The Ground Below

Chapter Twenty-Five

“What do you mean he lives here?” Chandler fumes having just found out that Karter and I live together. The light blonde hairs on his head worry me as if they might fall out. Karter stands by quietly not having words. I’m sure he would have words if this wasn’t my brother he was trying to impress, and I wasn’t smoking at my ears either at what he did at the restaurant.

“Amy is his mother, and technically this is his house.”

“I don’t like this, Parker,” he states waving his hands in the air.

I slowly place my hands on his back. “You don’t have to like it, Chandler. I’m twenty-three years old. I can make my own decisions.” I say as gently as possible. Chandler huffs even louder, but doesn’t say anything. I glance pleadingly at Abby. She smiles reluctantly.

“She’s right, Chandler. She’s not a baby.” He glares at her. I never thought I’d see the day.

“You have no hen in this fight,” he almost yells. I stand shocked, never would I hear Chandler speak to someone he adores as much as Abby in the way that he did. Abby stomps over to the couch, and when she sits I notice tears in her eyes. This time Karter speaks. “That is your wife, man. You shouldn’t talk to her like that.” He tosses me an apologetic look before glancing sorrowfully at Abby.

Chandler opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it as if knowing he would say something he’d regret. He stomps to his room, slamming the door causing Abby to flinch. Abby walks out the front door.

I didn’t expect Chandler to get so upset. He’s the closest thing to a father figure I have, but I want him to be my brother. If Dad were still alive, I don’t think he’d handle it this way. But, I also don’t think that if Dad were alive, I’d be in this situation.

Karter pulls me into his side. “I’m sorry. I’ll go talk to him.” More than likely, Karter could explain things way better than I ever could. He could also probably calm him down, and talk some sense into my brother. That’s the kind of guy Karter is- always making sense of other’s problems except his own.

Amy is sitting on the porch with her head in her hands. I’m thinking this is the first time Chandler has ever done something like this to her. She’s sobbing loudly, and I’ve never seen her so off-put.

Landing beside her on the bench, I wrap her in a hug. I don’t say anything, because I’m hoping somewhere in her mind she understands that he is just angry. I’m not going to tell her something she already knows. The night sky is clear with billions of stars overhead. Frogs croak loudly, and I almost laugh at how long it’s taken for me to notice all this. Abby moves in my arms sitting up. “I can’t believe he said that to me.”

Yea, me either. “He is just angry with me. I’m sorry I got you involved.” She sniffles beside me.

“Don’t be. You’re my sister, and I’d do anything for you,” she says shyly. My eyes start watering.

I smile weakly at her, “I love you, Abby.” She bear hugs me nearly cutting off my oxygen supply.

The door creaks open, and I look up to see Chandler standing there with a look of worry on his face. He’s here to apologize to Abby. He squeezes between us on the bench practically pushing me off the side. My butt hurts, and I look up at him almost in shock. He laughs before turning a serious face to Abby. “Baby…I’m sorry.”

She looks up at him pouting, “I want a divorce.”

Chandler chuckles, “No, you don’t.” He holds her cheeks, placing a kiss on her nose. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“I know.” He kisses her pouty lips.

“I love you, baby.”

“I know.”

He laughs his normal deep belly laugh before kissing her again. I feel like I’m intruding on something, so I stand to go in the house.

“Parker.” I stop and face my brother. “I’m sorry. You’re an adult, and I trust you to make good decisions.”

“It’s okay, Chandler.”

Karter is staring at the door when I walk in. I wanted to yell at him, but I don’t even have the energy anymore. As ecstatic that I am that my brother worked it out with his wife, I’m drained. I wave for him to follow me into my bedroom. He closes the door, then proceeds to sit on my bed. “Go ahead,” he urges me on.

“No, I’m not going to yell at you. I just want to know why you keep doing things like this.”

His eyes search my room and then find my face. “I want to hug you…right now. I want to pull you into my arms, and hold you.”

“Why don’t you?” I ask taking my seat at the end of my bed.

“Because, I don’t think you’d want me to after I explain things to you.” My mouth releases a puff of air. My gut tells me I’m in big for whatever he plans to say. I wave giving him the go ahead. “Well, you know how I said my apartment was flooded?” I nod. “It’s not. I mean I’ve been here awhile, and I honestly don’t know why you never noticed.”

“Okay, I don’t exactly know why I didn’t question that either. Go on,” I interrupt.

My brows furrow more as he furthers into his explanation. “I’ve been avoiding my apartment at all cost.”

I twist my head in confusion. “Well, let’s just say I owe quiet a bit of money, and until I’m able to pay them back-”

I stop him, “How much do you owe?”

He holds up his hand, “I was getting to that. Roughly twenty thousand.”

My eyes widen, and my mouth falls open. “Twenty thousand? How in the hell?”

“Drugs on credit?”

I laugh dully. “Seriously? Then why are you selling if you’re trying to avoid your dealer?”

“You think that’s bad. I did owe more, but paid most of it off with my trust fund. I’m selling for another dealer who gives me a cut of the profit. I’m trying to raise the money.”

I try to wrap my mind around everything he’s told me. He’s broke? I’m just curious how he bought the gifts he gave me, and how he affords to drive around in his car if he’s saving all the money he makes for his debt- a debt that could kill him.

“Parker, don’t worry about how I pay for things. I have another account that I’m only allowed to live off of. It’s not twenty thousand dollars or even close, and I’m not touching it for anything other than living expenses,” he explains.

I stare at him shaking my head. “How are you paying for your apartment, Karter?”

“Mom bought it for me. I don’t owe anything on it. As for utilities, I’m sure those are cut off by now.”

My feet hit the floor as I pace toward him. His eyes widen then relax when I throw my arms around his neck. “This doesn’t change anything.” He holds me for a while before slowly pulling me from him.

“You deserve so much better than a drug addict, Parker. You know that right?”

He looks worried, as if I’d take his advice and run. I slowly smile. “I would agree if the drug addict wasn’t you, Karter. You’re mine and nothing is going to change that.”

He looks relieved, “I’m glad you said that. I just want to give you everything you deserve.”

I throw my arms back around his neck, whispering in his ear, “You do.”