdue upgrading. New carpet and paint for sure. Kitchen was outdated so maybe new appliances too, but it was definitely livable. If Sam didn’t mind avocado green.
He looked at the price. That was the result of being four blocks from the beach. Then he slanted his eyes at his son-in-law to be. “You can afford this and the upgrades it’s going to need?”
Levi nodded. “Yes. I haven’t done much with my money since I started working at DC Solutions, except save it and buy a car. I also did a little early investing in crypto currency, thanks to a buddy of mine, and that paid off pretty well. Still is.”
Travis nodded slowly. He was impressed. He’d been in a very different place at twenty-seven. A place that wasn’t anywhere close to being able to buy a house.
“What kind of upgrades do you think?”
Travis studied the pictures on his phone again. “At minimum, paint. New carpet. Some new light fixtures. Couple of windows look like they need replacing.”
“Instead of carpet, maybe hardwood,” Levi said.
“More money, but sure.” Travis swiped to the kitchen again. “Might need new appliances. Those look old. Doesn’t mean they don’t work. Just have to figure that out.”
“I was thinking Sam might like a whole new kitchen.”
Travis laughed. “What woman wouldn’t? But that’s not going to be cheap.”
Levi shrugged. “Happy wife happy life, right?”
Travis smiled with new appreciation for the young man beside him. “Right.”
“Does that mean you’ll go with us tomorrow and make sure there isn’t anything structurally wrong with it? A new kitchen is one thing. A cracked foundation is another.”
“True words. I’d be happy to go with you.”
“Thank you. I’m sure my mom will come too.”
Travis snorted. “I have a feeling Georgia and her sister, Lilly will want to come to once they hear the word real estate. Lilly is an interior designer, by the way. She’s remodeling the house across the street from the inn for herself at the moment, but she’s also been working with Mrs. Ludlow.”
“The grocery store people?”
Travis nodded. “Same ones.”
“Wow. That might be too rich for my blood though. Although I’m sure Sam would like it.”
Travis grinned. “I wasn’t suggesting you hire her. I’m sure she’s expensive. But I bet she’d be happy to give you some free suggestions. Maybe as a wedding gift.”
“That would be nice.”
“Speaking of, do you have a suit?”
“To get married in?” Levi nodded. “Same one I wear to client meetings. It’s nothing fancy but I think it’ll do. No one’s going to be looking at me much anyway.”
“True.” Travis was about to go back to watching Clayton when Levi’s expression changed. His soon-to-be son-in-law looked very self-satisfied all of a sudden.
Levi smiled. “I gave her a ring today.”
It took a moment for Travis’s brain to make the transition from talking about suits to talking about Sam. “You did? That was fast.”
Levi looked out at the field again. “When something needs to be done, I like to do it as soon and as well as possible. That’s what my job pays me to do, and I’ve learned over the years how effective it is when it comes to problem solving.” He laughed softly. “Not that getting Sam a ring was a problem. I just…I didn’t want her to wait. Just like with the house. If we’re going to be married, we should have a place of our own.”
“No complaints from me. It’s just not how most people operate.”
Levi lifted his chin a little. “I like to think I’m not most people.” He lifted his phone and started taking a video of Clayton. “I have a lot of past history to overcome. I know that about myself. Just like I know it drives me. Sometimes a little too hard, maybe. But I promise I won’t let that get in the way of taking care of Sam and Clayton.”
Pop music began to play over the loudspeakers. More people were filtering in, too.
Travis clapped Levi on the shoulder. “You don’t have anything to prove to me, son. You’ve already shown your intentions where they’re concerned. Doesn’t mean I won’t be keeping my eye on you.”
Levi grinned. “As you should.” He pointed suddenly. “Hey, there’s your girlfriend.”
Travis looked over and saw Georgia, Lilly, Mia, and Griffin with Chloe in her carrier headed toward them. Georgia had a big cooler with her, the one she’d borrowed from him actually.
He got up and made a beeline toward her. He’d tried to get her to give him the cooler ahead of time, but she hadn’t wanted to in case Griffin needed to add a bottle for Chloe. He took the bleachers two at a time, reaching Georgia and her family as quickly as he could.
He held out his hands. “Give me that cooler.”
“So bossy.” Georgia winked at him as she handed it over. “Hi, honey. How’s it going?”
“Nothing much to report yet. They’re all warming up still.” He hefted the cooler. “What’s in here? Did you bring bricks?”
She laughed. “I just wanted to make sure we were well supplied.”
Lilly looked past him. “Is that Levi?”
“It is,” Travis answered. “Come on. I’ll introduce you. By the way, don’t make any plans for tomorrow after church. We’re going to look at a house.”
“We are?” Georgia gave him a strange look. “You want to explain that?”
He adjusted his grip on the cooler handles, smiling. “Levi found a house to possibly buy for him, Sam, and Clayton. He wants me to look at with them. I told him you ladies might want to come along, too.”
“I’m in,” Georgia said.
Lilly snorted. “You had me at house.”
“Good. Because I think they’d be open to some of your professional suggestions. It needs some work.”
Georgia elbowed her sister. “He’s singing your song.”
Lilly nodded. “And it’s my favorite tune.”