Chapter 10 #3
Her mother made two trips to bring all six pieces of luggage to the front door. “You’re not going to leave that handmade bed, or that beautiful custom-made dining table, and the other things from Ethiopia, are you?”
“I was.” She had no place for them. The fact was, she had no place of her own once they returned to Texas. They had always lived in base housing, except when they occasionally rented a home in town. They had never lived anywhere long enough to buy a house.
“You most certainly are not.” Her mother opened the front door and yelled out at the driver. “We need your help with the big things.”
After inspecting what Kimmy demanded to go on the flight back to the USA, the driver called for assistance.
Theodora didn’t miss the shock on Clint’s face when the overloaded truck pulled up to the lowered cargo ramp of the huge airplane.
“Theodora, I’m sorry, but you can’t take the furniture from the house.” Clint stood with his feet shoulder-width apart and his powerful arms crossed over his impressive chest. “We provide those homes furnished.”
Her mother responded to Clint before she did.
“These beds and this dining table were custom-made for my daughter and her husband. They paid for these with their own damn money. Unless you’re willing to ship these back via freight, they’re going on that airplane.
” Her mother pointed at the huge plane and the soldiers carrying supplies and equipment up the ramp.
“Wait here.” Clint gestured to the men waiting on the loaded truck. “Don’t you dare unload a single thing until I get back.”
When he returned, he didn’t look happy. “Van said it can go, but it has to be unloaded as soon as we land in Texas. You’d better arrange for a place for it to go and someone to take it there within three hours after landing.
My men are going to be very busy.” He glanced at the compound maintenance staff who were unloading the truck and shook his head before returning his gaze to the women.
“It’s a long plane ride, so if you want to change your clothes, be sure to grab them now.
Your suitcases may get buried under essential gear. ”
Theodora was thrilled that they had found a place for all her custom-made furniture.
She hadn’t believed that she would be able to take it to the United States with her.
Leave it to her mother to get things done.
When the pickup truck was empty, she gave the men the last of her Ethiopian money.
She didn’t think she’d ever need it again.
“Go right in. I have saved seats for you.” He grinned at her and her mother.
“Because you’re riding with us, Van decided we needed regular, airline-style seats.
I’m warning you, though, they are well-worn and not very comfortable, but they beat the hell out of jump seats.
In the price is right. Sorry, Kimmy, it’s a long way from the first-class seats we bought for you on the trip over here.
Real seats have made the men very happy.
This is a military aircraft, and they usually ride in jump seats along the sides.
” Clint handed each of them a pair of earplugs and a sleeping bag.
“There’s no insulation or heat. I suggest you curl up and go to sleep.
” He showed them to their seats. “I picked these out for you. They are two of the most padded, least torn seats that still recline a little.” He pointed toward the stairway to the cockpit.
“There is a very small toilet up those steps. Don’t worry, the men are not allowed to use that bathroom, only the flight crew. ”
Clint started to walk away, but turned back to Theodora and her mother.
“I suggest you curl up in the sleeping bag and go to sleep. When you wake up, I need to know the name of the funeral home where you’re having Javier’s services.
They have to meet us as soon as we land.
Then, where do you want all this furniture to go?
It’s next to come off this plane. Are you going to rent a storage unit?
Is it going to mother’s house? Do you know where you’re going to live?
I’d appreciate it if you would give me the name of the closest hotel to the veteran’s cemetery. That’s where the men and I will stay.”
Theodora laughed. “There are no hotels, or even motels, nearby. I told you, we come from a tiny town.”
“Fine.” He looked frustrated. “Do you know any real estate agents in that area? How about campgrounds? Think about it and let me know when you wake up. We’ll be stopping a couple of times to refuel.
Takeoff and landing will probably wake you up.
I need to know at least a couple of hours before we get to Texas.
You’ve got about thirty minutes to get settled before we’re wheels up. ”
Theodora glanced at the long stairs. She’d be making several trips up and down the plane. Her bladder would wake her multiple times before they landed in Texas. She’d use the next thirty minutes to get some answers from her mother and make some decisions.”