tone.
“Well I was being shipped
off to war-torn countries on dangerous missions,” I snapped. “So I haven’t
really had a lot of free time.”
Tyler shot me a glare. “And you think I have? At least you’ve only
had to worry about yourself; I’ve had to look after mom and dad for the last
eleven years. Not that I would have done anything else; I would never run out
on my family.”
I stopped short. “You
think I ran out on mom and dad?”
Tyler regarded me coldly.
“You got the opportunity to go off and see the world and you took it. I don’t
blame you for that.”
Then Tyler turned and kept walking and I was forced to follow
after him, trying to resist the urge to punch him in the face. I was imagining
his face if I actually attempted something like that and it did make me feel a
little better. We got my bags and then made our way to the car. Tyler had
upgraded since I’d last been in Bastrop. He had traded in his car for a Jeep and
it took up nearly two sparking spaces.
“You couldn’t have found a larger vehicle?” I asked sarcastically.
“I don’t think they’ll be enough room for both of us in there.”
“I thought you’d have
more bags,” Tyler said ignoring me.
“I’m only here for four
weeks,” I said.
“That’s it?”
“I would have thought
that would be too much for you,” I said as we got into the Jeep.
“Maybe,” Tyler replied. “But
mom might feel differently. Especially since you haven’t been home in years.”
I felt the sting of his words, more so because they held the
insinuation that I had missed out on the last few years of dad’s life. I felt
the need to justify myself, but I held the words in at the last moment. I
wouldn’t convince Tyler so what was the use in trying?
We spent the first half hour of the drive in silence and I
realized just how much Tyler and I had drifted apart in the last decade. It
wasn’t just that we didn’t keep in touch as much as we should have; it had more
to do with a sense of underlying bitterness that followed our relationship. Except
that I wasn’t entirely sure why or where that bitterness had originated from.
We were always so touchy around one another that it was hard to carry a
conversation without someone getting pissed or irritated.
I took a deep internal breath and started again. “Do you remember
that time dad decided to teach us poker?”
“Dylan, I really don’t
want to talk about dad ok?”
“But …”
“I’m serious.”
I understood why Tyler didn’t want to talk, but at the same time I
felt as though I really needed to. Yes, it was hard to talk about him but I
felt it would be harder not to. Tyler’s face was set however and I knew he
wouldn’t participate.
“How’s business?” I said
taking a different route.
“You’re asking about my
business?”
“As you pointed out, it’s my first trip home in years ok? I just
want to know what you guys have been doing. I’m interested. And it beats the
awkward silence.”
“I thought you preferred
silence?”
“With strangers,” I
clarified. “Not with my own brother. Can you at least try?”
“All right,” Tyler said
with a sigh. “What was the question?”
I tried very hard not to
roll my eyes. “How’s the business?”
“It’s doing well,” Tyler
replied. “We manage to get at least one big contract every month and that keeps
us afloat.”
“That’s good,” I nodded.
“How are … things with
you?” Tyler asked out of obligation.
“Fine,” I replied. “The
same as always.”
“Still training?”
“We never stop,” I said.
“Actually, speaking of work, I’m thinking of retiring soon.”
That got an expression
out of him. He glanced at me with raised eyebrows. “Retiring?”
“Yes.”
“That’s … unexpected,”
Tyler said. “I would have thought you’d want to die in the Navy.”
“Well, I don’t,” I said
impatiently. “I think I’ve paid my dues and I
“Well I was being shipped
off to war-torn countries on dangerous missions,” I snapped. “So I haven’t
really had a lot of free time.”
Tyler shot me a glare. “And you think I have? At least you’ve only
had to worry about yourself; I’ve had to look after mom and dad for the last
eleven years. Not that I would have done anything else; I would never run out
on my family.”
I stopped short. “You
think I ran out on mom and dad?”
Tyler regarded me coldly.
“You got the opportunity to go off and see the world and you took it. I don’t
blame you for that.”
Then Tyler turned and kept walking and I was forced to follow
after him, trying to resist the urge to punch him in the face. I was imagining
his face if I actually attempted something like that and it did make me feel a
little better. We got my bags and then made our way to the car. Tyler had
upgraded since I’d last been in Bastrop. He had traded in his car for a Jeep and
it took up nearly two sparking spaces.
“You couldn’t have found a larger vehicle?” I asked sarcastically.
“I don’t think they’ll be enough room for both of us in there.”
“I thought you’d have
more bags,” Tyler said ignoring me.
“I’m only here for four
weeks,” I said.
“That’s it?”
“I would have thought
that would be too much for you,” I said as we got into the Jeep.
“Maybe,” Tyler replied. “But
mom might feel differently. Especially since you haven’t been home in years.”
I felt the sting of his words, more so because they held the
insinuation that I had missed out on the last few years of dad’s life. I felt
the need to justify myself, but I held the words in at the last moment. I
wouldn’t convince Tyler so what was the use in trying?
We spent the first half hour of the drive in silence and I
realized just how much Tyler and I had drifted apart in the last decade. It
wasn’t just that we didn’t keep in touch as much as we should have; it had more
to do with a sense of underlying bitterness that followed our relationship. Except
that I wasn’t entirely sure why or where that bitterness had originated from.
We were always so touchy around one another that it was hard to carry a
conversation without someone getting pissed or irritated.
I took a deep internal breath and started again. “Do you remember
that time dad decided to teach us poker?”
“Dylan, I really don’t
want to talk about dad ok?”
“But …”
“I’m serious.”
I understood why Tyler didn’t want to talk, but at the same time I
felt as though I really needed to. Yes, it was hard to talk about him but I
felt it would be harder not to. Tyler’s face was set however and I knew he
wouldn’t participate.
“How’s business?” I said
taking a different route.
“You’re asking about my
business?”
“As you pointed out, it’s my first trip home in years ok? I just
want to know what you guys have been doing. I’m interested. And it beats the
awkward silence.”
“I thought you preferred
silence?”
“With strangers,” I
clarified. “Not with my own brother. Can you at least try?”
“All right,” Tyler said
with a sigh. “What was the question?”
I tried very hard not to
roll my eyes. “How’s the business?”
“It’s doing well,” Tyler
replied. “We manage to get at least one big contract every month and that keeps
us afloat.”
“That’s good,” I nodded.
“How are … things with
you?” Tyler asked out of obligation.
“Fine,” I replied. “The
same as always.”
“Still training?”
“We never stop,” I said.
“Actually, speaking of work, I’m thinking of retiring soon.”
That got an expression
out of him. He glanced at me with raised eyebrows. “Retiring?”
“Yes.”
“That’s … unexpected,”
Tyler said. “I would have thought you’d want to die in the Navy.”
“Well, I don’t,” I said
impatiently. “I think I’ve paid my dues and I
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