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 halone, 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 sEuchre 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 toand 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 atlike that? Did he think I 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 cto 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 hand 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 sinexplicable 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.

"Trevon, don't you think the card gwill disturb Grandpa?" In the distance, the Euchre tables were set up.

Meanwhile, Hackett had taken a seat and was tapping on the table, awaiting Trevon's comment.

Frank rested one hand on the table, leaning against it. He stretched his neck and sensed discomfort in his shoulders, recognizing a noticeable decrease in his physical strength.

Despite the funeral service already being arranged, they still sensed imperfection. As a result, they collaborated to make further adjustments, even rearranging the funeral flowers.

Seeing this, the funeral service professionals perceived a sense of disdain and experienced mild frustration.

Meanwhile, Chris 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 busy until now.

"Let's play." With that, Trevon forced a smile. Leaning against the table, Frank lifted his hand to check the watch on his wrist. He 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 offer their condolences. Every visitor, irrespective of their wealth or status, whether they were the wealthiest individual in Athana or the president, was regarded as a guest by Frank. Therefore, he deemed it essential to offer a polite greeting to all, considering it a fundamental requirement of etiquette.

Natalie shared the ssentiment. She was convinced that Trevon had foregone sleep the previous night, or else he would not 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 Trevon could endure extended sleep deprivation.

Natalie tried to persuade Trevon by saying, "Take a nap with me. Just 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 smoothly." Trevon replied, "Thanks." Prior to Natalie and Trevon heading upstairs, they instructed the servants on their tasks and responsibilities.

They also took the tto console Mary and Gage. Amongst everyone in the villa, Mary displayed the deepest sorrow, shedding the most tears. Meanwhile, Gage sought solace in a corner, clutching the chess piece that belonged to Theo during his lifetime. In a hushed tone, he whispered something, wiping away his tears as he spoke.

As the couple reached the staircase leading upstairs, Natalie inquired whether Trevon wished to visit his father.

Trevon replied that there was no need, emphasizing that his father needed tto process the news on his own.

Adult emotions, he believed, could not be easily dispelled through persuasion. Most of the time, they preferred to cto terms with things in their own way.

In the 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 around a table were Frank, Hackett, Jim, and Chris.

"How much do you want to bet?" Hackett inquired of the other three players as if he were flush with cash.

Even though Theo was good to Jim, he had no intention of relinquishing his family assets at this moment, especially since he had not yet found a wife. "I will say another prayer in a while," he announced.

"Hey, you're openly flattering Mr. Wilson. Well, | have to bid him farewell too." Hackett stood up from his chair and offered a solemn prayer to Theo's black-and-white photo.

Chris picked up a card and examined it. "I'll request Mr. Wilson's blessing when | have trouble winning," he remarked.

In an instant, Theo beca pivotal element in determining their victory or defeat that night. With their presence, the courtyard truly calive with vibrant energy.

During the initial round, Frank held the advantage over Hackett, who was dealt a poor hand. Whether it was Theo's blessing or sheer luck 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 every card Hackett required, facilitating the latter's consistent victories.

Despite Frank's efforts, Hackett consistently emerged victorious despite the unfavorable card combinations.

Frank furrowed his brows and offered a smile to Chris, inquiring, "Why 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. Letseek Mr.

Wilson's blessing first." A few minutes later, Chris returned to his seat and commenced a comeback. Things becoddly 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 slosers." "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 sleepiness.

Frank suggested, "After this round, I'll take a moment to tidy up the venue." They collectively decided that whoever ended up on the losing side for three consecutive rounds would take a break and stroll around the courtyard to tidy things up, ensuring everything was in order. After an hour or so, the venue could indeed benefit from scleaning and organization.

Natalie and Trevon took a nap for over an hour. Upon waking and checking, they discovered that everything was in perfect order. Natalie looked at it in disbelief. Turning her attention to the funeral flowers surrounding Theo's monochrphoto, she noticed there were even more flowers than before, and they were all neatly arranged.

She smiled, assuming that Theo would be very pleased. "I think we don't have to worry." Trevon cast a glance at the funeral flowers and then at the few people playing cards. "Yes! Oh yeah! Don't even think about cheating. | saw what you did there. Did you think | didn't see what you just did? Hurray! Look at me.

Pay up." Hackett was on a winning streak, consistently collecting money. He extended his hand, asking Frank for money, but Frank smacked him, saying, "Feeling smug, huh? Don't forget to clean up." "Of course. Well, you know, I'm prepared to clean it daily since Theo has showeredwith so many blessings." Following an hour of rest, Trevon found his emotions stabilizing. His grandfather's words lingered in his mind, reminding him of the inevitability of mortality. As he was committed to honoring his grandfather's desire for a cheerful farewell, he decided to comply with that request.

He inquired of Hackett, who displayed evident delight due to his triumph, "Look at how much you're winning, huh? Your pockets can't even hold all the money you've earned. Look at you smiling like that." Observing Trevon's lighthearted tone, the others breathed a sigh of relief and subsequently eased up. Frank remarked, "Take a look at the venue. Everything is in order, right? You can tell how much he's won by how organized the venue is." Then, he opened his drawer. "I have made quite a significant contribution." Natalie cast a glance at the table, pondering whether playing cards held any significance for the venue's organization.

Even though she was not familiar with playing cards, she had never heard of any connection between tidying up and Euchre.

Standing beside Natalie, Trevon discerned her contemplative demeanor and understood her thoughts. "Jim, when you are done, bring more flowers." Frank inquired, "Aren't you concerned about overwhelming Grandpa with all the fragrance? You know, the rule is that whoever loses three consecutive rounds has to tidy up the venue. If we keep bringing in more flowers, the place might be flooded with flowers. Cut your Grandpa sslack, eh?" Upon hearing this, Natalie cto realize why the venue was in perfect order.

In the midst of the conversation, Frank turned the tables, securing his first victory of the night. "I won! Pay up already. Thank you, Theo." Hackett said indignantly, "Tsk. You lucked out, okay? It's just because | wasn't paying attention and let you exploit the loophole." Chris sighed. Despite winning a small amount, he had not achieved any significant success. The money he had won was merely pocket change. Nonetheless, on the whole, he did cout ahead, albeit by a small margin.

Hackett emerged as the biggest winner. Trevon raised his hand to check the time. "Tto go hand get srest." Frank had no intention of returning. "I'm not going back. You know, it's too much trouble to keep going back and forth. I'll catch up on my sleep in the guest room upstairs." The primary reason was that his young lady was not at home, so it did not matter where he slept.

Chris stated, "I have an operation during the day. I'll go to the hospital to get srest, and I'll join you all once it's finished." Hackett remarked, "Then | won't go heither. I'll sleep with Frank." Frank said, "Get lost. Go sleep in the car. | don't like sleeping with men." Hackett clung to Frank like a band-aid, hanging one of his hands heavily on Frank's shoulder. Each tit was swatted away, he promptly put it back again. The cycle persisted until Frank could not be bothered to continue swatting him away.

"I'm not going to do anything to you, alright? I'm sure Theo knows my intentions. Hey, he's watching us, okay? Let's be friendly and not make him worry." Frank brushed off Hackett with indifference. Once again, he shrugged off Hackett's persistent hand before making his way upstairs. Hackett followed closely, fearing that he would fall behind or be left outside the room.

Natalie observed their retreating figures, not knowing what to say.