Outrunning Shadows Book 1

         
         

Outrunning Shadows Book 1

A novel by Allen Mitchell

Chapter 1

Andrew awoke with a chirping sound in his ear. He opened a bleary eye and knew his phone was announcing an incoming video call. His alarm was not scheduled to sound for another hour. He did not need to see the screen to know who it was. Only one person in his life got her time zones mixed up and called him at odd hours. His mother.
         He reached over and picked up the phone. He regretted teaching his mother how to do video calls. He sat up in bed and patted his raven hair down to the extent possible without wetting it.
         As always, their conversation was in Spanish because his mother considered English too harsh and clunky.
         "Good morning, Mom," Andrew said.
         "What are you still doing in bed, mister?"
         "My alarm doesn't go off for another hour."
         She looked at her watch, "It is almost 9. You should be at work."
         "It's almost 7. I'm an hour behind you, not ahead of you."
         "Well. You've got a big day." She said, shifting to an excited tone.
Marian Garrison was native to Argentina, but married an American missionary and moved to his mission organization in northern Brazil. She'd lived there ever since and birthed Andrew along with both of his brothers.
         "I'm going with a realtor to look at a house after work. It's the third one this week." Andrew said, wiggling his toes under the bed sheets, "It's not that big of a deal."
         "I have a good feeling about this." Marian said, leaning into the camera so that only her eyes, brows, and wire frame glasses were visible on his phone screen.
         Andrew could hear someone scuffling behind the screen.
         "Is that Dad?" Andrew asked.
         She looked at the person behind the screen.
         "Is that Andrew?" a male voice asked.
         "Yes to both of you."
         "Ooh, gimme, gimme," Lewis said, happy to chat with his son.
         Lewis tried to pick up the phone from where Marian had propped it for the camera angle, but she swatted his hand away, "If you want to see him, come over here."
         There was more noise as Lewis rolled an office chair over. Andrew's father was Lewis Garrison from Traverse City, Michigan. He'd become a missionary after finishing seminary, moved to Brazil, fell in love with Marian at a missionary conference, married her, and was still happily married decades later. He was a tall, lean man with silver hair and an infectious enthusiasm that could keep congregants coming back for more.
         "Andrew, I'm so happy you are getting a house," Lewis said, "Make sure to get one that doesn't require a lot of maintenance."
         "They'll do an inspection," Andrew replied, getting out of bed, "I'm sure it will be fine."
         Phone in hand, Andrew crawled out of bed and padded, barefoot, to the kitchen of the tiny camper he was currently staying in and sharing with a friend from college.
         "You need to get into a proper house soon," Marian chided him, "It's not good for your asthma to be in that little thing."
         "Don't let her rush you," Lewis cut in, "You get the house you want. It'll be yours for a long time."
         "Thanks, Dad," Andrew said, assembling the coffee pot for his morning cup.
         "What time is your appointment to see the house?" Marian asked.
         "My time or yours?"
         "Mine," Marian answered.
         "4:00."
         Marian made note of that on a scrap of paper. He could hear the dull-pointed pencil that Marian used to keep her life organized scraping against the paper.
         "Well," Lewis said, "We'll let you get ready for work. Go get 'em tiger."
         Lewis could be such a goof sometimes. They said their goodbyes as Andrew's coffee pot gurgled to announce the completion of the coffee. Andrew drank his coffee black. He did not want anything diluting it. If he was on vacation or feeling festive, he would put cream and three packets of Splenda in it. This was not one of those mornings.
         He took a sip. The coffee was serviceable, but not much else could be said for it. He looked at the phone laying innocently on the counter. Andrew was burdened with something. There was something he wanted to do, needed to do, but did not know if it was the right thing or not.
         Andrew had been a sickly child. That was not helped by growing up in the Amazon rainforest near Manaus, Brazil. Andrew was always considered the runt of the family, which was a bit ironic considering he had an identical twin brother, James. Their appearance was so startlingly similar, that even their parents would take a second before they started talking to make sure they were addressing the right one. When he was 15 years old, Andrew confessed to his twin brother that he was gay. James took it in stride, but Andrew soon discovered, to his horror, his mother and older brother, Mark, were in the next room and overheard everything. That led to some heart to hearts, but his mother and both brothers agreed that they would not tell Lewis, the patriarch of the family. Andrew would have to do that when he was ready. Two months later, Andrew was sent off the missionary compound to live with his Uncle Ray, Lewis' brother, on an army base in Maine. Ostensibly, he was sent away because of his health and his tendency to catch illnesses. While his mother and brothers vehemently denied telling Lewis, Andrew could not help but connect the dots. Twelve years had come and gone. Andrew knew the time was coming to come clean to his father.
         Andrew had the whole underpinned camper to himself. It was an old tan camper with bits of green mildew on the side and in need of so much work. The camper's porch sagged and the floor was squishy in places. The interior was cluttered with books, papers, and such. Since Andrew was a temporary house guest, he didn't push the maintenance issues. Andrew did his best to keep it tidy, but with two men living in a 200 square foot camper, there was only so much he could do to keep the clutter at bay.          
         Paul was a friend he had met in college who had dropped out after their first year and moved back to Deerfield, but he and Andrew had kept in touch and now Andrew was staying with him while house hunting.
         Andrew offered to let Paul stay with him once he bought a house, but Paul declined. Like Andrew, Paul valued his space. Paul was a long haul truck driver and was currently driving a load in west Texas somewhere on his way to Arizona and wouldn't be back until next week.
         Andrew had arrived in Deerfield because he had applied for and gotten a job as a financial advisor for McWilliams Investments. His parents had been very pleased when he finished his bachelor's degree, then got his MBA from Clemson, and now he had a job and was going to buy a house.
         His Dad asked where he got the money for a down payment. Andrew said it was a signing bonus from work; but, the reality was that he'd received a sizable chunk from his paternal grandmother, Ethel Garrison. She was a doting grandma and Andrew had been one in her sea of grandchildren until one night, he said something to her. She was visiting them at the mission compound near Manaus. They were sitting near the river that flowed by the compound when she asked him what kind of girls he liked. He explained why the answer was 'no kind.' He sat back and waited for the screaming and the crying and the brimstone. Rather, his grandmother sat back and said, "Shoot."
         "What?" Andrew had asked her.
         "I guess I owe your brother $10."
         She then started laughing. From then on, she considered Andrew one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth. When he got the job at McWilliam's Investments, she had given him a check on the proviso that he tell no one where it came from. She said he could tell people he won the lottery for all she cared. Andrew marveled at how people can impress him when given the chance.


         When he got to his office at 7:58, he plopped down at his desk to start the work day at 8am. His boss was an ordinary, milquetoast accountant, Martin Jacobs. He was a younger man, about 35, and, while a partner in the firm, his name had not made the letter head alongside Herschel McWilliams, the founder of the enterprise. Hershel was a happily married man of 45. He was gregarious and outgoing with the personality of a salesman. Hershel was always friendly and chatty. Darcy and Amanda were the two advisors who worked for Herschel. Betty and Andrew were with Martin.
         Betty, Darcy, Amanda, and Andrew all had desks in a bullpen configuration. Their office had been an old storefront and had large glass windows overlooking Main Street in Deerfield, South Carolina. Andrew's desk was at the back of the space nearest their bosses' doors. The ranking was that the closer you were to the window, the higher your status. Being the new guy, his desk was furthest from the windows, by the boss' doors. Darcy and Betty's desks were up against the outside window. Amanda was the most sociable, thus her desk was nearest the door. Inbound clients would get to her desk first and so she often served as a receptionist. She didn't mind since it let her keep up on all the latest news making its way through the Deerfield grapevine.
         Amanda and Darcy were both lively 20-somethings like Andrew, fresh out of college and ready to do something, but they retained a playful attitude and it was a fun work environment. Betty was older and had several school-aged children. At only 40, she was the matriarch of the four advisors.
         Since it was one of only two investment advisory firms in the county, they had plenty of clients. There was always a buzz and stir around the office as clients came and went and as gossip was shared back and forth. All four advisors and their bosses knew all about one another's business, since neither phone conversations, or anything else, was private.
         After a month employed there, he'd gotten the gist of things and many of the clients coming in knew his name and he knew theirs. His boss, Martin, appeared at his desk.
         "I've got a new client I'd like you to work with," Martin said, "I'll send you the file this afternoon."
         "Of course," Andrew replied, "Who is it?"
         "Evan Grayson. He owns the dry-cleaning place down the street."
         "Sounds good. I'll take a look at it."
         "I'll send it over. I went ahead and scheduled the appointment for this Wednesday at 9. He wants to discuss a retirement plan for his mother and what benefits we can help organize for a management position he wants to hire."
         "I'll be ready," Andrew assured him.
         Martin zipped back into his office like a squirrel going back into its nest.
         "Ooh," Darcy said, "Evan Grayson."
         "So?" Andrew asked, tweaking an eyebrow.
         Amanda explained, "Evan Grayson is a bit of a...well...a local celebrity."
         Andrew laughed, "Deerfield has a local celebrity? What? Does he own 12 cats and yell at himself in the grocery store?"
         "No," Amanda said, laughing, "On the contrary, he's the most eligible bachelor in town. He's smart. He went to NYU. He's been around the world. We went to high school together."
         "Why'd he move back here?"
         All three women shrugged.
         "It's a mystery." Darcy said, "He graduated high school with us, disappeared for about seven years, and then showed back up again co-owning a dry-cleaning store with his mother."
         "That's odd." Andrew said, "Then, I have to ask, why is he the most eligible bachelor in town?"
         "He's sweet, kind, and funny." Darcy said.
         "And he's hot," Amanda said.
         "He's a dreamboat," Darcy added.
         "Maybe that's why I was assigned the case." Andrew said, leveling his eyes at the women.
         "Why?" Amanda asked.
         "So, you wouldn't tackle him." Andrew said with a grin.
         "Don't bother," Darcy said, "He's also a bit of a local Ice King."
         "A what?" Andrew asked, unfamiliar with the expression.
         "You know...an Ice King. Someone who just isn't interested in romantic relationships."
         "I hadn't heard that expression." Andrew admitted.
         Martin popped his head back out of his office, "I assigned you the account as a thank you for not quitting after the week you had with Mr. Wimberly. Evan is a very nice guy. You'll like him."
         "Thank you." Andrew said.
         "I'm sure you and Evan will get along just fine." Martin said, "But if he tries to bring his pet tiger in here, say no."
         They all looked shocked.
         "I can joke too," Martin said, deadpan, and disappeared back into his office.
         "Oh," Andrew said, hopping up and following Martin into his office, "I need to leave a little before three because I am meeting a realtor to look at a house."
         "Good. Just invite me to the housewarming," Martin said.
         "Will do, sir."
         

