Breathless with laughter, Joshua sprawled on the bed, nestling against his husband’s body. “Nice to know one hasn’t lost one’s touch,” he teased, nuzzling against Colin’s cheek.
“Humph!” Colin huffed out, pushing him away. “Cock tease!”
“We’ll be home in a few days and can make love whenever we want.”
“Who would have thought it would be such anissue?” Colin complained.
“I’d better buy another box of lube,” Joshua teased, sliding his hand under Colin’s shirt.
“You’d better buy acase.”
* * *
They hadone last day in Galway, and since Colin wanted to spend it with his family, he had arranged no side trips or expeditions. They returned to Galway Harbor, and Danny took them on a farewell boat ride before they returned to the house to begin packing. Nate and Joshua had filled two huge boxes with souvenir gifts for their families, and Shayleen took them to FedEx in downtown Galway so they could be shipped to the USA.
Their last dinner was an Irish feast prepared almost entirely by David under Shayleen’s supervision. He made an Irish stew and traditional soda bread, topped off with his masterpiece, a brioche bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce.
Shayleen beamed at her student as they presented the farewell dinner. “This boyo is a right Irish cook, and no mistake!” She hugged David and patted his back. “Treise leat, cousin. Well done!”
Colin threw his napkin to the table and stood, applauding his friend, while David blushed and waved off their accolades. “This has been one of the best parts of the trip for me,” he told Shayleen. “Learning to cook all these magnificent Irish dishes.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m grateful to my teachers.”
That evening, Colin and Danny sat close together in the living room, singing one Irish folk song after another for their rapt and appreciative audience. They sang, “Whiskey in the Jar”, “The Wild Rover”, “The Rose of Tralee”, and, of course, “Danny Boy”. But the song most beloved by the four friends—the song that would always mean ‘Ireland’ to them—was the lovely and haunting “Fields of Athenry”, which Colin and Danny sang several times.
They were exhausted when they finally forced themselves to say good night, saddened by the thought that tomorrow would be farewell.
As they gathered in the living room the following afternoon, preparing to take their leave, Danny lifted his coffee mug in salute. “May the road rise up to meet you,” he said, his voice low. “May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
Everyone struggled to hold back tears as they walked to the van, and Nate pressed his face against David’s chest, unable to hold back his sobs. “Please come to visit us,” he begged.
“Once the season ends, we may do that,” Danny told him. He held Nate at arm’s length. “You’re as fine an Irishman as I’ve ever known, Nathaniel Gardener-Reese. And I will miss you.” He scrubbed his fingers through Nate’s hair, then turned to Colin and wrapped him in his arms.
“God bless ya, Collie, my boy,” Danny murmured, his voice thick with tears. “Lord, I’m going to miss you. We love you and always will.”
Too distraught to speak, Colin pressed his tear-streaked face to Danny’s shoulder.
When Colin turned away, Joshua embraced Danny, wiping away tears of his own. “We love you all so much.”
“As we do you,” Danny told him. “Take care of each other. And wewillconsider a trip once fishing season ends.”
“Pleasedo,” Joshua pleaded, his voice heavy with sadness.
Danny turned to David and grabbed both his shoulders. “You keep this lot in line,” he ordered.
“You have my word,” David replied, then hugged Danny tight.
“Alright, alright,” Shayleen said, nudging Colin toward the van. “Get on with you. There’s no point grieving over what can’t be changed. Good times will come again.”
David took the keys from Colin, who was leaning against the van, struggling to control his emotions. “Better let me drive, buddy.”
Colin nodded and crawled into the back seat with Joshua. “Goddammit!” he choked out, his face buried in his hands. “Ihatethis!”
“We all do, darling,” Joshua whispered, holding him tightly. “But we’ll be back. I promise you. We’ll be back.”
* * *
They checkedinto their motel after a three-hour drive, exhausted both physically and emotionally. Joshua trailed Colin into the room and watched as he first set on the bed, then fell to his back, staring at the ceiling. “You OK?” Joshua asked, stretching out next to him.
Colin shrugged but gave no response. “Baby, we don’thaveto meet with Davy and Nate for dinner. We can stay here and watch TV” He twined his fingers in Colin’s hair. “Or maybe find somethingelseto do?” He kissed Colin’s cheek, then nuzzled against it. “Ifyou get my drift.”
