Page 37 of Call Off the Dark

Tyler brightened. “That’s great.”

As soon as Evelyn turned back to the flower arrangement, Tyler raised his eyebrows and mouthed “Lumberjack?” at Helen.

She pressed her lips together to keep from giggling and shook her head faintly, just enough so he’d know everything truly was good. He cleared his throat and looked down at the kitchen tiles, trying not to laugh. When he finally looked back up at her, his eyes were sparkling.

Seeing the joy in Tyler’s face, Helen knew then that he was the whole reason she’d felt so emotional, and she knew with certainty she’d find a way to get along with his stepmother if it helped him have a better relationship with his father and siblings. This was a small thing, really.

She would happily do this, and so much more, for him.

The treehouse seemed like a good hiding spot, nestled among the branches of the mighty oak in the corner of the backyard. The ladder leading up the thick tree trunk was partially covered in moss, and Tyler kept watch while Helen quickly ascended it.

“Hurry,” he called softly from below. “They’re coming back.”

Gary and Evelyn had gone inside the house, and Tyler wanted a moment alone. His brother and sister still hadn’t arrived.

Helen reached the top of the ladder and her head poked through a hole in the wooden floor of the small platform room. It smelled like sweet greenery and mildew. She climbed inside and unfolded her body, careful to keep her head bent down to avoid hitting the low roof. Branches stole through cracks in the ceiling and the walls, reclaiming the space. The interior of the treehouse was empty except for a bench seat and a few cardboard boxes, but Helen felt the ghosts of a charmed childhood.

As Tyler deftly climbed into the room, she lifted the flap of one of the boxes and pulled out a hardback, its pages curled and yellowed, the cover dotted in black specks.

“Tyler!” she said. “You can’t store books up here!”

He raised his palms in contrition. “I was a kid, and I thought keeping my books in my treehouse made perfect sense. No adults allowed. Just my friends and my cat and my stories.” He took the book from her and dropped it back in the box. “I didn’t understand humidity or mold.”

“Where’s your cat now?”

“Dead. He died nine years ago.”

“This is really depressing.” Helen plunked herself onto the bench seat and hung her head, letting her hair fall into a veil over her face. “I thought you were bringing me into your treehouse to ravage me, and instead you show me ruined books and tell me your cat is dead.”

He knelt in front of her. “I know. I’m terrible.” He rested his head in her lap. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“No. Never. This will scar me forever.” She gently ran her hand through his hair.

Tyler lifted his head. “Was Evelyn actually okay to you?”

Helen paused. She planned to tell him about her exchange with Evelyn at some point, but not right away. “She was okay. I think she means well.”

“That doesn’t sound like Evelyn. She must be running a fever.” Tyler picked up Helen’s hand and turned it so he could kiss the inside of her wrist. “Or maybe even she can’t be mean to someone as sweet as you.” He placed his hands on the bench on either side of her and raised himself to meet her height. He kissed her delicately on her neck first. And then her ear. “Are you this soft everywhere?”

Helen felt Tyler was wiser than the world would ever know, sillier than the world would ever see, and kinder than the world would ever feel. Because some moments he saved just for her. Dating him was like having a secret treehouse with you everywhere you went.

She felt his lips move down to her collarbone. And then her jaw, followed by her cheek and her forehead. She shivered.

The treehouse was a place where nothing more could happen, and yet she wished she could leave an imprint on this space that used to be so special in Tyler’s life.

Suddenly, a male voice boomed from below the treehouse. “Tyler! Get your ass down here!”

Tyler snorted. “That would be Leo.”

Moving to the opening in the floor, Helen looked down and saw a younger, more disheveled version of Tyler standing by the mossy ladder, peering up at them. Same almond-shaped eyes, except green.

“How’d you find us?” Tyler called down.

“How did I find you?” Leo crumpled in laughter. “You aren’t in Witness Protection. You’re in the treehouse forty feet from the back deck.”

Introductions were called out through the hole in the floor, and minutes later, Helen found herself alone with Leo beneath the tree while Tyler went to grab them ciders from the cooler on the deck.

Pulling a flask from the pocket of his baggy jeans, Leo said, “Let’s do shots.”