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Photographer in the Park	By : NutsAboutHarry Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Joshua Bell Views: 1770 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not know Joshua Bell (Do you think I'd be writing fan fic about him if I did?) the following story is TOTAL FICTION the prouct of my extraordinarily overactive imagination. No profit of any kind is made from the writing and publishing of this story!

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
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‘Alright boys bedtime for you’ Josh said to Josef, Sam and Ben weeks later during the week of Thanksgiving ‘we all have to be up early to catch a plane tomorrow. Say goodnight to Louie’

Josef was the first to wrap his chubby little arms around Louisa’s neck and hug her.
‘Night night Louie’ he said sleepily his voice muffled by her long hair ‘see you in the morning’

‘See you in the morning mischief’ Louisa said rubbing her nose against his ‘hope you like the spare room. I know it’s not your own’

‘Iss okay Loo Boo’ Josef said with a toothy grin putting a hand on either side of her face ‘welax’

Josh let out a snort of laughter.
‘C’mon mister’ he said in amusement ‘won’t be long’ he added.

‘Take your time’

Louisa lay back on the sofa and closed her eyes thinking about the trip to Indiana the following morning. The week away with Josh and his boys was a big step for her emotionally and the prospect of meeting all of Josh’s family was causing a constant feeling of nervousness to swoop through her stomach. She was lost in her own little world daydreaming about what was to come when she felt something loom over her and Josh’s warm lips press themselves to her forehead.

‘You’re worrying about something’ he said as her eyes fluttered open ‘tell me’

‘Nah you don’t want to know’ Louisa said sheepishly.

‘Shouldn’t I be the one to decide that?’ Josh said sitting down and wrapping his arms around her ‘tell me I won’t laugh’

‘I’m nervous’ Louisa said after a long silence.

‘About what?’

‘Meeting your family, meeting your Mum, sisters and all your nieces and nephews’ Louisa said ‘it’s a big thing to meet the family of one’s boyfriend something I’ve only done once before in my life and that was ages ago’

Josh kissed her temple.
‘You’ll be fine’ he said ‘none of them bite. A couple of the young ones might get a but gummy but that’s about it’

Louisa rolled her eyed as Josh laughed.
‘Ha ha’ she said dryly this is just a big thing for me you know? I’m so much younger than you and-‘

‘Sweetheart you’ll be fine’ Josh said ‘no one back home gives a rats ass how old you are. All they care about is that you get on with the boys and make me happy. In fact the only person who has ever been ‘concerned’ with how old you are is Lisa and her opinion on you is not something I care about anymore’

‘She’s still got her knickers in a twist about us then?’ Louisa said idly playing with one of his shirt buttons.

‘Yeah but she knows I won’t hear anything against you so she’s stopped voicing her opinions’ Josh said stroking Louisa’s hair ‘I don’t know why even after all these months she’s still so hostile. It’s rather wearing to the look of death every time I go to pick the boys up. I’m just thankful nothing has happened in front of them....yet’

‘Do you think it will?’ Louisa asked in surprise.

‘Nah not really we’re both mature enough to realise arguing in front of our sons is not the best thing to do. They're at an impressionable age and will be for quite a while. That’s not to say when they're out of the room or in bed we’d not have a blazing row. We had one at the beginning of the month when I asked her if she would mind me introducing Jo to you. He was in the lounge room then and watching a Wiggles DVD and we argued in the kitchen. I’ve never used the F word so much in ten minutes in all my life’

‘You hardly every swear!’ Louisa exclaimed in surprise ‘I could count the times you’ve sworn in the time I’ve known you on one hand. You must’ve been feeling really angsty to swear like a trooper’

‘Yeah I was but the angst has lessened with each visit since. I’m hoping one of these says it won’t happen at all’

‘D’you think maybe she’s regretting dumping you?’ Louisa wondered playing with the bit of his chest hair that was poking out the top of his shirt.

‘It’s possible I don’t really care if she’s regretting it or not’ Josh replied ‘can we not talk about my ex girlfriend? It’s not a subject I like talking about’

‘Sorry’ Louisa mumbled sheepishly turning bright red ‘I didn’t mean to upset you’

‘That’s alright’ Josh said with a tired sigh ‘are you going to bring your Violin and Viola with you to Indiana?’

