Joshua’s eyes stung with tears. “Youare, Colin. And you always will be.”
The clearing where they stood seemed touched by magic. The very air they breathed seemed imbued with the majesty of the ancient trees and the beauty of the night sky. He leaned against his husband, savoring the feeling of Colin’s strong arms tight around him, feeling the peace and power of this moment fill him.
“Ibelongwith you,” he whispered against Colin’s ear.
“I know.”
* * *
They atebreakfast in the castle dining room the following morning, then climbed back into their van for the drive to Galway and Danny’s spacious home.
“We’re all staying at Danny’s?” Nate asked as they entered the Galway city limits.
“He’s got four bedrooms,” Colin told him. “And only one of his kids is still living at home, so there’s plenty of room for all of us.”
“I can’t wait to see the boat,” Nate said, leaning over David’s lap to peer out the window.
“Ow!” David yelped. “That’s mydickyou’re elbowing, rabble-rouser!”
“Sorry,” Nate chuckled, then patted David’s lap in apology and bent to whisper to his wounded manhood. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
Joshua snickered and pointed ahead. “There’s the harbor.”
“Oh, it’s beautiful!” Nate exclaimed.
After a few twists and turns, Colin drove the van down a residential street and then pulled into a driveway. Before them was a sprawling, two-story house, which boasted a large front porch defined by tall columns. “And here we are,” he said, turning off the engine.
Nate flew out of the van and bounded up the steps, running right into Danny, who was emerging from the house at the same time.
“Well, if it isn’t Lou O’Toole!” Danny teased, grabbing Nate in a bear hug. “My favorite Irishman!”
Colin turned to David, who was helping him pull luggage from the back of the van. “Doeseveryonefall in love with that annoying little shit?”
“Pretty much,” David replied with a quick grin.
Shayleen had prepared a large lunch, and afterward, everyone gathered on the porch to discuss plans for the next few days.
Nate grabbed Colin’s arm and shook him hard. “You promised me we’d do ‘Fields of Athenry’!”
Colin rolled his eyes and hooked one arm around Nate’s neck, scrubbing his knuckles against Nate’s head. “Fine! We’ll do the fields today. Sheesh, you’re annoying!”
“Then tomorrow, we’ll go out on the boat,” Danny said. “I’ll take everyone around the harbor and then cruise down the coast.” He reached to nudge Nate’s shoulder. “Maybe Lou O’Toole here would like to captain the ship.”
“You mean I get to drive the boat?” Nate asked, clearly excited.
“Well, you’re the captain, aren’t you!”
“Oh lord,” David moaned. “We’re doomed.”
* * *
With the luggageremoved from the van, Colin and David were able to unfold an additional row of seats, allowing Danny and Shayleen to join the four travelers for the ride to Athenry. There, they strolled through the town before walking along the edge of the fields of Athenry themselves. The meadows immortalized in the Irish folk song that both Nate and Joshua loved were a maze of deep green grasses bordered by trees and low-lying hedges.
Danny stopped next to a sign that chronicled the story immortalized by the song. It spoke of a young man who, during the Irish famine, stole a high lord’s corn to feed his starving children and was deported to Botany Bay, Australia, as punishment for his crime. His children and young wife were left behind to grieve alone.
Danny glanced at Colin, who stood beside him with one arm around Joshua’s neck, and then Danny lifted his head and sang the song’s poignant opening stanzas. Seconds later, Colin added his high, sweet tenor to Danny’s rendition, their lovely harmonies rising like a blessing above the emerald-green meadows. As they sang, Danny and Colin’s voices grew husky with sadness. The lyrics painted a harrowing picture of that chapter in Ireland’s history, and the grief of the young couple who was left without hope or consolation tore at the hearts of all who heard.
Joshua felt his eyes well with tears as he listened. Colin’s arm was still around his neck, and he captured his husband’s hand and pressed it to his lips. He saw Nate on Danny’s other side, with David behind him. His eyes were wide and bright with tears as he gazed at the singers. Tourists visiting the famous site moved closer, drawn by the haunting beauty of the voices and the passion with which the two men sang this beloved Irish folk song.
