A Family for Tyler

by Angel Smits

  The darkness remained solidly in place.

  Maybe he could touch. He tried to move his fingers and felt something cool on the back of his hand. IV? Commanding the muscles of his arm to move, he waited for the response. The rough texture of the blanket brushed his palm. Yes. Movement.

  “See!” The boy’s voice, quieter now, still cut through DJ’s brain.

  Soft, small fingers touched his hand. Gentle. Warm. Then they were gone. No, DJ tried to scream, but he knew the only person who heard it was him, “Don’t go.” Suddenly, his ears heard the words. Not just his mind.

  “DJ?” Wyatt’s voice broke.

  DJ had finally managed to get the better of his big brother. This was not what he’d had in mind all those years as a kid, but it would do.

  * * *

  WYATT ENTERED DJ’S hospital room and stopped beside the bed while Addie waited outside with Tyler. A week had passed since DJ had arrived. Three days since they’d brought him out of the drug-induced coma.

  Except for the cast on his left forearm, DJ looked fairly normal from this angle. There were still cuts on his face; one on his chin had been stitched and was healing.

  The doctor had told Wyatt that DJ’s helmet and the pack he’d had on his back had protected most of his upper body. His lower back and legs hadn’t been so lucky.

  The puckered, red skin running shoulder to foot on the right and hip to ankle on his left only hinted at the open wounds they had been. Healing well, the doctor called it. Painful, Wyatt knew. DJ said nothing.

  His little brother looked exhausted, weak and in a lot of pain, but he was awake and on his way to recovery. That was all they could ask at this point. The doctor had cut DJ’s pain medications so he was more alert and aware of what was going on. He’d asked so many questions. Questions Wyatt had avoided. Until now. Today he’d brought Tyler back with him.

  There were common rooms downstairs, but DJ wasn’t cleared to get up and go down there yet. “You ready for visitors?”

  “Hell, yeah.” DJ opened his eyes. “This is as bad as a jail cell.”

  Wyatt grinned. “And you’ve been behind bars how many times?” Wyatt stopped at the side of the bed. “You ready to officially meet Tyler?”

  DJ’s whole demeanor changed. His eyes widened and he straightened his shoulders as he took a deep breath. “Sure.” The apprehension was in his voice, but didn’t show anywhere else.

  Wyatt stuck his head out the door. “Addie?” Shuffling feet and the click of Addie’s heels on the tile were the only sounds for a long minute.

  Wyatt watched silently as Tyler stepped through the door. The boy’s gaze went straight to the man in the hospital bed, then he met Wyatt’s. “Go on. It’s okay.” Wyatt tilted his head to encourage Tyler to move closer.

  “Don’t let all this junk scare you,” DJ said, waving at the monitors and machines that surrounded his bed.

  “I’m not scared.” Tyler lifted his chin, and with another brief glance at Wyatt, stalked over to the side of the bed. He stuck his hand out. “I’m Tyler.”

  They all got the hint. This wouldn’t be one of those sappy meetings. DJ took the boy’s hand as if they were in a business meeting. “Glad to meet you, Tyler.”

  Wyatt waited for DJ to say more, but he didn’t. He didn’t say, “I’m your dad.” He didn’t say, “I’m DJ.” He simply returned Tyler’s handshake.

  Tyler didn’t move away, but he didn’t move closer, either.

  “You doing okay out at Wyatt’s place?” DJ asked.

  “Yeah.” Tyler looked everywhere but at DJ. “I like the horses.”

  “Good to know.”

  The silence in the room was definitely uncomfortable. “Well.” Addie moved over to the side of the bed. “Tyler has lots of questions.” She pinned DJ with a glare. “We all have.”

  DJ looked at Wyatt. “She’s going for the third degree, isn’t she?”

  Wyatt simply nodded and leaned against the wall. You couldn’t pay him enough to get in Addie’s way when she had a bone to pick. Wyatt settled back to watch the show.

  “You going to let her abuse me?” DJ asked Tyler.