‘I wasn’t going to’ Louisa replied ‘would you like me to?’

‘Of course we jam all the time here in New York a week away shouldn’t mean we have to stop’ Josh said running his hands up and down her back ‘you’ve nearly got Paganini’s 24th Caprice down pat’

‘That piece is a head fuck’ Louisa groaned burying her face in his chest ‘I hate you for suggesting me try and learn it’

Josh laughed heartily.
‘No you don’t’ he said with a snort ‘you just hate you have a pathological need to get something right. You hate the fact the Caprice is driving you nuts. Not me who challenged you to try it to start with’

‘You’re a shit Joshua Bell’ Louisa said rolling her eyes ‘you did that to annoy me are you like this with all your students?’

‘No only the ones who are my girlfriend’ Josh said with a chuckle ‘you’re lucky I only go for thirty year old, tall, shapely, red headed Australian women’

‘Ha ha hardi har’ Louisa said dryly.

‘But to be serious for a second yes I am like that with all my students’ Josh went on ‘I challenge each of them to learn a difficult piece. But with you I consider you my girlfriend first and foremost, student a distant second’

Louisa crawled further up the sofa and pressed her lips to his.
‘You’re sweet’ she whispered when they pulled apart ‘I was thinking about something earlier’

‘Hmm and what was that?’ Josh murmured kissing her neck and kneading her backside.

‘Well you know I’m not ready to go all the way yet but I don’t want to sleep alone. I’d like to have you with me if you’d like to’

Josh stopped nibbling on her neck.
‘Are you sure?’ he said softly kissing the bridge of her nose ‘you don’t have to you know’

‘I know J I think I just have to get used to the idea of a man in bed with me’ Louisa said ‘you know I want to go to that point with you but only when I’m ready and I’m not quite there yet’

‘I understand’ Josh said nibbling on her bottom lip ‘just so you know I’m ready when you’re ready no pressure’

‘Wish I’d met you ten years ago’ Louisa said dryly ‘I only had to travel halfway around the world to find you’

‘But you did and we’re having fun aren’t we?’ Josh said with a grin.

‘Except with the twenty fourth Caprice’ Louisa said dryly.

‘Hey you’re the only one not having fun with it I’m having the time of my life’ Josh said with a great snort of laughter.

Louisa slapped his chest playfully.
‘That’s because you can play it on your ear you goof off’ she said dryly ‘you get off on seeing me squirm’

‘Oh that doesn’t sound dirty at all’ Josh chortled his face turning bright red.

Louisa sat up and crossed her arms across her chest.
‘I hate you’ she mumbled avoiding his gaze.

Josh sat up and swept aside her ponytail.
‘No you don’t he whispered in her ear then dipping his head to kiss the nape of her neck

Louisa shivered.
‘No I don’t’ she whispered as Josh’s hovered his hands over her cleavage.

‘Can I touch you?’ Josh whispered ‘I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with’

Louisa turned her head sideways and kissed him.
‘Go on’ she murmured ‘I’m getting more and more comfortable with you J I’m ready for anything but stripping off totally’

‘But partly?’ Josh whispered in amusement and he gently massaged her breasts.

Louisa playfully elbowed him in the stomach.
‘IF you behave’ she said with a giggle ‘Mmm that feels nice’

‘Just think it gets better than this’ Josh said circling her nipples lazily ‘trust me when you’re ready it’ll be great’

‘You’re not just saying that because you’re a guy and guys like getting a bit?’ Louisa said with a giggle.

‘No definitely not it’ll be great because you made sure you were ready and it was with the right person’ Josh said ‘that is why I’m waiting til you’re ready. Because I’m sure you’re the person I want to be intimate with’

Louisa kissed him hungrily.
‘You’re sweet’ she murmured putting his hands on her stomach ‘glad you’re straight because most guys as considerate as you are gay as fruit baskets’

‘You know this from personal experience?’ Josh murmured as his hands drifted up her abdomen and under her shirt.