Chapter 2

Engrid and Dora rode in companionable silence as Dora drove Engrid home after their lunch outing. Dora and Engrid had been neighbors and best friends for over 50 years. The third of the Three Musketeers was Rose, who had lived in between Dora and Engrid before dying suddenly about three months previously. Both women grieved her passing, but knew that life did have to go on, and so they did.
         Dora drove into the main part of town near the town square of Deerfield on their way home. She passed the plate glass windows set in the brown and red bricked walls of the storefronts, most of them dating from the 1890's and early 1900's. Along Main Street, was a bank and the farm and garden store on the corner. There was an office supply store, a barber shop, a Chinese buffet restaurant, Grayson's Cleaners, and McWilliams Investments, and a locally owned pharmacy.
         Deerfield was a quaint little town where Engrid lived ever since she and her husband George married. Dora pulled to a stop in front of Engrid's house.
         "Thanks for going with me; I enjoyed getting out for a few minutes." Engrid said, putting on her white straw sun hat and climbing out of Dora's Explorer and onto the curb. "I've wanted to get to that place for lunch for months."
         "I'm glad you thought of it." Dora said.
         "Are you okay?" Engrid asked. All through lunch, Dora had the far away expression of someone who wasn't really interested in what was going on around them.
         "I don't know," Dora admitted, "I just feel a little down."
         "It's the for-sale sign in front of Rose's house, isn't it?" Engrid said, pushing her sepia tinted prescription sunglasses up on her nose, "It bothers me too. I hope we get someone good in there soon. I'd prefer a stranger's face to that loathsome sign."
"Me too," Dora admitted.
         Dora released the brake and coasted the two doors down to her own house while Engrid started doing some light housework. Engrid started vacuuming the rug in the living room, which overlooked the street. Rose's old house was on the market and, while she was a little worried about having new neighbors, she was also excited. Rose had lived there for so long that it was going to take a lot of getting used to, but she liked the idea of getting to know new people. She was very concerned about the nature of the people who would buy the house. She had met a few prospective buyers but did not like any of them. From what she gathered, the feeling was mutual.
         A few other houses had come on the market in the last few years due to death or to fund nursing home stays. Engrid worried that would be her fate too, but she could not obsess about it too much.
         As she was vacuuming, she caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. It was just a habit to look up and see who was coming or going. Most of the time, it didn't really matter who it was. Often, she didn't even know who it was; but, if she saw movement through the window, her head would reflexively snap up to see who had passed by. Now that more and more people had moved to town and people traded vehicles so often, it was getting harder and harder for her to keep track of who was coming or going. Mr. Miller's gold Buick drove up into Rose's driveway.
         She saw a very nice-looking young man walking with Mr. Miller, the local real estate agent. She kept vacuuming the same piece of rug while she watched them.
         "Where was the nice young man's wife?" She mused to herself, "Surely a man like that shopping for a house can't be single- it just wouldn't be right."
         A slight smile curled the edge of her lips. She heard the sound of her own grandmother in her ear, when that thought flashed through her mind. She was the nosy old woman she'd sworn in her youth never to become. She remembered her great aunt Sylvia asking every week at church if Engrid was being "courted" by anyone. She remembered how irritated she was with the questions about her private life. She swore on the 4th of July of her 20th year of life, never ever to become a nosy old woman. Yet, she realized that somehow, through the inexorable march of time, she had accomplished just that. She was now one of 'them.'
         Nonetheless, she watched the young stranger with interest. She wouldn't mind him moving in next door. She decided that she wanted a neighbor who looked like that. It could only help the sagging property values and bring down the average age of the residents of Maple Avenue. His jet-black hair was neatly trimmed and combed. His figure was slim, but not skinny, he was about 5'8", and his skin a light shade of tan. He definitely had some Mediterranean somewhere in his lineage, Engrid decided. She could get him to help out around the house. She was sure that he could fix or do anything she needed done.
         She crouched beside the window and pulled the white lace drapes back with her hand and peered outside. Mr. Miller was showing the man the front of the house making sweeping motions with his hands. Engrid couldn't help but smile. She really had little respect for Mr. Miller. She wasn't sure why, but he just rubbed her the wrong way. She left the window quickly and hurried for the door. In her opinion, Mr. Miller was not a very good real estate agent; she was going to have to take matters into her own hands.
         She went down the steps and walked across her green, manicured lawn toward the stranger. The stranger noticed her approaching. He smiled. He had gorgeous teeth. So straight and white. She was still sporting her sun hat with green ribbon tied around it to match the green pants suit and flats she'd worn to lunch.
         "Hi! I'm Engrid Matthews. I live next door." She said, cheerily extending her hand.
         Engrid was determined to make a good impression. She wondered what Dora would think. She really admired Dora's perceptiveness and Engrid wished she was so intuitive. Dora could meet someone for 10 seconds and know if something was going on that should not have been. Occasionally, she would be wrong, but not often.
         "Ah, it's nice to see you Mrs. Matthews. How are you?" Mr. Miller interrupted, extending his hand, feigning being glad to see her. There was no love lost between the two of them. Engrid regarded him to be a blowhard and a dumb oaf. He regarded her to be an obnoxious old biddy. She didn't even acknowledge him but zeroed in on her new target.
         "I see you are looking at living here?" She said, intentionally ignoring Mr. Miller's greeting and focusing her attention solely on the young stranger.
         "Yes. I fell in love with this house the minute I saw the pictures on the internet. It looks so warm and homey. I hope the inside is as nice as the photos."
         "Oh, it is," Engrid assured him, "My friend, Rose, lived here for many, many years. In fact, she had lived in this house for over 50 years before she died just a couple of months ago."
         "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that."
         "It's okay," Engrid assured him wistfully, "She lived a wonderful life."
         She switched to a happier expression, "Now, let me show you around."
         Mr. Miller handed Andrew the key, "Go for it."
         She grabbed the stranger's arm and ushered him toward Rose's front door. They walked along the path that ran between the driveway and the three brick steps that led up to the porch.
          "I don't think I know your name..."
         "Andrew. Andrew Garrison."
         "Where are you from?"
         "All over the place, but I moved to South Carolina to go to college. I just graduated and got a job working at McWilliams Investments on Main Street."
         As they ascended the steps to the porch, "Does your wife like the house too? Will she be joining you?"
         "I'm not married." Andrew said, shaking his head.
         "Do you have a girlfriend?"
         "No." he broke out in a huge grin, "Are you offering?"
         "No!" she laughed, teasingly scandalized.
         He was charming on top of being good looking. She was becoming confident that this was going to be her new neighbor. Andrew fished the key out of his pocket that Mr. Miller had handed him. He unlocked the door and pushed it open to reveal the central hallway.
         "So, how old are you?" Engrid asked.
         "27."
         He could read her expression. She didn't want to ask but was dying to know how he could afford this place. Not that the house was particularly expensive as houses go; it's just that not many people so young were in a position to buy real estate.
         Answering the question she did not ask, Andrew said, "I got a nice sign on bonus at work."
         "Ah," she said, "That is nice."
         "My parents sent me to spend a lot of time with my Uncle Ray who was in the army. So I've moved all over the world. They sent me with him because they wanted me to explore the world before settling down. Now the time has come for me to settle down."
         "Must be nice." Engrid said, trying to hide her elation at his interest in having a domestic life, "All that money and traveling."
         "It was. I missed my parents, but they meant well sending me packing."
         She furrowed her brow, unsure what to make of that last comment.
         She recovered quickly, "Well, your parents and your Uncle Ray certainly did an excellent job raising you."
         They disappeared into the house, leaving Mr. Miller standing outside on the porch. He was happy not having to deal with Engrid on this trip. He was ecstatic that Engrid actually liked this guy. Miller was determined to sell this house to Andrew so that Engrid would leave him alone. He smiled wanly as the unlikely compatriots disappeared into the house.
         Engrid's current home and Andrew's potential home were laid out very similarly. Each house had a porch that ran the length of the front with stone steps leading up from a concrete walkway, which then led to the sidewalk. The porches both had a slight Victorian feel with painted lattice work at the tops of the support columns. Their front doors opened onto a central hallway that ran the length of the house all the way to the back door. The rooms of the main floor were all off the central hallway. The first door on the left was the living room complete with a large fireplace and mantle. To the right was a dining room with the kitchen just beyond.
         In the kitchen, she stood by the sink and turned to face Andrew. "This is the place where Evan and I found her. She was sprawled out right here." She tapped her foot on the linoleum. His eyes followed her leg down to the floor.
         "What happened to her?" Andrew asked curiously.
         "They said she had a heart attack. But I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if doctors know what they're talking about."
         "Hmm." Andrew said thoughtfully, not knowing how to respond.
         His phone buzzed in his pocket.
         "Do you need to get that?" Engrid asked.
         "No, it's just my mother."
         "It might be important."
         "She knows I'm here touring the house. I'm sure she wants to know how it's going." Andrew explained.
         "Hopefully, you'll have a glowing report to tell her later." Engrid said.
         "I hope so," Andrew said, then asked, "Who is Evan? Are you talking about Evan Grayson?"
         "I am! How do you know Evan?"
         "I don't yet. I just got assigned Grayson's Cleaners as a client this morning at work."
         "Oh good. Evan's a great person. He lives on the other side of me from here. He helps me out a lot around the house and he does a lot with the yard. I don't have a green thumb, so most of what you see in my yard is Evan's doing."
         "He sounds nice."
         "He can be a little hard to get to know, but if you do move here, I'm sure you'll see a lot of each other. He lived in New York and got a degree in English Literature from a university there. He's a bit of a bachelor who hasn't found the right girl yet. I've tried to find him one, but oh well. When the right one comes along for him, so be it."
         "Sometimes it's not the girl." Andrew said, offhandedly.
         "I suppose," Engrid said.
         "He sounds like a good guy."
         "He really is. Maybe you two could be friends." Engrid was happy.
         He scanned the kitchen. It was a nice kitchen, somewhat small, but the house was not huge. It was two stories, hardwood floors through most of it- the walls were various shades of off-white. The wall paper in the kitchen had little burgundy flowers with roosters and covered wagons on it and looked like it dated to the 1980s. The kitchen window afforded a panoramic view of the side of Engrid's house. There were about 60 feet of grass that separated the two houses. The hedges along the side of Engrid's house were, like the rest of the yard, immaculately manicured. Based on what Engrid said, Evan must spend a lot of time doing yard work.
         Engrid made a big arc as they walked from the counter to the door. It was a half-century-old habit to walk around the table; she did it without there being a table in the room. She noticed Andrew looking at her with a curious expression. She looked around to see what he found amusing. It took her a second to realize that he noticed what she did. She smiled sheepishly.
         "I guess that's where the kitchen table used to be." Andrew said.
         "Yes, it was." She said wistfully, then recovered quickly and brushed past him into the hallway.
         His phone buzzed again. He slipped it out. It was a video call from his mother. He turned away from Engrid. "Ma, I'm at the house now."
         "Lo s" she said, "Quiero ver la casa."
         "English." Andrew admonished.
         Marian groaned in displeasure, "I want to see the house."
         He turned the phone around so she could see.
         "This is the living room." Engrid said, as she walked into it.
         "Who is that?" Marian asked, "Is she the person selling the house?"
         "Yes." Andrew replied, "Essentially."
         Engrid approached the phone, "I'm Engrid Matthews. I live next door to this house."
         "I am Marian Garrison, Andrew's mother."
         "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Garrison," Engrid said formally, "I'm sorry you couldn't come in person."
         "It is very far." Marian said.
         "Where are you?" Engrid asked.
         "Near Manaus, Brazil."
         Engrid almost jumped, "My goodness. What are you doing there?"
         "Andrew's father and I are missionaries."
         "You are the son of missionaries?" Engrid sounded in awe, looking at Andrew.
         "Yes." Andrew said, unsure why she was so impressed with that fact.
         "Well, I think my church just found a new Sunday school teacher."
         Marian laughed, "I like her. Andrew, is the house nice?"
         "Yes."
         "You should buy it. Then Engrid can be my spy and keep you out of trouble."
         Engrid didn't say anything, but gave him a look to indicate, 'listen to your mother.'
         "Ma, I need to go. The tour isn't over."
         "Okay, fine, but call me later."
         They ended the call.
         The living room, where they were standing, was on the front corner of the house overlooking the street and Dora Murchison's house. She was Rose's neighbor on the other side who had driven Engrid to lunch earlier. It was a nice, big room with a fireplace at the end with a large mantelpiece over it. There were also alcove bookshelves recessed into the walls on either side of the fireplace. Engrid walked around the perimeter like she was giving a guided tour, which she was.
         She reminisced, "I remember Rose threw a Christmas party here. It was the first Christmas after she moved into this house. What she didn't know is that one of the neighborhood boys put a whole bottle of sour apple schnapps in the punchbowl. It was some apple cider concoction she made, so no one noticed until it was too late."
         Engrid had a smile remembering how it used to be.
         "When was that?"
         "The kid who did that just turned 60 last month, if that tells you anything. Then there was the time her husband Richard nearly burned my house down with a Roman candle."
         "What happened?" Andrew laughed. He found her stories wonderful, refreshing and funny. He already sensed that great and amazing things waited for him in this place. He just knew it as clearly as he knew anything.
         Engrid continued, "Well, I had just had my first daughter, Natalie, so George and I had two kids and Rose and Richard had four. So, Richard decided that it would be fun for the kids to see some fireworks. Fireworks were expensive and, even back in those days, fireworks were illegal within the city limits. Dora said it was a terrible idea. Rose and I said the same thing. So, naturally, he did it anyway."
         "Naturally," Andrew grinned.
         "Well, since it was the fourth of July, I had the windows in my house open. We did have air conditioning, but it was expensive. Well, the Roman candle fell over and shot a fireball right into my house. It set a couch on fire and smoked up the whole place. My house stunk for months after that."
         Andrew laughed out loud. Engrid could tell he was enjoying this; the more he grinned and laughed, the more animated she became. She had a fresh audience for all her old stories.
         