  “That’s Aunt Addie.” Tyler smiled at DJ then stepped back to stand beside Wyatt, mimicking his lean against the wall. Wyatt saw the disappointment in DJ’s eyes. He wanted to reassure his brother that Tyler needed time.

  “Why don’t you and Addie visit with your dad a while?” Wyatt moved away from the wall and headed to the door. “I’ll be back.”

  He’d gone only a few feet into the hall before Tyler called his name. Wyatt turned to the boy. “What’s up, buddy?”

  Tyler looked around, taking in the nurses at the station and a couple walking down the hall, as if reluctant to say anything with so many people around.

  Wyatt retraced his steps and hunkered down in front of the boy. “Talk to me.” The uncertainty in Tyler’s eyes nearly tore Wyatt apart.

  “You’re comin’ back, right?”

  Wyatt nodded. “I said I was.” But Wyatt knew that for Tyler, an adult saying something didn’t always mean they followed through.

  “And I’m going home with you, right?”

  Wyatt smiled at Tyler. “Oh, yeah. We’re going back to the ranch tonight. You’ve got stalls to muck out.”

  Tyler visibly relaxed before his eyes. “Look, I know you don’t know your dad very well, but get to know him. I think you’ll like him. And he needs you.”

  “Okay.” Tyler stood taller.

  “And, Tyler?” Wyatt reached out and put his hand on Tyler’s thin shoulder. “I want you to know, I’m always here for you. Always, okay? Even when you’re all grown up, I’ll be your uncle. Got it?”

  Tyler beamed. “Okay.” Without another word, Tyler turned back into DJ’s room. His voice joined Addie’s, his laughter following Wyatt all the way down the hall to the elevators.

  * * *

  FOR THE HUNDREDTH time, Emily wondered how things were going in San Antonio. And for the hundred and first time, she told herself to stop thinking about it.

  Staring at the now half-empty conference table in her office, she should feel a sense of accomplishment. Why didn’t she? Maybe when it was totally empty. She bent over the next file and focused on reading.

  “Emily?” Dianne touched her shoulder and Emily yelped as papers scattered. “Sorry. I called but you didn’t hear me.”

  Emily shook her head and took several breaths to calm her racing heart.

  “There’s a call. From the facility.” Dianne’s voice was soft and sympathetic. She knew Emily hadn’t gone to see her mother in a few weeks. Emily hadn’t told her, or anyone for that matter, what her mother had admitted. She couldn’t bear to think about it, much less talk about it.

  “I’ll take it.”

  Rose was the voice on the other end of the line. “We’ve missed seeing you, Emily,” she said.

  “I’ve been busy. H-how’s Mom?” Did she really want to know?

  “She’s physically fine. She doesn’t say much, but I think she realizes you haven’t been by.”

  Thanks for the guilt trip. Emily shook her head. It wasn’t Rose’s fault. “Is there something wrong?”

  “Actually, yes. I wanted to let you know we took those coins out of your mom’s room. The charge nurse has them locked in the med room if you want to come get them.”

  Emily sat for a second before speaking. She had to know. “What happened?”

  This time Rose was the one silent for a minute. “She wouldn’t let go of them. She kept trying to find hiding places, going into other people’s rooms at all hours. Getting very upset when they asked her to leave.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, don’t be. It’s part of dementia. She’s so confused, and I can see her fear. They’re a tr
igger. Hal was able to sneak them away from her. Since then, she’s been much calmer.”

  “Good.” Emily breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Emily, she tried to break a hole in the wall of her room.”

  “That sort of makes sense. She had them hidden in the wall at the trailer. What could she possibly be remembering?” Emily wondered aloud.

  “She’s been mumbling a name.”

  Emily braced herself to hear her father’s or Earl’s name.

  “Jackson.”

  “Jackson?” It had been years since Emily had heard that name. Jackson Wright, one of her dad’s friends, had been a frequent visitor before Mom had married Earl. He’d been sweet on Mom. Even as a kid, Emily had seen it. She remembered going to his shop a couple times.

  His pawn shop.

