Going Home

Part 69

As Josh strode over to the bike he tried to decide how to approach the subject he wanted to talk to his dad about. But ten minutes later as he reached the spot where Robert was working to mend the fence, Josh was still unsure about how to proceed. So getting off his bike he resolved to just play it by ear and see how things panned out. 

“Need a hand?” Josh asked as he walked over to where Robert was working.

“That would be great Josh. I used to be able to do this job with one hand but these days I struggle to get it done with two.” Robert said smiling at him. 

But Josh didn’t smile. He couldn’t help but be concerned about Robert and as he helped his father repair the fence he frowned and said, “Mum said you are employing someone to give you a hand around here.”

At Josh’s serious tone Robert turned to look at him and touched by his obvious concern, he turned back to the task at hand before he replied. “Yes I am” he said “but I have to find the right person.” 

Even though Josh wanted to ask about him getting help on the farm that wasn’t really what he wanted to discuss. But he still couldn’t see how to broach the other subject so he asked “have you tried?”

Robert frowned “yes, but no one suitable has presented themselves yet.”

“Right” Josh said.

Home

This is a short fictional piece I wrote a long time ago.

It was a typical morning in the Brennan household with people running everywhere. As you can imagine with five women in the house, all trying to get ready at once, it was total chaos. The solitary male to reside there, except for the cat, was the father of four of the women and the husband of the other. They were a middle class family, not rich and although sailing close to the wind sometimes, not poor. But in the things that counted, not money, but love, sharing, good times and a sense of family, of belonging, they were richer than many. They were joined by an invisible bond and although they fought amongst themselves at times, God help any outsider who dared to say or do anything to hurt one of them. The group would imediately unite against the offender and become as unbeatable as the strongest army.

This did not mean however that nobody got inside this circle. They were as giving to others as they were to each other. The door was always open to any friends of the four girls, whether they be in need of help or just dropping around after school for a drink and something to eat.

Going Home

Part 67 cannot be posted here as it is more adult in nature. If you'd like to read it send me a message on the Contact me page and I'll send you a link.

Part 68

The next morning it was time for Grace and Josh to head home. They were due to start work first thing the next day and their imminent departure had everyone in a reflective mood.

Coming down to breakfast Josh found it hard to believe it was only three days ago that they’d arrived. He had doubts then that anything would change on this visit, but now everything was different. He was glad he came, it was a relief to be able to let go of things that had weighed him down for years, but he was ready to go home. He needed time and space to think now.

Grace however was sorry to be going home. She’d loved being at the farm. Growing up in the city, it had been a whole new world for her. Josh had been different too and she hoped they’d be back soon. The relationship with his parents had certainly improved, so future visits seemed likely, but who knew.

As they entered the kitchen Josh pulled Grace close for a quick kiss. Hearing them approach Margaret looked over her shoulder from her position at the stove and smiled as she watched the embrace. Raising his head Josh caught his mother’s eye and gave her a small smile. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s already eaten and has gone to repair a fence in the North paddock. He wanted to get it finished so he could be back before you go.”

Josh frowned he’d have liked to talk to his dad on his own. Then realising this could be his chance, he said “I’ll go give him a hand then.”

Margaret smiled at Josh. She was pleased he was volunteering to help. “okay I’ll make your breakfast so you can take it with you.”

“Thanks” Josh said and walked over to where Grace was reading the paper at the table.  Leaning down he kissed her head “see ya.”

Grace smiled up at him, happy he was going out of his way to interact with his parents. When she thought of his attitude when they’d arrived she couldn’t believe the difference.

Walking over to the stove Josh grabbed the egg and bacon roll Margaret had prepared, “thanks” he said.

Margaret smiled “my pleasure.”

Josh nodded and headed out the door.

Going Home

Part 66

As soon as Josh arrived back at the house, his mind was only on one thing, and striding into the lounge room he found Grace by herself. He stopped directly in front of her with his legs apart and arms his crossed. His gaze bored into hers as he ordered “it’s time.”

Grace smiled and getting up she teased “for our walk do you mean? I don’t know. I’m a bit tired now.”

“Grace” Josh growled.

Laughing Grace relented, “okay come on” and grabbing his hand she lead him out the door and across the veranda. As they passed the veranda railing she picked up a bag hanging on the post.

“What’s that?” Josh asked indicating the bag.

“Oh nothing much.”  

Suspicious, Josh looked at her but in the end her let it ride and asks instead “ok well where are we going?”

“Oh just a little place I heard about.”

“Heard about where?”

“From Robert.”

“What you told him we were coming out here?” Josh asked incredulous, remembering Grace’s concerns the last time.

Smiling Grace said “no of course I didn’t tell him we were coming out here, he just told me about it.”

“Ok so where is it.” Josh asked getting impatient.

“Not far” she said being unhelpful.

Frustrated Josh asks again “where?”   

“Take it easy Josh” Grace laughs “we’re nearly there.”  Then shaking her head as they reached a new looking shed she said “what’s got into you today?”

