How to steal a heart

part 25

Katie's Pov. 

We took the next bus to his old neighborhood and I can't help but feel bad. What if he's not ready for this? I mean he hasn't been home in 4 years... What if-

"Hey, stop it." Travis tells me, taking my hand. "I'm fine, you don't need to stress Kates." 

"I know but-"

"Nope, no buts. We're here now and we are going to have fun together no matter what happens."  He says, smiling at me. 

"Okay." I agree. 

We walk together, down the streets of his old neighborhood, as he tells me stories about his past. About his old school, and friends. 

"I was an A student you know." Travis informs me, giving me a breathtaking smile. 

"Oh, were you now?" I ask him, shoving him to the other side of the sidewalk. 

"Oh, yes. School came easy to me." He starts. "Paying attention and buying seconds at lunch, did not." He tells me as we turn the corner onto the next block. "Look." Travis points to a small yellow house at the end of the street. "There it is." 

Travis's Pov.

Coming back, brings back so many memories; good and bad. Like the time Conner ate the frog we were supposed to dissect in life science. Or the time where we snuck into the local candy shop after hours on halloween. 

As we approach the oh so familar yellow house, I'm not sure what to feel. I remember starting the first day of kindergarten; standing on the front steps and counting each one as I jump down, step after step, my mother praising me when I get to the bottom. I remember the walks each day to school; we would hold her hand, I got her right, Conner on the left. We would jump across each crack in the pavement, never wanting to "break our mother's back." 

Looking at my old house now, nothing has really changed. There are still 6 cement steps, leading up to the front door. The white trimming around the 4 windows has faded a bit, but it's still visible. Even the small swingset Conner and I would play on every day after school in the back yard, was still there. The only difference, is the white Sedan that's now parked in the driveway, instead of my mother's old 2003 light blue convertible. 

"huh. Maybe she got a new car." I tell Katie as we walk up the veranda. 

"maybe." Katie knocks on white door and I can hear movement inside. The door slowly opens, revealing a middle aged man, maybe in his late 60s. He gives us a confused look. 

"fundraisers again?? sorry kids but I don't got any money." The guy swings the door shut, but I prop it back open with my foot. 

"uh sorry no. That's not what we're here for." I say, as he opens it back up, looking real annoyed. 

"okay...?" 

"Do you know a Karen Stoll??" I question him. The guy suddenly looked uncomfortable. 

"Oh. Well, no. Well, kind of." He says, giving me and Katie an almost sympathetic look. 

"What do you mean??" Katie asks. 

"Karen passed away last year in a car accident. I inherited the place. I'm her uh, great uncle." He tells us and I suddenly don't know how to speak. 

"Oh. Well, thank you anyway. Have a great rest of your day." Kate says, taking my hand and pulling me away from the house. 

"I'm so sorry Travis-" She starts as we sit down on a nearby bench. 

"Hey, no. It's not your fault. I didn't need her for the years I was at camp, I don't need her now. I have you. That's all that matters." I tell her, wrapping her in a tight hug. I don't know how long we stayed that way, it didn't matter. All that matters is that she was the one hugging me.