Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 93: Brian and Josh

"Is that Uncle Brian and Josh?" Nathan returns to his excitement at the sound of the doorbell, excitedly following Shayne and Dianne towards the entryway. Dianne reaches the door first, opening it with a bright smile.

"Merry Christmas! Come in, come in," she greets them, stepping aside to let them step inside.

"Hi! I'm Nathan, are you Josh?" Nathan speaks before anyone else is able to, attention directed towards the new entrant to the room. Shayne barely manages to stifle his laugh in response.

"Hey Nathan, yeah, that's me! How are you?" Josh greets him, matching his excited tone as he leans down slightly so he can talk to him more freely.

"I love Christmas! And when everyone comes to grandma and grandpa's place!" he responds, enthusiastically.

"Of course, Nath," Shayne steps in to join the conversation, although his interjection is mostly designed to get Nathan to divert his attention for a moment and let the adults do introductions. It works, Nathan stepping back to let Josh stand up properly again.

"Good to see you, Brian," Shayne turns to greet him directly, giving him the opening.

"You too- um, guys, this is Josh, my partner. Josh, this is my brother Shayne, and my Mum," Brian introduces everyone, "and of course my nephew, Nathan – he's our other brother Chris's kid."

"So glad to be able to meet everyone," Josh speaks up, glancing between Shayne and Dianne with a smile.

"Of course, lovely to meet you – you can call me Dianne, by the way," Dianne speaks up.

"Yeah, really great to meet you Josh – you guys want to come through, say hi to the others?" Shayne offers, leading everyone back through into the open living area. He feels Brian and Josh fall into step just beside him, and he quickly glances to his side to see Josh quickly squeeze Brian's hand in a clearly comforting gesture, evidently able to interpret his nerves well.

"Ah, Brian! Merry Christmas, and this must be Josh?" Rob moves over to greet them, Brian quickly giving an introduction as he shakes his Dad's hand in their usual greeting, Rob then holding out his hand much the same to Josh.

"You have a really nice home, it's so wonderful and bright and open," Josh comments, and although it's small talk, it sounds genuine.

"Oh, thank you- yeah, we only moved here about 18 months ago, we're really happy with it," Rob nods, before stepping aside a little as the final four people in the room move forward to greet them, Rosie clinging nervously to her mother's side as Chris rests a comforting hand against Julie's lower back, and Courtney wanders up beside Shayne.

"Oh, and Josh, this is Shayne's w- uh, fiancé, Courtney," Brian starts, introducing them, Courtney greeting Josh and laughing at Brian's slip up.

"Not quite wife, but yes, I keep doing that too," she grins, and just as she'd hoped, the adults standing around laugh lightly at her over it, too.

"And of course-," Brian starts, turning to the last three people, "this is my other brother Chris, his wife Julie, and Rosie."

Julie and Chris both give acknowledging nods to Brian, but they quickly turn to happily greet Josh, before Julie shifts to trying to prompt Rosie out of her sudden shyness at meeting someone new until she too gives a quiet hello and a wave to Josh.

"She can be a bit of a nervous one, she wouldn't even look at me when I first met her, but she's quite enthused by my company now," Courtney jokes.

"Oh, of course, one of my sister's kids is totally the same, takes him a little bit to open up to new people, but that's fine, give it a little time," Josh nods, before turning his attention to Chris and Julie, "Nathan's the energetic kid, hey?"