Chapter 3
Oliver emerged from the bustling terminal of the San Jose airport. His grip was firm on the handle of his luggage, reclaimed from the chaotic carousel scene. As he walked out of the airport, he was greeted with bright lights breaking through the shroud of the dark night. Having taken the later flight, he didn’t land until the wee hours of the morning but was surprised he slept for a few hours since he enjoyed the spacious comfort of first class.
In the airport’s hive of activity, people milled around. Some called out greetings of joyous reunions to those they met. Some stumbled sleepily with heavy steps as they made their way to the parking lot. Young families wrangled children caught between curiosity and fatigue as they blinked in the bright streetlights. Taxi drivers lined up in anticipation, ready to receive their charges.
Amid the nighttime arrivals, Oliver’s gaze locked onto a figure that stood out from the crowd. Leo was an easily recognizable beacon, considering he was taller than anyone else around. Oliver was six feet two inches, but Leo had been their high school basketball star at two inches taller.
“Bro!” Leo called out, his long legs eating up the distance between the two men. Their arms wrapped around each other, and hardy back slaps ensued. It was more than just a familiar greeting between siblings. Oliver felt the warm hug deep into his bones.
“Is this it?” Leo asked when they finally released each other and stared down at the luggage behind Oliver.
“That’s it for now. The Army is moving some other boxes, and I’m having them shipped to Mom and Dad’s place.”
Leo leaned over to grab one suitcase, and Oliver carried his duffel as they headed into the parking garage. Seeing Leo’s new SUV reminded Oliver that purchasing a vehicle was at the top of his list of things to accomplish this week.
“Are your plans still the same?” Leo asked as they stowed the luggage and climbed into his SUV.
He stretched his legs comfortably in the passenger seat. “Yeah. I’ll stay with Mom and Dad this week, and that will give me a chance to check on them, get some of Mom’s good home cooking, and buy a set of wheels. Then I’ll head down to your place this weekend if the invite still stands.”
Leo nodded as he pulled smoothly into the line of traffic leaving the airport, and they were soon on the highway. The airport lights faded into the distance, and the night wrapped around them. His brother glanced at him, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. “Are you implying that Natalie’s cooking doesn’t measure up to your high standards?”
Oliver chuckled and shook his head. “You married a great woman, bro. And the fact that she can put up with you and bake like she’s competing on a gourmet show is even better. But let’s be honest—Natalie can’t cook worth a damn!”
Their laughter filled the vehicle. “She can’t wait till you’re home with us. She’s already planning on what to bake since she knows you’ve got a sweet tooth. Your sweet tooth is legendary in the family.”
His brother had served on a Delta team, and his wife, also in the Army, was support on the same team. She left the Army a few months after Leo had, and while they had been friends for ten years, they hadn’t acted on their mutual attraction until they were both out of the military. Then it didn’t take long for her to get a job with LSIWC, working alongside her husband. Soon, Oliver would also be working with them. It was well known that Natalie couldn’t cook, didn’t plan on learning, and didn’t care. But when it came to deserts, she could bake.
“It’ll be good to crash with you and Natalie for a little while as I get used to the new job. And give me a chance to check out the real estate.”
“Are you planning on buying soon? I thought you were just going to rent a place to live.”
Oliver shrugged but couldn’t get Blessing’s quote out of his mind. It is time for home. “I’m not sure exactly what I need to do, but if I’m staying in the area, I don’t want my money to flood into rent if I can find a good place to buy.”
“Real estate isn’t too bad right now. I can give you the name of the real estate agent who Natalie and I used. Plus, you can do a lot of preliminary research on the internet.”
“Sounds good.”
They settled into easy conversations about work, sports, Oliver’s continued PT, and a few of the cases Leo was working on. Their parents didn’t live too far out of the city, and soon Leo pulled into their driveway. Despite the late hour, he wasn’t surprised to see the front door open and his dad standing behind the screen door. Filled with a profound sense of homecoming, Oliver waved as he climbed out.
“Go on. I’ll get your bags,” Leo offered, heading to the back of the SUV.
As soon as Oliver stepped onto the front porch, his dad threw open the door and offered him a hug. Looking beyond his dad’s shoulder, he spied his mother. Her trim body was wrapped in the thick, fluffy robe he bought her last Christmas. Her smile was bright as she stood with her arms stretched wide. Leaving his dad’s embrace, he entered the house and hugged his mom, lifting her off her feet.
She laughed and clutched his jaws as her motherly gaze intently peered over him as though to assure herself that he was whole.
