Charlie is Jack's older brother (first book). Their parents were killed in a car accident when Jack was 13, Charlie 17 (almost 18). Charlie declined to play football in college and took over his parents'store to raise Jack. Charlie is a helper, so when Rye arrives into town with not much else then his cat and the clothes on his back, he offers his help. Rye had a grandfather he never met and he inherited his falling down house.
Rye left home at 16 and has had a series of jobs, roommates and evictions. So when he got the news of the house, he dropped everything. It took time to fully understand Rye, he was a mystery for part of the book. Both he and Charlie developed a sort of friendship that gradually turned into more.
There was a bit of power imbalance (Charlie gave Rye a job, co-signed a loan to fix his house, and gave him a place to stay), but I never felt that Charlie abused it in any way or held it over Rye's head.
I loved the cats and what Rye ultimately decided to do with the house.
Rye left home at 16 and has had a series of jobs, roommates and evictions. So when he got the news of the house, he dropped everything. It took time to fully understand Rye, he was a mystery for part of the book. Both he and Charlie developed a sort of friendship that gradually turned into more.
There was a bit of power imbalance (Charlie gave Rye a job, co-signed a loan to fix his house, and gave him a place to stay), but I never felt that Charlie abused it in any way or held it over Rye's head.
I loved the cats and what Rye ultimately decided to do with the house.