They went back out onto the porch after they had gone throughout the house. Engrid spotted Mr. Miller leaning up against his car looking at his phone.
         "Mr. Miller!" she called out, flashing him a cunning smile.
         "I take it you are done with your tour," he replied, sliding his phone into his pocket and approaching them on the porch.
         "Mr. Miller, you must sell this man this house." She pointed her finger at him as if he were a servant of hers.
         "We'll see." Mr. Miller replied, "It depends on whether or not Mr. Garrison will agree to the terms of the deal."
         "Make the terms of the deal favorable then." Engrid insisted, as if it was the most obvious solution in history.
         "Mr. Garrison, we need to get back to the office," Mr. Miller said, ushering Andrew back toward his car, "We have some other things we need to discuss." He wanted to get Andrew away as quickly as possible before he became irritated with Engrid and decided not to buy the house after all.
         Andrew got in the car and shut the door. When Mr. Miller started the car, Andrew rolled down the window and motioned for her to approach. Engrid came over.
         "I liked meeting you, Mrs. Matthews." He extended his hand and shook hers. She was grinning from ear to ear.
         "Just call me Engrid...all my friends do."

Chapter 3

After Engrid returned from promoting her neighborhood to its prospective new resident, she went into the kitchen to fix dinner. When her husband was alive, she cooked three full meals every day. With just her there most days, she didn't see the point in cooking much anymore. So, she pulled out some wheat bread, mayonnaise, and a tomato to fix herself a sandwich. When Engrid did feel like cooking, she invited people over to have company and try out new recipes. Evan and his mother, Myrtle, who lived next door, were frequent house guests for dinner. She also often hosted lunch at her house after church on Sundays. But when it was just her, and maybe Evan, it was sandwiches and salads. That was particularly true in the summer when she did not want any excess heat. Sometimes, in cold weather, she would cook a pot of stew in the slow cooker and then divide it out for her meals.
         With any luck, Andrew would be added to future guest lists. Evan should be back from Atlanta soon, he was supposed to come back today, but she was not sure if he was back yet. She hadn't seen his signature black Jeep Cherokee rolling down the street yet.
         Evan often helped Engrid with various tasks around the house and yard such as fixing lights, raking maple leaves in the front yard, mowing grass, and whatever odds and ends there were to do. Last week, he came over to re-caulk the master bathroom tub. Her house was fairly large and it kept her busy, but some of the heavier duty things fell to the strong, sturdy Evan to do. He preferred yard work, but he liked to stay busy and to be useful. She had a large backyard with a gazebo, grass, and a magnolia tree in the far back near the privacy fence. The front yard was much smaller and had a large maple tree about half way between her house and the sidewalk and healthy azaleas along the front and sides of the house. There was a large boxwood shrubbery near the edge of the property line, about halfway between the two houses.
         Engrid assumed Evan would stop by tomorrow for a little bit and then go on to the dry-cleaning store which he and his mother co-owned.
         They had inherited it from Evan's dad who died in a car accident. After high school, Evan left home for several years and attended New York University earning a degree in English. It didn't help much with running a dry-cleaning store in a small town in South Carolina, but they'd still been pretty successful with it in the slightly less than two years since Evan's return from "up north."
         Evan and Myrtle had not opened a second location because Myrtle feared losing contact with her customers, who were often also her friends and were her sources for either news and information, or just ordinary gossip, depending on who one asked. Evan had added some new clothes pressing machines, repaired a washer motor, repainted the customer area, and put in a few potted plants. Grayson's Cleaners was second to none for cleanliness and efficiency, even though there wasn't much competition.
         Engrid sat at the small Formica table in the corner of her kitchen and continued munching on her tomato sandwich while thinking quietly to herself. She had a formal dining room with a large mahogany table that George had bought many years ago. She only used it for company. Unless she had people over for dinner, she rarely went in there, except to dust.
         She didn't like television very much, but Evan and Dora chipped in to buy her a brand new, flat screen TV for the living room last Christmas. Evan wanted to mount it over the fireplace, but Engrid insisted on putting it on top of the console TV that it was replacing. Evan said that was a waste, so she said put it on top of "that bookshelf." Evan was foolish enough to ask, 'What bookshelf?' He proceeded to make a bookshelf out of the console TV upon which the new flat screen now sat.
          For the moment, she contented herself to staring at the pages of the Danielle Steel novel she had checked out of the library hoping that Andrew would buy that house. She put the book down. She just couldn't concentrate on the latest escapades of Jordan Harpootlian and Dr. Sara Wong in the book. Never mind Jordan, Andrew would be so much fun to have as a neighbor, she thought. She also thought that it would be good for Evan to have a friend his own age. She remembered a few guys he used to pal around with during high school, but that was years ago.
         Soon, it was dark outside. Engrid put the dishes in her old avocado green dishwasher that Myrtle said was on its last legs ten year ago and went to the living room. She stood in the darkened living room, the yellow glow of the street lights filtering through the lacey curtains. She looked at the TV on the bookcase and thought about watching a show. Evan had taught her how to use streaming services. He'd helped her get her internet going. She thought that Andrew might be even better at technology than Evan, but she couldn't prove it yet.
         Her most prized possession was a walnut wood Steinway baby grand piano that sat in the front corner of the house. The windows by it overlooked the side yard and the street. It had been a gift from George, his parents, and her parents for their 25th wedding anniversary. She kept it tuned and played most days. She played piano in church every Sunday, including tomorrow. She flipped through a hymnal but couldn't remember what Rev. Michelle Creighton had picked. She'd practiced last night anyway, so whatever it was, she could probably play it from memory anyway.
         She realized that part of her problem, and her interest in having a new neighbor, was that she was bored. Part of Andrew's appeal was that he was new and different. Except for Evan and Myrtle, her other neighbors were old too. Andrew was youthful and vibrant.
         She sighed and decided to go upstairs and get ready for bed. Her bedroom had hardwood floors with a large oval rug taking up as much of the floor space as possible. Her bed was a four-post bed and was situated along the front wall of the house with large windows on either side overlooking the street. Once in her room, she went over and sat down in the chair by her vanity to take off her mint green flats. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. When she had moved into this house, she was 27, she bought this vanity out of a Sears and Roebuck catalog for Christmas that year. The reflection had certainly changed since then.
         She began running her brush through her snow-white hair and furrowing her brow. After putting on her shower cap and getting all washed up, she put on her nightgown and her bathrobe over that.
         She stood up and walked around her room. She went back over to the window and looked out at Rose's old house. Soon, she hoped, it would be Andrew's house. And not too terribly long, it would be the home of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Garrison and their raucous new brood. She wondered if Andrew had a middle name. She pictured what their wedding invitation would look like with her name gracefully printed on the inner and outer envelopes. "Mrs. Engrid Mae Matthews" it would read. She was already working on the text for the invitations. If only she knew the bride's parents' names- or the bride's name for that matter.
         She shook her head chiding herself out loud, "What on earth am I doing? He doesn't even have a lady friend yet." She couldn't think of any girls in town good enough to date him, but she would have to work on that some more. Then a more cheerful thought- he worked in a small town and so even if he chose to live elsewhere, he wouldn't be too far away. She looked out at the sky and wondered where Andrew was. Was he camped out in a motel out by the interstate? Was he asleep on a friend's couch? He deserved better than that. That's it! She got it.
         To her vanity mirror she said out loud, "I'll find him and invite him to stay with me until he closes on the house. I'll tell him I have a room to rent. He said he was working at McWilliams Investment, so I know where to find him. Shoot, tomorrow's Sunday. I've got to find him, but I suppose it will have to wait until Monday."
         Then her mind was off to the races and sleep was nowhere on the horizon.

Chapter 4

Sunday passed, and Monday morning dawned, another bright and beautiful May day. Engrid got dressed in a nice pair of pastel blue slacks and a white blouse with blue pinstriping, and tied a matching blue ribbon around her sun hat to match her outfit. She went downstairs to the kitchen promptly at 6:55 to start the coffee pot and put some cheese toast in a small toaster oven that had seen better days, but it still made excellent toast. She had to watch it though, because the timer was broken. If left forgotten, Engrid would have to scrape the burnt parts off of the toast with a knife over the sink or, worse, have to wave a broom at the fire alarm to make it stop shrieking. She forgot her toast at least once a week, especially if there was an interesting news article that grabbed her attention.
         The rays of sunlight were pouring through the kitchen window as she leaned over the sink straining to read the thermometer attached to a wire outside. Evan needed to clean that window, so she could see better. It was 80 degrees already.
         "Summer's never late in coming to this part of the world," Engrid said to herself as she put her feet back firmly on the floor after leaning over the sink standing on tip-toes. She stood sentry in front of the toaster oven monitoring the doneness of the cheese. A single cup coffee pot gurgled by the sink, as it prepared her morning coffee. In short order, her coffee and toast were ready. She finished assembling her breakfast and went outside to get the morning paper. She always dressed before coming downstairs so she could be fully dressed and decent enough to appear outside her home to get the newspaper.
         She took the Deerfield Tribune back inside and sat at her little kitchen table. She flipped through, but she saw nothing worth delaying her tasks for the day. She tossed the newspaper onto the stack she kept for recycling in the closet. It was another thing Evan had taught her, how and why to recycle.
         "I'm not too old to learn a thing or two every now and then," Engrid thought to herself, smiling.
         When she'd finished breakfast, she noticed that it was almost 8 o'clock. She did not know what time the investment firm opened, but she suspected it was 8. She wanted to make sure that she arrived before Andrew got too busy.


         She went out to the front yard and got in her silver Lincoln Town Car, the Silver Bullet, as some in town called it. She rummaged around in the center console and pulled out a pair of sepia-tinted prescription sunglasses and switched them with the regular glasses she was already wearing. She adjusted her sunhat and backed out of her driveway.
         She took off down the street in such a hurry that she failed to notice a black Nissan Pathfinder coming the other way. She passed it and kept going. She drove past the large maple trees that towered along Maple Avenue. She turned onto Oak Street, which was lined with oak trees; then onto Main Street. It was where the store fronts were, including Grayson's Cleaners and McWilliams Investments, where Andrew worked. She found an angled parking space on the street. As usual, she didn't quite stop in time and bumped the curb. She looked around to see who else was out and about. She recognized several people, but she was on a mission and did not want any interruptions.
         McWilliams Investments was in an old store front that Engrid was pretty sure used to be a tailor shop. It had large storefront windows looking onto a spacious bullpen office with desks. See could see through the window that all of the desks were occupied by people other than Andrew, except one. One lone desk in the back stood abandoned.
         She pushed open the door and went in. She was greeted by Amanda, the de facto receptionist, who said that Andrew had taken the day off. She apologized for having interrupted their day and hurried on to Plan B. Disappointed, she walked down the street toward Grayson's Cleaners. She gave no further thought to the occupant of the black Pathfinder she'd passed on Maple Avenue.


