Chapter 2
“No, Mom, it’s fine. The woman needed to catch the flight to see her grandkids, and I didn’t mind taking a later flight. Anyway, I got an upgrade to first class. The new flight will leave in five hours.” Oliver Parker walked along with the crowds of the Atlanta International Airport with his carry-on bag slung over one shoulder and his phone clapped to his ear. He had just left the gate of his arranged flight to California but was now headed to the USO to kill time, get food, and maybe take a nap. “Yeah, I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“Are you going to come straight here?” his mother asked.
“Leo is picking me up, and he’ll drop me off at your place before he heads home to Natalie.” As he talked, he looked up to see he had arrived at his destination, and the USO’s sliding doors opened. Inside was a woman with a USO volunteer badge pinned to her red apron. She turned to him with a smile that seemed to light her whole face. He didn’t want to appear rude, so he held up his forefinger. “Mom, listen, I’m at the USO now, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Dad and I can’t wait to see you. Safe travels.”
He met the USO volunteer’s smile with one of his own as he disconnected and shoved his phone into his pocket. “Sorry about that. I needed to let my?—”
“No apology necessary! Mothers always worry, don’t they? How sweet of you to let her know of your change in flight plans.”
He nodded and followed her to the check-in counter, wondering how she knew about his flight change status. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m Blessing,” she said, waving her hand toward the sign-in sheet. “If you sign here, Captain Parker, then I’ll take you back to where you can rest.”
He leaned over to sign his name and flight information, then jerked slightly as he twisted his neck to look at her. “How did you know my name?”
“It’s on your carry-on,” she explained smoothly.
He glanced down at the bag he’d had slung over his shoulder. While it was true that Cpt. Parker was on the tag, her eyesight must have been better than his to have read the small print.
“Now, for someone as kind as you to give up your spot on your flight to volunteer to take a later one, I have just the place for you to rest comfortably.”
He followed her around the counter, heading deeper into the USO. The hall was painted red, white, and blue. A large shelving unit overflowed with bags, duffels, suitcases, and even the occasional stroller. Another exposed room contained comfortable chairs filled with men and women in uniforms, wives and husbands, and even children.
“I take it you’re heading home?”
“Yes, ma’am. Well, not exactly my home. My parents’ home.” He didn’t owe her an explanation but somehow felt he needed to continue. “Either there or I’ll stay with my brother and sister-in-law.”
“You’re leaving the service?”
He couldn’t imagine what made her think that other than the slightly rigid manner in which he walked. The extensive rehabilitation had almost rid him of the barely-there limp.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“California is nice this time of year,” she continued, her ever-present smile still on her face. “Such a lovely time to be heading home.”
A chuckle slipped out as he thought of heading to his parents’ home. Staying there would involve sleeping in his old bedroom. While his parents had taken down the posters from the walls from when he was a teenager, he would still be sleeping in his childhood bedroom.
Blessing stopped in the hall and clasped her hands in front of her, smiling up at him. “I assume that as close as you are to your parents, staying in your old room will feel a little strange, won’t it?” She chuckled and added, “Ernest Hemingway once said, ‘I regarded home as a place I left behind in order to come back to it afterward.’ Of course, I doubt he was talking about returning to an adolescent bedroom.”
His brow lowered, wondering how she seemed to know what he was thinking. He almost answered with his requisite “Yes, ma’am,” but instead felt prompted to explain. “When you’ve been in the service as long as I have, the world has seemed like home.”
She nodded. Tilting her head to the side, she said, “Good food and warmth, the touch of a friendly hand, and a talk beside the fire. It is the time for home.” She sighed and patted his arm. “I’m sure you must agree with Edith Sidwell. I’m sure you feel it’s time to find your home.”
He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut because he had no idea how to respond. He honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead. He’d stay with his parents for a week or so until he started his new job at the same security company where his brother and sister-in-law worked. Then he figured he’d take Leo up on his offer and crash at their place. But now, the idea of finding his own place seemed to settle in his chest.
“You might be right, ma’am. Perhaps by the end of this year, I will have my own home.”
If Blessing’s smile could brighten even more, it did. She inclined her head to the side and continued her tour.
“I think you’ll be very pleased with our facility. I’ve volunteered here for a number of years and find that most service members have everything they need.” As they continued, she waved to the left. “Showers and toilets are there.” She lifted her right hand and waved in the other direction. “Our food is in this room. We keep the dining area well stocked, and if you want something we don’t have, we’ll try to accommodate.”
He thought she would leave him to find a seat with the others in the large room, but she continued down another short hall.
“I’m taking you somewhere special. We call it the library. Sometimes I sense that some need… well, let’s just say you’ll be very comfortable there.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, now curious as to where she was leading him.
She ushered him through a doorway into a small lounge. He was surprised because the room appeared so different from the others he’d seen as they passed along the hall—plush leather sofas faced each other, with a recliner against the far wall. The room was empty, and he turned back to look at her.
