The Returnee

Chapter 17

They ended up being late to the brunch, but thankfully, Andy's train got delayed and he was also later than planned. Colin clung to Lee, then to Joey when Lee got claustrophobic. Devon had no issues, ignoring his stomach's protests at the idea of eating solid food.  All in all, the perfect setup for a first meeting between Andrew and the others. Not.

Joey rubbed Lee's back to encourage him to relax as they waited. It was hard when everything was set up against the meeting. 

Andrew arrived, his raincoat soaked from the morning rain, and his polished shoes squeaked against the floor of the restaurant.  Andrew smiled as he found them, taking his coat off and folding it over his arm carefully. 

"I'm sorry I'm late. The day that trains function as they are supposed to is a minor miracle," Andrew hugged him, slapping Lee's back firmly. Andrew wore one of his more expensive branded scents, which Lee associated with him. His shoulders fell. This was Andy, who could dislike him? 

"We had a slow start to the morning, too," Lee slapped back, not the watch Andrew was wearing. Similar to the fragrance, it was one of his more expensive ones. He stood back and eyed Andrew up critically. "Are you doubting your catch? You're dressed up fancy today."

"Do I look overboard?" Andrew brushed some imaginary dust off his suit jacket. "I planned to wear a different suit, but Lucy brought her baby in, cute, I don't think it's Marks, and I got hit with spitback, so I had to change. She was mortified, bless her."

"She's not exactly a natural mother," Lee nodded along. That wasn't an insult to Lucy. She'd learn, but she's been a little hopelessly optimistic about how often the baby would sleep and how quickly she'd be able to have a whole night's rest again. "The timing was suspicious, but Mark wouldn't have signed the birth certificate without being sure of it. He gets paranoid about that kind of stuff."

"I don't know. He was desperate to get her back." Andrew gave Lee a knowing look. "We know he's all talk, no bite."

Mark was a lush. "Met my friends," Lee gestured to the table, catching as Devon poked Colin to stop him from glaring at Andrew. Was that needed? Lee gave Colin a glare of his own, and Colin ducked his head, embarrassed.

"Joseph McCarthy at your service," Joey charmed as he stood, offering a hand to shake, exuding confidence and smiling broadly. "I'm one of the former associates at Hilltop Farm and Wellness Centre."

"A pleasure, Mr McCarthy. Lee said that you know each other through the programme," Andrew shook his hand firmly. Both men were pleased with the quality of the handshake, and Lee resisted rolling his eyes. 

"Call me Joey, please. Most do. It's certainly that's how he met Colin," Joey nodded, teeth flashing in a cheeky grin. "I'm one of the away-from-home operators now. I help people maintain good habits after they return home. It's easy to backtrack if you don't have someone checking over your shoulder."

"It's a good programme with solid reviews," Andrew praised. "Call me Andy."

"This is Colin," Lee introduced, moving to rub a hand over Colin's shoulders. Colin pressed back into him, uncertain so far. "And Joey's husband, Devon."

"Fantastic to meet you," Devon greeted, shaking Andrew's hand but with a less firm grip. Devon didn't have something to prove. "Lee speaks of you often and fondly. You two have worked together as long as he's been working for that company?"

"Indeed, we've known each other almost 14 years," Andy offered his hand to Colin. Colin half stood and shook it, but made no effort to talk to him. "Are you branching out to the auxiliary branches of your organisation if you met on the farm proper?"

"Auxarily?" Colin frowned.

"Something like that," Lee said, "Where would you want to be based if you did Joey's job?"