Making his way to the master bedroom, a fog filled his head. In his parents room, the huge oak four-poster had been replaced with a hospital bed. Karly was tucking the edges around Dub, just like she did for her son. From the soft snores, it appeared his dad had fallen asleep as fast as Bryce.
Karly?
She turned with a yelp; her hands went to her chest. You startled me.
Sorry. He nodded to his dad. Hes asleep?
Karly looked at his father with a soft smile. Yeah, as soon as I got him still he was out.
We need to talk. He knew he sounded short and he would be better off at least trying to use some of his charm, but right now he was too raw to care.
Okay. She nodded, her big eyes begging him for something he
didnt know if he could deliver.
Im going to take a shower first. Ill meet you in the front living room in about fifteen minutes.
She just nodded again.
He steeled himself against any weakness she brought out in him. His fathers needs came first.
Chapter Four
After checking on Bryce, Karly went back into her new room. Unpacking again, she hoped this time they would get to stay for longer than a few months. With one hand she gently opened the top dresser drawer to start putting her few belongings away. Pens, hair clips, rings and other random items cluttered the space.
Oh, my. She took a deep breath. Carols belongings were still in the dressers. She reached down to the bottom drawer and pulled on the handles. The clothes smelled musty. Shutting the drawer, she sighed.
Putting her back to the dresser, she scanned the room. The closet was probably filled with Carols things, also. She didnt feel right moving anything. When Pastor John had told her to take this room, he must not have known his late wifes teenage life was still here.
Wow. Tyler stood at the open door. It looks as if she could walk in any minute. His triceps flexed as he crossed his arms, the loose T-shirt and jeans in contrast to the tension in his stance. Dark blond hair still damp from his shower curled at the base of his neck.
She had no clue what to say. Im sorry. I can move my things into your room.
You mean Bryces room. No. When Carol left for college, Mom wanted to clean out the room for sewing and crafts, but my dad wouldnt let her. He said it was Carols room and would always be Carols room. Then Mom got sick. He walked over to the dresser and picked up a trophy with a horse on the top. I think its time to clean it out. Man, this was from seventeen years ago.
He put it down and picked up another relic from his sisters childhood. Silence lingered as he went from one dust-covered item to the next.
She understood loss, but she didnt have a house full of memories. Shed always wanted something of her moms to hold. Tyler had a whole house of memories of the people he loved. It didnt seem to make it better. So you lost your mom before Carols accident?
His back to her, Tyler nodded and set down a picture frame. Yeah, eighteen months.
No one had talked about all his losses when they talked about Tyler Childress. They loved to recap all his wildness and scandals. Im sorry. Were you still in school?
This time he turned away from the dresser and walked over to the faded purple-covered bed. When Mom died I was in Florida, at flight school. He looked around the room. We could put the old clothes in your bags and donate them. All the other stuff can go in the boxes. He pulled the bedcover up at the corner and folded it over, starting to strip the mattress. I think the room is ready for a new comforter, also. There are plenty of newer ones in the hall closet.
Oh, no... Everything can stay.
He raised one eyebrow and grinned at her. So you like the purple-people-eater theme. He walked to the other side of the bed. Really, it should have been done years ago. Carol would do it herself if she was here.
What about her girls? They might want some of their moms things. Habit stopped her from saying more. She always made a point not to dwell in the past, and she never talked about it. He folded over the stuffed comforter, shoulders slumped as if a heavy weight pushed them down. Biting hard on the inside of her cheek, Karly resisted the urge to put her arms around him. She couldnt go there, but maybe she could ease his pain in another way. At this rate she would be eating the flesh inside her mouth. Right after my sixth birthday, I lost my mom. The same age Rachel was when her mom died. I dreamed of having something, anything of hers. I dont know anything about her other than she was from Hawaii.
So your parents are from Hawaii. He placed the purple comforter in the window seat. That explains your last name. He walked back across the room without looking at her.
Its my moms name. A lot of people think Im Hispanic.
What about your grandparents, your father? They didnt share anything with you?
He picked up her bag of clothes and dumped them on the bed. He didnt have much sense of personal space. Another reason to not get emotionally involved.
She rushed to the bed and started gathering the articles he had scattered on the bed. I can get my clothes.