A Starling's Awakening

Trouble In Paradise

The start of the school year saw Raina return to high school for her junior year. Bret began taking classes at Trickle Creek Community College. He'd spent the summer accumulating the tools he would need. He continued working part-time for Halston Brothers Excavation.

Josh and Shannon started their freshman year of high school. Shannon joined the cross-country running team. She went running with her teammates most afternoons.

When Raina arrived home, the second Friday of the school year, Josh was with her. He was rather sullen, and refused to talk.

I asked, "Josh, what's wrong?"

"Nothing you can help me with." He sat down at the dining table, and opened a text book. Raina joined him to work on her assignments.

Twenty minutes later, Mike, Shannon's twin brother, knocked on the door. He's Josh's best friend. Like Shannon, Mike had black hair, and green eyes. He had a thin build. Raina let him in.

Mike said to Josh, "Dude, I heard something went down between you and my sis. What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Did you two like break up or something?"

"Or something."

Raina said, "Josh, that's not an answer."

"I don't have an answer." I started dinner while they finished their homework.

When Bret arrived home, he took Josh into our bedroom, and closed the door. They didn't come out until Raina told them dinner was ready.

Barney asked, "Bret, what did you and Josh discuss?"

"His relationship with Shannon."

"Care to enlighten us?" Bret looked at Josh, who shook his head no.

"It's between us. They should be fine in a few days."

Bret drove Mike and Josh home. He was gone for almost two hours. When he returned, we cuddled on the sofa.

"Why were you gone so long?"

"Talking to uncle Robert and aunt Helen about Josh."

"What about Josh? Are he and Shannon really having that many problems?"

"She let her temper get the best of her, and Josh reacted badly. That's all I am able to tell you. I promised to keep the rest between him and I."

A week later, Josh and Shannon seemed to be doing okay. It appeared to be just another bump in the road for them.

Dear Diary, I still can't believe what a great husband Bret is. Not only is he a loving, doting husband and a gentle father, he's a man of integrity. And I get to spend the rest of my life with him!