Chapter 6
Six
Nash
In the Dream Boats workshop on Aidan’s property, my twin brothers loudly try to predict what kind of person Corey will be…and what state he’ll be in. They’re here working, ostensibly, but I know them better than that. They’re here in case they’re needed. In any way.
That’s just how the Fosters are as a family.
Protective of each other and the people we love.
Wren texted the group chat already this morning, explaining she has an appointment with the farrier today that she can’t miss because he’s booked solid over the Christmas period, but she’s around later if anyone needs her.
After Aidan revealed the depths of his concern for Rain while we were sailing a few weeks ago, my brothers and I have made even more effort to get to know Rain.
He’s come to Sunday dinner at Mum and Dad’s a few times, and we’ve all been to the pub at least once a week all together.
He seems to be settling in well, and he’s been spending time with Wren and Poppy, who is Chris’ wife, as well.
They run the café in the village and Wren, Poppy, and Rain regularly have lunch or coffee in there together.
It’s gratifying to see Rain coming out of his shell.
Although it’s been hard to watch Aidan fretting over him yesterday and this morning, while they got the house ready for Corey.
We all chipped in with cleaning and setting up the guest room, and as Rain got more and more nervous and excited, Aidan got more protective and grouchy.
I don’t think he’s worried about Corey himself, but rather what he might bring with him.
I’m here, medical bag already in the house after Rain begged me to check Corey over when he got here.
I told him I’d come prepared, but ultimately it was Corey’s decision.
Corey told Rain when they were messaging that he left London soon after Rain did, so it’s been several weeks at this point.
I’m hoping that if he did have any injuries, he’s either sought treatment or they have healed on their own.
But I’m ready to check him over, if he wants me to.
“Maybe he’s a secret member of the royal family in hiding because he’s gay?” Cole suggests, excitement at the prospect lacing his tone.
“I feel like someone in that family being gay would be the least of their concerns, at this point,” Archer says around a laugh.
Yikes. He’s right, I think to myself, but not for the first time, I wonder what happened to their brain-to-mouth filters.
I love all of my siblings deeply. They’re a part of me, truth be told, but honestly, sometimes I struggle to believe we’re related.
Aidan and I are a lot more similar, but these two scatterbrained reprobates? I’m not so sure.
I really shouldn’t refer to them as scatterbrained. I know they both have ADHD, and, as a doctor, I should have more empathy and understanding. I say it in jest, and only ever in my own head, but honestly, they would probably both say the same, and worse about themselves.
Particularly Cole. He may be a buff, muscled bloke with a brash sense of humour on the outside, but underneath his blasé attitude lies a very insecure man when it comes to his view of himself. I hate it because he’s such a caring guy and has so many talents, but he’s very hard on himself.
I check my phone and notice a message from Aidan letting me know they’re on their way back from the station.
“Oh, I missed a text from Aid. They left Attleborough twenty-five minutes ago, so they’ll be here soon.
Let’s go and put the kettle on,” I say, adjusting my form-fitting dark jeans as I stand from the slightly battered, old camping chair I’ve been occupying while the twins…
did wood stuff? I don’t even know what the word is.
Pax, Aidan’s dog – a large German Shepherd with a heart of gold – slumbers by my feet, his ears pricked as he listens out for his master’s return.
Aidan rescued Pax a few years ago after a holidaymaker left him abandoned on the boat they’d hired.
They blocked our number, and when Aidan reported them, they weren’t present at their home address either, so Aidan asked if he could keep him.
Ever since then, they’ve been attached at the hip.
Pax is a sweet dog who is incredibly attuned to people’s emotions, and he’s been a great support for Aidan when his anxiety is high.
We call Pax his ‘wholly unqualified emotional support animal’, but qualifications or not, he’s been a godsend for my brother.
Before I can head towards the heavy sliding door of the workshop, Pax perks up and immediately makes his way over to it and starts pawing at the ground, trying to get out.
He must hear Aidan’s car. I pull the zip up on my chunky navy blue woollen cardigan and brace myself for the biting cold outside.
It’s always a little bit colder here at Aidan’s home by the river than at mine in the village.
The water ‘holds the cold’, as we say here in Norfolk.