‘Uh huh I do one of my friends from Uni was gay and he’s the most considerate person I’ve ever met’ Louisa said as Josh worked his fingers under her bra underwire ‘every other straight man I’ve met have been total buttholes’

‘Lean forward a bit’

Louisa leaned forward and Josh ever so slowly worked her top up and over her head. He then discarded it and kissed her neck before gently unsnapping her bra and flicking that off. Louisa shivered when Josh ran his hands down her arms and nibbled on her earlobe.

‘You’re good at that’ she said leaning back into his embrace with a contented sign.

‘What undressing women?’ Josh said with a chuckle ‘yeah I have to say I am’

You’re funny’ Louisa said with a soft laugh ‘all you blokes think you’re good at undressing women’

‘No we think we’re good at undressing our women’ Josh said tickling her breasts absentmindedly ‘are you alright with this?’

Louisa snuggled into him with a sleepy sigh.
‘Uh huh’ she said closing her eyes momentarily ‘I’m very comfy. I could even sleep here like this’

‘Don’t you think we’d be more comfortable in a bed?’ Josh said with a chuckle ‘we can stretch out there’

‘Is that a euphemism Mr Bell?’ Louisa said with a giggle.

‘I’ll let you decide that darling girl; I’ll let you decide that’

*********************************************************************************

Josh and Louisa were yanked from their sleep at five o’clock the next morning by Louisa’s alarm clock blasting its way into their consciousness.

‘Five AM is far too early to be getting up’ Josh groaned as Louisa leaned over and hit the snooze button.

‘We have to get going now out flight leaves at nine’ Louisa said sleepily leaning over and kissing him on the lips ‘and we have to get Josef, Sam and Ben up and going then call a taxi’

Josh buried his face in his pillow and groaned loudly.
‘I knew I should’ve booked and evening flight’ he mumbled.

Louisa patted him backside.
‘You can sleep in while I shower’ she said in amusement ‘then you have to get ready and get your darling child up’

‘Oh great that’ll be a joy’ Josh said dryly watching her wander into the ensuite ‘looking good this morning Beautiful!’

‘You were just staring at my arse!’ Louisa called with a giggle.

‘Of course I was its worth staring at!’

*********************************************************************************

Finally at six thirty everyone was ready to go. The taxi arrived at seven and soon after they arrived at La Guardia Airport.

‘I think you three are travelling with more gear than your Dad and I monster’ Louisa said as Josef snuggled up to her sleepily his head resting on her shoulder ‘what have you packed?’

‘Everything’ Josh said dryly ‘Their suitcase contents would put the stuffed toy department of FAO Schwartz to shame. Next time we go anywhere you’re travelling light boys’

‘Aw but Daddy weneed everythin!’ Josef said with a yawn ‘Teddy an’ Lion an’-‘

‘Next time you’re only taking two each’ Josh said firmly ‘you know Nanna has toys for you when you’re visiting. No complaining okay?’

‘Okay’

Josh, Louisa, Josef, Ben and Sam checked in then made their way into the United First Class Lounge.

‘So who’s picking us up?’ Louisa asked as Josef fell asleep in her arms.

‘Rachel Mom’s lecturing at the University and can’t get away’ Josh said ‘she’s got lunch free though so once we’re settled at the house I’ll take you to the University and we’ll take Mom into town and have something to eat’

‘Are you going to teach while we’re in town?’

‘Nope this week away for us is a holiday’ Josh replied firmly ‘when I play it’ll be for fun not to pass on any peals of wisdom ‘I’ll teach there in the future but it’ll be a specialised teaching trip. I don’t mix business and pleasure’

‘I’m glad of that’ Louisa whispered in his ear ‘pleasure is much more exciting’

Josh kissed her and winked.
‘It is’ he said.

*********************************************************************************

At half past eleven local time Josh, Louisa, Josef, Sam and Ben's plane touched down in Indiana. Josef pressed his nose up against the window and excitedly watched the ground rapidly approach.

‘Almost there Loo Boo!’ he said brightly tugging on Louisa’s blouse ‘then we see Nanna!’

‘You see your Aunty Rachel first’ Louisa said in amusement as the plane touched down with a bump ‘we see nanna at lunchtime’

‘Yum I’m hungwy!’ Ben said brightly

‘You’re always hungry’ Josh said dryly reaching across Louisa’s lap and tickling his son on the belly ‘you have the appetite of a horse’

Ben giggled.
‘You thilly Daddy!’ he trilled squirming in his seat ‘I’m not a howse! Ask Loo Boo!’

