“Want to come?” Josh asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
James will be a nervous wreck.
* * *
I arrivedat James’s house around eight the next morning and parked behind Josh’s SUV. I knew they were out in the back on the shore, so I followed the path that went around the house to the stairs that led to the beach. I spotted Josh with Brandon, and James was a short distance away. Brandon was in the wetsuit, holding a boogie board, listening to Josh. I waved to them and went to stand beside James.
“Morning, Andrew,” James said. When he raised the coffee mug to his mouth, I noticed it was one of the socks and coffee mugs.
“Nice mug.” I smiled.
“Thank you. Brandon is elated at the coffee mug design venture.”
“I loved the socks and coffee catchphrase, and I think they’ll be fun to have in the shops.”
“Obviously, I’ll need to have one of each.”
“Of course.” I glanced to the side at James. “So the ocean experience, huh?”
“Mhmm. Brandon and I have been taking nightly and morning walks out here. He’s very motivated to be able to have that part of his life back. Sometimes he walks closest to the water, and sometimes he walks on the other side of me. We’ve stood stationary while the water rushed around our feet. He tenses and sometimes quivers, but he doesn’t flee.”
“That’s really good.”
“He’s my brave pup.”
“The wetsuit is probably a good idea.”
“I think it might help. I’m mostly concerned about how he’ll react when water hits his face. He’s going to wear a life vest over the wetsuit as well.”
“He can swim, right?”
“He can, yes. But I fear those skills might go right out the window if he panics.”
“All right, we’re ready,” Josh called out.
“Would you mind holding my mug while I go out with them?”
“Of course.” I took the mug from James. I wore my swim trunks and flip flops just in case they needed any assistance. “I’ll be here if you guys need me.”
James shed his shirt as he walked toward Brandon and Josh. He kissed Brandon’s forehead as he connected the clasps of the life vest across Brandon’s chest.
“Ready, pup?”
“Yes.”
Brandon held on to the boogie board as he slowly walked into the water. He was flanked on either side by James and Josh, and James had his hand wrapped around Brandon’s upper arm. They made steady progress, and soon they were deep enough to have to tread water. Brandon’s hands gripped the side of the boogie board. Josh pulled the board around so Brandon was facing the shore.
“Smart, Josh,” I murmured as a small wave rolled around Brandon’s back. That could have been catastrophic had Brandon been faced the other way because he would have taken all the water on his face.
I could see James put his hand on Brandon’s back and lean in to kiss his cheek. After a moment or two, Brandon let go of the boogie board and put his hand in the air to wave to me.
“Andrew! I’m in the ocean!” he hollered.
“Way to go, Bran! You look great!”
I ran over to the Adirondack chair to grab the towels as soon as I saw they were headed toward the shore. I met them at the water’s edge with towels in hand. When they got to the point where the water was about knee deep on them, Brandon got off the boogie board and threw his arms around James.
