years later. . .
It was just moments before eight, and Tyler stood on the porch of his tiny abode, enjoying the morning's silence for just a moment before the bell chimed and the little town he came around to love awoke for the day. With a bit of a skip to his step, he greeted everyone he passed on the cobblestone paths before making his first stop: the bookstore.
"On time, as usual," Mr. Gills, the book keeper, commented. "How'd Cade enjoy this book?"
"Just as much as when he first read it," Tyler replied, placing the book back. "He's wondering if you've got any new ones for him yet?"
"I'm afraid not," Mr. Gills replied sorrowfully, then gestured to his wall of books, "but he may reread any old ones, of course."
Tyler grabbed a few from the shelves and tucked them under his arm, turning to the book keeper. "Thank you; you're really helping make this time more bearable for Cade."
Mr. Gills nodded. "Anything for my best customer. Such a shame he's fallen so ill."
Tyler nodded, rocking back and forth on his feet awkwardly. "Yes; I really must be going now, Mr. Gills. Thank you again."
"Bon voyage!" Mr. Gills called as Tyler exited the bookstore. Not even a second later, an oh-so-familiar face appeared at his side; Genevieve Willow, the village's prettiest girl. Tyler had no clue why a girl like her bothered with someone like him when there were plenty of handsome men dying to have her even breathe in their direction.
"Good morning, Genevieve," Tyler said as he continued walking, and Genevieve grinned.
"Oh, good morning," she replied, and the murmurs arose. "Lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Like always," Tyler answered flatly, trying his best to ignore the others' not-so-quiet interjections.
He's so ... odd.
Such a stand-out, indeed.
"I was, well, wondering if you'd join me for dinner tonight," Genevieve offered, and Tyler stopped to turn to her, offering his friendliest smile.
"Look, I appreciate your efforts, but let's just get this out in the open here; we wouldn't make each other happy, Genevieve, I'm sorry," Tyler apologized, and Genevieve stared at him with bewilderment. "Now I must be going. Good day to you."
He hurried to the bakery and hastily paid for a few pastries and such, then made his way home, leaving Genevieve in the middle of the town square defeated.
Once he was safe inside his home was when Tyler let out a long sigh. Setting the food down on the table, he rubbed his right temple in exhaustion before heading to his brother's room. Cade, as he had been for the past few weeks, laid in his bed with their mother kneeling beside him, her hand on his forehead.
As Tyler entered the room, his mother looked back at him with tired eyes and smiled. She stood and brushed off her skirt, then turned to him.
"How was your time in the town?" She asked, though it was always the same.
"Routine as usual," Tyler responded, placing the books on the bedside table. "Had a small run-in with Genevieve, but that's about it."
His mother grimaced. "Never really liked that girl; a bit too conceited, honestly. Before I forget to mention it, I'm going to the next town over tonight. Word's gotten to me that Dr. Wells has some medicine that'll help with Cade's sickness. I need you to stay with him, Tyler. Please."
Tyler wanted to offer to go himself, but he didn't argue with his mother; he knew she really just wanted to help her son as best as she could, no matter how daunting the task may be. Instead, he nodded and agreed to stay and take care of Cade.
"Thank you," his mother whispered, hugging him tight for a brief second before stepping back and looking over at Cade. "I should go ready Philippe for the journey."
Tyler nodded and moved so his mother could leave the room. He took a seat next to Cade's bed, taking one of the books and beginning to read it to himself as his brother slept soundly.
The sounds of his mother baking and preparing for her trip came for hours, but at no point in time did Cade wake nor did it bother Tyler. By the time he hit the halfway point of the story, his mother returned. She hummed to herself, her cloak donned and her face tired and stained with dirt.
"Mom, you've got a little something." Tyler poked his own cheek, and his mother smiled and wiped her cheek on her sleeve. "There we go."
Resting a hand on Cade's shoulder, their mother sighed. "I'll be back by morning. Take care, both of you."
Tyler set his book aside and stood, embracing his mother and quietly reminding her to be safe. She nodded, kissed his forehead, then headed out. Philippe's neighing was loud for just a second, then became faint the next. Tyler went back to his book, picking up exactly where he left off.