‘No you’re not a horse but you eat like one most definitely’ Louisa said with a grin ruffling Ben’s hair ‘I see Shetland Ponies at work that eat less than you’

Ten minutes later the plane arrived at its assigned gate and the passengers began disembarking. Josh picked up Ben and put him on his hip and Louisa did the same with Sam and with his free hand fingers laced through Louisa’s he left the plane. Josef skipping beside them.

‘Well this is it’ Louisa said nervously.

‘What is ‘it’?’ Josh asked rubbing the pad of his thumb backwards and forwards across her hand.

‘This is where I first meet your family’ Louisa said ‘it’s nerve racking’

Josh pressed a kiss to her temple.
‘You’ll be fine’ he said ‘Rachel doesn’t bite I promise you. Neither does anyone else’

Ben suddenly saw Rachel across the arrivals lounge and began wriggling to get down.
‘AWNTY RACHEL!’ he shrilled waving madly.

‘Benjamin Bell pipe down!’ Josh scolded putting Ben down ‘no need to be so loud go on go and see her’

Ben took off like a greyhound after a lure.

‘You know if he doesn’t take up the violin he’d be well suited to being a track athlete he runs like the clappers’ Louisa said with a giggle as she put Sam down and he and Josef took after their brother. They reached Rachel and were each scooped up and swung around ‘he’s like a wind up toy he goes and goes and goes til he just drops’

‘I know and so does anyone who’s around him’ Josh said dryly slinging the strap of the Strad case over his shoulder more securely ‘I do anyway. I don’t know where he gets it from’

‘Maybe you?’ Louisa sad with a lascivious grin ‘I have the feeling you go like an Energizer Bunny then just drop’

‘You’ll find that out only when you’re ready sweetheart’ Josh said with a grin kissing the back of her hand

Josh and Louisa eventually made their way through the bustling crowd to where Rachel was waiting. She held her arms out and immediately engulfed her brother in a crushing hug.

‘Ooof Rach you’re crushing me!’

‘Oh bullshit I am not’ Rachel said affectionately slapping his arm.

‘Rach this is Louisa Louie this is my youngest sister Rachel’

Rachel gave Louisa a hug.
‘Great to finally meet you honey’ she said brightly ‘you have no idea ho much Josh has been banging on about you the last three months nearly’

‘Should my ears be burning?’ Louisa said with a giggle as Josh went bright red.

‘Nah it’s all been good glowing reports every time’ Rachel said with a giggle elbowing her brother ‘how about we collect your luggage and get back to the farm? I know Mom is really looking forward to seeing you two’

‘And us Awnty Rachel?’ Josef piped up.

‘Especially you guys monster’ Rachel said tickling Josef on the belly.

‘Are you coming?’ Josh asked as they pushed through the crowd making their way toward the luggage carousels.

‘Nah I can’t I have to head back to school I only got til after the lunch break off’ Rachel said making a face ‘But I’ll be coming over after school’s out to exercise Jester he hasn’t had a saddle on his back for a week and Mom reckons he’s getting a bit antsy’

‘He’s your horse then?’ Louisa asked in interest.

‘Yeah my fat lazy stupid Arabian gelding’ Rachel said rolling her eyes ‘when God was making Jester he didn’t spend much time in the brains department. He’s been an airhead since I bought him as a yearling ten years ago’

‘Well Arabs aren’t exactly known for their IQ levels’ Louisa said with a giggle.

‘Jester makes the rest of his fellows looks like members of Mensa’ Rachel said rolling her eyes ‘he’s definitely better at being really really ridiculously good looking than he is being smart’

What disciplines do you do with him?’

‘Oh everything, Showjumping, dressage, eventing, did a bit of endurance with him when he was younger but he’s better at prancing and dancing and jumping so I switched to that’ Rachel said ‘Up until he was old enough to be broken in I showed him in led in hand classes’

‘And he won everything too’ Josh said ‘the tack room even now is covered with all his ribbons and sashes’

‘Just as well I never entered him in anything that tested his intelligence he’d have finished last every time’ Rachel said with a laugh as they arrived at the luggage carousels.