         The occupant of that black Nissan was, of course, Andrew. He still liked the house. He pulled up into the driveway and parked. Mr. Miller, the real estate agent, had given him a key so that he could explore the house alone.
         Andrew went up on the porch and looked around. He tested the porch railing to make sure it was solid. He went and sat down on the swing. It was a very nice swing. He pushed himself off and swung for a bit. Oddly, it faced away from the front door. It didn't take Andrew long to figure out why. Engrid's was turned backwards too so that the two swings faced each other. Andrew would have to fix that fairly quickly. He just sat quietly on the front porch. He was a sociable person, but he also liked being alone. The prospect of living in such a nice house all by himself was incredible. Some would say it was a waste of space for one person to live there, but oh well- who cares what other people think? He hoped to change that soon.
         He cared a lot about what other people thought of him, which he considered a flaw. He'd lived his whole life fearing the disapproval of others. He didn't do anything that he thought for a second would bring him shame or embarrassment or do anything that might make others think less of him. He just rocked back and forth on the swing thinking to himself.
         He got up, unlocked the front door, and went in. He walked all through the house, upstairs and down. It definitely had a 'little old lady' feel to it: the way the carpets looked, the colors of the wall, the patterns of the wallpaper, the patterns of linoleum, it all screamed 'to grandmother's house we go.' That was why Andrew liked it. It reminded him of something nostalgic that he had never actually known in life. He was unsure how to explain it any other way,
         He had friends and contacts from Germany to Japan. He had lived in multiple countries and states. Yet all he wanted was to buy a house in Deerfield, South Carolina and live there the rest of his life.
         He lived in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment in college and then worked in the financial aid department for a couple of years after he graduated, mainly because he didn't want to move again. He was sure that this was his last move and then 70 years from now, they would find his cold, dead body on the kitchen floor, the same fate as the previous occupant.
         He stood in the vacant upstairs bedroom looking around. He already loved this town and its odd assortment of people. The question was: could they love him? Andrew also tried to convince himself that this was going to be an amazing adventure, living here. He stood in the middle of that empty room and did a complete 360 and just breathed in the air of history. He knew that this house was filled with love and warmth. The joy and happiness of this house's past just exuded from the walls. He couldn't be in this house and not be happy. He had no specific memories of anything that had happened here, but just to hear Engrid's stories from yesteryear, this was going to be an amazing place to live.          
         He went back downstairs to the front living room. Andrew decided right then that he was going to buy the house. He was going to need to go to the furniture store in town and buy a lot of furniture. For the time being, however, he was content to just be there. He went back outside and sat on the front steps and watched the occasional car pass by on the street. Each time a car passed, the occupants waved, and he gladly waved back.
         He had been a little concerned, being brown-skinned with a faint accent that he would be treated unkindly. So far, the people of Deerfield had been very warm to him. He had been very self-conscious about his accent when he first moved from Brazil. He struggled in school at first and his teachers almost put him in special education, but his Grandma Ethel paid for acting classes with a dialect coach. The dialect coach worked with Andrew and his accent slowly faded. He went on to multiple semesters on the Dean's List. Most were now surprised to learn he was not a native English speaker.
         He texted his mother, "I'm going to buy the house."

Chapter 5

Engrid was hot on Andrew's trail. Having failed at the simpler Plan A at Andrew's office, she hurried down the street. Just down the street from McWilliam's Investments, was another Deerfield institution, Grayson's Cleaners. Like the investment firm, it was also an old storefront that had been repurposed. She pushed open the glass door of the cleaning store. The bell dinged, and the open/closed sign swung as she opened the door. The wide waiting area had some plastic plants and a few succulents in the large storefront windows that overlooked Main Street.
         Myrtle was ringing up a customer's bill. She noticed Engrid and smiled widely. Engrid smiled back. The store was very nice and clean. Evan made sure of that. He also insisted that his mother not be left behind in the march of technological advancement. He'd gotten an Apple Point of Sale system for customers to pay their bill. It was a small white contraption that sat next to an old cash register that Myrtle refused to part with because her husband had bought it when they first opened the store. She was fine with computers so long as she was not forced to abandon everything that predated them.
         "Good afternoon Agnes, how are you?" Engrid said to the other customer in the store.
         "I am fine, you?" Agnes replied cordially, then grabbed her clear plastic garment bag and headed toward the door.
         "How are you today, Engrid?" Myrtle asked, as Agnes left and Engrid came up to the counter.
         Engrid flashed her a happy smile, "I'm doing fine, thank you. Say, have you seen a man..."
         "For you or me?" Myrtle quipped, smirking.
         Engrid just scowled playfully, but continued unabated, "As I was saying...have you seen a man? His name is Andrew Garrison, he's 27. Medium height and thin build. Kind of jet-black hair and dark, sort of mysterious eyes."
         "Yes. But Engrid, he's a bit too young for you. He's more my speed."
         "The hell you say." Engrid blurted out then grinned, "If you had a daughter maybe. But otherwise, he's mine- you keep your grungy mitts off."
         Myrtle just smiled.
         "So what if I've seen him? If he's yours and he ran away, that should tell you something, don't you think?" She said, sticking her copy of the last customer's bill onto a metal spike that held several paid bills.
         "Oh hush. See, he's looking at buying Rose's old place."
         "Really?" That got Myrtle's attention.
         "Yeah. He came around with Miller yesterday to look at the place. I don't know where he's staying, but I thought I would offer to let him stay with me until he gets a place. It's the only civilized thing to do."
         "What does any of this have to do with me?" Myrtle asked, folding her arms across her ample bosom, unsure what Engrid wanted from her.
         "I don't know where he's staying. I thought if you'd met him maybe you knew."
         "No, I don't know. I'm not nosy."
         Engrid rolled her eyes at the obvious lie, "So you can't help me?"
         "Sorry. Even if I knew, I couldn't tell you."
         "Why not?" Engrid asked, arching her eyebrows.
         "Client/cleaner privilege." Myrtle said with a smirk.
         Engrid scoffed.
         "Why do you care if he buys the house?" Myrtle asked, leaning on the counter.
         "He seemed kind and decent. He would bring down the average age of the neighborhood. I talked to him while he was touring the house. Actually, I gave him a tour of the house."
         "When?"
         "Friday."
         "You got that positive of an impression in one visit?" Myrtle sounded skeptical.
         Engrid paused, considering the question, "Yes. His parents are missionaries in Brazil. How wonderful is that? Plus, he seemed like he and Evan could pal around sometime."
         Myrtle laughed, "Evan on a playdate! Yeah, that'll never happen, Engrid."
         "Well, at least he'll have someone else his own age around. Your son can be a bit prickly at times, but he might make a new friend after a while."
         "Possibly, but I was serious when I said I don't know where he's staying."
         She pursed her lips and looked out of the store windows onto the street. She couldn't very well reconnoiter the whole town today. She doubted Dora would know anything; but, she would call on the phone when she got home. Maybe Evan had turned up at her house, or his, where she could easily find him.


         Andrew was still sitting on the porch watching the cars, listening to the birds chirping in the large oak tree at the corner of the property down by the street. It was so peaceful and serene. He remembered a time a friend of his whose family lived in midtown Manhattan had invited him home for Christmas. He remembered how he detested the city. It was so loud, dirty, crowded, expensive, and just oppressive that he was ready to go back to his uncle's army base in Oklahoma. Deerfield was a living postcard. It was so pretty, well cared for, and the people were friendly.
         "Who wouldn't want to live here?" Andrew mused to himself.
         He stood up, locked the door, and walked down the brick steps to his black Pathfinder. He got in and started the engine. He backed out of the driveway and onto the street. He drove slowly past, looking up at Engrid's house as he passed. The azaleas were in bloom and the sense of history and tradition was downright palpable. As he was picking up speed, a silver Town Car hurtled past him and swerved into Engrid's driveway.
         She hadn't spotted him necessarily, but she had spotted an unfamiliar vehicle. She stopped, whipped her head around and watched the Pathfinder disappear out of sight.
         "I wonder who that was," Engrid said aloud to her backseat, "And where is Evan?"
         He still hadn't appeared. Even though Evan did not have a set time to arrive, he was late because his consultation was needed.
         She changed into her yard work clothes which consisted of an old pair of denim shorts and a lightweight white blouse with paint stains on it. She put her nice sunhat on the kitchen table and switched it out with an old straw hat that she didn't care if it got messed up. She went out into the backyard to see if she could reach the kitchen window herself so that she could clean it and read the thermometer without endangering her life or her dental crowns by leaning over the kitchen sink. She went to the supply shed at the very back of the property hidden behind an ivy trellis and got a stool, a piece of board, and a five-gallon bucket. She also got two empty tin cans with some water and soap. She put soap and water in one and left the other as clean water.
         She loaded all the pieces of the puzzle into a wheelbarrow and struck out for the dirty kitchen window. By the time she crossed the yard, she didn't have much water left in the cans, so she took them inside for a refill and carried them back outside after pushing the kitchen window screen out so she could get to the glass. She put the stool on the ground and pushed it into the loose soil so that it was level. She laid the board across the stool and inverted the bucket over that so that it wouldn't just go over the stool.
         She then took a paper towel and the can of soapy water and climbed up onto the stool/bucket contraption. Now, she could reach the window, at least most of it. She swished the dirt around in a circular motion and tried to get it off, but mostly she just smeared it. She noticed Evan approaching in a gray T-shirt and jeans.
         "Engrid, what are you doing?" Evan asked.
         "I'm cleaning this window. It's filthy."
         "You're gonna need more water than that," He said looking up at her. For once, she was taller than him. This was a rare treat for her. At 4'11, she rarely stood taller than anyone else older than a third grader. Evan was about 5'10, so he was used to seeing the top of her head, not the underside of her chin.
         "Now how am I supposed to get more water without breaking my neck getting on and off this thing?" Engrid asked.
         He quietly walked away. She watched him to see what he was doing. In addition to being unbelievably beautiful in a slightly rugged but wholesome way, Evan was also an excellent problem solver. He walked over to the corner of the house and lifted an overturned bucket. The bucket was concealing a neatly rolled water hose.
         "Well, now why didn't I think of that?" She asked, carefully putting her feet back in the wheelbarrow to get down.
         "I dunno."
"Oh Evan, by the way, we may have a new neighbor."
         "Who?"
         "His name is Andrew Garrison. He works at McWilliams Investment."
         Evan nodded his head as he took aim at the window. He let a powerful jet of water fly out and blasted the dirt off the window.
         "How did that dirt get up there in the first place?" Engrid asked, pulling off her blue gardening gloves.
         "Maybe the sprinklers? There was some wind the other night. Maybe that blew something on there." Evan said shrugging, intent on getting as much dirt off as possible before he had to actually scrub it himself. Engrid's bucket contraption was just a ploy to get Evan to do it for her and they both knew it and accepted it as part of life.
         "I'm going to find him and invite him to stay with me while he buys the house."
         "How long has he been in town?" Evan asked.
         "A month or so."
         "Then he probably has a place to stay."
         She thought about it for a moment, then conceded, "You may have a point."
         "See. I'm sure this Andrew character can fend for himself." Evan said.
         "He doesn't have a wife or girlfriend, you know." Engrid said, then asked, "Why do you suppose that is?"
         "I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want one?" Evan theorized.
         "Why wouldn't he want one?" Engrid said, surprised by his laissez-faire attitude toward the subject.
         "Well, I've got an octogenarian that runs me ragged- I can't imagine what a 20 something would do to me."
         Engrid twerked her eyebrows, "So it's my fault you don't have a girlfriend?"
         "You know that's not true. I don't have a girlfriend because I would rather spend my time doing other things."
         "Like what?"
         "Like cleaning dirty windows, running a business, working with your plants."
         "You'd rather grow flowers than give them to anyone? Well that's the dumbest thing I think I've ever heard." Engrid replied.
         He just scowled. The window was clean enough, so he pinched the hose and went to shut off the water. She stood with her hands on her hips watching him. Engrid and Evan had been through this before. Sometimes they argued like an old married couple even though there was a full fifty years between them.
         Engrid continued, "Well, regardless of whether you have a girlfriend or not, we've got to work on Andrew- he wants one, I can tell. He doesn't have anyone. I think you're right about the living situation, but I'm not going to let the girlfriend thing go."
         Evan just shook his head.
         "What? Well, it's true. He's lonely, Evan. Poor guy doesn't have any family around here. They're all in Brazil, of all far-flung places. We've got to take care of him."
         "'We' don't have to do anything. If you want to set up a total stranger, leave me out of it."
         "But I need your help."
         "Engrid, no. Leave him alone. You don't know him or what he wants. There are people in the world who like being alone- I promise."
         "Well, I know, but..."
         "No 'but's' Engrid. Stay out of his social life. Please. You do this to people all the time."
         "But."
         "Remember Patrick Rayburn. He almost had to move towns after what happened."
         "That was not my fault," Engrid protested, "I didn't know he already had a girlfriend."
         "Andrew might too."
         "He does not. I asked."
         "Ah," Evan said.
         "What's that supposed to mean?"
         "Nothing," Evan replied.
         She followed him across the yard as he was putting things away, "Well, he's about your age, that's why I was hoping you would know someone suitable."
         He could hear her continuing to talk behind him, "He's smart and knows about music and literature. He's very well-dressed and physically fit. He gets along well with people. Who around here would do well with that? Who in the world wouldn't do well with that; but who around here would be good enough for him? I'm drawing a complete blank. I just don't know who I could invite over to dinner and have him here. Maybe I could bring several people. No, that would be too obvious, it needs to seem incidental."
         "What else needs doing, Engrid?" Evan asked.
         "Nothing that I know of right now. I was just going to go over to the post office, I need some stamps."
         "Engrid..."
         "I know what you're going to say, it's okay...it's over. I'll leave him alone out of respect for your wishes. It's just that I could tell he wished he had a girlfriend or a wife, even yesterday when I talked to him. We talked for almost two hours, you know."
         "You bugged him for two hours?"
         "I did not 'bug' him. He was a willing contributor to the conversation, so don't make me out to be the boor. Plus, I talked to his mother because she called while we were there. What's with you today?"
         "What's that supposed to mean?" Evan asked, sitting down on the back steps.
         "Normally you would have a list of people. We've done this for other people. Why is helping out the new guy such a problem for you?"
         "It's not a problem. It's just that if he is going to be your neighbor you have got to learn to respect his privacy. I know you and Rose didn't have much in the way of rules and maybe in a few years you and this guy will be the same way. I just don't want you to presume too much and end up ruining your potential friendship with him."
         "Since when do you know so much?"
         Evan shrugged his shoulders.
         She stood up and walked in the back door leaving Evan on the back steps. Engrid was irritated with her houseboy. That's what some people in the neighborhood considered him- Engrid's houseboy- even though he stayed mainly in the yard. He stood up and walked away from the house. She slammed the door for dramatic effect. They really were like an old married couple some days. She stormed back into the kitchen and tossed her gardening gloves on the counter. She was in no condition to drive around town, so she poured herself some water and sat at the table for a minute. She fumed for a few more minutes, but eventually cooled off enough to go about her business.

