it's a long road home

‘I have to tell you something,’ Joshua says. His face is flushed with concern. He sits on the bed, facing Fleur, and takes a deep breath. ‘Earlier today, I got a message on Instagram from my ex. Here,’ he thrusts his phone into her hand, the screen opens on the message. It’s a one-liner asking how he’s been.

Fleur bubbles with laughter. ‘Josh, you don’t need to show me this. I trust you.’

He visibly deflates with relief. ‘I just didn’t want her talking at school or you seeing her name on my phone or something. I won’t reply.’

‘Josh,’ she takes his hands in hers. ‘You can reply. I trust you.’ Her speckled amber eyes gaze at him with a genuine warmth.

‘Oh okay. I won’t though. I don’t care about her. And I don’t want to be like that. Like that kind of guy, you know?’

‘You are nothing like your dad. You are perfect.’

He smiles. ‘You’re perfect. You’re my happy place.’

Fleur’s mother calls from the kitchen. Fleur smiles and says, ‘let’s go have dinner.’

Joshua plants a kiss on her forehead and takes her hand as they make their way to the dining room.

After a heartwarming dinner with the family, Joshua is taking dishes to the kitchen. Fleur’s sister brushes past him. ‘You’re like a lapdog doing her bidding,’ she snarls as she leaves.

‘Ignore her,’ their mother says, ‘thank you for helping. You are a perfect gentleman.’

‘I’m happy to help,’ he says.

‘Are you heading home yet?’ Fleur’s mother asks.

Josh glances at the clock. ‘Do you mind if I stay another hour?’ his thick eyelashes cloud his bright eyes sheepishly. ‘He asked me to stay away until ten.’

‘You are always welcome to stay.’ she smiles. ‘In another room from my daughter,’ with a grin.

Fleur’s father steps away from the dishwasher. ‘You won’t always be with your father, son. Your time is coming, push through.’ He ruffles Josh’s hair. ‘If you need anything, you can ask.’

‘Thanks,’ Josh smiles.

‘What time is he kicking his lady of the night to the curb?’ Fleur whispers.

‘He told me nine, but it’s always ten. He gets carried away. I don’t want to see another bar whore sneaking out of the house.’ He murmurs to her.

‘Let’s go watch some TV,’ she says, taking his hand. Before they leave the room, her dad calls softly, ‘I know your dad is a deadbeat, you have a step-in dad right here.’

Josh smiles, says a soft thank you and follows the pull of Fleur’s hand.

‘How is it possible that your stepdad is a better father than my real dad ever was?’ he mutters to her.

‘Let’s not worry about that right now, let’s just have fun.’ She smiles, sitting on the couch and pulling him down next to her. ‘What should we watch?’

‘I think we should YouTube some videos of the campus,’ he murmurs.

She smiles. ‘Why?’

‘I like daydreaming about my new life with you.’

She kisses the tip of his nose. ‘You’re cute.’

He takes her hand softly. ‘I can’t wait to build our lives together. We can tell our kids stories about the student things we had to go through - noodles for dinner and exam stress driving us up the wall. Just you and me, no school, no parents.’

‘Don’t be silly, we’ll still be in school,’ she laughs. ‘College has classes.’

‘Not the same thing,’ he kisses her softly.