* * *
Colin wanderedinto Danny’s kitchen the following morning to find a fully dressed Nate sitting at the table with Shayleen, scarfing down a traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, sausage, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and soda bread. “How the hell long have you been up?”
“This boyo was sitting here waiting when I got up at six,” Shayleen said, pouring Colin a cup of coffee.
“It’s boat day!” Nate crowed. “I get to drive Danny’s boat today!”
“Nate, that’s ahugecommercial fishing boat.”
“I know how to steer.”
Joshua entered the kitchen and set beside Colin, chuckling at Nate’s comment. “Morning everyone.” He thanked Shayleen, who set a mug of coffee before him. “Where’s your husband?”
“I think he went down to the wharf with Devon to do a bit of cleanup on that filthy boat.”
Nate shot her a glance. “It’sfilthy?”
Colin burst into laughter. “Nate, it’s a commercial fishing boat! It reeks of dead fish!”
“It’s not filthy,” Joshua assured him. “At least it wasn’t when I was on it.”
Shayleen made a face and shuddered. “Notmyidea of a fun afternoon… floating around on that thing.”
“IlikeDanny’s boat!” Colin told her. “I had great times on that boat as a kid.” He nudged Joshua’s arm. “And an evengreatertime when Josh and I spent the night there.”
“TMI!” Nate blurted out between bites.
Joshua flushed and shot his husband an embarrassed look. “Colin!”
“Good on ya, Collie!” Shayleen laughed, setting filled plates in front of Colin and Joshua. “Fair play, me lad! Now, you lot eat up, then go off and enjoy yourselves. I’m going shopping.”
At the harbor, Danny greeted them in the parking lot and led them around the vast Galway docks to where his boat was moored. Nate walked beside him, listening intently as Danny pointed out the commercial fishing boats berthed near his. “This one’s brand new,” he told Nate, “But her owner’s gobshite, so I don’t expect she’ll last.”
David trailed behind them with Colin, Joshua, and Danny’s son, Devon. “Nate’s found a new hero,” he told Colin, indicating Danny and Nate who walked ahead of them.
“He could do worse,” Colin replied. “Danny’s beenmyhero most of my life.”
Danny’s boat was namedDanny’s Cliodhna, which translated to ‘Danny’s Beauty’. At forty-two feet long, it was one of the larger commercial boats in Galway Harbor and boasted a kitchen and the small but cozy bedroom where Colin and Joshua had once spent the night.
They clambered aboard, and after giving them a brief tour, Danny went to the bridge and started the engine. He maneuvered the boat out of its moorage and began a slow, careful navigation of Galway Harbor, pointing out various sights along the way. He grabbed a captain’s hat from the windowsill and popped it onto Nate’s head. “Just relax, Lou O’Toole, my lad, and enjoy the view.” He leaned close to Nate and gestured ahead. “Navigation is a bit tricky in the harbor. I’ll let you steer once we get into open water.”
David and Nate stayed on the bridge with Danny while Colin helped Devon attach nets and slings to the hoists to ready them for Danny’s next fishing expedition. While they worked, Joshua wandered to the ship’s bow and stood, gazing ahead to the magical city of Galway. Multi-colored houses lined the area around the harbor, and in the distance, he could see Galway Cathedral, one of the city’s most prominent buildings. He drew a deep breath, caught up in the breathtaking view, and smiled when he felt a warm body press against him from behind.
“You the king of the world?”
“Well, me darlin’,” Joshua said in a faked Irish brogue. “I hope I’m the king ofyours.” He leaned back against his husband, tilting his head back so that Colin could kiss him.
Colin nuzzled against his neck. “Always,a stór mo chroí,” he whispered.
“Did you just call me a whiney little bitch?”
“I just called you my heart’s treasure.”
They spent forty-five minutes touring the harbor, and then Danny turned to boat toward the open sea. “I’m going to take ‘er out near the Arans, then down the coast a ways. Let Lou O’Toole here drive for a while.”
Once they had left the harbor behind, Danny gestured to Nate. “All right, lad. Here ye go. She’s all yours.”
“Oh god, Danny,” Nate moaned, backing away. “I’m scared I’ll screw up.”