  Emily froze. “I’ll come get the coins. Thanks, Rose.” She hung up and grabbed her purse. Did he still own the shop? Was it still in business? Heck, was he even alive?

  “Dianne?” She entered Dianne’s office. “Can you look up and see if there’s a Wright Pawn in town? Downtown on Thirteenth, I think?”

  “Sure.” Dianne tapped the keyboard and in an instant had a picture up on the screen. “Here it is. On the corner of Thirteenth and Grant.” She leaned closer to the screen. “Wow. Big place. I might need to go shopping.”

  Emily laughed and left Dianne to peruse the online listings.

  Once Emily reached the facility and had the nurse retrieve the coins, she decided to stop and see her mother. Helen was in the activity room, painting with watercolors. Emily stood watching for several minutes. She was relaxed and smiling. Slowly, Emily retreated, not yet ready to face her. Not until she knew if it was the dementia or the sense of betrayal that stood between them.

  Outside, summer had taken hold, and thankfully the drive to Wright’s Pawn wasn’t long. The building was in the older part of town and took up almost half the block. Suddenly, the bag of coins felt heavy in her purse.

  The pawn shop looked different than she remembered, yet as she walked over to the counter, she saw flashes of the past.

  Now, just as when she’d come with her mom, a man came out of a doorway in the back. Disappointed, Emily realized it wasn’t Jackson. This man was much younger.

  “Afternoon. What can I do for you?”

  Emily shook herself out of the stupor the place had cast over her. “I’m sorry. I was remembering being here when I was a kid.”

  He smiled. “Don’t get too many people in here just for nostalgia. I was here when I was a kid, too, except I didn’t have much choice. My dad owned the place.”

  “Oh. Is Jackson your father?”

  “Sure is. Though you’d think at seventy, he’d think about retiring. I’m Jack, Jr.”

  Emily’s heart picked up the pace. “I’m glad to hear...that he’s still active. I’m Emily Ivers. Our dads were friends once.”

  “Ah, you’re John’s daughter.” The man grinned. “Wait here. Dad’s gonna want to see you.”

  He disappeared in back and a moment later an elderly man came through the doorway. “Emily? Emily Ivers?”

  He grinned just like his son and she recognized him immediately.

  “Goodness, you certainly have the look of John. See it, Jack? Her eyes.”

  “Thank you.” It felt good to hear about her dad. She’d make a point to come here again, maybe take Jackson to dinner. She recalled why she was here. “I was wondering if you could help me.” Emily pulled the cloth bag out of her purse and laid it on the glass counter.

  She didn’t have to explain what was inside. She saw the recognition on his face and her hopes rose. Maybe some of the mysteries of her mother’s life would be explained.

  “Where...did you get this? Is your mom—?”

  “She’s still alive, though she’s got dementia. She lives over at Sunset Haven.”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry. Did she give you these?”

  “No. I found them in her closet in the trailer.”

  He nodded again, and with arthritic fingers, he opened the bag and took out the coins. “Is this all that’s left?”

  “There were more?”

  This time his nod was slow as he looked around the shop. Jackson waved her around the counter. “Let’s talk privately.”

  He moved slowly, carefully, as if watching and measuring each step. He led her to a small, cluttered office in the back and offered her the worn wooden chair beside the desk. Leaning on the desk, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. Jack, Jr. stood in the doorway, keeping an eye on the store and on them.

  She caught a glimpse of a memory and remembered the younger man Jackson had been. He reminded her of another cowboy as Wyatt’s image came to mind.

  “In that bottom left drawer. Go ahead. Open it,” he instructed.

  Frowning in confusion, Emily pulled the drawer open. An old wooden cigar box, about the size of the one Mom had hidden in the wall, sat in the bottom.

  “Take it out.”

  She set the box on the desk and Jackson lifted the lid. There were several dozen coins, just like the three she’d brought with her. “I don’t understand.”

  Jack, Jr. stepped forward. “Holy crap, Dad. Are those what I think they are?”

  Jackson nodded.

  “What?” Emily was more confused now.

