David drovethem back to Killarney National Park, and they spent over an hour strolling the grounds surrounding Ross Castle. While David and Nate examined the furnishings in Castle Cottage, a nearby dwelling available for overnight visits, Colin and Joshua wandered hand in hand through the woods surrounding the castle and down to the shore of Lough Leane. Once there, they set silently on the damp ground and looked out over the still, quiet waters. Finally, Joshua drew in a deep breath. “How are you feeling? And tell me the truth, please.”
Colin rolled his head on his shoulders, blinking in surprise when his neck gave a loudcrack.
Joshua breathed a soft laugh and reached to take Colin’s hand. “Thatgood, huh!”
“I’m fine,” Colin told him. And when Joshua’s only response was an unblinking stare, he laughed out loud. “Oh, spare me the ‘doctor’ look. I’mfine.”
“But still a little stressed, maybe?”
Colin gave no response. For a moment, he toyed with Joshua’s fingers, caressing them, sliding them between his own, staring down at their joined hands in complete silence. Then his head snapped up, and his eyes fixed on Joshua’s, his gaze steely.
“Uh-huh!” Joshua said, nodding. “Message received.”
Colin released his hand and gestured to Joshua’s phone, which lay between them. “Maybe you want to text David and Nate? Tell them where we are?”
Joshua nodded. “Good idea.”
“And I’m not suggesting you don’t talk,” Colin told him. “I’m suggesting that I’ll belessstressed out if I’m not asked to engage in a deep, probing, psychologically revealing conversation aboutwhyI’m stressed out.”
Joshua sent the text to David and Nate, then peered up at Colin through half-lowered lashes. “Sorry.”
Colin leaned forward and drew Joshua into his arms, laughing as he nuzzled against his neck. “No need to be sorry,DoctorCampbell-Abrams. I’m just saying I feel a thousand percent better than I did yesterday, so you can put your damned shingle away.”
“Got it.”
* * *
Back at Aileen’s,the four men were kept busy helping Aileen and Nora rearrange furniture, carrying extra chairs from the basement, and arranging numerous trays of hors d’oeuvres on the dining room table. David was sequestered in the kitchen with Nora, putting the finishing touches on several authentic Irish dishes that would be served at dinner that evening.
Colin was searching for a card table in the basement when Aileen motioned to Joshua and pointed out a nearby window. “They’rehere,” she told him. “Better get your husband.”
Joshua called down the basement steps. “Colin! You might want to get your butt up here.”
Colin bolted up the steps and threw open the front door before the visitors reached the porch. Behind him, Joshua waited, smiling as he watched Colin greet his cousins.
Colin’s oldest cousin, Danny, was the first to reach the porch. He grabbed Colin in a huge embrace, spinning him in a circle while Colin laughed out loud. He was quickly joined by his brother Randy, and all three men embraced, laughing, talking a mile a minute, obviously overjoyed to be together again.
The two wives shoved them out of the way so they could enter the house. “Move it over, you great louts!” Shayleen told them. “You’re blocking the door.” She spotted Joshua and moved to embrace him. “Joshua! Lord above, you had this whole family in an uproar.”
He returned her embrace, then embraced Randy’s wife, Erin, and followed them into the house. “Thank you, Shayleen. Hello, Erin. It’s good to see you,” he told her, then glanced past them to see Colin still being embraced by his two laughing cousins.
“Oh, don’t mind them,” Erin said, dismissing the rowdy gathering on the porch with a wave. “They turn twelve years old the minute they see each other.”
Erin and Shayleen moved to greet Aileen and Nora, and Nate crept to Joshua’s side. “Is that Danny?” He asked in a whisper.
“He seems to have become something of a legend,” Joshua said, laughing.
“Well, you guysdotalk about him a lot.”
“Joshua!” A voice boomed out. “Where are you, lad!”
Colin and Danny had moved into the house and stood in the dining room, Danny’s arm around Colin’s shoulder. “I’m right here, Danny,” Joshua said, then felt the big Irishman embrace him and heard a low voice murmur into his ear. “Thank god, you’re all right, boy. It would have been the death of us.” He leaned back and met Joshua’s eyes. “Not to mention the death ofhim,” he said, tilting his head toward Colin.
Joshua lowered his head, struggling to hold back his tears. “Thank you, Danny,” he whispered. “God, I’m so glad to see you.” He felt Colin’s arms wrap around both of them, and he leaned against his husband for a moment before stepping back so that Colin could introduce David and Nate to his family.
For several minutes, the house was filled with the noise of rowdy greetings and happy laughter, but eventually, Danny gathered them all around the food-laden dining room table. He filled his glass with the burnished amber of Irish whiskey and turned to the assembled guests. “Everyone got something to drink?” he asked, then lifted his glass toward Colin and Joshua. “Welcome home to our beloved Collie and Joshua, and thank you for adding two new members to this family, which seems to be growing by leaps and bounds!” He leaned close to Colin. “Anythingyouwant to tell me?” he teased in a stage whisper.
“No!” Colin said, laughing. “Nor will thereeverbe!”
