The military escort led Bree and Mark into a building and upstairs, to a waiting area, while Paige and Blythe went in search of someone who might be able to explain what Bree was upset about.
“May I help you, ma’am?” another gentleman in uniform asked.
“I’m Paige Cochran, my daughter—”
“Yes, ma’am,” he interrupted and put his hand on hers. “I’m Colonel Stevens. I was Zack’s commanding officer. You’re Bree’s mother. What can I help you with?”
“Bree saw the hearse on the tarmac and was very upset by it. She kept insisting she’d said no. I don’t know what she meant. Do you?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do. And it’s being taken care of.”
“Can you please explain it to me so I understand?”
“Bree requested that Zack’s body not be transported by hearse. Her words were, ‘he’s too young for a hearse, no hearses.’ We made arrangements for a Humvee transport instead. Again, at her request.”
“I see,” her mother answered, her eyes filling with tears.
When they walked back into the waiting room, Blythe saw Bree sitting in a smaller side room with their dad. He met them outside the door he’d closed behind him.
“She wants to be alone,” he told them.
“What do you mean?”
“Bree asked to be left alone. Just Blythe.”
Paige nodded and motioned for Blythe to go in. Zack’s mom and dad were also in the room, but no one spoke.
A few minutes later, the colonel she and her mom had talked with, came in the room, and spoke with Zack’s parents.
Zack’s mother put her hand in her husband’s when he turned away. He turned back, but he did not speak.
“There has been a delay,” they overheard the colonel explain. “The plane should be arriving in approximately one hour. I will keep you informed as I receive further information.”
Colonel Stevens left and returned again, before the end of the hour, to let them know there was another delay. The plane had not yet left Dover. This delay would be several hours.
“I’ll tell Mom and Dad,” Blythe said to Bree, who only nodded.
“How is she?” Paige asked.
“Gone. Completely shut down.”
“I’m glad you?
?re with her.”
“Don’t be upset, Mom.”
“Oh, honey, I’m not. I meant what I said. I’m glad she has you to lean on.”
“When will Brooke and Tom be here?” Her older sister and her husband were in Germany, where he was stationed at the Air Force base in Ramstein. She knew, without having to be told, that the Air Force would transport them here for Zack’s funeral.
“This afternoon. I told her I’d let her know where we were when they landed. Has Bree asked?”
“No, but we all need to be together, Mom.”
The colonel offered to take people to another building to get something to eat, but Blythe knew her sister wouldn’t want to go.
“I’ll stay here with Bree, but you and Dad should go.”