Josh and Louisa collected all their luggage then made their way outside to the short term parking bay where Rachel had parked her four wheel drive.

‘Maybe I should’ve put the horse float on the back to fit all of your stuff’ Rachel said in amusement as they loaded the backs onto the backseat of the vehicle.

‘Hey Louie and I only bought one bag each all of this crap is the boys’ Josh said dryly.

‘Daddy said a bad word!’ Josef said

'Yeah I know’ Louisa said smacking Josh on the backside ‘there he got spanked for it’

‘I’m going to have a handprint there now’ Josh said rubbing his backside.

‘You’ll live’

Just over an hour later they arrived at a heavily wooded spacious property on the outskirts of Bloomington. An elegant black horse wrapped in a black and red rug followed Rachel’s car down the long drive and to the house letting out bellowing neighs all the way.

‘That is Jester’ she said breaking in front of the elegant two story house ‘he yells and screams at the car every time I come to the farm’

‘Aw Awnty Rachel he’s just sayin’ hi’ Ben said with a giggle ‘he wuvs you! Can I go say hello?’

‘How about you do that when I come back to ride after school monster?’ Rachel suggested cutting the engine ‘your brothers, Dad and Louie have to go and have lunch with Nanna’

‘Owkay!’

‘So what car have we got?’ Josh asked his sister as they passed two cars on their way into the house.

‘Mom said you can use the Beamer. Max took her into town today and she’s going to hire a care for you and Louie to use while you’re in town’ Rachel said unlocking the front door of the enormous old house and letting them inside ‘the keys should be on the kitchen bench’

They made their way into the house that smelled faintly of wood polish and frying onions.

‘Okay I hate to leave you guys but I really have to get back to school’ Rachel said apologetically ‘J you and Louie have your old room and the boys have the normal one next to Mom and Max’s room. Louie great to meet you I’ll see you later today when I come back to exercise Jester alright?’

‘Sure thing nice meeting you’ Louisa said brightly ‘see you later’

‘Bye!’

Rachel left and together Josh and Louisa dragged all the luggage upstairs.

‘So this is where you grew up huh?’ Louisa asked in interest as they reached the second landing.

‘Yeah we all grew up here’ Josh said fondly as they walked along the spacious hallway ‘I love coming back here apart from Gramercy Park this is the only other place I can truly relax. I’m just Josh Bell not Joshua Bell concert violinist’

‘Forgot about my place did you?’ Louisa said cheekily as the boys raced ahead raced ahead to their own bedroom Josef calling ‘we're gonna pway in our woom!’

‘Well there too’ Josh said sheepishly stopping at the third door and pushing it open ‘that’s only become a recent thing though’

Josh led Louisa into the room where the main feature was the enormous ornate king sized bed with black and ivory coloured linen. He strode over to the single bay window and threw open the curtains bathing the elegantly decorated room in early afternoon sunshine.

‘Well welcome to my old room’ he said with a sigh.

‘I’m guessing it wasn’t decorated like this when you were growing up’ Louisa said with a grin striding over and wrapping her arms around his waist ‘the paint looks new’

Josh dropped a kiss on her forehead.
‘No it wasn’t’ he said resting his hands on her hips ‘Mom had the house totally renovated in the middle of my tour. This is only the second time I’ve been home since then’

‘You know even though I’m looking forward to meeting your Mum a little part of me wishes we could just stay here and snog’ Louisa whispered in his ear as she kissed his neck ‘we are alone and you know the boys could amuse themselves for ages yet’

‘We’ll have to wait til we go to bed I’m afraid’ Josh said making a face ‘for the rest of the day all we’ll be doing is catching up with people. You’ll meet Max my stepfather later tonight and he’s into horses as much as you are. I think I’ll hardly have any conversation with you the rest of the night because you two will yak on for hours’

Louisa unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and pushed his collar aside nibbling along the line of his collarbone and chin rest callous.

‘Wish we could yak on for hours’ she whispered.

Josh worked his hands under her blouse and tickled her back.
‘Later tonight’ he murmured kissing her hungrily ‘god you smell divine’

‘You smell pretty good yourself Mr Bell’ Louisa said as Josh switched tactics and began nibbling on her neck ‘oooooooohhhhh that’s nice!’