“Make yourself at home, Captain Parker. Enjoy the room.”
“I feel rather foolish having this room all to myself,” he protested.
“Don’t worry. You’ll have a chance to enjoy a little peace, then I’m sure you’ll have some company.” With that, she dipped her chin and turned to walk out the door.
He stared at her retreating figure, shaking his head slowly. Then he settled down in the soft but supportive cushions of the chair. Leaning back, he felt his body relax.
A few minutes later, a woman walked in, and he took to his feet, moving so fast that he leaned slightly as he regained his balance.
“Hey,” she said, smiling.
“Hey, yourself.” He extended his hand. “I’m Oliver. Oliver Parker.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kate Johnson. You en route to a new duty station?”
“Actually, I’ve punched my ticket.” They both sat down, getting comfortable on the leather chairs. “I was injured in an accident and, after rehabbing, decided I could get paid more with safer conditions as a civilian.”
She laughed and nodded. “I’ve punched, too. Heading home to help out the family.” She talked about setting up her business as a veterinarian and her home in South Dakota. “Where’s home for you?”
“California.” He told her he’d also head home to family and had a security job with Lighthouse Security Investigations.
They quickly discovered how easy it was to talk about home, family, and getting out of the service. Oliver never had a problem talking to someone he’d just met, and it was nice not to have to force conversation.
Kate continued, “I want a house. A big one with a white picket fence.” Laughing easily, she continued, “I’m such a dork.”
“I’ve also been thinking about buying my first house. I’ll stay with my brother and sister-in-law until I find what I’m looking for. Right now, I have no idea!”
Blessing walked back in, her arm looped through a man with copper hair. She made the introductions, and Oliver stood to greet the newcomer, Matt O’Connell. Blessing smiled up at Matt, then said, “I’ll leave you three to get acquainted.”
Kate was chewing on candy and offered a piece to them. It appeared to be sour if her puckered expression was anything to go by.
Matt shook his head. “By the look on your face, I made the right decision.”
Oliver couldn’t help but laugh. She reminded him of his sister-in-law. “That’s what I thought, too.”
Kate asked Matt where he was heading, and Oliver noted Matt’s smile seemed to droop slightly. “Home. To Pine Ridge, Pennsylvania. You?”
“Home also. Hollister, South Dakota.”
As Matt’s gaze landed on him, Oliver replied, “Also home. California.”
They settled on the seats when Matt looked back toward the door and asked about Blessing.
Kate immediately spoke up. “She’s awesome in the most amazing way. Whatever she told you, take it to heart.” When Oliver just looked at her, she explained that she had met Blessing before. “She’s always right. Don’t fight it. Just take the advice and run with it.”
Oliver thought of her quote about home and nodded.
“How did you know she gave me advice?” Matt asked, his eyes narrowing in what looked like suspicion.
“She did, didn’t she?” Kate asked Matt, then looked over at Oliver. “To you, too?”
“Something like that.”
Matt mumbled about Blessing being odd, but Kate just laughed. “Maybe, but in the best way possible.”
Blessing walked in again, this time with a man whose gait was stiff and slow. “Well, Corey, this is the best place for you to rest a bit.” She made the introductions and mentioned that everyone was heading home after leaving the military.
Oliver rubbed his knee absentmindedly as Corey sat down carefully. They eyed each other, both silently acknowledging their injuries.
When asked about home, Corey replied, “Some place no one has ever heard of in Upstate New York.”
“What happened?” he asked, nodding to Corey’s leg.
Corey pulled out a bottle of medication. “My FOB blew up.”
Corey didn’t elaborate, so Oliver simply nodded. He went out to get some water, and when he came back into the room, Blessing was returning with another man.
“Oh, I’m glad Kate told you where the refreshments are.” Blessing smiled widely. “Anyway, this is Kai.” She ushered him to the recliner, saying it would be good for his back.
Kai frowned. “I didn’t say I had a back injury.”
“Didn’t you? How else would I have known?” She patted him on the arm before leaving.
Kate offered Kai a piece of her sour candy, but Oliver warned him. “That shit is a silent killer.”
Kai shook his head, then replied when asked where he was heading. “Tennessee. I have some things to do there.” He leaned back and sighed.
Corey tossed back his medicine. “Anti-inflammatory pills only go so far.”
“Truth,” Kai mumbled.
“God, I hear you,” Oliver agreed.
The five talked for a while, exchanging information, but soon Kai fell asleep, and Corey pulled up a movie on his phone. Matt pulled out a pack of cards and invited Oliver to a game of spades. Matt relaxed, and the two laughed over their pitiful attempts to one-up each other.
He lost track of time when suddenly, Kate stood and grabbed her backpack. Before goodbyes, she reminded them to listen to Blessing, and he offered a chin lift in agreement. He had no idea what she’d said to the others, but considering he was ready for home, he had every intention of finding what he was looking for.