Going Home

Part 12

As they are sitting in the living room later that afternoon Josh picked up his phone and turned to look at Grace.

Knowing what he intended to do she looked at his serious expression and asked “sure you’re ready?”

Josh nodded “ready as I’ll ever be.”

She rose to leave the room “I’ll just give you some space.”

But before she could move away Josh grabbed her hand and without looking at her said “stay.”

Squeezing his hand Grace sat back down “okay.”

Without releasing her hand Josh called the number he never thought he’d use again. Then putting the phone to his ear to wait for the connection he looked at Grace.

Grace watched as Josh steeled himself to face his demons. Involuntarily he squeezed her hand as she heard the person at the other end give a greeting. Then she listened as Josh dispensed with a greeting and responded simply “it’s Brendan.” It sounded odd to Grace hearing Josh refer to himself in that way. In all the time she had known him he’d never used that name except when introducing himself officially, and nobody has ever called him that. But bringing her attention back to the room she heard the person at the other end speaking again.

Josh listened as his mother thanked him for calling back and said she needed to see him. Not willing to be particularly accommodating, he agreed in a curt voice. She then told him she’d be in town over the week end and asked if they could meet. Brusque, he organised a meeting place and time and hung up without saying goodbye.

As conversations go, Grace thought, it wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Looking over at her as he put his phone down Josh said “two days and we’ll know.”

Grace looked at his bleak expression “you okay?”

Nodding he reached out and pulled her into his arms loving the feeling of belonging she gave him. Being with Grace was the only time he had felt that since he left home and taking a deep breath he replied “yeah, I’m good.”