Broken Road Read Free Page B

and a large conveyor belt, usually reserved for luggage removal was moved into place by airport staff. She wasn’t sure she could breathe for a moment. Mr. Hanley looked over at Mark and he knowingly reached out an arm to support her just in case she was planning on passing out. She was grateful because she felt all the wind had been knocked out of her the moment her eyes fell on the casket making its way down the conveyor belt.   Maybe it had been a mistake, coming here and doing this. She felt so alone even with everyone here.   No. Not alone. She looked over at Callan, who looked pale and lost with his arms crossed in front of him just staring out into space. He had taken the news just as badly as any of them but he had been quiet since they found out, shutting himself away in his room, locking the door, putting on his headphones, refusing to come down to eat, to talk, to do anything. Then, she looked over at her mother, who had her arms around Taylor. He was also quiet. When they had told him the news it was as though he understood what they were telling him but he didn’t scream or cry or ask too many questions. When Brenda thought about it she wondered if it was just that Taylor was used to a life where his father had only been home briefly between deployments. Each homecoming had signaled to Taylor a series of fun events like the camping trips or extra time with Shane playing in the back yard, going to the pool, eating too much ice cream and candy, staying up late and making a mess by wrestling in the living room in order to make up for lost time. He was probably used to being told his father wouldn’t be coming home for a while but how could his little mind wrap itself around the truth that Shane would never be coming home again? Holding onto his grandmother's hands, Taylor was rocking back and forth against her legs. She looked at both her boys and saw that Shane could be found in both of them. She could see him in the way Callan was standing, the slight wave of his hair and even the sadness that filled his eyes was reminiscent of the look Brenda saw more and more after each deployment. She could also see Shane in the shape of Taylor’s face, the color of his hair, the way his mouth turned up in a crooked smile as he looked up at his grandmother. She willed herself not to be taken over by the emptiness. Not yet. She refused to feel the void she knew was starting to grow in her chest. They waited for what seemed like a painful eternity as Shane’s escort, a soldier of equal rank assigned at Dover Air Force Base traveling with Shane’s casket, waited for it to make its way down the luggage ramp and onto the tarmac. It was like watching an eerie and ghostly display. The reality of what was happening didn’t seem to dawn on her until she saw Earl Hanley step forward and then go around to the back of the hearse, open the door and then step away to let his assistants place the casket inside. She didn’t know whether to go back there and meet them or to stay where she was. So she didn’t move. As they slid the casket into the hearse she saw Earl Hanley say something to the escort. When the casket was safely inside of the hearse the soldier came forward and stood in front of her. He explained what an honor it had been to bring Shane home. He would be at the funeral and he would meet with them in private to return some of Shane’s personal effects. Brenda stood silently looking at the man dressed in uniform.  
    “Thank you.” She said not knowing what else she could or should say. The escort offered his condolences once more before getting into the hearse that carried Shane. Before getting into the driver’s seat himself, Earl Hanley came back to them again.
    “Father. Mrs. Jenner. I must get back but if you need anything please let me know. I’ll see you tomorrow night at the Rosary. Don’t worry about a thing,” he said gently patting her hands. “We’ll take care of everything. Until tomorrow.”