Going Home

 Part 24

The next morning Grace was busy preparing breakfast as they waited for Margaret to arrive. Distracted, Josh was trying to help but was unable to stand still long enough to complete a task. Finally Grace sent him out of the kitchen to set the table and watched as he went to stand looking out the window with his hands in his pockets. Stopping what she was doing she walked up to him and standing behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist.

Lost in his thoughts Josh didn’t hear Grace approach but looked down at her arms as they wound around him. He could feel the warmth of her body against his back and he absorbed it for a minute before turning around and pulling her close. She had been amazing throughout this whole thing and he wasn’t sure he could have coped without her support. But just as he finished that thought a knock on the door announced his mothers arrival and moving back Josh looked down at Grace for a moment, his expression solemn before going to answer the door.

Over breakfast Margaret tried to find out about her sons life. But conversation was somewhat strained. Josh’s replies were not very informative. He offered no more information than what was asked for and he didn’t initiate any further conversation.

But determined, Margaret persevered. She said “I like your apartment, have you lived here long?”

Looking stern, Josh said “a while.”

Watching the difficult exchange between mother and son Grace decided to step in to help the flow of conversation. “Yes Josh had lived here for a couple of years before we met and I’ve been here about two years now.”

Grateful to Grace for her efforts Margaret smiled at her. “Do you work Grace?”

Grace smiled with sympathy at Margaret. She knew this wasn’t easy for her either “yes that’s how Josh and I met we are in the same squad.”

“Oh you’re a police officer too? Well I’m assuming they are okay about you working together. I thought they would have had rules about that sort of thing?”

Grace grimaced slightly “yeah well they do really but our immediate bosses are okay about it and we make sure we don’t make it obvious at work, or at least we try not to.” Then giving Josh a tender look, Grace continued “but sometimes you just can’t help it.”

Noticing the way Grace looked at her son Margaret smiled. She was more than pleased Josh was obviously in a good relationship.

Grace and Margaret chatted easily throughout the meal and Grace filled in as many gaps as she could. Josh however was mostly silent, only entering the conversation when he was asked a direct question. So later as she prepared to leave Margaret was feeling somewhat dejected. She wanted to ask Josh something but his responses were not encouraging. The question she wanted to ask was one of the reasons she had suggested this meeting, but his attitude didn’t seem very conducive to a positive response so at the last minute she decided to give him some more time. Instead she made a suggestion that she hoped he’d accept. Standing at the door ready to leave she turned to Josh and said “I was wondering if we could meet again tomorrow? I go home in the afternoon and I won’t be able to get back to the city for a fortnight.”

Josh frowned “I have to work tomorrow.”

“Do you get a break?” Margaret asked unable to disguise the hope in her voice.

Looking at Grace who smiled encouragement, then back at his mother, Josh nodded “yeah but it depends on what happens during the day when that will be. I’ll have to ring you and let you know when. But I may not be able to get away at all.”

Margaret smiled. She was happy he didn’t say no and was willing to wait all day if necessary. “That’s fine, I haven’t got anything else to do so I’ll just wait for your call.”

Josh nodded “okay.” Despite his monosyllabic response he can’t help but be impressed by the fact that this was obviously important enough to her that she was willing to wait all day for something that may not even happen. Almost against his will, his attitude towards her was softening, even if he couldn’t show it yet.