Guest Post: Lisa Bilbrey

Is It My Mid-Life Crisis Yet? Crazy Cat Lady in Training

Guest Post: Lisa Bilbrey

Today, I am pleased to host guest blogger Lisa Bilbrey. Lisa is discussing her latest release, The Journey of Champions, and why she decided to bring the characters of The Journey Home back for another installment. Please welcome Lisa, and be sure to check out her links below!

The Journey of Champions picks up at the end of chapter ten of The Journey Home, and starts the process of filling in the gap between there and the epilogue. While I do feel like I wrapped the story up nicely in The Journey Home, I found myself wanting to write the rest of it, too. There was so much left to be told, so many little moments between Travis, Penelope, and Max.
With The Journey of Champions, I decided to take Travis back to Miami. I felt it was an important step for him to take. He’d finally become the man he was supposed to be and with that came the responsibility to settle his affairs before he could move on with in his life with Penelope and Max. How could he be a role model for his son if he wasn’t a man of his word?

Excerpt—“Max, remember what I told you: it’s just for a few days.” He had hoped to keep his voice calm and even, but he could hear the tremor of fear lacing his words. Would Max hate him for leaving again?

“Yeah, I know,” Max muttered. “And then you’ll be here for good, right?”

“Forever — and that’s a promise,” Travis said. “I love you, kid.”

“I love you, too,” Max whispered. He gave Travis a quick hug before turning and running into the building.

“Bye, Max, thanks for acknowledging me,” Penelope grumbled.

Travis laughed and looked over the top of the car at her.

She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were full of worry. “He’ll be okay.”

“I hope so, because I don’t know if I can handle knowing that he’s pissed at me for leaving him again,” Travis mumbled, trying to stop himself from weeping. He’d never been an emotional man, but seeing the pain on his son’s face and knowing that he couldn’t make it better had tears swimming in his eyes. Travis now understood why men changed so much when they had a child; the fear of damaging them was horrifying.

“Travis, he’s scared. Hell, so am I, but we’re not the same dumb, eighteen-year-old kids that we used to be. We’ve grown up, and I will not allow you to miss out on any more of our son’s life. I made that mistake once, and I won’t make it again.”

“Me either, baby, me either.”