  “Close the door, son.”

  Jack Jr. had to leave to watch the shop. Once he closed the door, they were alone. Jackson pinned Emily with a piercing stare. “I’m talking to my good friend’s daughter, right? If I’m talking to the judge, I’m not going any further.”

  There was definitely a bit of fear in his eyes. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  “Earl Walker was the biggest fool I ever met. And I’m not just saying that because your mom picked him over me. I dunno, he had a kind of magic. The ladies loved him.” Jackson laughed. “I’m guessing from your look that you didn’t.”

  Emily didn’t feel like telling Jackson, or anyone, how much she didn’t like Earl. Or why.

  “You know he drove a truck. He didn’t much care what was in the back of his rig as long as he got paid.” Jackson’s eyes grew stormy and distant. “There were always rumors he stole from some of the loads. After he died, your mom came in here. She didn’t have much. She’d never worked and couldn’t support you. But she had those coins.”

  “You can’t accept stolen property in a pawn shop—”

  The old man held up a finger. “Ah, ah, ah.”

  She calmed and resolved to stay quiet until he was done telling her the story.

  “They were never reported stolen. I checked with the cops. Which told me Earl either ripped off another crook, or the crook wasn’t smart enough to figure out who took them. Heck, he might not even have known they were gone. Either way, your mom needed the money and I had it to give. So I kept quiet. I didn’t want anyone coming after her.”

  Emily looked from the old man to the full box to the three remaining coins. “You took care of us.”

  “Damned right I did. Your father was my best friend.” His eyes grew distant. “I could always count on him. When I was laid up a couple times, he and your mom watched out for my wife and kids.” Shaking his head as if to scatter the memories, he refocused his gaze on Emily. “I owed John that, at least. Your mom didn’t deserve the pain that asshole, Earl, ’scuse my language, put her through.”

  Jackson was a different breed of man. Like her father. Caretaker. Emily’s throat tightened as the word filled her mind and she gained a new memory of her father. Good men. Jackson and her father were both good men.

  And so was Wyatt. Suddenly, she understood him a little better.

  “What are you going to do with those?” She pointed to the box.

  “Do
n’t know. If the guy Earl stole them from is still around, he could cause some trouble.”

  “I’m guessing you don’t like trouble.”

  “No, ma’am. I don’t.”

  That was why Emily knew the coins would stay in that drawer until a day long after Jackson was gone. She added her mother’s bag and coins to the box, as well. “Let your grandkids find a treasure someday.” She closed the lid and put it back in the drawer.

  She stood to leave and stopped beside Jackson. “Thank you for sharing about my dad.”

  “Glad to. Anytime you want to know more, just give me a call.”

  She smiled. “I will.” Despite not knowing him well, she gave the man a brief hug, then remembered something else she wanted to ask. “Did my mom ever call you about selling a horse?”

  Jackson shook his head. “No. Just the coins. Why?”

  Disappointment joined them in the small office. Instead of answering, she simply shook her head. She walked to the door and stepped out into the shop.

  “Emily?” Jackson called her name when she was halfway across the store.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you think your mom would like a visitor?”

  Emily paused and smiled. “I can’t promise she’ll recognize you. But that would be nice. I’d like that.”

  * * *

  WHY DID THE women always show up first? Wyatt wondered as he sat in the hospital’s conference room listening to all three of his sisters chattering away. Technically, DJ was here, but he was still down in his room so that didn’t count as male backup. Wyatt looked over at Tyler, playing with his Game Boy. He wasn’t much help, either. Where the hell was Jason?

  The door opened and Jason came in sporting a suit in this god-awful heat. Was he nuts?

  “Whoa!” Jason stopped dead in his tracks when he came face-to-face with Mandy—or Amanda as she’d informed Wyatt last night she preferred being called. Amanda was several months pregnant.

  Just as she’d done with Wyatt last night, she met Jason’s curious gaze with a glare. “Ask and you die,” was all she said.

  Even Tara and Addie shared a confused look, telling Wyatt they didn’t know anything, either.