Where It All Began
Chapter 8-Tom (present day)
Before Tom had gone to Greece, he had his dad buried, and it was the fourth anniversary of the day he died. By definition, Tom was a sentimental man. There had just been so many deaths, so many funerals over the years, that he had become numb to it. He grieved the losses, but it crept up sometimes, in the cases of his dad and Darien's deaths. There was no grave marker for Darien. Perhaps, he should have had one put up for the kid's sake.
For all of Jed's gruffness, he had always supported Tom in his career. If Darien needed a repair made to the house or a vehicle while Tom was away, Jed stepped in. If Ashley or Sam needed something; he was right there. He might have complained a bit, but he never missed a beat and for that Tom was thankful. He only wished that he would have told his father before he was killed. So, Tom went to the cemetery and put some flowers on his dad's grave. He had buried him next to his mom, who had when Ashley was still a baby. He knelt down and cleaned both stones off.
"Hey; Dad. I know I should come here more often. I've always been a bit neglectful of my parents. Things are good. Kids are doing good. I had some inpatient therapy after the James sunk. It helped. I've retired again. Teaching at the Academy again, but only part time. Sasha is retiring. She blew her knee up on her last mission and is just sick of it all. We're talking of buying a sailboat. Or a farm. We haven't decided yet. Somewhere peaceful. Maybe even do what you did, and buy some cabin in the woods. Mike did that. Bought a farm way off. He has horses and cattle. Big garden. I never imagined him as a farmer, but he found peace. Rebuilt the Navy one last time and was done. I think its cathartic. Sasha has mentioned buying the neighboring farm, so that Mike and I can go fishing more often. Whatever we do, I wish you were here for it. I would have you with us. Take care of you for a change. You spent years taking care of me and mine. It would only be fair. But something tells me, even if you were alive, and I was supposed to be taking care of you, you'd find a way to take care of me again. I just wish I had had a do over. I would have done so much so differently." Tom said quietly.
He knew it didn't change anything, but he also knew, every year on the same day, he would be visiting the same grave, and would say the same things. And maybe someday, he would be more at peace regarding his dad. It was his biggest regret. His dad died. That blood was on his hands and there was nothing a Tom could do to change it. Avenging his dad's death had done nothing to help. All the therapy didn't change it. It was just one of those things.