* * *
Upstairs,Nate tapped on the bedroom door, then pushed it open without waiting to be admitted. “Hey, buddy. How you doing?”
“Hi, Nate,” Joshua said, adjusting a T-shirt around his shoulders. “I was just coming down. Everyone OK?”
“Aside from your husband, who’s all doom and gloom because he thinks you’re going to divorce him, everyone’s fine.”
Joshua coughed out an exasperated laugh and shook his head. “Divorcehim!” He grabbed Nate’s arm and led him toward the door. “Let’s go down. I don’t want Aileen fretting over Colin and me.”
Nate laid a hand on Joshua’s arm. “He’s really upset, Josh.”
“Me too,” Joshua told him. “Today left me feeling like I’m not exactly a priority in his life.”
“Josh, you know that’s not true!”
“DoI, Nate?”
“You two need to talk.”
“I know. And we will. But I don’t want to talk while I’m all upset. All that does is make things worse.” He sighed and nudged Nate toward the door. “I’ve said too much already.”
“What did you say? He thinks you hate him.”
“Hatehim!” Joshua rolled his eyes and followed Nate to the stairs. “And they callmea drama queen!” He laid his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “But I did say some hurtful things to him, and I wish, now, I’d kept my damned mouth shut.”
Nate shrugged and continued down the stairs. “I wouldn’t fret over much. I feel sure he’ll forgive you.”
“Hey, Josh,” David said as he entered the room. “Glad you’re here. Maybe you can settle your husband down.”
“He being a twat?” Joshua asked, then turned to Colin’s aunt, horrified by his language. “Oh lord god, Ahn-tee, I’m sorry! Forgot you were in the room.”
Aileen waved away his apology. “I’ve heard worse.” She laid a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “You remember that you’ve got kin showing up here tomorrow.”
“Is the whole gang coming?” Joshua asked.
“They are! Nora and I are going shopping this afternoon, and we’ll cook for the rest of the day. So, you lot need to find something to do so you’re not underfoot.”
“Maybe we could drive through the park,” Colin suggested, shooting Joshua a nervous glance. “See Ross Castle?”
“I’d love that, Colin!” Nate told him.
“That OK with you?” Colin asked, reaching to tug on Joshua’s T-shirt.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Joshua asked him. “I love that castle.”
Colin got to his feet and held out a tentative hand. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Joshua nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then gave Colin his hand. “We’re gonna go sit on the porch,” Colin said, leading Joshua to the front door.
“Try not to be a jackass,” Nate advised.
Colin shot him a quick glance. “I’ll do my best.”
Aileen’s porch had a wide, wooden swing at one end, and Colin nodded toward it. “Wanna sit?”
“Sure,” Joshua told him. He perched on one end of the swing and watched Colin sit down at the other. “I hear I’m divorcing you,” Joshua said.
“Notfunny, Joshua!”
