Going Home

Part 39

On reaching the house again though Robert found the situation was not quite the way he had imagined. Looking over at his son Robert said with pleasure “thanks Josh, this was good.”

But without looking at him Josh said in an impersonal tone “yeah no worries, it was good to see the farm again.” He was still struggling to come to terms with this new contact with his parents. Even though he accepted their explanation, he was not ready to drop his guard entirely. He had had it up too long.

Robert was disappointed in Josh’s response but could understand that it was going to take more than one conversation to repair the damage caused by such a long separation and so many misunderstandings. So swallowing his unhappiness he left it there and led the way back into the house.

Later as they finish dinner Grace offered to help Margaret clean up but Josh, not ready to be part of such a domestic scene, thanked his mother for the meal and took his beer out onto the veranda.

Watching him leave Robert decided to try again to make some head way, and picking up his own drink he followed his son outside. Over the course of the day he had watched Josh and had noticed how he behaved with Grace. He was different with her, less intense more playful. He’d give anything to see that side of him again when he was interacting with them but he could see that was going to take time.