Chapter 6

Andrew returned to the camper in the Shady Acres Trailer Park. Engrid would never have stood for it had she known her new project was living in a trailer park out by the interstate.
         Andrew took out his phone and dialed, "Hello, Mr. Miller?"
         "Yes, Andrew! What did you think of the house?"
         "It looks perfect. I want to put in the offer we discussed in the car earlier. Does that sound good?"
         "That sounds perfect. I'll get the PDFs over to you for e-signature."
         "Sounds good," Andrew replied.
         "It'll take a while to close, but I'm sure I can arrange with the owners for you to move in early."
         "Thank you! That would be great. Goodbye, Mr. Miller" Andrew said.
          Soon, Andrew would be moving into his new house. He hated leaving Paul in this old ramshackle, but Paul seemed happy with it. Being a trucker, he was rarely there for more than 48 hours at a time anyway.
         Andrew called his parents and let them know the good news. They were 'rejoicing' to use his father's word.
         Andrew fixed himself a peanut butter and banana sandwich and plopped down in an old, brown, threadbare recliner. He opened the can of diet soda and picked up the remote control. He sat there and watched the local news at noon. Little did he know that Engrid was at home doing the same exact thing- sitting in her favorite chair, eating a sandwich, drinking a diet soda, and watching the local news at noon. He didn't really watch it, he just listened to the reporters and the anchors bounce back and forth and that was interspersed with the weather forecast. It was going to be sunny and highs in the mid-80's. Not bad for May in South Carolina. His brain had totally checked out and he basically just stared at the moving objects on the screen. He was suddenly fascinated by the little inset boxes by the anchors' heads.
         He was sure that he would get tired of the pace of life around here just like everybody else, but for the time being, he was quite content with the way things were going. He was going to have a nice big house all to himself for a while, and then he'd see about finding a significant someone to share it with. It was a perfect plan in his mind.
         After lunch was over and the soap operas had started, Andrew went to the furniture store to pick out some things. Harvey's Furniture and El Ser Mattress were the two furniture stores in town. Harvey was more than happy to extend a line of credit to make the sale. Andrew decided to do some price comparisons and despite their ads, there really wasn't much difference between them for comparable items. So, he picked out a light tan oak dining room set, two sets of mission-style bedroom furniture, some office furniture, and a living room set. The living room set included a full couch, a loveseat, and two high backed armchairs. They looked a little old fashioned, but Andrew decided that fit the aesthetic of the living room perfectly. The items were nice, if not extravagant.
         He dozed off and woke up when his phone flashed a notification of a new voicemail. He must have had his phone on silent. He listened to it and it was Paul saying that he would be back from San Diego on Thursday and that he was westbound out of Phoenix. Andrew envisioned how desolate an area western Arizona was. He'd never lived there, but he did live in San Diego for about eight months when he was 17. He pictured Paul out there on the open road with nothing but the bed in the back of his sleeper to look forward to. Paul had nothing to look at but the road ahead and other cars full of people on their merry way to who knows where.
         Andrew got more excited as he thought more about the life he had planned for himself. He was moving into a spacious house on a wide, maple tree lined avenue. It was all he'd ever dreamed of- a home. Now, if he could just find a suitable person to share it with. That was not going to be easy.
         Andrew pulled the parachute handle on his recliner and put his feet up. He was looking forward to a quiet night at home. He put his head back and closed his eyes. In his mind, he had memorized every detail of his new home. He remembered the layout, the colors, the patterns, even the smells and textures. He envisioned in his mind what he would change and what he would leave just the way it was. He pictured all the new furniture waiting for him at the store. He pictured where it would all go and how he would arrange it. Oh, it was going to be fabulous. Even though it was still early, Andrew dozed off again.

Chapter 7

Wednesday dawned and Andrew reached over to smack his alarm clock. He never hit snooze, but that did not mean he relished mornings. He was sprawled out across his bed. He was still fully dressed from the night before, including shoes. Thank goodness he was in the habit of turning his alarm clock on right after switching it off in the morning. Otherwise, who knows when he would have awakened. He had hardly ever been late to anything in his life. He had no intention of changing that track record any time soon. He reached over and clicked the alarm clock back on for tomorrow morning. He sat up and looked around. It was 7:00 am on a workday. He got up and stumbled into the bathroom and clicked on the light. Aaaak the light hit his eyes and he squinted, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the brightness. After a shower, he wandered out to the kitchen to pour a bowl of corn flakes. He absentmindedly ate while web surfing on his phone. Around 7:45, he went out to his black Pathfinder and started the engine.
         Andrew's consultation with Evan Grayson was this morning. His mother, Myrtle was rapidly approaching 60 years old and she was looking forward to retirement. Evan was coming in to see about arranging a benefits package for a new manager they would hire when Myrtle finally retired. So, Evan was coming in to discuss investment options such as 401k's or IRA's to make a managerial position in a dry-cleaning store a somewhat decently lucrative position. Martin scheduled the consultation for 9am.
         About 8:50, the phone rang.
         "McWilliams Investments." Andrew answered.
         "Hello, is this Mr. Garrison?"
         "Yes sir, Mr. Wimberly, how are you doing?"
         It was Andrew's least favorite client- a man who, even when he was sober, sounded drunk and disorderly. Today, he was up early to make Andrew's life eventful. Somehow, Mr. Wimberly had decided that he didn't like Andrew in the least and that Andrew was completely incompetent and needed to be fired. Andrew took his assaults personally. Mr. Wimberly called pretty much every morning asking how his portfolio was doing. Andrew had patiently worked with the man day after stinking day to keep him happy. Mr. Wimberly and Mr. Martin were good friends from way back in time. So, losing Mr. Wimberly as a client was not an option, enticing as it may be.
         "I'm not doing so good, Mr. Garrison."
         "And why is that, Mr. Wimberly?"
         "I was lookin over some nummers last ni'ht. My money ain't doin so hot."
         "Well, sir, the market fluctuates daily." Andrew replied.          
         "You said these here stocks were good 'uns."
         "And they are, Mr. Wimberly."
         "Then why'd I lose money? If you's worth yo salt son, you'd pick better uns fer me. I ain't got money to throw away, kid. I knows you rich kids think you got somethin, but you hear me, you keep losing my money and I'll come down there and kick yo scrawny ass, boy."
         "Well, I don't believe that will be necessary, Mr. Wimberly." Andrew said, trying to resist the urge to pound the handset against his desktop.
         The conversation devolved as Mr. Wimberly continued his verbal abuse of Andrew. Andrew's patience was wearing thin already. Betty was sitting across the room by the window smiling. She knew what was happening. She was happy. It was Andrew's turn to be the brunt of his storm. It was an initiation hazing of sorts for new employees. Whenever a new person came on staff, which wasn't all that often, they would tell Mr. Wimberly that someone new was coming that perhaps could better serve his needs.
         She could tell Andrew was near the boiling point. He was managing to keep his voice low, but his face was getting red and she could see his jaw muscles flexing as he ground his teeth. The door opened and Evan walked into the office. Betty's was the first desk he came to.
         "Hi Betty," He greeted her.
         "Hi Evan." Betty said, "I'm glad to see you again! It's been forever."
         "Evan!" Amanda said and came and gave him a big hug, which he returned. They were friends from high school.
         "Hi Amanda," Evan said and flashed her one of his thousand-watt smiles.
         "I haven't seen you in such a long time." Darcy said, sitting a printed spreadsheet down on her desk, "You should drop by more often."
         Andrew heard them greeting Evan like he was a long-lost hero. He almost dropped the phone. Andrew went slack jawed at what he saw. Evan was a moderately tall, well-built guy with sandy blonde hair and radiant green eyes. He was dressed preppy in a polo shirt with blue and white horizontal stripes and khaki pants. Mr. Wimberly's voice faded into white noise. Andrew was entranced by his new client.
         "I know. I've been busy. How have you been?" Evan said, grinning at Amanda.
         "I've been doing just fine. I'm so glad to see you again." She replied.
         Evan nodded, "Say, I'm here to see Andrew Garrison, is he around?"
         "Yes, he's on the phone." She pointed at Andrew's desk.
         Mr. Wimberly's voice cut through, "Hey!? Are you listening to me?"
         "Um, uh," Andrew stammered, yanked back to reality, "I'm listening."
         "Can you explain how you lost money, kid?"
         "There are no guarantees with these sorts of things. It's a calculated risk." Andrew explained, trying not to sound snide.
         "Bullshit. I don't think millionaires get that way working with the likes of you."
         "Well, Mr. Wimberly, my next client is here." He hung up the phone without waiting for a response.
         Andrew looked like his head was about to explode.
         Evan looked at Amanda, "Can't I just work with you?"
         She shook her head, "We don't make the assignments. Andrew's a nice guy though, he's just stuck with a bitter, angry client."
         "I'll try not to make it two in one day," Evan replied, watching as he could almost detect smoke coming from Andrew's ears.
         Amanda smirked, "He's not so bad. He's actually kinda cute."
         Evan grunted and walked over to Andrew's desk and sat in the chair in front of the desk and watched him.
         "Good morning, Mr. Grayson," Andrew said, "I've heard good things about you."
         Evan looked confused.
         Andrew explained, "Betty, Amanda, and Darcy all said you were great. I also am looking at buying the house on Maple Ave. I met Engrid. All positive reviews."
         Evan smiled, "I'm glad."
         Evan crossed his ankles and tucked them underneath his chair. He could not pinpoint why he was suddenly nervous. He put his hands on the arms of the chair and drummed his fingers. He hated business meetings. He liked working in the dry-cleaning store and with landscaping because they weren't stuffy and pretentious like most offices.          
         "Um, uh," Andrew seemed befuddled. He felt awkward and tongue tied around the vision before him.
         "Hopefully, this can help my mother's business." Evan said.
         "I'm sure we can work something out." Andrew smiled a nice, pleasant smile. Evan returned it. When he smiled at Andrew, something clicked between them that Evan had not anticipated.
         Andrew felt a spark between them too. He had clients come in all the time, but he felt differently about this guy. Maybe it was the talking up Engrid and others had done, but there was something there. Evan was a man of substance. Andrew could feel it, there was almost sexual tension there. He suddenly realized that Evan was talking. He was giving Andrew background information on the business.
         Evan noticed that Andrew wasn't listening.
         "Andrew?" Evan asked, slowly waving his hand in front of Andrew's face.
         "Yes?" Andrew shook his head to clear it.
         "Are you there?" He asked.
         "I'm sorry. Go ahead." Andrew said, shaking his head again.
         "As I was saying, my mother inherited the company years ago when my father died. She and I have run it just the two of us. She did all of it for a long time while I was living in New York. It is getting harder as she gets closer to wanting to retire. She wants to do some traveling. We have plenty of money because we're frugal people, but she's ready to have some fun while she's still young enough to enjoy it. I like the customers and the business end of it, but I'm ready to move on and do something else too. I've been offered a teaching position at Deerfield Community College starting this fall. So, we need a manager to oversee it and we plan to open a second location. As I told Mr. Jacobs on the phone, we need to decide on some options for benefits and just some help with the math."
         "I see." Andrew said and pulled out some papers, "Martin sent me his summary of what you told him.
         "So, what kinds of retirement or pension benefits plans can you help us with?" Evan asked.
         "Well, there are a variety of options." Andrew leaned forward on his desk. He started to explain them but kept losing his train of thought when he looked up at Evan. Evan kept telling Andrew that he already knew the differences in IRAs, but Andrew pressed on anyway.
         Evan was a lot smarter than most people gave him credit for. There were a lot of things about Evan that few, if anyone, knew. Evan felt that Andrew was talking down to him a bit, which he found irksome.
         When he would work in Engrid's back yard, he would wear threadbare t-shirts and threadbare jeans and old tennis shoes. When he worked in the dry-cleaning store, he wore more presentable jeans that were a little snug in all the right places and a more intact T-shirt and clean shoes. His mother had tried to get him to dress up more but had failed. When he came into Andrew's office that day, he had made a conscious effort to clean up a little.
         Andrew was the complete opposite. He never left the house without buttons on his shirt or a sweater and his pants were always pressed. Andrew tried to look good. Not for anyone else, but, being raised by missionaries and then the military life, it's just how life was done. Andrew found the structure and habits reassuring in a world that offered little in the way of reassurance.
         What Andrew considered habitual decorum, though, Evan considered pretension. Andrew was having a completely different reaction to Evan. He saw Evan as mysterious and wholesome. Evan was intelligent, hardworking, loving toward his family and friends, moral, loyal, very attractive, in top physical form, and seemed to possess all the traits Andrew wanted in a boyfriend. Evan was unpretentious and unassuming. Evan was one of those rare people who really and truly have no idea how beautiful and attractive they are.
         Andrew was immediately drawn to Evan because Evan seemed to have the life that Andrew wanted. Evan had a fully formed, robust life and history in this place. Evan had friends that he'd known since before kindergarten. Three people he'd known since high school, possibly even earlier, were right in this room watching them. Evan knew what it was like to live in the same house his whole life. Andrew marveled enviously at the stability and love that Evan was accustomed to and he wanted desperately to be a part of it.
         When Andrew was done, he stared at Evan, waiting for a question.
         "I think I've got it."
         "Good," Andrew replied.
         "Okay." Evan stood up to leave and extended his hand to Andrew. Andrew grasped his hand and shook it vigorously.
         "Thank you for coming in and I hope we can help you and your business. Think about what I said and read over this summary and let me know" Andrew said, handing him a piece of paper.
         Evan nodded his thanks and took his leave. He seemed in a hurry. As Evan was leaving, he could not shake the vibe he got from Andrew.


