“Welcome home,” his Ma said, as bags and children were collected and swept towards the car park.
With the gang of adults and kids, all firing questions and wanting to tell Aydin their news, the trip went quickly.
Aydin was glad for the distraction. He had been expecting Charles, and possibly his Ma. He hadn’t been expecting to be assailed by acute homesickness.
If it wasn’t for the rowdy trip, he may have spent the whole journey sobbing in his ma’s lap!
Emotion caught him, however, when they pulled up outside his parent’s house.
Everyone laughed at him as his eyes went wide, and wet. There were balloons everywhere, dancing in the breeze. Shamrocks, and Empire State buildings, unicorns, and welcome homes.
Rainbow flags and bunting were draped all over (well, his parent’s had never been subtle), and handmade pictures adorned the windows.
Charles beeped as they pulled to a halt and the door opened almost immediately. Aydin’s dad hurried down the path as Aydin half fell out of the bus and into his arms. Burying his face in his dad’s shoulder.
“Ah, it’s good to see you, son.” His dad pulled back and handed him an old fashioned handkerchief. “It’s clean. I came prepared.”
Aydin snorted. “Thanks, Pa.” It was only after he wiped his eyes, he saw about thirty neighbours had also piled onto the street.
It became a party at that point.
Several hours later, and close to exhaustion, Aydin felt a hand on his arm and turned to see Father Donlevy.
“I wonder if I might have a word?”
Aydin excused himself and walked a few steps to privacy. Sneaking the remains of some cake to the neighbour’s dog as they passed. He was stuffed from all the goodies that had been provided by both his family and the neighbourhood.
“How are you, Father?”
“Good. I’m well. I wanted to thank you again for introducing me to Father Michael.”
Aydin had linked the two men and they played chess together online. Sometimes their games went on for several weeks as they contemplated moves.
“Maybe I’ll introduce you in person one day.”
“Ah, wouldn’t that be grand.” Father Donlevy smiled, but then turned more serious. “I just wanted to speak with you about a couple of things.”
“Of course?”
“First of all. How are you?”
Aydin realized immediately that he was referring to the homophobic attack by his friend’s brother. “I haven’t told my family,” he said quietly as he glanced around.
“Yes, I know. Father Michael said you didn’t want to worry them.”
“It’s just,” Aydin sighed a little. “I’m so far away, and it’s something they particularly worry about.”
Father Donlevy patted his arm reassuringly. “I understand, Aydin. But Father Michael told me you were injured.”
“I had a concussion, but I’m fine now. Some headaches, but nothing for several days. It’s partly why my business partner sent me on this trip.”
Father Donlevy searched his eyes for a moment but then seemed convinced. “It’s a relief to me that you have Father Michael to keep an eye on you.”
“He’s great.”
Father Donlevy nodded. “He also tells me you haven’t attended Mass in some time.”
“Ah.”
“As in, ever!”
Aydin winced. “Father. You know I’ve never been a big church goer. I have the greatest of respect for you, but please don’t be offended, I’m just not religious.”
“It’s not just about religion, Aydin. It’s about your roots. The familiar. It’s about community and support.”
“I see Father Michael regularly,” Aydin defended.
“Yes, he keeps me up to date. It’s good that you both have someone to practice your Gaelic with.”
“He’s much better than me!”
“Aydin!”
Aydin fell silent and bit his lip. Feeling like a child as he met Father Donlevy’s eyes.
“Christmas Mass. That’s all I ask.”
“Christmas?”
Father Donlevy nodded.
“Yes, Father.”
Father Donlevy brought him into a quick hug. “Thank you. You know where I am if you need me.”
“Thank you, Father. I’m okay, I promise.”
He hadn’t had time to seek out Father Donlevy again. Only being in Ireland for four days.
It felt more like four minutes that Shauna and his brother in law, Colm, drove him back to Dublin.
Shauna crushed his ribs in a goodbye hug. “Don’t be sad. You have Ma and Pa visiting in a few months, and then it’s our turn.”
Aydin gave a strange snort-snuffle into her shoulder. It was true that although this had been his first trip to Ireland since he left. His family hadn’t let him go more than six months without a visit.
Last year, Connor had given up his bedroom to Charles and his wife, their three kids sharing the spare room. Connor had bunked down in the kitchen. It was a good thing there was a shower and bathroom shoehorned in next to the store room.
Connor wouldn’t hear of Aydin’s family staying in hotels. He was a good mate.
Aydin had his green card. He had known since he was ten that New York would be his forever home. His whole family did. Since the first time he saw a poster of the famous ‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper’ image, he had been fascinated.
But he didn’t think he would be able to wait another eight years before coming back to Ireland again. He hadn’t realized how badly he needed this trip.
With love ringing in his ears, and a heart swollen with a whole confusion of emotions. Aydin caught his flight to Heathrow, and then transferred for Bangkok.
-X
And from Bangkok to Loei.
Aydin was hanging by the time he stumbled out of the airport and into the arms of his oldest friend.
He and Sean had grown up together in Ballycotton. Sean was the first person he had come out to, and had held his hand while he trembled and told his family. (Which actually had been totally fine. As they had, like, guessed already. DUH!)
He had also beaten the snot out of Kelvin Gallagher, after Kelvin called Aydin some names, that on reflection, Aydin very much doubted Kelvin had understood the meaning of at thirteen years old.
Aydin and Sean had left Ireland on the same flight. Parting at Heathrow. Aydin for New York and Sean for Thailand. They hadn’t seen each other since, and both sobbed without shame as they hugged at the airport.
There had then followed an exhausting drive. Over an hour, the last half of which was on tracks rather than roads. Deeper and deeper into what seemed to Aydin to be some sort of untouched tropical paradise.
Until they pulled up and he left the air-conditioned truck. The humidity nearly sent him to his knees.
Sean had hurried around the car and half carried him into the house. Where he was greeted by Sean’s wife, Mai. And his two children, Beam (who was like a miniature version of her Mom), and Sophon (who was more a mix of his parents, with clear western influence and curiosity in his eyes).
Aydin knew them all from phone video chats, but it was incredible to be able to touch and hug.
However, Mai had clearly seen his exhaustion and he had been fed, then sent straight for a shower and bed. Waking up a fraction over thirteen hours later.
Still yawning, but freshly showered, he had wandered into the kitchen to find Beam and Sophon. They had fetched him water and some food, and they had chatted. Aydin had asked about the correct greeting and been charmed by the five year old Beam coaching him.