Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Having extended their sympathy to the grieving family, Richard and Edward departed after a brief stay. Edward's primary concern was Richard driving home alone, especially given the early morning hour.

After recalling his grandfather's words, Trevon stood in the courtyard and looked around. He had a feeling that something was missing. Despite the presence of numerous people, the atmosphere lacked the upbeat energy his grandfather had cherished during his lifetime.

After a few seconds of silence, he ordered, "Jim, set up some Euchre tables in the courtyard. Also, get a few decks of poker cards ready.” Hearing this, Jim, who was tidying up the venue, hurried inside the villa after replying, "Alright, | will get it done immediately.” Hackett stooped down and retrieved the trash from Jim's hands, offering his assistance in disposing of it. "Okay, go ahead and make the arrangements. Leave this task to me and Frank," he said.

Meeting Jim's concerned gaze, Hackett sensed a hint of condescension. He furrowed his brows and sarcastically remarked, "Hey, I've got a pair of hands, and believe it or not, | do know how to toss out the trash.” "Sure. Please do. | will attend to my tasks now." Jim glanced at the trash in Hackett's hand before leaving.

Hackett asked Trevon, "Why did he look at me like that? Did he think | can't be trusted?" Trevon, who was not in the mood for jests, merely gave Hackett a brief glance. Despite Hackett's attempt to alleviate his friend's grief, he found little success.

Hackett scratched his head in frustration, feeling at a loss. While he excelled in banter and teasing, comforting someone in a solemn setting was not his strong suit.

Certainly, if he attempted to console Trevon so seriously, there was a risk of either giving Trevon nightmares or him being sent to the base for a free physical examination.

Not long after.

A truck made its way slowly into the Wilson's residence. Once it came to a stop, Jim hopped down from the front passenger seat and directed the courier to bring the Euchre tables to the courtyard. Only three tables were delivered, as Jim believed a smaller, more intimate gathering was preferable. After all, an excess of tables would lead to unwanted noise rather than fostering a lively atmosphere.

Natalie emerged with red eyes and noticed the Euchre tables in the courtyard. Feeling perplexed, she approached Trevon and gently patted his arm. In a hoarse voice, she inquired, "Why set this up?" Trevon clasped her hand, offering a gentle squeeze. His expression remained stoic, and his eyes carried a somber tone as he uttered, "You see, Grandpa always enjoyed a lively atmosphere.” He did not arrange his grandfather's funeral service in a hotel; instead, everything was organized in the Wilson's residence. After all, it was his grandfather's home and would be his lifelong home. As a result, Trevon opted not to host the funeral at a different location.

Ultimately, his concern revolved around the idea that if the funeral were held at the hotel, his grandfather might struggle to find his way home. Despite not holding a belief in the heavens or fate on a usual basis, today, for some inexplicable reason, he found himself swayed by such superstitions.

After a prolonged silence, Natalie expressed her concern, saying, "Dad locked himself in the study and is reading Grandpa's letter over and over again." "Yeah, don't worry. He can handle himself," he reassured, specifically referring to Caleb.

Grandpa?" In the distance, the Euchre tables were set

table, leaning against it. He stretched his neck and sensed

arranged, they still sensed imperfection. As a result,

a sense of disdain and experienced mild

was panting from exhaustion. His sleeves rolled up high, revealing the tenderest skin. While he was accustomed to the demands of the operating theater, this type of physical labor was a new experience for him. Performing surgery was tiring in its own right, but the fatigue from this kind of work was distinctly different. Despite the challenge, he did not slack off and remained

raised his chin and spoke, "Go catch up on sleep. We will take care of things here. Your Grandpa won't feel lonely, okay? You still have a lot to attend to throughout the day anyway." As dawn approached, more individuals were likely to arrive to

have been able to promptly learn about Theo's passing. She feared that if Trevon continued to neglect rest, he would inevitably reach a point of exhaustion. Furthermore, as per Athana's custom, Theo's funeral was scheduled for five days, followed by the burial. In essence, it seemed improbable that

for an hour." Surprisingly, Trevon did not decline and instead nodded slightly. "Yes." As Trevon was about to speak, Hackett and Chris chimed in together, saying, "Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on things." Frank assured, "We'll ensure that everything goes

to Theo during his lifetime. In a hushed tone,

needed time to process the news on his own.

courtyard, the clear sound of poker cards being shuffled resonated loudly, giving the impression that each card could be distinctly heard in the air. Seated

the other three players as

to Jim, he had no intention of relinquishing his family assets at this moment, especially since

him farewell too." Hackett stood up from his chair

"I'll request Mr. Wilson's blessing when

an instant, Theo became a pivotal element in determining their victory or defeat that night. With their presence, the courtyard truly came

remained unclear, but despite the unfavorable card combinations, Hackett skillfully utilized each one. Within a brief span, the unfavorable cards turned favorable. Meanwhile, Chris played as if his intention was to hand over

do you keep helping him?" Chris, too, discovered that his hands were exceptionally poor that night. "Jeez, I'm basically following the cards you've laid out previously. It works particularly well when he's reluctant to take my cards. After one round, he ends up accepting them all.” Hackett stated with honesty, "Actually, | wasn't keeping tabs on Frank's moves; | just happened to win whenever it was your turn." Jim replied, "What a coincidence. He keeps putting money in your pocket." Chris found it hard to believe. He paused in the midst of the game, stating, "Hold on a minute. Let me seek Mr. Wilson's blessing first." A few minutes later, Chris returned to his seat and commenced a comeback. Things became oddly peculiar. While Frank was losing on his own, the other three were consistently winning. Finally, Hackett, who was unable to endure it any longer, suggested, "Why don't you go seek Theo's blessing as well?" Frank had already offered prayers for Theo upon arrival. However, he had yet to seek blessing from Theo at the beginning of the Euchre game. He glared at Hackett and remarked, "How can we all win? There have to be some losers." "What you said seems to make sense. Well, continue. After all, you have a lot of money," Hackett remarked in good spirits, showing no signs of