The Ground Below

Chapter Twelve

“Happy Birthday,” Amy yells as I join them for breakfast.

Basically, I found out that before Amy offered me the job, she had a background check ran on me. Having money gave them the ability to get the information on me without my permission. As unsettling as that was, she was kind enough to have me a birthday breakfast.

A nice birthday breakfast never hurt anybody.

I’m thankful for Amy, therefore however she insured the safety of her family is fine by me. She made sure I had everything I needed when I moved down here, and made me part of the family. Teaching Kaylie didn’t feel like a job at all. Two weeks, I’ve been here, and I feel like I’ve found a new home. Well, apart from Karter, since I haven’t talked to him since the day after I gave Kaylie her first lesson.

We had an argument, and he’s been avoiding me since.

What’s new? We have been at each other’s throats since I got here. The night of the lesson, he didn’t come home. The morning after, on the couch, I sat reading a book. I wrongly assumed since he was civil to me in the study that maybe I could have a normal conversation.

So, when the door opened, and he walked in, I figured I could ask him something I was extremely curious about.

“Hey, Karter.”

He looked down at the couch as he walked by, “Hi, teach.” He didn’t hold any of the friendliness I seen the day before.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Um, Kaylie, she doesn’t really talk.”

On this he frowned, “Yeah, so?”

Maybe, this was not something I should be questioning him about, but I continue despite the warning in my gut. “Is she always like that or…”

“You’re asking if there is something wrong with her.” His tone was short and clipped. He pointed a finger in my course. “Get one thing straight, Teach. There is nothing wrong with Kaylie. Don’t you dare judge her.”

“I wasn’t—,” I tried to tell him.

“She’s an amazing kid and intelligent too. If my Mom knew you were talking about her—“

“I’m not saying anything bad about her, I’m just curious. I know she’s intelligent. She learned that song so fast.”

“Curiosity killed the cat, Teach. Anybody ever tell you that?”

“Karter, I just want to know if it’s me or if she’s always like that,” I ground out trying to keep my cool.

He takes a breath, and his eyes soften slightly. “She’s always been like that. She use to talk, then she just quit. Dallas, and Mom has sent her to therapist thinking she might talk, but she doesn’t.” By the look on his face I can tell he worries about her. “But, Teach, I will not have you looking down on her because of it.”

He stomps away, and seconds later, I hear him slamming the door to his room.

Since then, I’ve only seen him a couple times for a short split of time. We haven’t spoken, and while I’m slightly grateful, I’m also a little upset. He thinks I’m a judgmental bitch from New York, and I can tell. Sometimes I get confused because if he knows I’m looking at him, he looks at me with such disgust. If looks could kill, right?

But, sometimes I catch him out of the corner of my eye, looking at me with wonder. Sometimes I think he wants to get to know me, but convinces himself that I’m an awful person.

I don’t know what I ever did to make him hate me so much, but maybe questioning the reticent Kaylie didn’t help.

He got mad at me, and stormed off that day almost two weeks ago so imagine my surprise when I see him sitting at the table. Glancing at him with shock, I catch his attention and like he’s uncertain of himself, he smiles again. He did this same shy smile that day in the study. It’s like he’s unsure of how to be a human being, which I know is wrong, because of how he treated Kaylie.

“You’re always looking for something good, Parker,” Grammy’s voice reverberates in my mind. I almost cry when I hear her voice, but I tamp down my emotions since I’m in a room full of people.

I haven’t really gotten to know the other girls, but still they threw their arms around me. “Happy Birthday,” Isabelle says flinging her arms around me. At sixteen, she’s already taller than me.

It was Kaylie who really surprised me by jumping into my arms. My smile got bigger, and I felt my eyes water. “Thank you, guys so much!” Silently I wipe away a stray tear, and catch Karter staring at me.

He quickly looks away, “Since she’s here, let’s eat.” The breakfast had been wonderful with trays of fruits, bacon, gravy, pancakes, and biscuits. I ate a number of everything.

It was an amazing start to my twenty-third birthday.

After breakfast I went back to the guest house where I called Chandler. He told me Happy Birthday, and I got to hear Aiden say it also. Abby was at work, but texted me along with a couple friends from school.

A knock came from my open bedroom door. I looked up to see Karter standing there in ball shorts, and sweats. “Can I talk to you?”

I nod hesitantly. He stands for a couple of minutes looking around my room. Finally, he sits on the edge of my bed inhaling deep.

“I want to apologize.” Whoa, what?

“Apologize, for what?”

He breathily says, “For being mean to you.”

“Which time?”

He glares at me, “You’re not making this easy on me.”

Waving my hand, I give him the go ahead to continue. “The other day when I told you off for Kaylie. I know you didn’t mean anything by it. I love my sister, and I’m very protective of her…the others too.”

Again, I nod.

“By seeing you today, I know she loves you. And if you can get Kaylie to love you after only two weeks, then I must have misjudged you.”

I take his words in stride. Does this mean things are changing? I wouldn’t complain if they were.

“You must know, I adore Kaylie, also. And it was never my intention for you to think so little of me.”

He nods. “I’m sorry I judged you. I really am. I have no excuse for it. Maybe, it was Dallas, and my Mom choosing to let you have this place when I needed it. I don’t know exactly, but you were kind enough to offer to let me live with you, and I should have known you were a good person. I don’t know you very well, but if Kaylie can give you a chance, so can I. I’m hoping you’ll forgive me, and maybe we can start over.”

With that, I smiled. “I’d like that, Karter.”

There is that shy smile again. He really is beautiful when he’s not being an asshole.

“Oh, the girls want to take you out shopping. Mom has to work, but the girls want to buy you something and maybe take you to lunch. I know you’re scared of cars so I told them I’d ask you first.”

“I’d love to go,” I tell him. “Are you driving?”

“Yes, and I know you hate the highway so we’ll go the old route.”

The girls will wonder why we are taking the old road instead of the highway, and consequently I might have to tell them the truth. The concern must have shown on my face, or Karter can read minds. “You can tell them the truth, Parker. They won’t tell anyone.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I’m just scared of what they’ll think.”

He furrows his brows, “Everybody has something they’re scared of. Your fear is cars. Who cares if my little sisters know?”

“You’re right. But, I’m not telling them unless they ask.”