Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It was London show night. Josh stood in the foyer of the theatre, shifting from one foot to the other. He'd been the most nervous backstage. To the point where Hugh and Michael had banished him to the front of house.

Josh had a suspicion the staff were now starting to get annoyed with him too. He seemed to be under everyone's feet.

Then his face lit up as some familiar faces came through the doors. Mrs Wimpole, the Professor and Suzanne were waving at him.

"Where's Madeline?" he asked when they reached him.

"Giving it a few minutes," Mrs Wimpole said, drily. "She wanted to enter on her own."

The expression on her face told Josh all he needed to know about what she felt about that. However, Madeline had been playing the fame game for decades. He was grateful to her for lending her star power to the event in the first place.

"How is Hugh?" the Professor asked.

"Remarkably calm," Josh replied. "This is the big one though."

Mrs Wimpole took his arm. "I'm glad that interview worked."

Jessica, his editor friend, had come good on her offer of an exclusive. She had even rushed it through so it made the stands a week after Hugh and Michael had opened.

"'Our homophobic hell'," the Professor said. "Quite the headline. A pity you couldn't name the nasty little cretin."

Hugh had put his foot down about that. Whilst he despised his stepfamily, he refused to put his mother through public judgement.

Flashbulbs from outside lit up the reception.

"I suspect Ms Morrison is arriving," Mrs Wimpole said.

It appeared the delicate truce had disappeared.

Madeline came through the doors to gasps from other people milling around the foyer. She looked incredible in a gold beaded dress, her dark curls falling around her shoulders.

"Josh."

She came over and flung her arms around him.

"I've missed you."

He'd been away nearly a month now.

"Aww I've missed you all too."

"Will you be coming home for Christmas?" Mrs Wimpole asked.

It was only a few weeks away. Josh hadn't even thought about it.

"I hope to," he replied.

"Good," Mrs Wimpole said, taking the Professor's hand. "Because we'd like you to be at our wedding."

Josh's jaw dropped. "Already?"

"At our age there's no sense in waiting," the Professor said.

Mrs Wimpole rolled her eyes. "And I thought it was because you were desperate to get your hands on me."

The Professor went scarlet, which made them all laugh.

"And things with Hugh?" Madeline asked.

"Perfect."

The show was going great guns. The premise was the village where Henrietta Harlton (Hugh) and Professor Gwendolyn Huffam (Michael) lived had come under alien attack. The two heroes were ready to defend their homes in Little Fanny against these intruders.

Josh and his neighbours had front row seats. He kept glancing across at Mrs Wimpole and the Professor. They had grinned the entire time. He also noticed they'd held hands too.

Suzanne caught his eye and winked. He settled in his seat. Everything was coming up roses, that was for sure. If only he could send a message to himself a year ago to let him know that the pain would be worth it.

Instead he watched Hugh. The costumes were fantastic under the stage lights. Most of the action had taken place in the local pub, The Scruffy Beaver.

"I think we're done for," Professor Huffam said, clutching Henrietta.

"Nonsense," she replied. "I led the charge against the Women's Institute of Slack Bottom. I will not surrender. Not now. Not ever."

Hugh had Mrs Wimpole down perfectly. Josh could well imagine Queens Crescent would be the last place on earth to surrender if they experienced a similar invasion.

"You are magnificent," Professor Huffam replied. "Tell me what I must do, Henrietta."

"Summon the bowling club. They will be our first line of defence," she ordered. "Then call on the gardeners to raise their hoes."

She walked centre stage. Josh smiled up at her.

"My mother told me a poem for times of need, Professor. Would you like to hear it?"

"Oh please."

She held her hands together. Quick as lightning, Henrietta glanced down at Mrs Wimpole and winked.

Once more unto the breach we go

To save Little Fanny from our foe

We may be small, we may be weak

But Little Fanny is never meek.

Stay strong, my friends, we will not fail

Little Fanny must prevail

The fight is ours to win

My fellow fannies, you are my kin.

The audience gave her a rousing round of applause.

Henrietta turned to Professor Huffam, who was also clapping.

"You are the perfect guardian of our Little Fanny, Henrietta. What will you do while I'm rallying the troops?"

Henrietta held her hand. "I am going out there. If I don't make it back alive, you know what to do."

Professor Huffam grabbed her again. "What are you going to do?"

Henrietta took a deep breath and stared out at the audience. "I'm going aboard that spacecraft to give them a piece of my mind. No one tries to invade my Little Fanny and gets away with it."

The curtain went down on the interval to rapturous applause. No one was cheering louder than Josh. He'd seen the show countless times and still got carried away by it all.

Mrs Wimpole and the Professor were still giggling.

"Oh this is wonderful," Mrs Wimpole declared.

"What a talent," the Professor added.

Josh beamed. He couldn't wait to tell Hugh what his muses thought.

The show got another standing ovation, this time led by Mrs Wimpole who'd jumped to her feet before the final number had finished.

Josh knocked on the dressing room door. Hugh answered it. He was already out of drag.