         Evan walked down the street to the dry cleaner's mulling over his mental meeting notes. When he got to the store, his mother was behind the counter counting the cash in the till.
         "How did it go?" she asked, greeting him with a smile.
         "It was okay. That Andrew guy is one strange bird."
         "Really?" Myrtle replied, "Engrid seemed to take a liking to him."
         "I said he'd met Engrid. I wanted to work with Amanda, but our account was assigned to him. We talked for a while. He kept looking at me with the weirdest looks. It was like he was staring at me or something. He knows his stuff, but he needs to not do that. It kind of freaked me out a little. Plus, he was a little condescending."
         "That's too bad. Andrew is moving in next door to Engrid. You'll probably be seeing a lot of each other."
         "He mentioned it. Plus, Engrid tried to get me to recruit a girlfriend for him."
         "She told me that. As always, she'll probably ignore your advice to leave him alone." Myrtle said.
         "I know." Evan replied.
         "Engrid said he was very nice. He must have been having an off day or something."
         "I guess he wasn't that bad." Evan replied.
         "Well, at least you're keeping an open mind." his mother replied.
         "He talked down to me and you should have heard him talking to someone on the phone when I got there. Plus, he would just stare at me."
         "It's called eye contact, dear." She said absently, as she finished counting money and started filling out a form to reorder metal clothes hangers.
         "No, this was different."
         "Okay," She wasn't listening anymore, so Evan went to the back of the store to do something constructive. He knew her absent minded 'okay' was his mother's way of dismissing him.
         As Evan was getting ready to put spray starch on some dress shirts, he could not shake the feeling he got from Andrew. He'd found himself drawn to Andrew. So, Evan kept working and tried to put Andrew out of his mind.
         

Chapter 8

A week passed uneventfully. Andrew had arranged with the realtor's office to start moving some of his things. He wouldn't officially move in until the upcoming Monday, but he was allowed to move a few things in earlier.
         After work on Thursday, he drove over to his new house. The furniture trucks were going to start arriving soon. His phone buzzed. He looked at it. A text message from his mother simply read, "Pictures."
         "What pictures?" He typed back.
         Her response, "Pictures of your new furniture."
         "It isn't here yet, Mom."
         "I'll wait," she replied, with a smiley face and delivery truck emojis after it.
         Andrew arrived with a printout of what he had bought. Andrew loved decorating houses. It was his favorite part of having to move so much. Every time he and his uncle moved to a new place, Andrew had a new space to play with.
         He walked all through the house with the paper print out in his hand. He couldn't help but think how much it reminded him of a wedding gift registry. He decided that maybe he would marry Evan. An interracial gay couple would stir things up around this town. He stood in the kitchen. He pictured himself at the stove in dark slacks and white dress shirt cooking breakfast before leaving for work. Evan was sitting in his usual T-shirt and jeans at the table waiting for his food. They discussed the people who lived in town. They talked about the latest crazy thing that their neighbor Engrid had tried to do. He looked over at Evan who yawned with his mouth full of perfect white teeth and stretched his long, lithely muscled arms. Oh, Evan Grayson was a work of divine art.
         Andrew didn't consider himself attractive. He saw himself as too skinny, too bookish, and not very sexy at all. To Andrew, Evan was built like a real man. Evan was tall with a medium build, sandy blonde hair, and green eyes. His t-shirt and jeans were always a tad too tight. They weren't tight enough to be obviously tight. It didn't seem like Evan had bought them to look that way. It was more like they had once fit him, but he'd outgrown them or shrunk in the dryer though he insisted on continuing to wear them because they were comfortable. Evan was attractive partly because he seemed comfortable in his own body. Evan seemed to like being the way he was. Evan seemed to be what Andrew always longed to be. Evan was secure in his body and happy with his life.
         Andrew always felt the need to compete with the other boys. Since he had always been the new kid in town, he always had to be the most charming and the best dressed. His uncle would expect nothing less from his nephew. Andrew had always strived for others to like him. A lot of the other boys on the base didn't care what other people thought of them. So they didn't mind telling others what they thought of them. Andrew took criticism seriously and personally. If someone criticized him, he would stop at nothing to redeem himself in their eyes. He decided those were problems for another day. This was a fun day of getting settled into his new home, not a day for pensive introspection.
         Andrew hated to think how much of his money he had spent on his appearance- especially clothes. Andrew's closets were full of designer labels. Unless it was a sweater, Andrew never wore clothes that he had not just ironed. He had about three different kinds of facial cleanser in his shower, about a half dozen different hair styling products- melting gel, styling gel, scrunch spray, and on and on. Andrew wondered how long Evan took to get ready in the morning. Andrew decided that it probably was not very long and that Evan pretty much rolled out of bed looking like that.
         Andrew started laughing to himself as a memory floated to the surface. He remembered riding in his uncle's truck across the prairies of Oklahoma listening to Dolly Parton.
         Andrew brought up his phone and started music.
         He started tapping his feet and then singing and dancing in his empty kitchen, "Why'd you come in here lookin' like that with your high heeled boots and your painted-on jeans? When you could stop traffic in a gunny sack. Why, you're almost giving me a heart attack when you waltz right in here lookin' like that."
         Andrew danced around the kitchen singing the song and lost in his own imagination. He tried to envision Evan naked, but his mind just couldn't contain the glory.
         He heard an old diesel engine drive up outside. He turned off the music and went back to his normal demeanor. He went to the window. The delivery truck had arrived from Harvey's Furniture. Andrew hurried out onto the porch to welcome them. The leader of the pack was a gruff, barrel chested chain smoker named Bill. His short, wiry companion was Leo. They had a crew of about six guys in the three trucks. Andrew's house wasn't all that big, but it took a lot of furniture to fill it up, considering he did not have so much as a lamp to call his own, up until today. The men piled out of the trucks and pushed the sliding doors of the truck bays open. Bill had instructed the guys to place the furniture wherever Andrew wanted it; not just dump it all inside the front door and leave. Andrew had made a copy of his schematic and gave it to Bill, who reviewed it while puffing on a freshly lit Marlboro.
         "I guess we can do this," Bill said, then coughed for a bit.
         Andrew wrinkled his nose and stepped back a few steps.
         "Leo!" Bill barked, "Get these lazy guys in motion. We've got a lot to do."
         It was nearly 80 degrees and Engrid had made lemonade in a gallon plastic jug for all the guys. She'd stood in her window and counted them all and brought an appropriate number of plastic cups, plus two in case she miscounted or someone needed a second cup. While they were getting situated, Engrid appeared with the lemonade in tow and the cups in a plastic grocery bag hung over her wrist. She set all the things down on Andrew's porch and told the men to have some when they were ready. There was a random chair sitting on the porch that Engrid sat on. It still had the plastic on the padding. She took off her sun hat and fanned herself with it.
         "That goes with the kitchen table," Leo informed her. She didn't seem to care that he thought the chair needed to go in right that instant. He walked back down the steps and got an end table to carry into the house.
         While Andrew was outside telling the workmen which rooms the things went in, and pointing to his schematic, Engrid hopped up and took it upon herself to supervise the work inside the house.
         After about an hour, all the pieces of furniture were put in their places and the work crew departed. Andrew thought that Harvey must have given them a talking to because they had even assembled the bed frames and put the mattresses on the beds. They had arranged the chairs around the kitchen table and arranged the furnishings around the living room just perfectly. Perhaps Engrid's indoor supervision had something to do with that too.
         After Bill and his crew were piled back in their trucks, Andrew stood on the porch and waved to them as they drove away. As he was standing there, Engrid came up behind him from inside and stood by his side. What he wouldn't give to have Evan standing there.
         Andrew turned to her, "Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. Everything looks great in there."
         She smiled, "It's nothing, really. I just like to be helpful."
         "I need to take a few pictures. I promised Mom."
         "You pose with the living room furniture. I'll take the picture." Engrid said.
         Andrew agreed.
         "I could go change." Andrew offered.
         "If you're going to change, then I suggest a polo shirt and tan pants. Something snappy casual."
         "Okay. I have that. Blue polo or green?"
         "Hmm, if you do, a light khaki shorts or pants then I would go with a white shirt."
         "I have a green and white striped polo."
         "Perfect! And boat shoes."
         "Got it."
         Engrid waited while he went upstairs. She wandered around the living room and looked at various angles of what would work. Andrew came back down stairs.
         "Sit on the armchair facing the room. I think the light is best and the fireplace looks nice as a background."
         He sat on the chair surrounded by the rest of the living room set. The tall windows let in a nice glow of late afternoon sunshine.
         Engrid took a picture and turned the phone back to herself to review her handiwork.
         "Turn to the other side. Let's try a profile shot," She said.
         Andrew complied.
         "Cross your legs," She directed.
         "Yes, Ms. de Mille," Andrew said, laughing.
         Engrid snapped the picture and reviewed it. It passed muster, so she handed him the phone back.
         "Well, I've got some other things to bring over from where I've been staying. I should probably get going."
         "Can I come? I'd love to help." Engrid said, pouring herself a glass of lemonade as a reward for a job well done.
         He thought about it for a moment and then decided that it couldn't hurt and he'd appreciated the extra set of hands.


