Page 66 of Reckoning

After he finished, he went inside the station and bought a cold bottle of Pepsi and a package of peanuts. As he exited the station, he paused in the shade beneath the open garage, opened his Pepsi, took a big drink, then poured the peanuts into the bottle and took another swig, chewing peanuts as he swallowed.

Abel grinned. “Best way to drink a pop, ever,” he said. “Are you just passin’ through?”

The man shook his head. “No, sir. I’m from Tennessee, and I came here on purpose. I know you’re Abel Bandy. I’ve seen pictures. I’m your uncle Eli’s grandson, Micah Bandy. The family sent me here to meet Tate. They all knew of him being the next one blessed, but ain’t nobody ever met him before.”

Tate was standing under the lift, checking to make sure the oil plug was secure after replacing the oil on his mother’s car. He heard everything that was being said and didn’t know how he felt about that.

A cousin had come all the way from Tennessee to meet him. A man who didn’t need an explanation of why he could see what he saw. Satisfied that the oil wasn’t leaking, he stepped out from beneath the lift and pressed the button to lower the car.

When Micah saw him, he started grinning. “Lord a’ mercy! Even if I hadn’t seen you on TV, I could have picked you out in a blizzard as a Bandy. You look perkier than you did in that bed. How old are you, boy?”

Tate grinned. “Nineteen. Twenty come next January.”

“You’re still in school?” Micah asked.

Abel intervened. “He caught the West Nile virus right after he started first grade. We nearly lost him, and he lost a year of school. So, he started over.”

“And from that interview we all saw, Tate proved his gift right off, by warning the entire school of a tornado that saved their lives, then saved his girl. Briar is her name, right?”

“Yes, that’s her name,” Tate said.

Micah nodded. “She’s got spunk. Good match. The elders want to meet you.”

Abel glanced at Tate. “Are you finished with your mama’s car?”

“Yes, sir,” Tate said.

“Then you drive it on back to the house, and Micah can follow you. Micah, you’ll stay with us while you’re here, and welcome,” Abel said.

Micah smiled. “I thank you, Abel. You sure it’s okay with your missus?”

“I’ll call her, but trust me. Someone from home? She’s going to be overjoyed. I get off work in a couple of hours. We’ll talk more when I get home.”

Tate wiped the oil off his hands and laid the grease rag aside.

Micah went back to his car with his Pepsi and peanuts and followed Tate to the house.

Lilith was waiting on the porch to greet them when they pulled up, so excited she was almost dancing.

Micah stepped up on the porch. “Miss Lilith, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”

Lilith was beaming. “Honey, you have no idea how welcome you are. Come in, come in. It’s hot out here.”

Tate had never seen his mother this elated about company, then remembered where they came from, blood kin was always family.

“Tate, honey, will you please show Micah to the spare room, and when you get him settled, come into the kitchen. I have bread ready to come out of the oven.”

Within an hour, Micah Bandy felt at home and was relating family stories that had Lilith laughing to the point of tears.

“Do you know my parents, David and Retha Barton?” Lilith asked.

“Yes, ma’am, I do. David is one of my dad’s fishing buddies. Your mama still plays the piano at church.”

Lilith’s eyes welled. “Tate graduates at the end of the first semester, and Abel and I are moving home. Back to Tennessee.”

Micah was surprised, and it showed. “Really? Do your people know that?”

“Not yet,” Lilith said.