Welcome Home, Soldier

Chapter 4-1

Chapter 4

Tyler, Eddie, and Jack sat at the oval dining room table with Hiram and Emily Pierce—Tiffany’s parents. They were an older couple, having had Tiffany when both were in their forties. Hiram was short and squat, as was his wife. Tyler had always thought of them as a pair of toads. He had often wondered how such plain people could have given birth to a daughter as beautiful as Tiffany. Both were very religious.

Tyler and the boys were at the Pierce home for their weekly Sunday dinner, a tradition that started when Tyler and Tiffany had first become engaged. They sat with heads bowed and hands folded as Grandpa Pierce intoned a long and involved prayer that was more like a sermon than grace before a meal. Jack fidgeted. Tyler kicked him softly under the table and gave him a stern look.

When the “Amens” had been said, they began to pass the food. There were the usual comments of how good it smelled, Jack’s complaints concerning the vegetables he didn’t like, Tyler’s admonishments not to be rude, and Grandma Pierce’s dismissal of the boy’s words as unimportant, as only a grandparent can do.

“As I remember, his mother didn’t like her vegetables much either at his age,” she said, smiling at the boy.

Jack smiled at Tyler as he skipped the Brussel sprouts.

When they all began eating, Grandpa Pierce said, “Let us all share what is new in our lives.”

Jack immediately said, “Eddie and I had a sleepover last night. I got to sleep in his room.”

“How nice, dear,” his grandmother said. “Was it a special occasion?”

“I got to sleep with Eddie cuz Daddy and Ward were having a sleepover, too,” Jack said innocently.

Tyler coughed as he swallowed the bit of pork roast he’d been chewing. Both the Pierces stopped eating. They looked at Tyler, a mix of surprise and irritation on their faces. Tyler quickly said, “Ward Cartwright stopped over last night. It got late and he slept in Jack’s room.”

Eddie gave Tyler a dubious look.

“I heard he was back in town,” Emily said coolly. “Wasn’t he in the service?”

Tyler knew she was well aware that Ward had been in the army. When Ward had left, they had been none too happy that he had skipped their daughter’s wedding for no good reason and had made their little girl unhappy.

“Yes,” Tyler said.

“Is he back for good?” Hiram asked.

“I think so, yes,” Tyler said lightly.

“I see,” Hiram said icily and went back to eating.

“He’s gonna work at the mill.” Eddie added.

Both Emily and Hiram stopped eating again. They looked at Tyler accusingly.

Tyler put his fork down. “Look, I know you were upset that he didn’t accept my offer to be my best man. But—”

“He enlisted in the army. He could have waited. He knew Tiffany, and you, wanted him in the wedding before he signed up. He could have applied for leave to come home and make her happy, but no, he couldn’t do that. Tiffany was very hurt. She had everything all planned,” Emily said with lips pursed.

So like the Pierces. It all had to revolve around their daughter and what she wanted. And here it is years later and they’re still angry she didn’t get her way.

“I know it was hard for her.” You have no idea how hard it was for me, he added silently. “But it’s all water under the bridge. Tiffany forgave him. We need to move on.”

“Yes, but why do you have to give him a job where you’ll be in contact with him every day?” Emily went on. It was as if she expected Tyler to carry on their grudge for them.

“He was…is my best friend. And he needs a job,” Tyler responded, trying to keep a civil tongue.

“Friend indeed,” humphed Emily. “But I guess you’re free to choose whom you consider a friend.”

“Are you mad at Ward?” Jack asked his grandmother. “I like him. He’s really a nice man. He said I could come and visit his farm.”

Both Hiram and Emily looked from Jack to Tyler as if to say, You’re not going to allow this are you?

Tyler looked at Jack and then back at the grandparents, giving them a look that said, Back-off.

Both Hiram and Emily shifted uncomfortably. They got his message.

“Yes, Jack, we know Ward is your daddy’s friend. We…we aren’t angry with him.”

“Maybe you can come to the farm with us,” Jack said before going back to eating.

Tyler looked at Eddie, who had been following the conversation with interest. When Eddie caught Tyler looking at him, he turned away and began to eat as well.

The conversation, while strained, turned to other topics for the rest of the afternoon.