Page 74 of Josh’s Play

“Come on?”

“Easter is next weekend. Are you ready for a little test run on the whole ‘coming out as a couple’ thing?”

“Huh? What?” He was so cute when he was confused. I just stared at him, awaiting an answer. “No? Yes? I mean yes, of course.”

I kissed the stress off his face before he could yank his hand from mine to run it through his hair.

“Che Marchetti-Gordon is right through those woods. Come on.”

I could sense Campbell’s hesitation as he stayed a half step behind me, making me feel like I was dragging him to his doom. “It’ll be okay. My mom just got home. She’s chopping vegetables.”

Cam stopped in his tracks. We were halfway there, surrounded by trees.

“She’s the only one home.” I squeezed his hand. “It’s going to be fine.”

We emerged from the woods on the border between my parents’ property and our neighbors. For years, the neighboring house had belonged to Anna’s family, and our joint backyard, the small patch of woods we called the “forest,” and the gazebo and hill beyond it, had been our shared playground.

Anna’s parents had moved to Florida some years earlier, and the new owners had taken down the swing set that had been on their property. When my niece was born, my parents installed a more elaborate and modern outdoor play set on our side.

I was nervously sharing these details with Campbell as the yards opened up to us. Aside from the play set, our backyard housed an expansive paver patio with a firepit and outdoor kitchen. The weather was still cool, but it had been unseasonably warm, and my mother had texted that she was firing up the grill. She was fiddling with the knobs as we approached.

“Hiya, Ma.”

She glanced up briefly but went back to focusing on the grill.

“Joshua Anthony Marchetti-Gordon. Twice in one week. To what do I owe the pleasure? Ah-ha!” she exclaimed immediately after asking the question and before I could respond or introduce Campbell or get her to focus on us in any way. “We have fire!”

She looked up then, for the first time taking in the tall man who was squeezing my hand numb at that very moment. Her eyes darted from his face to our hands to my eyes.

Mom yanked a towel from the counter; it was under a tray of food that clattered as she quickly rinsed her hands in the outdoor sink and dried them on the towel.

Campbell and I walked around the counters and joined Mom in front of the grill.

“Hi there!” Mom started, her eyes darting from Cam to me.

“Mom, this is my boyfriend, Campbell Ryan. Cam, Dr. Natalie Marchetti-Gordon.” I didn’t think Campbell would ever let go of my hand, so I pointed between the two of them with my free hand as Mom stuck hers out, keeping her eyes on me.

“Boyfriend? Will wonders never cease? Are any of my boys not harboring secrets?”

Her eyes took in Campbell next. “Campbell, it’s lovely to meet you.” I squeezed Cam’s hand before letting it go. He shook my mother’s, and his face lit up in a smile that almost hid his nervousness.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Marchetti-Gordon.”

“Please, call me Natalie.” Campbell looked like he was going to protest. “Campbell Ryan? The hockey player?”

“What do you know about hockey?” I interjected in surprise.

“I would have guessed about the same amount as you before this moment. But Cam was mentioned at a faculty meeting the other day.” Mom gestured to the outdoor table at one corner of the patio, and we headed that way.

“Josh, grab your guest a soda or something.” She pointed to the outdoor refrigerator. “Your Dad got everything up and running out here before we left last week. I was worried about cold weather, but everything is in working order. I think he thinks we might grill next weekend before Easter.”

I nodded to Campbell to sit and was leaning over the fridge, grabbing two bottles of water and a beer for Mom, as she finished what she was saying. I stood and looked at her. “What? And break the tradition of pre-holiday pizza night? I think Jamie, AJ, Caid, and Hillary only come back here for the pizza.”

“Hey!”

I leaned in and faux whispered to Cam as I sat down, “It’s not true. Mom’s a great cook.”

“It’s just shish kabobs tonight, but I always make more than enough, so you boys are welcome to stay.”