"Wow, you move quickly."

"I want to get to Mrs Wimpole's," Hugh said.

The happy couple had insisted on throwing a little midnight soiree to celebrate Hugh and Michael. Knowing Mrs Wimpole, it would be lavish.

"Michael's in the shower," Hugh explained. "Come here."

He pulled Josh close and kissed him. The feel of Hugh's lips on his still sent shockwaves through Josh. Long may it continue.

The moment was disturbed by a knocking on the door.

Hugh moved away, frowning. "I told them I didn't want to see anyone tonight. We've got places to be."

He opened the door and let out a little yelp. A short woman with a blonde bob and nervous expression stood there.

"Mum."

Josh would have known who she was if he'd spotted her in the street. She and Hugh were so alike.

"Can I come in?"

Hugh stood aside and let her enter the room. She immediately spotted Josh and nodded.

"I'm Josh. I'll leave you to it."

"No, Josh," Hugh's mother said. "I won't keep you. Donald has told me everything. Hugh, I'm so very sorry that he did this."

Josh read the indecision on Hugh's face.

"You weren't to know," he said.

"Hugh, you're my son and the man I love hurt you. That doesn't make me feel good. Believe me when I say it will never happen again."

Hugh nodded. "I can't pretend to like him."

"I don't expect you to. I did have a question. Could we have time together again? You were so wonderful tonight."

Let your guard down. Please.

Hugh glanced at Josh, who gave him a wink.

"I'd love it," Hugh said.

He flung his arms around his mother, who sobbed as he drew her close.

"Darling, I took my eye off the ball. I am so very sorry."

Hugh glanced up at Josh and mouthed " I love you ."

Suddenly Michael burst out of the bathroom wrapped in only a towel.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Oh hello, Mrs Hogg."

"Michael," she said.

"What's the matter?" Hugh asked.

Michael came over to him and took hold of his hands. "You're never going to believe this. How do you fancy spending Christmas in New York, baby?"

"New York?"

"We've been offered a six-week residency."

Josh's heart plummeted. He'd got Hugh back and now he was going to be across the Atlantic. He forced a cheery expression onto his face.

"That's amazing news," he said.

His heart didn't really believe it.

Mrs Wimpole had done them proud. Her Christmas decorations were already up and twinkling. The kitchen was full of food and drink whilst Christmas songs blared out in the drawing room.

Most of Queens Crescent were there. Josh thanked fate that he had them all in his life. He hadn't changed his mind about selling up. It was time.

He was in Mrs Wimpole's sunroom, staring out into the garden. Of course it could rival anything at Chelsea Flower Show.

"Penny for them?"

He turned to find Madeline standing before him.

"I was just thinking. What a bloody year this has been."

She squeezed his arm. "But you've survived and look at what you've got. A hot new man that people actually like and a brand-new business to throw yourself into. Not bad."

"True. Plus I'm happy. Really truly happy. Despite other people's intentions."

"Any word from that woodlouse you married?"

"He's accepted my offer. My lawyer reckons we can rush the paperwork through."

Madeline sighed. "So you're putting your house on the market?"

"No choice."

She drained her glass of champagne. "What a piece of shit. Where will you live?"

"I will still be okay," Josh replied. "I'll find an apartment somewhere. I don't need a massive house anyway."

His friend didn't look convinced. She, of all people, knew what Queens Crescent meant to him. However, the more he'd thought about it, the more a fresh start appealed to him.

"I won't see you," she said with a pout.

"I'll be slaving away on drag queen dresses most of the time. I promise though, when you're in town, we'll see each other all the time."

She kissed his cheek. "You're a special man, Josh Winterton."

Hugh came over and snaked an arm around Josh's waist.

"Are you making a move on my man?"

Madeline smiled. "I wouldn't dare. I'll leave you to it. I want to have a poke around upstairs. I don't think Mrs Wimpole will invite me into her house again."

Josh and Hugh laughed as she set off on her mission.

"What were you two talking about?"

"Just how happy I am," he replied.

Hugh guided him over to a sofa in the corner. They sat.

"You don't have to say yes right now," he said. "But would you come to New York?"

"Of course," Josh replied. "I'll come for Christmas."

"No. I mean, the whole run."

Josh grabbed Hugh's hand. "Are you serious? I thought you'd want to focus and not have me getting in the way."

Hugh grinned. "You're banned from backstage before a show. Not my decision, Michael's. Other than that, I quite like you under my feet."

"Has Michael agreed?"

Hugh nodded.

"Then I'd love to."

"Good, because I don't want to be away from you," Hugh said. "I love you too much."

Other men had told Josh they loved him. He'd never truly believed it until now.

"Say it again," he said.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He buried his nose in Hugh's curls. There were going to be a lot of changes in the future. That much was evident. Yet with this man in his arms, Josh knew that he could face whatever shape they took.

At last, he was home.

Thank you for reading The Good Neighbour .

If you liked it, I'd be grateful for a review on Goodreads or Amazon.