Chapter 7

Tyler wondered what time Ward had gone to Jack’s bedroom. The door to Tyler’s room was still closed. As he lay, luxuriating in the memories of the previous night, he heard someone running down the hall.

Jack burst through the door and bounded up on the bed. Tyler engaged him in a morning tickle. Then he realized Eddie hadn’t yet come into the room. The boys usually came in together for a tussle on weekend mornings.

“Where’s Eddie?”

“Don’t know,” Jack replied.

Just then Eddie appeared in the doorway.

“Hey,” Tyler called to him. “What’s up?”

“Where’s Ward?”

“He’s sleeping in Jack’s room, remember?”

“He’s not there,” Eddie said.

“Maybe he’s in the bathroom, or in the living room,” Tyler suggested.

“Nope, I looked all over the house and he’s not here.”

Tyler’s heart froze. What was going on? Had Ward changed his mind? Just as panic was setting in, Ward appeared at the door behind Eddie, holding two large bags. The smell of sausages and pancakes filled the air.

“Breakfast is served,” he said, smiling broadly. “I don’t cook, but I can make a mean trip for carry-out.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Tyler said, relief sweeping through him.

“I know, but I figured you weren’t expecting a house guest.”

“Did you go to get it in the middle of the night?” Eddie asked.

“No. I went this morning,” Ward said.

“What makes you think that he went in the middle of the night?” Tyler asked.

“Cuz when I got up to pee, I looked in Jack’s room and he wasn’t there then either,” Eddie said, looking at his dad uncertainly.

Tyler and Ward exchanged looks. Tyler regretted that he hadn’t closed Jack’s door when the men had gone to bed.

“Maybe Dad and Ward had a sleepover, like me and you,” Jack offered.

Eddie turned to Ward as if expecting an explanation. His face showed concern.

“You know, sometimes a guy has trouble sleeping when he’s been in a war. He remembers all sorts of bad stuff. When that happens I usually get up and take a walk. That’s what I did last night. You musta looked in while I was outside,” Ward said.

“Wow, you were an army guy?” Jack asked, all excited.

“Yes, I was.”

“A real live soldier?”

“Yep, a real live soldier,” Ward said as he tousled Jack’s hair. “See this chain around my neck?” Ward pulled the chain from under his shirt for Jack to see. “Those are my dog tags. Every soldier has ‘em.”

“Wow,” Jack said again, obviously impressed. “What are they for?”

“Well,” Ward hesitated. He glanced at Tyler, then continued. “If a soldier gets hurt and can’t talk or gets ki—”

“Like if he’s knocked out or something?” Jack interrupted.

“Yeah, something like that. Well, then the people who find him will know who he is.”

“Like when a dog gets lost,” Jack added.

“Exactly.”

“We had a dog once. Her name was Trixie. But she died. I wish we could have one again.”

Tyler glanced over at Eddie. He was watching Ward as the man talked to Jack. He had a skeptical expression on his face. Had he bought Ward’s excuse for not being in Jack’s room when he had gotten up and seen Jack’s empty bed? To take Eddie’s mind off whatever he was thinking, Tyler said,” Let’s eat before our breakfast, so thoughtfully obtained by our guest, gets cold!”

Tyler pulled on a robe, and they all trouped to the kitchen.

Once they were seated at the round, oak table in the middle of the room, Ward doled out the sausage and egg muffins, hash browns, pancakes, and orange juice. “Dig in,” he said, picking up a muffin.

“We pray first,” Eddie said firmly. “My mom always wanted us to pray.”

“Oops, sorry,” Ward said as he put down his sandwich.

“Eddie,” Tyler said. “Ward didn’t know.”

“Well now he does!” Eddie shot back.

“Eddie,” Tyler said, feeling embarrassed at his son’s rudeness.

“It’s okay,” Ward said. “I’m happy to say grace.”

They all held hands around the table. Tyler and the boys said a simple grace in unison. “For our health and strength and daily food we give our thanks, oh Lord. Amen.”

Tyler looked up at Ward. Ward was smiling at him. Tyler knew that Ward was thinking something similar to what he was thinking, Thank you, Lord, for bringing us back together.

“How long are you gonna stay?” Eddie asked Ward, when they had finished eating.

“Eddie! Ward can stay as long as he wants. Ward, I’m sorry,” Tyler said.