“You’ve got in to me.” Josh said in a serious tone, and he advanced on her as soon as they are through the door.

Grace loved that she can get to him so easily, and backing away from him playfully she couldn’t resist teasing him a little, “Josh I think I’m going to have to find you a hobby.”

But easily out striding her, Josh grabbed her and pulling her hard up against his body he growled “don’t blame me this time, you’ve started this twice already and this time we’re going to finish it.

Having had her fun Graces expression went serious too as Josh’s body, moving against hers, made her need as great as his. “Well you won’t get an argument from me.”

Smiling Josh said “just as well” and bending, he gave her a searing kiss. Then lifting his head and looking around the shed in the dim moonlight he said “so why here?”

Grace smiled and looked a little sheepish, “well I’ve always wanted to…um…visit a hayshed.”

Josh grinned as he began to understand her meaning. “Oh ok, well let me tell you it’s not as romantic as it sounds hay is scratchy stuff.”

Grace’s smile widened, “I know, that’s why I brought a blanket.”

“Ah thought of everything eh? Well we still may have a problem.”

Frowning Grace asked “what?”

Josh grinned as he moved her backwards towards the hay bales. “Well hay is a very flammable material and the way things are between us we are liable to burn the shed down.”

Laughing Grace wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulling his head down, made him forget everything but her.

Going Home

Part 65

On the walk back to the house, as night fell on the farm, Josh considered what it meant that his father restored his ute and had kept it all this time. He needed to ask him about it but first he’d like to get his own thoughts on it sorted out. So setting it aside for now Josh looked over at his mother and opened up about another subject that had been on his mind “is Dad really okay, health wise?”

Margaret sighed. “I think so. The Doctor said he needed to work less and he is looking at hiring someone to do some of the work around here. But your visit will help more. The strain of the whole situation had been slowly wearing him down and if he can put that aside it will go along way to reducing his stress levels.” Then realising how that sounded Margaret laid a hand on Josh’s arm and added “not that that’s the only reason we contacted you.”

Josh looked down at her worried expression then at her hand on his arm and putting his hand over hers he looked back into her eyes and nodded “I know.”

Releasing her breath on a sigh Margaret smiled “I’m so glad you came.”

Looking away Josh said, talking more to himself than to her, “so am I”

Then after a minute he added “thanks for contacting me Mum.”

Taking a deep breath Margaret fought to control her emotions at hearing Josh refer to her as Mum. Then after a minute she said, “thank you for coming.”

Margaret was incredibly pleased that the visit had gone so well. She wasn’t sure how it was going to go, when Josh had first arrived, he was so distant and for a while she didn’t think they would ever reach him. But as the weekend had progressed, his attitude had gradually changed. He had become more communicative, less severe and Margaret wondered how much of that was thanks to Grace. Even though they seemed to be very different they, complement each other beautifully and she was thankful her son had found someone to share his life with who is obviously so good for him.

Going Home

Part 64

And Josh and his mother reached one of the sheds furthest from the house Margaret pulled open the door and waited for Josh to enter.

 Stepping inside Josh could see a vehicle covered by a sheet. He moved further into the shed and looked at it wondering why his mother brought him to see it.

Margaret grabbed the sheet and pulling it off, stepped back and smiled as she watched Josh try and work out what she was showing him.

Josh walked around the ute puzzled. He had no idea why his mother had brought him to see it until all of a sudden, paying attention to the model, he began to understand. He turned back to her, his expression incredulous.

Margaret nodded.

Josh looked back at the ute and shook his head in disbelief. It can’t be, but his mother just indicated that it was. This was the ute he’d bought when he was sixteen to do up ready for when he got his license. The ute his father went ballistic about because he thought Josh had spent too much money on a bomb. It didn’t look like a bomb now though. It looked amazing, completely restored, just how he’d imagined all that time ago. Josh turned back to his mother “who did this?”

“Your father, it took him a couple of years but he wanted to finish what you’d started.”

Josh frowned and asked “why didn’t he show it to me?”

Margaret gave him a sad smile, “he thought you might think he was trying to buy you off, using it as a way of making it up to you. But that’s not why he did it. It was his way of keeping part of you here. I told him he should show you but he didn’t want to put pressure on you.”

Josh turned to look back at the ute and ran his hand over the shiny black surface. He opened the drivers door. Sitting in the seat and inspecting the dash he asked “does it run?”

Margaret smiled and said, “give it a try, the key’s in the glove box.”

Reaching over Josh opened the glove box and located the key. He put it in the ignition and turned. He expected it to take a couple of goes, but to his surprise, it started with a low throaty rumble first time. Josh listened to the engine for a minute. It was obvious that it had been started regularly. He couldn’t believe his father had spent so much time finishing it and still made sure it was maintained. He turned the engine off and turned to his mother, “thanks for showing me.”

Margaret looked at her son and said “my pleasure, I thought you’d like to see it.”

Josh put the key back in the glove box, and got out. He shut the door and picking up one side of the cover, he waited for Margaret to grab the other side, then together they placed it back over the vehicle.