19

Tyler

Saturday, December 31

New Year’s Eve, Josh and Molly came to Tyler and Lana’s for a pre-celebration, which was to be followed by dinner out at a local restaurant—some pre-fixe affair that Lana had organized.

Lana was in rare form. She’d had a good bit to drink tonight—Tyler wasn’t sure exactly how much.

“Good heavens, it was like a funeral parlor when I came home from the grocery,” Lana told Molly and Josh as they all sat in the living room, slipping chunks of cheese and ham into their mouths. “You should have seen it. All the shades were pulled and the lights were off. I was half expecting one of the kids to jump out of the shadows covered in a sheet, but no. Katherine had everyone down in the basement, hiding out like they were waiting for the apocalypse.”

The living room was lit with candlelight, and light jazz music filled the room with a festive, relaxed mood.

Tyler spotted Katherine hovering by the door, her face drawn and pale as she peered out of the windows on either side of it. What was wrong with her?

“Katherine!” Lana called out to her. “What are you looking for? Who’s out there?”

Katherine moved from the window. “No one.”

“Why do you keep looking outside?” Tyler asked. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” her voice echoed from the hallway.

Tyler looked out. The street was lit with Christmas lights and decorations. “I don’t see anything. No one out there.”

Lana whispered to Molly and Josh. “I don’t know what’s up with her. It’s like living with a ghost. She floats around the house silent as the grave, peering out of the windows all the time. Weird.”

Tyler hated that Lana talked about his daughter as if she wasn’t standing right there. But it was true. Katherine only spoke when the Wolfs had arrived, when she’d talked to Molly about their dog and the puppies that had just been born. Otherwise, she was a zombie.

“So, you’ve got a bunch of puppies in your house now, right?” Tyler prompted the change of subject as he returned to the living room.

Molly beamed. “Yes. We have five of them. Katherine, you’ll have to come see them.”

Katherine smiled. “Yeah, I’d love that.”

“We are now experts at puppy delivery,” said Josh. “Space heater blaring to keep the room a toasty eighty-three degrees. We sat by her side all night until this bloody, membranous sac came out.”

“Wow. That must have been amazing to watch,” Lana said.

“It was,” Molly affirmed. “Trixie birthed each puppy one by one, and then she licked the little body until the sac was removed, chewed the umbilical cord to sever it. She knew instinctively what to do.”

“They looked like little chipmunks,” Josh added. “We could have watched them for hours.”

Molly turned to Katherine. “You’ll have to come over and pick one out. Or two if you want.”

“Well, hold on.” Lana gurgled her drink. “Katherine, you’ll have to check with your mom about that. Especially if we’re moving.”

Tyler’s neck muscles tensed.

“So, is California still on the table?” Molly asked. She placed a block of cheese on the end of her tongue.

Tyler stood and moved toward the wet bar. “Who needs a refill?”

Josh held up his hand. “I’m good, thanks. I’ll get something else at the restaurant.”

“Everyone has something to drink, Tyler. Come sit down,” Lana instructed.

Tyler ignored her and wiped a cloth over the countertop.

Lana turned back to Molly and Josh. “Well, I’m ready to go tomorrow. I’ve got the job, contacted the realtor.”

Tyler carried a bowl of nuts back to the table. “It’s hard right now to think about going to California with Brandon and everything going on with him.” His eyes grazed Lana’s nervously. “I mean, we just started counseling at the church, and the kid really needs it. He’s really, really angry. And as you know, Josh, we may still have a court case pending.”

“You haven’t received a summons or anything yet?” Josh asked.

“No, nothing yet.”

“So…you’ve definitely decided not to go?” Lana asked accusingly.

“Maybe,” Tyler said. “But there’s also a little more to it,” he added, turning his gaze back to Molly and Josh. “I’ve been offered a really good position at work. One that could be hard to turn down.”

“Oh?” Josh asked.

“Yeah, it would be a lot more money and a more prestigious position. It’s an offer that…you know, suggests they really believe in me and my abilities as a manager. It could change our lives.” Part of him was speaking to Josh and Molly, the other part was directing his argument at Lana.

“How?” she asked. “How is it going to change our lives? Is it going to change the weather? Is it going to change the traffic and the rat-race that we live through every day—that you live through every day? No. It’s not, Tyler. It massages your ego, that’s all.”

“Lana.” Tyler cringed. “I think this is something you and I need to talk about one on one—not in front of our friends.” Embarrassment crept over him.

Molly and Josh squirmed with discomfort.

“It’s OK,” Josh said, shaking his head and smiling awkwardly. “Really, it’s fine. These are all big decisions you’re making.”

“Yes,” Molly said, rising from her perch upon the couch and beginning to collect glasses. “Why don’t we head over to the restaurant? Maybe we can get seated early.”

Lana’s eyes continued to shoot daggers at Tyler from across the room.

~*~

It was a relief when dinner was finally over.

It was evident Lana wasn’t enjoying any part of it. She’d ordered another drink once they arrived at the restaurant and barely ate any of the expensive four-course dinner.

Tyler talked, laughed, ordered dessert and lingered over coffee.

Lana remained silent, glaring at them.

On the way home, Tyler tried to convince her how good their life would be with his new job. And he assured her he was going to change. “I’m not viewing porn anymore, Lana. I’ve come to realize how disrespectful to you that is. I’m starting counseling, too.”

“Mm-hm,” Lana murmured, but otherwise, she didn’t respond.

Whatever. Maybe she was tired or drunk or both. Anyway, he’d done his part. He’d committed to being a better husband. It might take a little time to prove himself, but he meant it. From here on out, things would change. They would be like a regular, suburban family.

Maybe he’d even agree to let Katherine have one of those dogs she wanted so much.