‘We shouldn’t do this every time we do it gets harder and harder for me to control myself’ Josh groaned making a face.

‘It’s nice to know I can make you feel like that’ Louisa said with a grin going to her suitcase ‘actually that boosts my self esteem no end’

‘Good because you need something to boost your self esteem I think you think too lowly of yourself sometimes’ Josh said crouching down to slide his Strad under the bed.

‘D’you really think so?’

Josh hung up a pair of trousers in the wardrobe across the other side of the room.
‘Yeah I do’ he said firmly ‘though I suspect that’s all due to your asshole of an ex. What he did to you would crush anyone. I’m not a violent person but if I were to come across him he’d quickly find himself without his balls’

Louisa laughed heartily.
‘Thanks for being so chivalrous’ she said softly hanging up her black dinner dress on the back of the door ‘but he’s not worth it. Even all these years later he’s got more than a dozen people back home baying for his blood. There’s no point in you joining the queue. There wouldn’t be much left of him left after everyone had had their turn’

‘That bad huh?’

‘Oh yeah Freidrich wants to put a lit cigarette to his nuts and Kurt wants to belt the shit out of him with a length of garden hose. I won’t tell you what Leisl wants to do. That would be considered homicide’

Josh sniggered.
‘You’ve got a very loving family by the sounds of it’ he said.

‘Yeah I do I love all of them’ Louisa said with a smile ‘when I was doing temp work I could go home whenever I wanted and quite often I would go home. But now that I have a permanent job I have to restrict myself to Christmas and Easter’

‘So how long will you be gone for this Christmas?’

‘Two and a half weeks that’s all I can take off’ Louisa said sliding her violin and viola under the bed next to the Strad ‘if I was still doing temp work I’d go for a month’

‘So I won’t have to miss you too long then’ Josh said with a grin sitting on the end of the bed.

Louis kicked her empty suitcase under the bed and stood in front of him.
‘Not too long’ she whispered running her fingers through his hair and kissing him languidly ‘you might be able to come with me the year after’

‘I’d like that’ Josh said with a smile that made Louisa’s heart swell ‘you’re beautiful you know that?’

Louisa went pink.
‘I am?’ she mumbled.

Josh rested his hands on her hips.
‘You are’ he said ‘and you’re aaaaaaaaaaaall mine’

Louisa giggled.
‘Hey pal I don’t belong to anyone’ she joked ‘I’m your girlfriend not your slave’

‘And such a lovely looking girlfriend too’ Josh said with a grin lifting up her blouse and kissing her navel ‘Mmm you taste nice too’

Louisa felt her face burn hotly.
‘That feels nice but we have to get going soon’ she said softly combing his hair with her fingers ‘we have lunch with your Mum remember?’

Josh gave her a wink.
‘Yeah I remember’ he said with a cheeky grin ‘come on let’s find my sons and see what the hell they're up to then I’ll take you into town and introduce you to Mom’

They collected Josef, Sam and Ben from their room where they was engrossed in a Thomas the Tank Engine train set and were soon on their way into Bloomington Josh driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand resting on Louisa’s left leg.

‘You know is a cop sees you driving with only one hand on the wheel you’re going to get fined and possibly have the car confiscated and I don’t think your Mum would like it if you put her car in the impound lot’ Louisa said as they paused at a red light.

‘I’ll take the chance’ Josh said flashing her a wink ‘I’m sure if that happens I only have to say I was distracted by your stunning looks and they’ll let me off’

Louisa rolled her eyes.
‘You’re kissing up to me’ she said dryly lacing her fingers through his.

‘And is there any reason I shouldn’t?’

‘Nope you can do it all you like’ Louisa said with a giggle.

‘You gonna kiss Loo Boo Daddy?’ Ben asked cheekily from his booster seat in the middle of the backseat.

‘Not when I’m driving monster’ Josh said going pink as the lights turned green ‘maybe when we get to the University and before we go and see Nanna’

‘Oh you will will you?’ Louisa said with a raised eyebrow.

‘Sure I will’

And Josh was a man of his word. Twenty minutes later when they reached the University of Indiana campus he leaned across the console and kissed Louisa soundly on the lips. This made the boys giggle and clap happily.

