“Then sleep in your bed tonight.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t.
That was also around the time my brother, Jason, started coming over almost every day.
The next morning, he was outside her door again.
That was also around the time my brother, Jason, started coming over almost every day.
Jason is four years younger than me. He runs a small contracting business and has always been charming, impulsive, and convinced he can fix almost anything.
After Mom’s surgery, he seemed determined to help.
He changed a light fixture I had been ignoring for six months.
He brought groceries.
He fixed the loose railing on the stairs.
He changed a light fixture I had been ignoring for six months.
Whenever I needed to leave, he would say, “Go. I’ve got Mom.”
I even gave him a spare key. With Mom recovering in my house, it seemed practical to have another family member who could get in if something happened.
Then I noticed something strange.
One afternoon, I grabbed my purse.
“I’ll only be twenty minutes.”
Jason waved me toward the door.
“You’ve got enough on your plate. Let me help.”
I remember feeling grateful.
If Jason sat beside Mom’s bed, Tyler suddenly needed to show Grandma a drawing.
Then I noticed something strange.
Tyler had started following him.
If Jason went upstairs, Tyler went upstairs.
If Jason sat beside Mom’s bed, Tyler suddenly needed to show Grandma a drawing.
If Jason offered to stay with her while I ran errands, Tyler stopped wanting to come with me.
Then one Saturday, Jason headed upstairs carrying Mom’s tea.
At first, I thought he was being possessive.
Then one Saturday, Jason headed upstairs carrying Mom’s tea.
Tyler immediately stood.
Jason stopped halfway up the stairs.
“You coming too?”
Tyler nodded.
But instead of asking why, I got irritated.
Jason laughed.
“What’s with you, little bodyguard?”
He ruffled Tyler’s hair.
Tyler didn’t smile.
That bothered me.
“Uncle Jason is trying to help Grandma.”
But instead of asking why, I got irritated.
Later, I pulled Tyler aside.
“Uncle Jason is trying to help Grandma.”
“I know.”
“You don’t have to follow him everywhere.”
“If Grandma needs something, she can call me. Uncle Jason isn’t bothering her.”
Tyler stared at the carpet.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He said nothing.
I crouched in front of him.
That night, he slept outside her door again.
“If Grandma needs something, she can call me. Uncle Jason isn’t bothering her.”
