[ FAMILY ] t i e s. - a tayvis story.

[ THIRTEEN ]

"Uncle Trav?" Wyatt looked over at Travis, who was still standing in the kitchen. He let out a deep breath as he shook his head. Jason was going to have to eventually come to the conclusion that he could do better as a father, a husband, and a man. He had all girls and was acting as if women were his personal servants, and Travis didn't like that.

"Yes, Wy?" He answered.

"Where's Dad going?" she asked. Travis could see the worry on her little face. They were in a new place, and both of her parents were upset. One stormed off from the dinner table, and the other stormed out of the door. He couldn't imagine what was going on inside her seven-year-old mind right now.

"He went outside for some fresh air; he will be back," Travis told her. He hoped he was right. He didn't know exactly what Jason was thinking, but he did know that Jason couldn't get that far. They lived in the middle of nowhere, and there was no way for him to get to a main road quickly on foot.

"Okay," Wyatt replied, her lip quivering slightly.

"It's okay, Wy. You don't have to cry."

"Why are they fighting?" She asked. Travis let out a deep breath, putting the dish towel he was holding onto the rack. He gave Isiah a look, telling him to finish the kitchen while he spoke to the little ones. Isaiah nodded as Travis walked from the kitchen space to the living room. He plopped down on the couch next to the little one and pulled her into his lap.

"Sometimes adults don't see eye to eye so they argue. They're not really fighting. They're just having a big disagreement that they need to talk about." He was explaining it the best way he knew how without alarming her. It would be the same way he explained it to Koa or Khi if he needed to. "And sometimes they need some time to themselves to think about what they need to say to each other before they talk to each other again. It's like they need a time-out." Wyatt nodded her head.

"Like when me and Robin Peters needed space in class before we could talk again," Wyatt said trying to compare it to something she experienced at school.

"Yeah, kind of like that," Travis said with a smile on his face.

"Okay. Then they should take all the time out time they need." Travis laughed at Wyatt's words. He kissed the top of her head and sat her back on the couch. He got up and went back to the kitchen.

"I'm done, man," Isiah said, wiping the last of the water droplets from the sink. He hung the dish towel he was using on the rack and looked around one last time. Spotless. "Perfection. Just like my momma taught me."

Travis and Isiah walked back over to the living room right as the sound of the guest bedroom door opening could be heard. The faint sound of sniffles could be heard nearing. Travis looked behind him to the hallway and saw Taylor and Kylie both emerging.

"Where's Jason?" Kylie asked immediately after looking around quickly and not seeing him.

"He took a walk; he said he needed some air," Travis replied.

"A walk where?" Taylor asked.

"I don't know. Outside. He went out the door." Travis replied, a little bit snippy. the look on Taylor's face was questioning his common sense. She only looked at him when she was about to tell him he had lost his mind.

"And you let him leave?" Taylor asked yet again.

"Yes, he's a grown-ass man. He's allowed to go for a walk if he wants to." Travis told her as calmly as he could. The last thing he wanted to do was get into an argument with her over Jason.