"Here, Evan. You sit by Uncle Travis." Jason moved aside and then took the seat on the other side of Evan.
Travis rubbed his hand over the plastic tablecloth and looked around. He didn't really know anyone as he had always been so sporadic about coming to church, and he now wished he had attended more and had gotten to know people. He watched Jason wave at other kids and wondered if he should meet some of their parents so they could plan to let the kids play sometimes. He wondered how many of the kids here might be in school with Jason when he started.
All the thoughts made him realize how little he knew about Jason's life with his sister and sent another wave of questioning fear through him.
"You okay?" Evan gave his shoulder a squeeze.
The simple touch of Evan's hand calmed him. "Yeah. Was just thinking I need to get to know the parents of his friends. There's so much I don't know yet."
"It's only been a couple of weeks. I'm sure once school starts it will all come easier as far as friends go. Once Jason tells them about the ranch, you will have kids begging to come over." Evan winked as Travis grimaced.
Pastor Reed called for everyone's attention and they all bowed their heads for prayer.
Once the prayer finished, there was a mad rush for the banquet table. Travis watched, happy to let the crowd clear before getting up to get their food. While he waited he glanced over at Evan. He looked good in a suit, but he preferred the casual look even more on him. His light brown hair, hung just a bit too long against his collar, and he fisted his hand to keep from reaching over and running his fingers through it. It was just his luck when he finally met someone he was interested in he couldn't do a thing about it.
"Uncle Travis, can I have a piece of cake first?" Jason pulled him from his thoughts.
"No, Jas. You have to eat something healthy first. You don't have to eat a lot, but at least something that is good for you."
"Is watermelon good for me?"
"Yep."
"Good. Then I'll have watermelon and then cake." Jason smiled smugly.
Travis sighed, but let it go. This was supposed to be fun. He wasn't going to argue over this. He would just make sure he ate a good dinner later. "That cake does look good." Travis whispered to Evan.
Evan grinned back. "I was thinking watermelon and cake sound great. Come on you two, let's go get in line."
Once the three of them had finished and Travis had wiped most the mess from Jason's face, they all headed outside to where the kids were playing as the adults stood around visiting. Travis let Jason run off to play with the others, making sure he was able to see him from where he stood.
"So he goes to his grandparent's tomorrow, right?" Evan asked watching as Jason joined a large game of tag.
"Yeah. I drop him off around ten. Pick him up Wednesday morning." He glanced over at Evan. "You're going to drop by their place right?"
"I am." Evan moved so he could lean against the wall of the church. "You okay with that?"
"Oh yeah. Actually glad about it. At least I know he will be happy with you there. I just hope he doesn't talk too much about how much time you've spent with us and cause any problems."
"I'm not too worried. I'm told to spend as much time with a family as I need to make a valid report on what I think is best for the child. I'll make sure to spend enough time over there to make them feel I am doing a fair job both places."
Travis shifted from foot to foot and ran his hand over his short hair. He was trying not to worry, but what if somehow Evan found Jason happier there.
"You're nervous about it, aren't you?"
Travis nodded. "I guess maybe I've become so attached to him already that the thought he might be taken from me or even be happier over there scares me."
"I wish I could say it will never happen, but even with my recommendations the court can do what it wants."
"I know. God's Will, right?"
"Right. Maybe praying on it more might help ease the tension."
"I pray anymore
Travis rubbed his hand over the plastic tablecloth and looked around. He didn't really know anyone as he had always been so sporadic about coming to church, and he now wished he had attended more and had gotten to know people. He watched Jason wave at other kids and wondered if he should meet some of their parents so they could plan to let the kids play sometimes. He wondered how many of the kids here might be in school with Jason when he started.
All the thoughts made him realize how little he knew about Jason's life with his sister and sent another wave of questioning fear through him.
"You okay?" Evan gave his shoulder a squeeze.
The simple touch of Evan's hand calmed him. "Yeah. Was just thinking I need to get to know the parents of his friends. There's so much I don't know yet."
"It's only been a couple of weeks. I'm sure once school starts it will all come easier as far as friends go. Once Jason tells them about the ranch, you will have kids begging to come over." Evan winked as Travis grimaced.
Pastor Reed called for everyone's attention and they all bowed their heads for prayer.
Once the prayer finished, there was a mad rush for the banquet table. Travis watched, happy to let the crowd clear before getting up to get their food. While he waited he glanced over at Evan. He looked good in a suit, but he preferred the casual look even more on him. His light brown hair, hung just a bit too long against his collar, and he fisted his hand to keep from reaching over and running his fingers through it. It was just his luck when he finally met someone he was interested in he couldn't do a thing about it.
"Uncle Travis, can I have a piece of cake first?" Jason pulled him from his thoughts.
"No, Jas. You have to eat something healthy first. You don't have to eat a lot, but at least something that is good for you."
"Is watermelon good for me?"
"Yep."
"Good. Then I'll have watermelon and then cake." Jason smiled smugly.
Travis sighed, but let it go. This was supposed to be fun. He wasn't going to argue over this. He would just make sure he ate a good dinner later. "That cake does look good." Travis whispered to Evan.
Evan grinned back. "I was thinking watermelon and cake sound great. Come on you two, let's go get in line."
Once the three of them had finished and Travis had wiped most the mess from Jason's face, they all headed outside to where the kids were playing as the adults stood around visiting. Travis let Jason run off to play with the others, making sure he was able to see him from where he stood.
"So he goes to his grandparent's tomorrow, right?" Evan asked watching as Jason joined a large game of tag.
"Yeah. I drop him off around ten. Pick him up Wednesday morning." He glanced over at Evan. "You're going to drop by their place right?"
"I am." Evan moved so he could lean against the wall of the church. "You okay with that?"
"Oh yeah. Actually glad about it. At least I know he will be happy with you there. I just hope he doesn't talk too much about how much time you've spent with us and cause any problems."
"I'm not too worried. I'm told to spend as much time with a family as I need to make a valid report on what I think is best for the child. I'll make sure to spend enough time over there to make them feel I am doing a fair job both places."
Travis shifted from foot to foot and ran his hand over his short hair. He was trying not to worry, but what if somehow Evan found Jason happier there.
"You're nervous about it, aren't you?"
Travis nodded. "I guess maybe I've become so attached to him already that the thought he might be taken from me or even be happier over there scares me."
"I wish I could say it will never happen, but even with my recommendations the court can do what it wants."
"I know. God's Will, right?"
"Right. Maybe praying on it more might help ease the tension."
"I pray anymore
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