Secrets And Tea

Chapter 6

Damien stepped out of the hotel. He was dressed in his clothes that he currently had available. He had gotten the address to Thomas's parents place from Abigail the other day when she had dropped off the small 8.5x11 poster about Thomas's wake.

"Tommy says he wants you to meet his parents and go to his wake," she said as she set the tea down once more on his fence. 

Now, he stood waiting for the taxi to come pick him up. A small little bike pulling a one person cart appeared. The words WCTaxi on it. 

"Hey, your Damien right. Hop on. We'll get you to where you want to go in no time," stated the person peddling the bike.

Damien gave the man the address then stepped into the cart and sank down into the plush cushions. The peddler took off with ease. It was an electric bike so every once in a while the small hum of the tiny motor as the biker steered filled the silence.

He stopped at a small cottage and asked if he was required to wait for him.

"No thanks, I think I'm going to walk back. It's a great day." Damien stated. 

"Okay. See ya around. Call anytime you need a ride." stated the man, before he pushed off and left him to stand before Thomas's home.

Straightening his jacket Damien approached the front door and gently knocked on it. He waited, looking around the tiny yard which was taken care of perfectly. He wondered what Thomas's parents did for a living.

The door opened and Leanne peered out. 

"Hi, Mrs. Leem? I am Damien. I was the one to bring your son's ashes home," he said feeling awkward, "I was in his unit."

Immediately the woman stepped into full view her eyes bright. 

"Please come inside, I'll make us some tea. Oh. I have so many questions. I had tried to get answers from the men who had come to the door to tell us our son was dead but they refused to answer any of them," she said, grasping his wrist in a surprisingly firm grip. 

She practically yanked him into the house. The smell of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls filled the tiny house.

He gulped as saliva gathered in his mouth from the delicious smells. 

"Now you sit right there and tell me. How did my son die?" she inquired as she got things ready for the tea.

Damien bit his lips, "Unfortunately, ma'am I can't tell you the parameters of our mission. Top secret. I can tell you that Thomas died by a gunshot from the opposing military faction. We were under a lot of fire during the time. It took me a while to get to him. He was dead by then."

Leanne stopped making tea to look at him with a sharp eye.

"I know my son isn't a fool young man. If he sensed trouble he would have went the other way," she said, placing her hands on her hips.

Damien gulped. He had hoped that telling her what he had would alleviate her worry. The fact that she seemed to know otherwise terrified him.

Thomas had been doubtful of the mission. He had even fought with the captain about it for days before they were sent out. Damien had thought Thomas was just being paranoid, or that the man had simply become too cautious and wanted to cover all his basics. 

That mission turned into an ambush that landed Thomas dead and along with three others out of twenty men. If Thomas hadn't warned them to retreat all of them would have been gone. 

"I'm sorry but to further detail the story I am not allowed to do so," Damien stated quietly, "I want to but I can't."

The woman sighed, "I am well aware that the military had secrets boy, I am upset my baby doesn't get to come home in the flesh." she said, "I want to know the answers as to why this has happened. Just like many family members who lose their loved ones would like to know why."

Damien nodded, "I'm sorry. I wish I could help you close the case on his death," he said tightly, "I cared for him. He was my bunkmate and my companion for the last two years. I was wondering if I could come to his wake in the park?"

Mrs. Leem walked over and hugged him, "Child, you lost a friend and a good one, of course you can come to Thomas's wake. Rionna is the one doing the Rite of Passing for Thomas so that he can rest in peace."

Damien hugged the older woman back and felt instant warmth spread through him. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he felt lighter.

"Feel better now?" inquired Thomas's mother as she stepped back, "You are full of bottled up emotions. I alleviated what I could for you."

Damien blinked his eyes focusing on the woman as she quickly took her tea and drank it. 

"What do you mean by that?" he inquired.

"I am a psychic healer. As is Thomas. You would have felt much better after he touched you or after you had a heart to heart with him. He inherited my abilities to heal a human's soul by healing the emotions of a person," Mrs. Leem said, "Now I have a wake to prepare for. Time for you to go home and get some rest."

"Uhm... uh...I..." he faltered as she all but shoved him out of the house. He stood in complete astonishment.

Sighing he turned and headed down the drive turning towards Witch's Cove. The walk was nice as the spring air was crisp but not too cold. The smell of water blowing off the ocean, the pine trees and flowers were soothing to his senses.

He thought back to what Thomas's mother had just said and the times he had hung around Thomas. Memories were fresh as he remembered the times when he and Thomas shared a drink while talking about everything. 

The sense of peace he had felt after talking to Thomas had been minor but there. As he continued to walk down the roads he looked at the yards of many of the islanders. He noticed that many of them had solar panels in the yards along with windmills. 

He stopped at one home just before turning to head to Witch's cove. It was a two story home with a verandah on both levels. The house had two round turrets on each end of the house. He gaped at the beauty of it. 

He had not seen a home like that in his whole life. The yard was in pristine order with various blooming flowers and plants in gardens and planters. It looked like summer had sprung instead of spring.

He wondered who lived in this home. He would have to find out. Abigail had been the best source of information for him. He would ask her. 

He turned and headed towards Witch's Cove. It would be dusk by the time he reached his hotel room and showered.