Page 3 of Home Changes
“Everything okay?” Seth asked.
Tyler glanced at him and then focused on Gomer, petting him as he spoke. “My gramps … the last of my family … he's in the hospital, and they say he doesn't have long. I was in the middle of out-processing from Fort Moore when I got the call.”
“Shit, dude, I'm sorry. They'll get the flights going soon. If we’re on the same flight, I’ll make sure you get a seat even if I have to give up mine.” He wouldn’t be able to pull Gomer out of his checked status, but there were a few things he’d make that sacrifice for, and one of them was saying goodbye to your family. It was why he was returning to Hollister to help with his dad. Family was important, even if it was dysfunctional.
“She said I'd make it.” Tyler looked at him for asplit second before adding, “Blessing. I didn't say anything to her, but she seemed to know and said I'd make it in time.”
Seth nodded. “She seems to know a lot that no one tells her. Trust that feeling in your gut. I plan on it.” He would take his dad for a checkup, even if he had to hogtie him and tumble him in the bed of his truck to get him there.
Tyler’s phone rang, and the man jumped up like his ass was on fire, then walked out while answering the phone. Seth reached down and stroked Gomer. “It’s okay, bud. He’s just worried. I know that feeling.”
He watched Tyler pacing back and forth as he talked on the phone before finally disconnecting and heading back into the room.
“Everything okay?”
Tyler nodded and sat back down. “Still good. I have some time. Not much, but some.” His hand went to Gomer’s back, and he started petting the dog again. Seth watched as Gomer moved a bit closer and looked up at Tyler. The dog sensed the man’s worry better than Seth ever could. Gomer was exactly what the man needed. Seth had been there and done that. When his mom had taken ill and he was deployed, his dog at the time, Bronx, was thething that had kept him sane. Dogs knew shit humans would never understand.
Seth wished like hell he had some magic words to say to help the guy out. But dealing with death and older parents sucked more than just about anything. He was finding that out with a crash course in dementia and Alzheimer's. He’d read just about every article he could. Some new medicines delayed the process, but it was a slow and deadly killer. He hated that for his old man. Chester had never needed anything from anyone. He was fiercely independent, and that was a point of pride for his father.
Blessing walked in with her arm linked through that of another man. “Seth and Tyler, this is Codwell Drakos, he goes by Code. He’s a retired Army Colonel.”
Code made a face. “Lieutenant Colonel, and that’s just a rank, not who I am.” He reached out a hand to both Seth and Tyler.
Seth shook his hand, and Gomer sneezed, drawing attention to where he was lying between the chair and the couch.
Code looked at Gomer and asked, “What do we have here?”
Tyler chuckled and replied, “A dog, sir.” Sethcouldn’t help the laugh that fell from him at Tyler’s comeback.
Code belted out a laugh, too. “Okay, I deserved that.”
Blessing patted Code on the arm. “I’ll be back shortly. I have two more for this room. They’re running a bit late.”
Code sat down and asked, “Where are you two heading?”
Seth and Tyler replied, and they visited for about a half an hour before Blessing came back into the room with the last two men. “Gentlemen, may I introduce Dean Sinclair and Noah Ziegler?” She turned to the newcomers and introduced the others. “This isTyler Marconi, retired Army, heading to Montana. Seth Hansen, who’s heading to South Dakota with his newly adopted and retired MWD Gomer. And this is Code Drakos, who’s heading to Tennessee. So, now that you’re all acquainted, can I get you anything?”
“No, ma’am.” Seth smiled at her. Damn, she was a live wire, that one.
“No, thank you,” Tyler said, his voice tight.
“We’re good,” Code added.
“Okay. Then off I go. I’ve got three more coming to check in. They’ll be here any second now.”Everyone turned toward the registration desk as if they expected to see people, but there was no one at the desk … until there was. Three people, just as Blessing had said. Yeah, woo-woo. She had to have the gift. His mom had talked about it as if it were a real thing. His father had told her she was insane, but his mom had had insights that normal people didn’t. Blessing? She was freakishly gifted.
He shifted his attention to Dean, who was gripping his phone just as tight as Tyler was. “Everything all right?” Seth asked, tipping his chin toward the cell gripped in Dean’s fist.
Dean grabbed his duffel and groaned aloud at the dog handler’s question.
“Yeah. All good. Just my mother checking on when I’m getting in. Funny, though. That lady at the desk was dead on when she guessed it was Mom.”
Noah’s brow rose. “You know what’s really funny? She just dumped a whole bunch of personal shit on me that was dead on, too.” Seth didn’t hear much more than that, but he knew exactly who they were talking about.
“You talking about Blessing?” Tyler asked.
Dean nodded, and Tyler sighed.“Yeah … she told me … well, just quoted some author and thought it would mean something to me. I have no clue what thehell she was referring to. Although she seemed to know why I needed to get on my flight.”
Seth let out a short laugh. Man, he was right. The womanwasa psychic or something. “No kidding. She told me the name of the vet in the town I’m going to. There aremaybethree hundred people in that town, and she knows two of them. What are the chances of that?”