‘Again!’ Ben shrilled.

‘No or we’ll be late for Nanna’ Josh said going pink ‘are you like this with your Mom?’

‘Yup!’

‘Who’d you start it with?’

‘Bofe!’

‘Sometimes I can’t believe I sired that child’ Josh joked as he and Louisa got out of the car ‘he has a sense of humour that’s neither his Mom’s or mine’

‘Maybe it’s skipped a generation’ Louisa said with a laugh as Josh opened the back of the car ‘did your Dad or does your Mum have a warped sense of humour?’

‘Actually you might have a point there Dad had weird ideas of what was funny’ Josh said as Josef, Sam and Ben poured out the car ‘c’mon guys you ready to see Nanna?’

‘Uh huh’

Josh held out his hand for Louisa and together they walked through the halls and departments of the campus til they entered the ‘Psychology and Mental Health Studies Faculty’ and to a large walnut coloured door with a sign on it reading ‘Dr Shirley Bell Faculty Head’

‘How about you knock on the door monster?’ Josh suggested to Josef ‘not too hard you don’t want to break the glass’

Josef leaned forward and with his chubby little fist knocked on the door loudly. There was a short pause and a smart ‘come in’

Josh reached forward and twisted the door handle and entered the office with Louisa and the boys close behind him. Behind the paper strewn desk was a tall medium height brunette woman in her mid sixties.

‘Joshua! Boys!’ she exclaimed brightly leaving her desk and striding over to her son and grandsons where she embraced them tightly ‘hello honey sorry I couldn’t meet you at the airport’

‘That’s alright Mom I’d like to introduce you to Louisa Louie this is my Mom Shirley’

‘Hiya honey wonderful to finally meet you’ Shirley said embracing Louisa ‘it’s only taken Joshua three months to bring you to Indiana’

‘Oh Mom don’t start!’ Josh groaned good naturedly.

‘I would’ve come before now Mrs Bell but I’ve only just started a new job and I had to bribe some friends to cover me for this week’ Louisa said apologetically ‘I would’ve come sooner’

‘That’s alright honey In know about your new job Josh told me all about it’ Shirley said ‘and none of this Mrs Bell stuff you can call me Shirley. Mrs Bell makes me sound far too old’

‘Can we go lunch now Nanna?’ Josef piped up ‘I’m hungwy!’

‘You’re always hungry munchkin’ Shirley joked putting her Grandson on her hip and making oinking noises ‘you’re a little piggy guts aren’t you?’

‘Nanna you thilly!’

‘Yes he is a little piggy guts’ Josh said dryly as his mother collected her satchel and handbag and left the office with them ‘all three of them are. Ben ate my and Louie’s leftover from morning tea on the plane. He puts away more than a racehorse’

He’ll turn into one and we can enter him in a three year olds allowance race at Aqueduct next weekend’ Louisa joked slipping her hand into Josh’s and squeezing it.

‘Loo Boo I’m not a howse!’ Ben insisted ‘I’m Ben!’

‘With a huuuuuuuuuuuuge’ appetite’ Louisa teased ruffling his hair ‘have you got room for lunch?’

‘Uh huh there’s always woom for lunch Loo Boo!’ Josef declared with the cheesiest grin Louisa had ever seen.

‘My son is a bottomless pit!’ Josh declared theatrically slapping his forehead.

‘You’re not kidding he is you were the same at his age’ Shirley said with a laugh.

‘Oh great now Mom’s going to spend the rest of the time we’re in Indiana showering you with stories about me when I was a kid’ Josh said to Louisa who giggled at Shirley’s comment ‘this is going to be embarrassing’

‘Aw I want to hear them all’ Louisa said with a grin ‘every last dirty detail’

‘No you don’t’ Josh insisted ‘I will tell you them myself and only when I’m so drunk I need to be carried to bed’

‘I better have a look about town for a liquor shop then huh?’ Louisa said with a laugh ‘what do you like? Vodka? Glenfiddy? I know Absinthe! That stuff is supposed to make you hallucinate!’

Shirley laughed heartily.

