“Is heserious?”
“My guess is yes, he is.” He swallowed the aspirin, then handed the pamphlet back to Nate. “And whywouldn’the be? What you just described sounds like exactly what they want!”
“Josh, I’m good at tellingothers how to stand on a stage and talk. I’m not that good at it myself!”
From the shower came the sound of a high, clear, tenor voice:
* * *
“I've been a wild rover for many's the year
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more
And it's no, nay, never
No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more.”
Joshua smiled and ruffled Nate’s hair. “Well, you’ve got until tonight togetgood at it because I don’t think he’ll let you off the hook. If he has to sing,youhave to talk.”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
VOICES OF PRIDE
Propped up by Nate’s enthusiasm and the consumption of many aspirin, they finally dressed and made their way down the gangway to Victoria, British Columbia. Once they had passed through Canadian customs, Colin took Joshua’s hand and led them all away from the crowd of disembarking passengers, where they stood, gazing around, taking in the sights. “My god,” Colin exclaimed. “This place is beautiful!”
“I was here for a teaching seminar a few years ago,” David commented. “And I fell in love with this city. Victoria is gorgeous, especially here in the harbor area.” He pointed. “Let’s walk up that way. That’s where we’ll find the main street. There are lots of restaurants there, and I’m starved.”
“What isthat?” Nate asked, pointing to an impressive domed building covered in lights.
“That’s the Parliament Building,” David told him. “And that,” he added, pointing, “is the Empress Hotel. I had high tea there.”
“Imagine my shock,” Colin teased, then ducked away from David’s fake punch.
“Wow! It looks like one of the castles we saw in Ireland,” Joshua told his husband, who laughed.
“It’sbiggerthan most of Ireland’s castles.” He turned to Nate and nudged his arm. “Where is Voices of Pride being held? You’ve still got the pamphlet, don’t you?”
“Right there!” Nate cried, pointing to a large lawn to their left. That’s the inner harbor. See? They’re already setting up!”
“And you and I are all signed up, right?”
“We are. After breakfast, I need to go back to the ship and think about what I’m going to say.”
“Oh, no!” David told him. “After breakfast, we’re going to wander through the Royal BC Museum for a couple of hours.Thenyou can return to the ship and fret over your ten-minute speech.” He dangled his arm around Nate’s neck and kissed his cheek before moving them down the street.
Colin lifted Joshua’s hand to his lips. “I guess we follow the professor. He seems to know where to find food.”
“You’re not nervous about tonight, are you?”
Colin laughed and shot a disbelieving look at his husband. “C’mon! Me? Nervous aboutsinging?”