So, he and Engrid got into his Pathfinder and drove off into the sunset. He hadn't gotten off work until 5, so now it was getting dark and approaching 8 o'clock. Darkness was coming later and later, signaling the approaching summer.
         Engrid broke the silence, "I heard the other day on the news that a climatologist at the state university in Columbia predicts this will be one of the hottest summers on record."          
         "Really?"
         He was still obsessing about Evan and how unbelievably sexy he was. Engrid, of course, had no idea what was going on in her chauffeur's head. She just sat watching the landscape of the town pass by and they drove out to the edge of town. She had her arms folded primly across her chest.
         "Yes, and a record hot summer in South Carolina is not something to joke about," Engrid kept talking.
         "No, it isn't."
         "I thought you just moved here?"
         "I've lived here for the last seven years."
         "Oh, that's right. But you're in the midlands of South Carolina now- that's a horse of a different color. At least in Clemson, you're not too far from the mountains and you've got nice northern breezes coming down from the mountains. Here, on the rare occasion we get a breeze, it comes out of Alabama and Georgia." She said, "On a really cold day, we might get some wind out of western North Carolina."
         "I guess that's true."
         She noticed the distance in his voice.
         "What are you thinking about?" She grinned in an attempt to cheer up the grumpy Gus, "You look like something's bothering you."
         "Nothing. I'm just tired I guess."
         "Oh. Well, you should be happy. In a couple of days, you'll be living in your new house next door to me!"
         Andrew just stared wistfully at the road ahead.
         "How far out in the sticks do you live?" she asked, noting the pine trees.
         "I live in Shady Acres."
         Engrid was aghast. "The trailer park?"
         "Yeah."
         She couldn't believe her ears. She felt pangs of guilt as she realized that her new project had been living in a trailer park all this time. She regretted listening to Evan's advice to call off the plan. Particularly since the girlfriend issue was a bust. She realized she hadn't helped him one bit until today.
         "You live in a trailer park? Do you know what sort of people live in trailer parks?"
         "They're quite nice."
         "You've been living alone?" Engrid queried.
         "No, I've been staying with a guy named Paul who's a truck driver. In fact, he's supposed to get back from San Diego today sometime. Maybe you'll get to meet him."
         "You've been living with another man?"
         "We've been sharing living space, yes."
         "How many bedrooms does a trailer have?"
         "Some have three or four. Paul only has one. It's more of a camper than an actual trailer. Though it is underpinned and has a porch," Andrew said as if that would make a difference to Engrid's assessment.
         She marveled at the revelation, "Where do you sleep?"
         "In the bed."
         "Where does Paul sleep?" Engrid quizzed.
         "He's on the road most of the time, but when he's home, I scoot over."
         "You've been sleeping with a truck driver?" Engrid asked, seeming befuddled.
         He cut his eyes at her. "We've been sharing sleeping quarters, yes. He's just a friend of mine that I met in college. He lives here and I'm staying with him while I get settled in a house."
         Paul knew that Andrew was gay and was fine with that. Andrew knew that Paul was not. They were able to share sleeping space because each knew the other's boundaries and were willing to respect them.
         "Will Paul be moving into your new house?"
         "I offered, but Paul wants his own space."
         "Oh." She seemed to relax a bit. To be an uppity old prude, it didn't take Engrid long to think Andrew was knocking boots with a truck driver named Paul.
         She dropped the subject and resumed staring out of the window at the passing pine trees. They turned onto a gravel road with potholes the size of car tires. They had arrived at Shady Acres. Andrew drove past all the nice trailers with newly-constructed porches attached and that looked like they might actually be quite cozy. As they drove along, the trailers got smaller and older and more run down. Finally, they arrived at the end of the road, literally. Andrew stopped in front of an old camper with a sagging canvas awning out front over a sagging old porch. It had green mildew in splotches on the side. Engrid was a little nervous. This wasn't her part of town. She was a church social, cotillion, garden party sort of person. She had never set foot in a trailer park in her life. Andrew hopped out of the car and walked up to the door. There was no big rig in the yard, so Engrid figured that Paul must not be home yet. Andrew got out and walked up to the rickety porch. Engrid stayed in the car.
         "Aren't you coming?" He stood on the porch and called out to her.
         She couldn't hear, so she opened the door and stood on the gravel. "What?"
         "Aren't you coming? I need you to help me carry some boxes out to the car."
         "Oh." She shut the door and walked cautiously toward the door of the camper, which was about midway down the length. She wouldn't have had enough nerve to do that if she didn't trust Andrew. She glanced around and didn't see anyone else. She looked up at him as he waited for her to hurry up. It would be completely dark soon and he wanted to get this done. It would be dark by the time they got back to his new house anyway. She mounted the steps one at a time and went up onto the porch made of weathered 2x4's and rusty 10 penny nails.
         Andrew had already disappeared inside the camper but left the door open so Engrid could come in when she made it. She stuck her head in the door and looked around. She couldn't fathom how two grown men shared such a cramped little space. No wonder Andrew wanted to move into the house next door to her. Andrew's new house was a palatial mansion by comparison to this...Engrid felt 'dump' was a little rude, but she struggled to find another word.
         "I couldn't live here for two seconds," Engrid thought as she made her way through the main room/kitchen toward the bedroom where she heard Andrew rummaging around, if such a space could be called a 'bedroom.'
         "Andrew?" she called out, "Do you need any help?"
         "I can bring it out, you just have a seat."
         She looked around. There were two small recliners in front of a tiny television set over in the corner by the table that could be folded up to make additional floor space. She made her way across the room and dusted off one of them and sat down. She reached over and picked up a magazine from the rack. The Atlantic Monthly- she hadn't expected that one. She leafed through the pages as she waited for Andrew to get finished in the bedroom. He brought a stack of boxes out and sat them on the edge of the counter by the sink. She looked over at him. Her fashion advice worked - Andrew cut quite a figure in a polo and shorts. He had a little dust on the front of his shorts, which he noticed and promptly brushed off and returned to the bedroom for the next load.          
         Engrid carefully returned The Atlantic Monthly to its place in the walnut wood veneered particle board magazine rack. She ran her fingers along the sides of the magazines to look at their titles. They were mostly literary magazines with a few science journals interspersed. This confirmed that Andrew had sophisticated tastes when it came to reading.
         Andrew called out to her, "Engrid, do you see an empty box on the table?"
         "Yes sir, I do."
         He called out to her from the bedroom, "Could you put those books by the window in that box and set it on the counter? I'll get it from there because it might be too heavy for you to carry all the way out to the car."
         "Sure." She stood up and started loading a row of books from the window sill into the box. She was intrigued by the titles she saw. Among the books were: Ethics and World Religions, The History of the Reformation in Britain and Ireland, Celtic Spirituality, Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, Charleston Receipts, and a couple of thick Neal Stevenson novels. She loaded them into the box and carried them over to the counter and sat them in a folding chair by the bathroom door about three feet away from the others by the kitchen sink. She dusted her hands and looked for a towel to finish cleaning her hands.
         "How much more do you have?" She asked, looking around.
         "Not much, just a few books and some clothes."
         "Oh, okay. Where are you gonna put the books?" she asked.
         "One of the bedrooms is going to be a library. The one at the base of the stairs across from the kitchen."
         "That makes sense. We have a library here in town, you know. It's quite nice. Dora's done a good job the last couple of years getting people to donate books. Maybe you could unload some of them. She's your neighbor on the other side from me. She is a year or two older than me but she's in charge of their acquisitions."
         "Really?"
         "Yes. She was the state archivist in Columbia for years. She was in charge of maintaining records for the state legislature and the governor's office."
         "That's impressive, but I like my books, I'm gonna keep them."
         "Oh, well, if you change your mind..." She said, reseating herself in Andrew's recliner by the TV.
         "Those boxes on the counter are mostly clothes, could you go ahead and take those out to the car and put them in the back?" He asked, poking his head out of the bedroom door, which was really just a piece of cloth stapled to the ceiling.
         "Okay," She hoisted herself out of the chair and went over and picked up the top one and headed out the door. She was quite glad to get out of that stuffy little trailer for a few minutes. As she was loading the boxes in the back of the Pathfinder, Andrew emerged with about three boxes stacked on top of one another. After a couple more trips with Engrid opening and closing doors for him, everything got loaded and they drove back out to the highway going back towards town. Engrid relaxed now that that was over, and she hoped that would be the last time she had to go to Shady Acres. She knew she'd probably have to meet Paul at some point.
         She was still thrown by the idea of two men sharing a bed. When she was growing up, they lived in a tiny little house and her brothers had to share a bed and she shared a bed with her sister, but that was different. Two grown, unrelated men sleeping in the same bed was a bizarre and foreign concept for her. Gay sex was well beyond her realm of cognition. But, that was about to change for poor Engrid. Poor Engrid didn't know what she was about to face in the months ahead. She was just sitting there excited that she had a nice new neighbor and that she got to be helpful this afternoon as she watched the pine trees whizzing by outside the window of Andrew's Pathfinder.

