Chapter 7 - TYLER COMES HOME
Tyler entered treatment.
Not court-ordered initially.
His choice.
Gambling addiction had already cost him:
Jobs.
Relationships.
Credit.
Now almost his aunt’s diner.
He did not ask Martha for forgiveness immediately.
That was smart.
He wrote letters.
One every Sunday.
Martha read them.
Did not answer the first four.
On week five, she wrote:
I love you. I do not trust you yet. Both are true.
Tyler kept that letter.
Six months later, he returned to the diner.
Martha met him outside.
The four veterans were inside.
Not looming.
Just present.
Tyler looked at them nervously.
“Do they hate me?”
Martha shrugged.
“Probably.”
“Helpful.”
“You asked.”
He laughed weakly.
Then became serious.
“Aunt Martha.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
She waited.
“I gave Crane the deed photo.”
“Yes.”
“I ran.”
“Yes.”
“I left you to deal with something I helped create.”
“Yes.”
“I was scared you’d hate me.”
Martha looked at him.
“I was scared too.”
He cried.
She did not immediately hug him.
That mattered.
Then she said:
“Your recovery cannot become my new full-time job.”
Tyler nodded.
“I know.”
“You don’t borrow money from me.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t stay upstairs.”
His face fell.
Then nodded again.
“And if you gamble again?”
“I tell my counselor.”
“Not me first.”
“Yes.”
Martha finally opened her arms.
Tyler stepped into them.
Love.
With rules.
May you like
Much safer.
---
