“The whole ride to Killarney should take about four or five hours, probably more, with the stops. But once we’re in Killarney, we can relax.”
Joshua glanced up at him. “Baby, this is wonderful.”
“We’re just getting started,” Colin told his husband. “We’ll be in Killarney for six days. While we’re there, we’ll stay with Aileen. She’s got three bedrooms.”
“Colin, are you sure we won’t be an imposition?”
“I already talked with her, and she’s excited about you guys being there.” He leaned toward David. “It’s a done deal. She’s already planning for it, so you’ll hurt her feelings if you try to back out.” He handed David another sheaf of printouts. “Here’s the Killarney stuff. We’ll see my Auntie Nora too.”
“When you meether, ask for cookies,” Joshua suggested to David and Nate. “She makes the most amazing cookies on earth.”
“Biscuits,” Colin corrected. “While we’re in Killarney, we’ll be seeing…” He consulted his notepad. “Um, Ross Castle, of course.” He grinned at Joshua. “Killarney National Park, Torc Waterfall…” he leaned toward Joshua, “…which ishellaromantic! And,” he consulted the notepad again. “We’ll take a day trip to the Ring of Kerry. Aileen may go with us for that one.”
“Oh my god, Colin,” Nate breathed out. “This is wonderful.”
“And, of course, we’ll see my family,” Colin added. “Danny, Cory, and Randy will drive to Killarney for one huge family dinner on our second night there, though we’ll see Danny again when we go to Galway. We may see Randy and Cory when we take a side trip to Limerick to see the Cliffs of Moher. Not sure about that. They may have to work.”
“Colin, you have done an amazing job,” David told him, still studying the printouts. “This sounds like a slice of heaven.”
“Then we go to Galway for four days.” Colin handed David another group of printouts, holding them sideways so Joshua couldn’t see them. “Do NOT show these to Josh,” Colin cautioned. “He can’t see any of that. Read what I wrote there, and you’ll see why.”
David and Nate peered at the printouts, holding them so Joshua couldn’t see them.
“Oh, Colin!” Nate breathed out. “Oh my god, that’s fucking amazing!”
“No fair!” Joshua complained, laughing. “I don’t get tosee?”
“No,” Colin told him. “You do not. This part of the trip is a surprise.”
“Josh,” David said, folding the papers and sliding them into his jacket pocket, “believe me. You won’t be sorry you waited.”
“Then we leave Galway and head back to Dublin for the flight home,” Colin said. He handed David another printout. “I already booked our flights. Here’s your confirmation printout. You need to go in and add your TSA PreCheck numbers.”
“All of this has already been reserved?” David asked.
“Flight is booked,” Colin told him. “The rest is being held on my credit card.”
“Jesus, it must be maxed out,” David laughed.
Colin rolled his eyes and nodded. “I figure you’re good for it.”
“I’ll deposit the money in the PayPal account tomorrow,” David assured him. “And I have to tell you, Irish, that you have impressed the living hell out of me. This trip is as close to perfect as it gets.”
“Planning it was easy,” Colin said, returning his chair to the dining room. “Now we have to pay for it.”
“I’m worried about the whole driving on the left side of the road thing,” Nate said to Colin.
“You get used to it,” Colin told him. “You just have to go slow and remind yourself about it at first.”
“Left, left, left,” Joshua intoned.
“Yeah,” Colin said, draping an arm around Joshua’s neck. “I kept muttering that when we first started out.”
“We weresotired and jet-lagged,” Joshua added, laughing. “We were lurching down the road like a couple of punch-drunk fighters.”
“I want to try it,” David said. “I think that’s part of the fun of a new place. Trying new things.” He laid a hand on Colin’s arm. “Thank you, my friend. You did an outstanding job.”
“Jesus, I can’t wait,” Colin told him. “I’m excited about you meeting my family.”
