Going Home

Part 25

Just after two the next day TR2 pulled back into base. They had finished their last job fifteen minute ago and nothing else had come up so they were back to grab a late lunch.

Grace looked over at Josh “are you going to ring her?”

Josh frowned “I guess so. But I doubt she would have hung around this long.”

Grace smiled she wasn’t fooled by Josh’s attitude she knew he was warming to her. “I think you’ll be surprised.”

Pulling out his phone Josh dialed the number his mother gave him and he is indeed taken aback when his call is answered on the second ring. As he heard her greeting Josh realised she had been waiting for his call. “Hey” Josh said “I’m on a break now.”

“That’s good” Margaret said “Are you back at your base? I’m in a café around the corner. I thought it would be easier if I came to you.”

Once again Josh was surprised, she was going out of her way to show him this was important to her and it was more than he expected. After a pause he said “I’ll be there in a minute.”

Margaret was still feeling nervous about meeting Josh. He was so stern and intimidating that she wasn’t sure what to expect from him. But she knew he did have a softer side. She had seen how he looked at Grace and how he behaved with her, and she wondered if the other woman helped bring out that side of him. Waiting for him to arrive, Margaret wondered if he would ever drop his severe attitude with her, she certainly hoped so. She’d love to see him smile again. She remembered how he was before the accident when his gorgeous smile was often visible. Looking up at the door for what seemed like the hundredth time since he called, Margaret stared in awe as Josh strode into the café. She hadn’t seen him in uniform before and tears loomed as the pride she felt in her son threatens to overwhelm her. She was immensely impressed in the man he had become. Blinking back the tears Margaret looked up into his eyes as Josh stopped by her table. “Hi”

“Hi” Josh said, but he made no move to sit down.

Margaret gathered her courage and said “can you sit down for a minute? I’d like to ask you something.”

Frowning, Josh sat. He wasn’t sure he liked the sound of what was to come.

Fiddling with her napkin in her lap Margaret asked “would you like a coffee?”

Josh just stared at her “I’m fine, but I may get called back at any minute so maybe you should just ask what you want to ask.”

“Oh ok.” Margaret paused and looking down at her hands took a deep breath before tackling the subject that was at the heart of her making contact with him. “I was wondering if you could come home for a visit? Your father would love to see you.” Then looking back into his eyes she added “needs to see you.”