“What a dick. Seriously, what a fucking cocksucker.” Josh seemed genuinely floored. Join the club, she thought.
“Pretty much,” River shrugged. “I’m trying to move on. Your class was an incredible distraction. I did really love it.” Josh flushed at the compliment.
“Does this man live here or the States?”
“Both now, I guess.” At his questioning look, River decided on full disclosure. “He’s Raven’s husband’s brother.”
“Ahh, I see. An O’Faolain then?”
“Yes.”
“Awkward.”
“Yes,” she smiled then and even chuckled. A lovely lightness touched her bones, which had felt unusually heavy. Her sisters would be so happy. Josh drummed his fingers on the bar as his friend started his last set. He was pensive, and it wasn’t because of River’s woes, she was sure. “Why do you want to be friends with me? Besides the fact that I must appear semi-pathetic and in need of support,” she smiled.
Josh took a deep breath, his chest swelling beneath his tight, black t-shirt. “My mother died last month. I’m having a difficult... a very difficult time.”
Before he finished his confession, River had slipped off her barstool and was standing in front of Josh, her arms wrapping around his waist. Josh stiffened, surprised, but then his body deflated, wrapping around her much smaller frame. A gush of air huffed out of his mouth, stirring her hair. River rubbed and patted his back for a few minutes before stepping away.
“Oh God, Josh. Thank you for telling me.” Once she sat on her stool, their knees touching and a world of vulnerable thoughts between them, River confessed, “I know how you feel.”
“You can’t possibly know, River. I get your boyfriend hurt you, but it isn’t the same,” he spoke low, clearly struggling with his emotions.
“Raven, Rowan, and I lost our parents when we were in college. Car accident. We were a very close family. Without my sisters and our grandma, I’m not sure how I would have moved past it. I’m so glad you have your father still with you, Josh. There are moments during the day when I grab my phone to call mom or dad about something. Remembering they are gone is brutal.”
It was Josh’s turn to crush her into a hug. She hated the public tears, but her parents were worth all her emotions.
“I didn’t know, River. I’m sorry. To lose both,” he swallowed hard, “I’m barely keeping afloat, and I still have my da, thank the Lord.”
Once they eased apart some, River asked, “How did your mother die?”
“Cancer. She fought for three years.”
She lost the battle. Damn. River wasn’t sure what was more painful. Losing a loved one suddenly or being given an expiration date. Cruel, cruel, cruel either way.
“Oh, Josh. Only a month. Damn. I’m glad she got to see what an amazing artist her son is, though.”
Josh finally let River go but stayed tight to her side. He seemed to find comfort in her. It must have been a relief to discover someone who understood his grief.
Josh admitted, “She was very proud of me. My father is as well.” He stopped speaking abruptly, scuffing his hand across his scalp, trying to get his emotions under control. “Da’s having a tough time.”
River wove her fingers through his, squeezing in comfort. “You arebothhaving a hard time, Josh, not just your father and it won’t end anytime soon. There is no way around it. Grieving is sorrow and anguish and, at times, despair. You have your father. Lean on him. He’ll lean on you too, and together, you’ll find a way to bear it.”
River and Josh just looked at one another while patrons laughed and the band played. In that moment, it felt like they’d been close for years. This friendship could very well help them both through their current trials.
“You can lean on me, River, when you need to. I would appreciate you letting me lean on you once in a while.”
“I would really like that. I can text you all the embarrassing things my sisters do, and you can complain about clients and stinky students,” she laughed, making him laugh too.
“Oh, so you noticed Mr. Tom’s fragrant hair balm? Christ, it smelled like lard. I was afraid to have him stand so close to the flames.” They laughed, toasting to Mr. Tom’s greasy head, and shot back the rest of their drinks.
River touched Josh’s arm briefly to get his attention. “And you can always talk to me about your mother. I would love for you to tell me some of your memories, and I can do the same with my parents.”
Josh’s eyes were glassy, but he nodded in agreement. “And you can talk to me about your ex-boyfriend. If you need to.”
“Maybe.”
“You still love him, even after what he did?”