‘No liquor til Thanksgiving and no young Josh stories either’ Josh insisted ‘I have a reputation to uphold you know’

Louisa patted Josh’s cheek.
‘I won’t ask for any dirty stories on you’ she said with a lascivious wink ‘Shirley and I will just wait til we’re alone for some girl time and I’m sure beans will be spilled’

‘You two are conspiring against me!’

‘You got it honey that’s what women do best conspire’ Shirley said with a chuckle as they left the faculty building and headed out to the car park ‘plus I want to get Louie alone to chat one on one you’re one of the subjects bound to come up’

‘Lands sakes you two together that could be dangerous’ Josh said dryly as they reached Shirley’s car ‘Mom you know where we’re doing lunch d’you want to drive?’

‘No you can Hon I’ll sit in the back with Josef’ Shirley said ‘you know where Angelotti’s is don’t you? Go there that’s where I’ve booked us in for lunch’

‘Sure’

Within fifteen minutes the group arrived at Angelotti’s a smart little Italian Café in the centre of Bloomington and were seated at the back of the light airy restaurant near the bar.

‘Louie I need to go to the bathwoom’ Ben said in a small voice ‘will you pwease take me?’

‘You sure kiddo? You don’t want Dad to take you?’

‘Nuh uh’

‘Okay then come on excuse me guys’ Louisa said getting up and hoisting Ben onto her hip ‘won’t be long’

‘Take your time honey we’ll order when you get back’ Shirley said ‘remember to wash your hands munchkin’

‘Always Nanna!’

As soon as Josef and Louisa disappeared into the ladies bathroom Shirley turned to face Josh.

‘Josh I love her!’ she said enthusiastically ‘she’s so irreverent and happy!’

‘She’s wonderful isn’t she?’ Josh said with a sigh.

‘Uh oh I recognize the signs of a man stupidly in love’ Shirley said in amusement.

‘It’s not love yet Mom but it’s close to it’ Josh said with a goofy grin ‘after how things ended with Lisa I want to make sure it’s the real thing before I say its love. And I’m sure she’d feel the same way. Her last relationship didn’t exactly end happily ever after either’

‘What happened?’

‘She walked in on her fiancé and best friend screwing on the day of the wedding’

Shirley’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.
‘Oh Lord the poor girl!’ she exclaimed.

‘Yeah so this is new for both of us’ Josh said ‘but I love being in her company and Josef thinks she’s the best thing since sliced bread. They got on like a house on fire from the minute they met. Most times these days Louie is the one to put the boys to bed. I usually read to them and she usually plays a song on the Strad for them if she hasn’t brought over her own instrument. They zonk out before the end of Puff the Magic Dragon every time’

‘Sounds like she has a very maternal nature’

‘Yeah I suppose you’d call it that’ Josh pondered ‘all I care about is that she and the get along’

‘They get along famously by the sounds of it’ Shirley said with a smile.

‘Yeah they do’

‘She might be the one you know Josh you never know’ Shirley said sipping her mineral water ‘it might be too early from your point of view but from an outsiders point of view she’s your match your perfect compliment’

‘And it doesn’t matter to you she’s even younger than Rachel?’

‘No it doesn’t she’s a very old soul with a mature head on her shoulders’ Shirley said ‘age is only a number anyway. From what you’ve told me you share all the same interests but allow each other to be an individual. That’s how a relationship should be. You two might not be ready to say ‘I love you’ to each other yet but I can see you’re heading that way. In the hour I’ve seen you together I’ve seen you hold hands or touch each other or give each other covert looks. You remind me a lot of your father and I when we first got together. And we were married within a year of meeting each other’

‘Oh hell Mom you’re talking getting married and having kids Louie and I have only been together for a bit under three months it’s waaaay too early to be thinking that far ahead. I just want to be able to be with her and hold her for the moment’

‘And that’s how it should be’ Shirley said ‘but know that I approve of her darling she’s changed you, and for the better. You’re back to being my Joshie again’

Josh rolled his eyes.
‘Do not under any circumstance call me that in front of Louie’ he said going bright red ‘no one has called me that since I was a kid. Not even Nanna called me that and you know how big she was on pet names’

Shirley grinned.
‘I won’t do that’ she said ‘I promise’

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Photographer in the Park