Free The Journey Collection by Lisa Bilbrey

deadbeat. The longer he was around the boy, the more he’d found that he wanted to be. Max had a lively spirit — one that made Travis feel alive for the first time in more than a decade; he hadn’t felt that way since the day he’d left Penelope.
    A wistful sigh left his lips. When Travis wasn’t spending time with Max, he’d found himself with Penelope. They’d spent night after night pouring over the hundreds of photographs that chronicled Max’s first ten years of life. More than once, Travis had wept over how much time he’d lost with both of them. He wasn’t mad at Penelope, not after watching her with the boy. She was the perfect mother: patient and kind. Travis could admit that, ten years ago, he hadn’t been ready to be a father — not that it excused him from Max’s life, but now that he was older, more settled, he could be the father Max had deserved from day one.
    “You’re doing some pretty heavy thinking over there,” Russ said, pulling Travis out of his inner ramblings.
    “I am,” he admitted. “Got a lot on my mind.”
    Russ nodded before the turned into the parking lot. Circling around, Russ found a parking spot and cut the engine but made no effort to climb out. “You know, being a parent isn’t an easy job.”
    “I know,” Travis clipped. “But I can’t pretend he isn’t mine.”
    “No, no; I know you can’t.” Russ turned to face him. “That’s not what I am saying you should do, boy. Being a parent isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. I know you, Travis. Once you put your heart into something, you can’t fail. I haven’t told you this enough, but I’m proud of the man you’ve become.”
    “You are?” Travis asked. “Even though I ran away and never looked back?”
    Russ exhaled a sharp breath. “You didn’t run away, Travis. You stretched for the stars and didn’t give up until you grasped them. Your momma always knew that you’d succeed.”
    “She did?”
    “Yeah,” Russ murmured. “Why do you think she held on so long, Travis? She loved you.”
    “And I loved her, too, but she would have kicked my ass for leaving the way I did, for hurting Penelope like that.” Travis shook his head. “I was a fool.”
    “You were,” Russ admitted.
    Travis snorted.
    “Sorry, I ain’t gonna sugar-coat it for you. You can’t change history, but you can look toward the future with hope, Travis. Penelope is good for you. She won’t put up with your bullshit.”
    “When’d you get so smart?” he scoffed.
    Russ laughed, placing hand on Travis’ shoulder. “I didn’t. I just know how it feels to lose my son. Now that I have him back, I ain’t letting him go.”
    Travis reached up, sliding his fingers over his hand. “Me either, Dad. Not you, Max, or Penelope.”
    “Good. Now, let’s get in there. I imagine the gym will be packed for the pep rally.”
    Just as Russ had said, the gymnasium was crammed full of teachers, students, parents, and members of the community who’d come out to support the football team. Russ and Travis managed to find a spot against the wall. Travis looked around, finding Penelope and Max sitting on the right side of the gym with the rest of the elementary school kids. Max waved at him, a grin bigger than the state of Texas on his face.
    Travis returned the gesture before shifting his eyes to Penelope, winking at her. He’d be lying if he said that his feelings for her weren’t still strong. Travis had always loved her, but now he knew he was still in love with her. He needed her just as much as he needed Max. Together, he wanted them to be a family.
    The cheerleaders got into position as the band started playing the fight song. From the opposite side of the gym, the football players came running in, throwing their arms up and trying to get the crowd to scream louder. Once they were standing in front of their chairs, the cheerleaders led everyone through the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the band playing The Star-Spangled Banner. Almost