With a nod to his sleeping father, he turned and made his way to the other problem he had to figure out. Karly and Bryce.
Chapter Five
Stopping at his sisters door, Tyler took in the small changes in the room. Karly sat in the window seat, just like Carol. But the similarity stopped there. Where his sister had charged into the world with a fearless walk, Karlys movement reminded him of a cat his mom had once rescued, slow and cautious, wary of strangers.
With long, graceful fingers she tucked a lose strand behind her ear and wrote in a notebook. He moved to the walls cluttered with Carols memories and dreams and started taking down a framed collage of photos.
He knew it was irrational, but a drive to get the stuff of his sisters life off the walls and put away had taken hold of him. Why had his dad left this room untouched for so long? It was just another reminder of the conversations that would never happen.
Karly left the window seat. What are you doing? I thought you said we needed to talk.
We do, but you dont want to look at pictures of someone elses memories. I was going to put them in the garage for now.
She smiled at him. I dont mind.
He doubted that, and raised one eyebrow.
Really. Stepping closer, Karly ran her fingertips over a group of pictures from pep rallies and school dances. Growing up, I moved a great deal. I love your sisters pictures. Maybe I could put them in an album for her daughters. Have they seen the pictures?
Im sure Rachel did when she was smaller, but I dont think Celeste has ever been in here. He scanned the room. We should at least pack the mums away.
Her full lips turned up at the corners. He saw a gleam in her dark eyes. Leave them for now. I really find them fascinating. Where did the idea of a huge flower and tons of ribbon and glitter come from anyway? While we were in Dallas, we went to a homecoming game. The flowers were so pretty with all the bells and glitter. I imagined getting one from a secret admirer. Of course, I never did.
He was getting the feeling her childhood was in stark contrast to his sisters experiences. Or she was just sharing those anecdotes to get his sympathy. Wouldnt be the first time, so why did it seem to be working tonight? If you dont want to take anything else down, lets go to the living room. We can discuss what you will be doing and what my father needs. With one last look at Carols celebrations he walked out, not checking to see if his dads new project followed.
* * *
Karly stopped herself from pulling on her earrings. She needed to trust God, not fret over Tyler and his motives. Sure. She made an effort to smile at him as she picked up her notebook and tucked her pen into the spiral.
There was more to Tyler Childress than the local gossip talked about. Details missing that would make him a whole person. The way he reacted to Bryce told her he had some experience with kidskids with differences. But she had a bad habit of seeing the good in the worst guys. Tyler was pulling on all those old heartstrings. The ones she should not trust.
Walking back through the hall, she smiled at the name. The Hall of Mortification, Carol had called it. She couldnt imagine growing up in a town that knew your grandparents, a town where you belonged, even if they remembered all your mistakes.
Plaques lined the walls. She tried to picture the life that collected these awards: homecoming court, rodeo queen, football captain, basketball tournament MVP, valedictorian, even honors for choir and grass judging.
Who knew you could win a state championship by knowing grasses? The wall carried on in an endless line of best of this and that. Carols name seemed to be on most of them, accomplishments that surpassed her own childhood fantasies. These were the kind of growing-up years she wanted for Bryce. He might not be able to play sports, but once he recovered from the surgeries for his foot, he could have a school and friends and be involved in so many things.
The awards pointed to a bright future that had been cut short. Tyler
had lost his mom and sister, but he seemed to forget he still had a dad and a home where he belonged.
Passing through the kitchen, she walked into the front living room. It screamed Texas ranch. The leather sofa and chairs were just the beginning. Everything else was made from wrought iron and antlers, including the huge square coffee table and all the lamps. Area rugs of assorted cowhide warmed the stone floor.
Tyler stood in front of the biggest stone fireplace she had ever seen. Over the rough wood mantel hung a painted portrait. Six people, three generations, all wearing white shirts and jeans, stood in front of the cypress trees that lined the Frio River.
She recognized Dub Childress, younger but with the same stubborn jaw. Next to his older sister, Carol, Tyler looked to be about ten with a roguish grin. The older couple had to be Dubs parents, Tylers grandparents. All the men in the family had the same look, although Tylers frame tended to the leaner side.