Im using the bags to clean out the old clothes. He paused.
You could have asked.
He moved to the dresser, pulling open the one with all the trinkets first and closed it just as quick.
Reaching for the next drawer, he looked at her. We need to make room for your clothes. Without looking, Tyler pulled out the next drawer and dumped the contents into the black plastic bag. He did the same with the three long drawers, his jaw locked and his posture tense.
He nodded to the bed. Go ahead and put your clothes in here and Ill get the ones hanging in the closet.
Tyler, we dont have to do this now.
He shook his head as he opened the closet door. It should have been done a long time ago. His face took on a hard look as he pulled clothes off the hangers and crammed them into the now-stuffed trash bag. My dad goes on as if theyre coming back. He wont change anything.
If you really love someone, I would think its hard to get rid of their things.
He stopped and looked at her. You said you didnt have anything of your mothers. How did that happen? How did you lose her?
She shouldnt have brought it up. He wouldnt understand all the holes in her life. She just died. One morning Anthony took her to the hospital. I never saw her again. The next day, my stepfather put me in his car and we left town. And from that day forward traveling became the cornerstone of her life. Anything given to her got pawned.
What if her mother had lived? Would they have left Anthony? She couldnt change the past, only her future. This was why she never let herself think about it. She took her eyes off her list and peeked at Tyler from under her lashes.
Tyler looked at her as if she was crazy. You left town with your stepfather? What about your father, grandparents?
No, there was only my stepfather. I dont even know my bio dads name and my mother didnt have any family.
With sharp motions, he stuffed the clothes into the plastic bag and tied off the top. I cant imagine not having any family. After grabbing a box off the top shelf, he turned back to her. Theres still some stuff in there, but you can hang your clothes for now. Tyler left the room.
He confused her. She went ahead and put a few of her things in the dresser. The long skirts she loved wearing were wrinkled from being jam-packed. Shaking them out, she took them to the closet and hung them on the faded pink silk hangers.
Tyler returned, this time with a stack of blankets and sheets and a smile. Here you go. Ill take the purple monster to the laundry room.
Karly went to one of her boxes and dug out a spiral notebook and her green pen.
Listsshe liked making lists, organizing the things she had to do, learn and schedule.
She also needed to make a plan in case the worst happened and she lost this job. Shed been afraid of that earlier, when Tyler said theyd needed to talk. Pray for the best but prepare for the worst. So far the worst seemed to follow her around, but it was time for a change.
Eyes closed, she took a deep breath and centered herself with God. He put her here. He would give her the tools she needed to make this work.
* * *
In the laundry room, Tyler started the washing machine and stuffed the old comforter into the hot water. He rubbed the palms of his hands deep into his eye sockets. How did someone not have any family? There had been days when he thought life would be easier without one. But if he truly thought about it, he wouldnt know who he was without his parents and sister.
He hoped taking Carols things out of her room wouldnt upset his dad. Why did he want to act as if she would be coming back? The muscles around his chest tightened.
Running both of his hands through his hair, he filled his lungs and let the air out with a harsh sigh. He walked back through his mothers kitchen to his sisters room.
His dad was so stubborn. The whole house looked exactly the same as the day his mom died. Dub Childress was a stubborn fool, but he always got what he wanted. He always won.
Well, Dad, you cant beat death. Mom and Carol are gone and they arent coming back.
He walked right past Carols room, his old room, and straight to his dads. Stepping through the door, he leaned his weight against the door frame. The hard, breathing bump in the hospital bed was his dad. They had a chance to get this right. Tyler wasnt going anywhere until he knew his dad would be walking, talking and laughing again.
His family had been hit hard; first theyd lost his mom, then Carol. When was the last time hed heard his dads laugh?
The ranch was too much for him alone. He had to convince the old man to retire, maybe even sell the place. First, he had to make sure his dad had the care he needed.
He walked over to the edge of the practical steel-framed bed and noticed his father had kicked one foot out from under the covers. He had always hated being completely covered, insisting he needed
air.
Tyler shook his head. The edge of the bed gave under his weight as he sat next to his dad. He thought of all the nights his dad had tucked him in after saying their nightly prayers. With his left hand he reached for his fathers shoulder. He didnt remember the last time he even tried to talk to God. God, Dub has been a faithful servant to You. He did the best he could with a son that wouldnt listen. Give me a chance to make this right. Amen. He leaned over and kissed the side of his fathers forehead. Im here, Dad. Together we will get through this and youll be as good as old.