Pax races out through the slightest gap in the door as soon as I start to open it, impatient to get back to my brother’s side.
I laugh when he ignores Aid when he gets out of the Land Rover and goes straight to Rain, who fusses him enthusiastically.
A small, thin man is the last to exit the car, and he glances around nervously, seemingly unsure what to make of his new surroundings. I can’t see his face from here, as his back is to me, but his body is tense, shoulders hunched to his ears, and his hands open and close into fists.
I exit the workshop with Archer and Cole hot on my heels, but put my arm out to stop them, wanting to give Corey some space to acclimatise. Rain takes his arms and leads him inside. As they retreat, I move my arm, and the three of us make our way to Aidan.
“Morning,” Aidan says, his tone amused. He’s clearly not in the least bit surprised to find all of us here waiting for them.
He knew I would be here, but I think the twins are a surprise.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for Corey to be bombarded with everyone all at once,” he continues. We nod in agreement.
“We just wanted to be here… in case,” Archer says.
“Yeah, if somehow he was followed, we wanted to make sure that you weren’t just here with the two of them. We brought the muscle,” Cole adds. I roll my eyes at him. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, and we all know it.
“Rain is pretty strong. Stronger than he looks,” Aidan says, somewhat defensively.
“I don’t think he was followed. I was looking, but there was nobody around.
” I breathe out a sigh of relief, not relishing the thought of having two psychotic brothers to take on in what would inevitably become a physical altercation.
As confident about their status as ‘the muscle’ as Cole was a second ago, I hear him and Archer sigh in relief, too.
We’re not a family of fighters. The only time any of us ever got into a fight at school was when Archer kicked the shit out of some final year sixth-former who gave Cole some homophobic bullshit.
Archer got suspended from school, and our parents cooked his favourite dinner.
We may not be the instigators, but we’ll certainly celebrate being the ones to finish a fight when it’s for a good reason.
“Right, well, we’ll stay out here working, but maybe give us a shout for a cuppa in a bit so we can say hi? Depending on how he’s doing?” Archer says, tentatively.
“Yeah. Sounds good,” Aidan replies. “He seems OK. I just want to let him settle in. The Fosters can be a lot when we pile in together.”
His laugh reassures me that things really are OK. But my medical professional brain will not allow me to walk away without making damn sure. “Shall I come in and see if he’s OK? You know, physically?” I ask.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. C’mon.” Aidan slaps Archer and Cole on their shoulders before we both turn and head into the house.
As we enter, I notice the Christmas tree is already up, draped with lights, baubles, tinsel, the whole nine yards.
There’re even presents underneath it, stacked up prettily around the base.
The simple sight makes me smile. Aidan hasn’t bothered with a Christmas tree for years, his argument being that he always comes to Mum and Dad’s for Christmas Day, so what’s the point?
I think having Rain around has shown him exactly what the point is.
The rumble of the kettle boiling and Rain’s quiet voice can be heard from the kitchen.
We make our way there slowly, trying to allow Rain and Corey time to finish their conversation before we interrupt.
“-mazing,” Rain is saying. “He’s so kind and sweet.
Honestly, the complete opposite of him. His family will no doubt all turn up for some reason or other today, but they actually will just want to meet you and make sure for themselves that you’re OK.
They’re all really lovely. I feel like.. . I dunno. Like—”
“Like you have a family,” Corey says, his voice soft and lyrical.
“Yeah,” Rain whispers. “It’s really fucking nice.”
By the time I enter the kitchen behind Aidan, he has Rain in his arms already, face tilted up for a kiss.
“Told you,” Rain says over his shoulder to Corey, who laughs quietly before choking on the sound as his gaze snaps to me, wide doe eyes staring, his pretty mouth hanging open.
“Damn, Daddy,” he whispers quietly. I’m sure he thinks I didn’t hear him.
I did, but out of politeness, I choose not to draw attention to it, even if internally I feel myself start to preen just a little.
Not that my brother and his boyfriend seem to have the same sense of decorum, seeing as how they’re both trying, and failing, to hide their laughter.
Well, fuck.
Rain mouths something I can’t quite catch at Aidan, before stepping away from him.
“Tea?” he asks, and I grunt in agreement.