The Ground Below

Chapter Eleven

“Don’t let anyone run over you. I know you have a kind heart, Parker, but you can’t let people get away with treating you like poop.” Grammy was a kind old lady, but she could give attitude when riled up. “I know you try to see something good in people, but sometimes it just doesn’t exist.”

“How will I know if it doesn’t exist?”

“Try a little, and if your kindness doesn’t get to them, move on.”

“Give up?”

“It’s not giving up, honey.” She bites her lip, thinking of a better way to explain. “If there is good in there, it’ll come out. If it don’t after you try, then it’s not there. And don’t ever create a false hope that someone sees the light when you know darn well that they wouldn’t see the light if the sun was two inches from their head.”

“Two inches from their head? They’d burn up.”

“If they don’t see the error in their ways, it’ll come back on them. You can’t treat people like that, and ignoring the light will cause them their own destruction.”

The first part of Kaylie’s lesson was a success. I started her with learning to read music.

By the time we decided to take a break, she could already tell me names of notes, and the counts of each.

I gave her a sheet of music that she was able to read. I even thought it was a good idea for her to take a pencil, and identify the notes, and to clap out the beat in her head.

It’s harder than it seems, but she caught onto most of it. She still didn’t speak, and I didn’t know if it was because of me or if she was just naturally quiet.

“Do you want something to drink?” I asked her. Her only response was nodding her head. I had no idea what she wanted so when I went to the fridge, I grabbed two bottles of water.

On my walk back to the study, I took the time to appreciate the architecture of this place. The hallway was just off the exit of the kitchen, and led back for several hundreds of feet. The floors were polished wood, as were the ceilings of this particular hall.

The study was the last door on the right, and as I turned into the room I heard a little girl laughing. I assumed it was Kaylie. Peering into the door I notice Karter. When did he get here?

What I saw took my breath away. Karter had Kaylie dangling over his shoulder. She screeched and giggled. He laughed also, enjoying the time with his sister.

He moved her down into his arms, and was holding her. “Do you like your lesson so far?” He questioned her gently. She smiled, and nodded.

“What about Parker? Do you like her?” She nodded again. I never thought about obtaining her approval, but knowing she liked me lifted something off of my shoulders.

“I’m glad. You’ll be playing this thing like a pro before long.” She laughed, and motioned for him to put her down. She sat on the bench as he said, “show me what you got.”

She played the little song we were working on before I went to the kitchen. “Wonderful,” he smiled. I was seeing a different side of Karter. By the way he watched Kaylie play, I knew he had nothing but love for her. He adored the girl.

As much as I hated, I couldn’t help but admire him for how he treated her. He looked amazing while doing it also. I admired his dark denim jeans, and plain black T-shirt that hugged his muscled torso. It was a normal everyday outfit, but it looked amazing on him. My stomach twisted seeing him in this new light, and it sucked even worse that he hated me.

I was jealous of an eight year old, because she got his look of adoration. Not knowing why I wanted his approval made me mentally knock my head into the wall a couple thousand times.

Finally, Kaylie noticed me in the doorway, and smiled. Karter who had been watching her followed her gaze to me. He smiled. He actually smiled, and it seemed genuine.

“Hey, teach?”

“Hi.”

He raised his eyebrows, and then smiled again. “I’m going to get out of your hair now.” He wrapped his arm around her waist raising her so her face was to his. He kissed her cheek, and she started laughing again.

“I love you, baby.” My heart melted at his words, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She never said one word, but her hug said it all.

As he exited he gave me an unsure smile. Who was this guy?

And, great, he had to show me something good. Now, what am I suppose to do?