Leo stepped inside the house just long enough to greet his parents and hug Oliver goodbye. “I’m gonna head home to Natalie, but we’ll see you next weekend.”
“Thanks for picking me up, Leo.”
“No problem, bro.” The two siblings hugged once more, and then Leo headed outside.
Once the front door was shut and secured, Oliver was enveloped in the familiar comfort of his childhood home. Turning to his parents, he said, “You two need to get to bed. It’s the middle of the night.”
“Are you hinting that I need my beauty rest?” his mom quipped, her smile warm but showing signs of fatigue.
Grinning, he shook his head. “Nope, Mom. You’re beautiful just as you are.” Jerking his head toward his dad, he lifted his brows. “But this old man…”
His dad laughed and gripped Oliver’s shoulder. “I’m not as young as my handsome boys are, but then, I wasn’t too bad back in my day.”
“All my men are handsome!” his mom declared. She stepped over to Oliver and reached up to pat his cheek. “Your room is ready, sweetheart. If you need anything, just?—”
“Don’t worry about me, Mom. Just being home is good enough, and I know where everything is if I need something.” He bent to kiss her cheek, the delicate scent of her lotion filling his senses.
She smiled, and then his dad reached out to her. Oliver watched his parents walk hand in hand, disappearing into their first-floor bedroom.
He hoisted his luggage and ascended the stairs, realizing with each step that he was more tired than he’d thought. The stairs creaked, and he remembered times when he and Leo tried to sneak downstairs for midnight snacks without getting caught. He chuckled as the familiar creaks and groans of the old house were like whispers of welcome.
While he’d love to flop onto the bed, lured by the comfortable mattress and soft sheets, he needed to wash off the travel grime that clung to his skin. Finding the fully-stocked bathroom, he quickly scrubbed his body and washed his hair, allowing the water to sluice away the day’s event. Pulling on boxers and a clean T-shirt, he brushed his teeth and headed across the hall. He wondered if it would take long to fall asleep, but just like every time he visited his parents’ home, sweet memories of good times filled his mind, and he quickly dropped off.
As morning light crept through the slit of the curtains, his eyes blinked open, and he immediately recognized where he was. It didn’t matter that for years his nights had been in college dorms, Army bases, on missions in huts or out in the open, in helicopters, and anywhere else imaginable. Something about waking up in his childhood room was always familiar.
He rolled over in the double bed, his gaze moving around the room. The transformation from a teenager’s sanctuary to a guest room was tasteful, with floral curtains, a matching bedspread, and a multi-patterned rug in various colors of blue on the floor. A comfortable, padded chair replaced his old desk with a floor lamp next to it. Gone were the posters from his walls of sports, military, and even whichever big-breasted actress had been the muse of his teenage wet dreams. A more adult aesthetic with framed family photographs had replaced the remnants of his teenage years. He grinned, grateful his parents hadn’t tried to make a shrine out of his or Leo’s bedrooms. The space had evolved, much like him. He chuckled, remembering Blessing’s comment about Ernest Hemingway. “Yeah, no way old Ernest was talking about this room.”
He stretched his arms over his head, his hands hitting the headboard. As his fingers felt the solid wood above him, his feet dangled over the end of the bed. He wasn’t about to complain about the accommodations, but he’d stayed in a hotel for the past week as he completed everything for out-processing and his final physical therapy appointment. The hotel was not extravagant, but he’d enjoyed the luxury of a king-size bed. It underscored the newfound realization that he needed to buy furniture of his own and placed a king-size bed on his list of necessities.
He walked across the hall into the bathroom and soon stood underneath the shower’s hot spray. Invigorated when he returned to his room, he dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt. His mind cast back to the four service members he’d met the day before at the USO. Hoping they’d arrived at their destinations, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and fired off a quick group text. While it might seem strange to send a text to new acquaintances, his mother used to say that he could make friends quicker than anyone she’d ever known.
As he descended the stairs, the comforting aroma of bacon and coffee propelled him toward the kitchen faster. His parents were early risers, and even with his late-night arrival, his mother was at the stove, and his dad was pouring coffee. Greeting both, they were soon sitting at the table, where he filled his parents in on the last of his rehabilitation. He could tell from the expression on his mom’s face that the subject distressed her. Hell, it distressed him. Not that he had to get out of the Army, but the idea that he could’ve been killed in the helicopter crash. He navigated the conversation, focusing on the future.
“Do you still want to buy an SUV?” his dad asked.
Swallowing, he nodded. “Yeah. If I can borrow your truck to get to the car dealership, I think I’ll go ahead and buy one today.”
“Do you want any company?”
