Going Home

Part 16

Margaret Joshua watched as a tall fit looking man strode towards her holding the hand of a pretty blonde woman. Even though she’d know her son anywhere and thought she was prepared for the changes that fourteen years would have brought, she was surprised and impressed at the man he had become. But she was incredibly nervous and the stern expression on her son’s face was not giving her any reassurance. But he was there and that was more than she had expected when she picked up the phone to call him.

Grace looked at Josh’s mother, trying to find any resemblance to Josh. But apart from her eyes which were the same colour as Josh’s it seemed to Grace little of his mother’s genes were evident in Josh. Grace smiled warmly at her when their eyes meet and watched the wary expression that crossed her face as she studied Josh.

Stopping in front of his mother Josh studied her face and waited for her to speak. He was here but he wasn’t going to make it easy for her. He’d been angry too long.

As her son stared down at her, Margaret Joshua gathered her courage to speak. “Brendan”

But Josh frowned and said is a stern tone “no.”

Margaret frowned too not sure what he meant.

Grace who was watching this exchange suddenly saw another similarity between mother and son.

Josh wanted to get this straight right from the start he was not going to sit there and be called by a name that was completely irrelevant to who he was now. “It’s Josh now. I haven’t been Brendan since coming to the city.”

Margaret was silent for a minute as she processed this. Not sure what to make of it, but also not wanting to get off to a bad start, she nodded “okay, Josh. I’ll try to remember that.”

Josh then turned to look at Grace. He wasn’t sure what to call his mother so he just avoided it as he introduced them. “This is Grace. Grace, Margaret Joshua?”

Grace held out her hand and with a smile said “nice to meet you Margaret.”

Margaret was relieved at the warm greeting from the woman at her son’s side and taking her hand replied “lovely to meet you Grace.” Then turning and gesturing towards some chairs asked “can we sit down and talk?”

Josh nodded and they made their way over to the comfortable lounge chairs set around a low table.

Josh sat down, and waited for his mother to speak. She wanted to see him, so he felt it was up to her to start this off.

Margaret however was unsure how to start. “You look well.”

Josh remained silent. He was not here for small talk.

Sensing this, Margaret squared her shoulders and got to the point. “It’s about your father.”