Page 34 of Let Me Be the One
“No, never. Those two backed each other up no matter what. But Kam had a hard case of hero worship. Made sense, with him being younger and Tanner being…so much. So proud and tall, so determined and smart.” She peeked one eye open to look at Callie. “He wasn’t perfect, but near enough to stump me sometimes.”
“He feels the same about you.”
Smiling, Addie closed her eyes again. “Kam never missed a chance to brag on his big brother, so he was all about telling me how some older boys were giving him a hard time.”
Callie imagined that and felt anger tightening her chest. “Did that happen often?”
“Often enough. Neither of them would say what started the fight that day, so I’m guessing it was about me. Some people around here liked to get a rise out of the boys by insulting me since I used to work at a bar. I never minded much for myself. Jackasses are easy to ignore, especially when I’d see them all at the bar, drinking to excess and spending money they shouldn’t have. But the boys, man, I had a tough time teaching them to rise above. Especially Tanner.”
To Callie, that just made Tanner more impressive. He protected those he loved. Good for him.
She wished her family felt just a tiny bit of that loyalty.
“Kam said that Tanner leveled both boys. He took some hits too, but…” Whatever she was thinking silenced her for a while. When she opened her eyes and sat forward, Callie saw the pain in her expression. Her voice was much softer when she spoke. “Tanner’s good at ignoring that sort of thing.”
Hating the reality of it, but suspecting it was true, Callie whispered, “You mean…getting hit?”
Abruptly, Addie stood. “Some people in this world leave a bad mark even after they’re dead and buried. Then other people pile on, as if a kid has any say in how he handles abuse.” She picked up a stick and threw it toward the pile.
For her age, she had one hell of a throwing arm. Callie was impressed.
Subtly, Addie wiped at her eyes before facing Callie again. “Early on in school, Tanner got labeled as something he’s not. After that, others refused to see him any other way.”
Callie slowly stood, too. She wanted to say,I see him, but the words were private, still new and special to her. She’d only known the man a day. Surely there was more to him than what he’d revealed so far. Layers and layers of ugly past and wonderful present, hurt and happiness, broken dreams and future goals. She wanted to uncover it all.
And Tanner wanted only for her to move on, to sell him the house and go away. If she thought about that too much, especially after the impact he’d made on her, she’d get upset. So instead she’d concentrate on anything and everything else.
“I’ve never thought of people that way,” Callie promised. “That someone was all good or all bad. Certainly not bad by association.” Her cousin could attest to that. “Or because they lacked money? No, never.” She felt confident in that. She might have been a people pleaser, going along to get along in the easiest way possible, but she’d never been mean. Never cruel. To convince Addie, she said, “I had a whole scope of friends in school.Jocks, eggheads, kids in choir and band, arts and athletics.”
Addie gave her a look that instantly made her feel chastised. “Were any of them dirt-poor?”
“I don’t know.”Liar. “I mean, I never asked them about their…” Asking hadn’t been necessary. She knew her friends were comfortable because they were always ready to shop with her, to dine out, to see a show or concert. Maybe most weren’t as well off as her parents, but she couldn’t recall any of them ever lacking anything. “I guess not.”
“Exactly,” Addie said, as if she’d read her mind. “Before God put us together, Tanner was the kind of poor that he sometimes went to bed hungry, and then had to go to school that way, too. Even after we became a family, we sometimes had to pinch pennies, but the boy was always fed. Always.”
Taking a good look at herself made Callie feel bone-deep shame. “I hope I never deliberately looked past anyone or excluded them.” That she might have done that to Tanner, and in the process made him feel bad, left her stomach in knots.
“I’m sure he never introduced himself, or even said hi. He wouldn’t have, not back then. He’s a tough one though, don’t you worry. Graduated with honors, but had no interest in the ceremony, not even for me.”
“He didn’t attend graduation?”
“Picked up his diploma from the school office and that was that. I couldn’t change his mind. He went to college locally so he could still help out around here. Never mind that I told him we’d be fine. Oh, how I wanted him to go off and have some fun, an adventure or two, maybe fall in love. He’s always been too seriousand levelheaded though. Got himself degrees in business, agribusiness and forestry.”
“Nice,” Callie said, though she had no real idea what agribusiness and forestry entailed. Later, she’d look it up and educate herself a little. “There’s nothing wrong with staying here. I love it, the business and your home, and especially how close you all are. I’m sure this place brings him comfort.”
“The boys spruced up the house. Back when my husband was alive, it was nice enough, but over the years it needed more care than I could give. Almost from the time they could hold a hammer and nail, Tanner and Kam have been adding to it and updating it. Reggie was a contractor once, did you know that? He taught them a lot.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Heretiredearly, if you know what I mean.” She gave a snort. “More like he simplified his life and enjoyed his vices. But that beautiful kitchen of mine? Six years back, they redid it all and I love it. Reggie supervised and they did the labor. The house was wrecked for months, but in the end it was worth it.”
“Wow. So much talent.”
Addie nodded. “They added on the rear porch, too, and a big bedroom and bathroom for me so I wouldn’t have to use the stairs anymore. Tanner traded labor and landscaping with other local businesses, like plumbing, electrical, and cement work. Sometimes it feels like he works around the clock. Him and Kam both.”
Emotion put her close to tears again. “They love you.”
“Yeah.” Addie’s gentle smile showed deep contentment. “God blessed me the day He put Tanner within reach, and then later added the bonus of Kam. I’ll tellyou, you think life has meaning until real meaning lands. Then you know what you were missing all those years. If it weren’t for them, I’d just be another old, weird widow, doddering around in my home alone. Or maybe homeless. Who knows? A gal could only tend bar for so long.”