He looked up to see a smile on his mom’s face before turning to his dad and grinning. “Absolutely.” Turning back to his mom, he asked, “Is there anything you need me to get while we’re out today?”
“No, you two go take care of your vehicle purchase. I need to run errands, but I’ll be home long before you. If you want to grab some lunch while you’re out, then I won’t worry about fixing anything until dinnertime.”
With the day’s plans in place, Oliver finished his breakfast, then helped his mom clean the kitchen.
By that evening, he had a brand-new black SUV sitting in his parents’ driveway, and he was filled with pride as he stared at his purchase. When he’d left the Army Rangers, he was anxious for the transition into civilian life. This truck was a symbol toward defining his new normal.
The ensuing days were a blend of helping his dad in the yard, accomplishing a few items off his mom’s to-do list, and enjoying laid-back evenings with his parents. Near the end of the week, he drove a few hours to the nearest Veterans Administration hospital. Leo and Natalie had told him that one of the newer Keepers had a wife who worked at the hospital. While there, he met Vicki, who helped him cut through some of the red tape before he went to see the physical therapist. Her husband, Ian, met him at the end of the day, and the three of them had dinner before he headed back to his parents’ house.
He wasn’t nervous about starting his new job, but it was nice to have already met another one of his coworkers besides his brother, sister-in-law, and boss.
The week passed quickly, and they prepared for Leo and Natalie to come for dinner. As soon as he heard their vehicle pull into the driveway, he bounded out the front door. Bypassing his brother, he raced around to the passenger side, throwing out a playful greeting. As soon as Natalie alighted, he picked up his much smaller sister-in-law and twirled her around. He was glad to see her, plus driving his brother nuts was a bonus.
“Oliver! We are so excited that you’re coming to work with us!” Natalie enthused, her smile bright and her cheeks flushed.
“You know I’m glad to see you, Nat,” he said, grinning. “But your hands are empty. Please tell me you brought some homemade goodies!”
“Put her down, asshole,” Leo grumbled, walking around to them and gently pulling his wife from Oliver’s arms. “Hell, you’ve been here with Mom all week long. You can’t tell me you haven’t been eating everything in the house!”
“Yeah, but it’s so much fun to dick you around by hugging your wife,” he said, throwing Natalie a wink.
“You’re certainly gonna liven things up around here,” Natalie said, playfully slapping him on the arm before she snuggled against Leo’s side. She jerked her head to the side. “There are goodies in the back. Just don’t shake them, or you’ll be eating crumbs.”
Oliver’s smile widened as he leaned into the back seat to gather several plastic containers filled with what he hoped were her specialties.
The evening passed like so many he knew and remembered… good food, conversation, and a lot of laughs. Oliver had already packed his bags since he would be moving in with Leo and Natalie to start work at LSIWC the following week. Just when he was ready to get his luggage, Leo and Natalie shared a look—one he couldn’t define. “What’s going on with you two?”
His parents looked over with curiosity on their faces.
“Well, we had something we wanted to share with everyone,” Natalie said as she looked at Leo and nudged him in the stomach with her elbow. “Go on, tell them.”
Leo wrapped his arm around Natalie’s waist, and a pride-filled smile spread over his face. “Natalie is pregnant. You’re going to be grandparents,” he announced, then looked toward Oliver and proclaimed, “And you get to be an uncle.”
The entire family whooped and fell into hugs, kisses, back slaps, and congratulations. Oliver made his way to Natalie and gently hugged her. Leaning down, he whispered, “Damn, woman. I wouldn’t have picked you up and held you so tight earlier if I’d known.”
Natalie threw her head back and laughed. “I hardly think a hug is going to break me.”
“I promise to be the best uncle I can.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that,” Natalie said, lifting her brow. “With me being an only child, you will be the only uncle they have. And when you finally settle down, then your wife will be their only aunt.”
He snorted. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I can hardly provide a woman to be the aunt when I have no prospects— nor have I looked!”
“You’ll find her when you least expect it,” Natalie proclaimed. “It happens to all the Keepers.”
Scoffing, he kissed her head, then turned and grabbed Leo. “Congratulations, bro.”
Soon, the family gathering ended, and he hugged and thanked his parents and promised to see them soon. Leo helped place Oliver’s luggage into his new SUV and followed them down the road. The drive to Leo and Natalie’s house was spent in reflection as he let his mind wander. Their house was the next place he would crash, but it suddenly dawned on him that it wouldn’t be long before Leo and Natalie would want to get their home ready for the new baby. He wanted to help but didn’t want to be underfoot while they made plans.
Maybe this is just the push I need to find my own home.