Chapter 9

Friday morning arrived. Evan walked along the sidewalk in front of Engrid's house. He was stopping by to see what she was doing that morning and if she needed any help. As Evan walked around the side of the house, he could hear a sputtering sound. He walked further to investigate. Engrid was yanking vigorously on the pull rope of her crusty old push mower. She was definitely prepared for battle. Yard work days were the only days that Engrid appeared outside her house without being dressed for 'going out in public.' Today, she was wearing a pair of old denim shorts that had large white splotches on them from when she'd had an accident with a bowl of Clorox the previous summer when she tried to sanitize a white plastic stackable deck chair. She paired that with a threadbare faded blue Myrtle Beach T-shirt.
         "Do you need any help?" Evan asked perfunctorily.
         She looked up at him.
         "What's wrong?" he asked.
         "Nothing," she went back to yanking on the pull rope for the lawn mower- with renewed resolution. He stood silently watching her. Waiting for her to get frustrated with it and turn the duty over to him. The lawn mower refused to start.
         "Maybe Andrew will buy a nice new riding lawn mower and then I can borrow it." Engrid said.
         "You could just buy one of your own." Evan replied.
         "I could. But I would rather have him pay for it."
         Evan chuckled, Engrid was definitely frugal. He watched her as her temper rose.
         "Agh." She finally said and walked away in disgust.
         "Engrid."
         "What?" she spat. She had no mastery of machinery.
         "Let me show you something."
         She walked back over and stood waiting. He pushed the safety bar down on the handle, reached down, and briskly pulled the rope and it sputtered to life immediately.
         "Humph." She said and walked away.
         Evan knew perfectly well that Engrid had been putting on a show so he would do it for her, but nonetheless, he started pushing the mower around cutting the grass. Evan didn't sweat much, even in the hottest parts of the summer. The grass was still a bit wet, but that crusty old lawnmower had cut worse. He looked over. Engrid was sitting on the back steps talking on the phone.
         He intentionally rolled the lawn mower right past her so she couldn't hear. She scowled. He kept mowing. Eventually, she went out to the shed and got the string trimmer. The lawn mower refused to work for her, but the string trimmer seemed to work fine. She started trimming around the gazebo and near the azaleas that surrounded it. Her backyard was pretty large, but Evan moved fast, so they were done by about 11:00. They went inside and sat down to lunch. Lunch at Engrid's was a simple affair. She just sat a bunch of sandwich parts on the kitchen table and some left over baked chicken. She and Evan just constructed whatever kind of sandwich they wanted and had a little chicken on the side. There was always iced tea or lemonade to drink. Engrid didn't care for carbonated things, although she would drink the occasional diet soda. Evan had never really developed a taste for them, and so rarely drank soda or anything like it. Today, Engrid opted for an iced coffee from a cup leftover from breakfast.
         As Engrid spread some mayonnaise on her sandwich, she decided she wanted to know the truth. She said, "Evan, I talked to your mother on Wednesday."
         "Okay" He said, squeezing a ketchup bottle.
         "She says that you didn't like Andrew."
         "She was right," He said, pouring more tea and putting the last of his sandwich together.
         "I like him. I helped him move in yesterday."
         "Okay." Evan said through a mouthful of sandwich.
         "Why didn't you? He seems friendly and pleasant."
         "He's an irritating know-it-all." Evan replied after washing down a bite of sandwich with a big swig of tea.
         Engrid cracked a wide smile, "You haven't passed by a mirror lately have you?"
         Evan's expression was a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
         Then she kept talking, "I guess I don't know him all that well. How long did you talk to him?"
         "Half an hour or so."
         "That's it?" She seemed surprised.
         "Well, yeah. Then..."
         "Then what?"
         "He kept staring at me and then all of a sudden he would snap back into reality and have no idea what I was talking about. He barely listened to a word I said."
         "Staring at you?"
         "Just this blank stare. You know, like, one French fry short of a happy meal, his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, sort of way." He said, taking another big bite of sandwich,
         "He's very smart, you know."
         "He tried very hard to demonstrate that." Evan said, taking another bite of sandwich, "He was a bit condescending."
         "He's well-read, well-traveled. I'm surprised you two didn't hit it off. I think you and he could be good friends if you'd give him a chance. You like to read too. Especially with all the time you spent in college in New York City." Engrid said.
         "So, what do you want me to do?"
         "I don't know. That's up to you. He's going to be at his house tonight, so when you get off at the store, maybe you should pay him a visit. It wouldn't kill you to be neighborly, you know."
         Evan pondered the merits of that. Engrid sat quietly eating her pimento cheese sandwich and sipping her iced coffee from a water glass, waiting for a response. She was worried that the two primary men in her life weren't going to get along. Her neighbor and Evan, who was on her top 5 list of best friends of all time. It just wouldn't do for them to be at odds with one another.
         Engrid filled the silence, "Will you try to get along with Andrew? I mean, you're going to be seeing him from now on, so you might as well be on good terms."
         "I'll try. For you Engrid, but I'm not promising anything."
         "Well, at least you're willing." She was satisfied for the moment, "That's all I can ask."
         After they finished lunch, Evan stood up to leave. He needed to go get cleaned up before relieving his mother at the store for the afternoon. She said 'bye' and Evan walked out the front door. Engrid started putting the things away from lunch. She was still concerned. She also had a sneaking suspicion that Andrew and Evan were more alike than either would care to admit, and that might be the problem.
         She decided that she needed to create the opportunity for them to meet again. She decided to name her freshly devised plan, "Operation Enduring Friendship."
         She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Dora's number.
         "Hello?" Dora answered.
         "What are you doing tonight?"
         "Nothing, why do you ask? Is something wrong?"
         "No. Not at all. Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping in Columbia later today." Engrid suggested.
         "I don't know. It's a long drive."
         "It'll be fun. We haven't had a night out in ages. Besides, I'll drive."
         "Okay, you're right. That sounds like fun." Dora nodded.
         "Good. Well, I'll pick you up around 4:00 then? That'll put us in Columbia around 5:00."
         "Actually, now that you mention it, I heard about this seafood place in Greenville that is supposed to be good." Dora said.
         "Okay, we'll go there for dinner. That sounds lovely. We'll go to Greenville instead."
         "Okay, see you at three. Bye."
         "Bye." Dora ended the call.
         Phase one complete. Enter phase two of Engrid's plot to bring her two favorite young men together. She had Andrew's number jotted down in her contact book upstairs, but she didn't feel like going and getting it. She needed to ask Evan again how to save a contact, so she used another trick from Evan. She pulled out her phone and spoke to it, "McWilliams Investments in Deerfield, South Carolina."
         She hit the phone button and the call went through.
         "Hello? Is this the investment place?"
         "Yes Ma'am. This is Betty speaking, how may I help you?"
         "Is Andrew Garrison available?"
         "Yes ma'am, hold one moment." Engrid listened to the elevator music. She figured that Andrew was being summoned out of an important meeting. A momentary flash of mild guilt flitted through her mind for bothering Andrew at work. Then he came on the line.
         "Thank you for calling McWilliams Investments, this is Andrew."
         "This is Engrid. Listen, Dora and I are going to Greenville this evening to go shopping and eat some seafood. We'll be back around 11 or a little after. When you get home, could you keep an eye on my house? I don't go out of town often and I don't want anything to happen to it while I'm gone."
         "Sure, I'd be glad to keep an eye out."
         "So, if you see anything strange going on, just go over and check it out and make sure it's okay."
         "Sure thing, Engrid. Okay bye."
         Phase two was complete. Enter phase three. She tried calling Evan's cell but got no answer. Since her plan was time sensitive, she drove over to the dry cleaners and went in. The bell over the door jingled, announcing her presence. She stood at the counter until Evan came through the sheet that separated the back washrooms from the main customer area.
         "Good afternoon, Engrid," He said as if he were greeting any customer.
         She launched right into her story. "Listen, Dora and I are driving to Greenville to go shopping and eat some seafood. We'll be back late. But, the toilet in my upstairs bathroom has been acting funny. I think it needs a new stopper or something. I've got one somewhere, but you might want to pick one up. I'll pay you back for it. If you could stop by and do that after work or sometime this evening, I'd really appreciate it. Will you?"
         "Sure thing, Engrid- I'll do that tonight before you get back from Greenville."          
         "Great! I don't know what I'd do without you." She said, clapping her hands together.
         She turned and walked out of the store and drove away. Phase three complete. By the time she had done all this, it was nearly time to get changed and get ready to go to Greenville.
         When she was dressed and ready, she stood on her front porch and looked out over the freshly cut grass. She put on her sepia-tinted prescription sunglasses and said to herself, "Alright boys, the rest is up to you."
         She drove down two houses and pulled over to the curb in front of Dora's house and Dora got in the car. They set off to have their adventure and Engrid was going to let the two boys get to know each other better on their own terms without further interference from her, other than what she'd already set in motion.


         After work, Andrew drove over to his new house and parked in his new driveway. He got out of his car and just stood in the front yard and marveled. He was actually a homeowner. He had a home of his own. He had grass of his own. He had maple trees of his own. He had a porch, a kitchen, a swing, a walkway, and a driveway all his own. This was more than he'd ever hoped for as a little kid. He walked up the steps one at a time like a kid who couldn't quite believe it could be true.
         Andrew was standing in the kitchen putting drawer liners in all the drawers and making sure that all the drawers were clean. He had several boxes of brand-new silverware that had been packed up that he had bought while he was still in school. He had bought a silverware tray and had neatly placed all the shiny new utensils in their appropriate places. Little did he know that Engrid had set him up and her plot was about to spring an unintentional trap.
         He was done in the kitchen and went into the laundry room to get freshly laundered sheets to take upstairs to the master bedroom. He did that and tromped up the stairs to put them on. He was so happy with his new sheets to match his new mattresses to match his new bed frame to match his new house.


         Meanwhile, Evan had closed up shop at the dry cleaner's and went home for supper. When he got there, his mom was sitting in the living room watching Jeopardy. She had cooked meatloaf for dinner and ate her part of it and left the rest on the stove. That was their nightly ritual. She got hungry about 5:30, so she would cook dinner, eat, and then go sit down with either a book or a TV show. Evan would come in, eat his part, and then clean it up.
         "Mom, I have to go over to Engrid's to fix the toilet for her. She said it was messed up."
         "Okay. You go on over there and I'll clean up."
         "Nah. I can clean it up and then leave."
         By the time he finished cleaning up all the dishes and putting the leftovers in the refrigerator, it was dark. He went into their utility room and got a flush valve kit to take over there to install. It was a balmy night and the crickets were chirping in the azaleas as he walked along. It was nights like this that he loved being a southern boy. He knew that other places in the world were nice in their own ways, but nothing on earth spoke to his soul like the balmy stillness of a southern summer night.
         He kept turning over in his head what Engrid said earlier about being nice to Andrew and welcoming him to the neighborhood. The annoying thing about Engrid is that she tended to be right just when you really wanted her to be wrong. He couldn't shake the feeling that something passed between Andrew and himself. It scared him and manifested itself as animosity.
         He walked up to Engrid's front door and unlocked it with the spare key that he had. He had had a key to Engrid's house since he was fifteen. She had given him one in case something happened, and she had an emergency and couldn't get to the door. She had told him that if she ever called an ambulance at night, she would call him and he would let the paramedics in so they wouldn't break down the front door. He went upstairs to the bathroom to see what the trouble was with the toilet.


         Andrew went around to all the beds and made them just like his military uncle had taught him. Every corner was folded, tucked and there wasn't a wrinkle or ridge to be found. He had put bath mats in all the bathrooms. He liked the non-skid daisies that Rose had in the tubs and shower stalls.
         Since he was thirsty, he went down to his nice, clean kitchen with all its new appliances and its new table and chairs and all its new silverware to get a glass of water. As he was standing at the sink, he noticed movement over at Engrid's. He realized he hadn't put a clock on the wall in the kitchen yet and his cell was upstairs. He had a mantle clock in the living room over the fireplace, so he sat his glass down on the counter and went into the living room to see what time it was. It was only 8:30, so Engrid and Dora couldn't possibly be back from Greenville yet. He went back to the kitchen and looked at the movement through the window over the sink. The person moving around upstairs was way too big to be Engrid. The silhouette of the person in the bedroom window was that of a man. Andrew crouched down low to the counter so as not to be seen by the intruder in Engrid's house, should he glance out the window and see him staring back from his kitchen window.
         Andrew peered over the window sill and watched the mysterious stranger in Engrid's house. What should he do? Engrid said that if he saw anything suspicious, he should go investigate. He didn't really care to get shot tonight. He got down on the floor and crawled out in the central hallway toward the stairs. Once out of sight of the kitchen window, he stood back up again. He hurried up the stairs to the master bedroom and picked up his phone and took it back to the kitchen. He pulled the curtains closed in the window.
         "9-1-1, what's your emergency?"
         Andrew sat on the floor with his back up against the cabinets in front of the sink.
         "Yes, this is Andrew Garrison, I'm at 2359 Maple Avenue in Deerfield."
         "Yes. We have you located. What is your emergency, sir?"
         "There's an intruder in my neighbor's house."
         "Are you sure it isn't your neighbor?" She sounded a little patronizing.
         "No, my neighbor is a little old woman who lives alone. She and a friend of hers went to Greenville today. They said they wouldn't be back until around 10 tonight. The silhouette of the person in her house is definitely a man. Can you send someone to check it out?"
         "Of course, Mr. Garrison. Are you in any danger?"
         "No, I'm fine."
         "Okay then, I'll let you off the line and I'll send a response team there immediately."
         "Thank you." Andrew pressed the off button and breathed a sigh of relief. Engrid's house had been broken into and he was there to save the day. Engrid would think a lot of him for having saved her things from being stolen. He sat on the floor and waited for the sirens to come screaming down the street. He heard nothing. He got up on his knees and peered over the sink and through the window. The figure was still there. He was leaning over in the bathroom. It seemed odd, but Andrew had never witnessed a robbery in progress before so maybe that was something robbers did. He saw the light click off in the bathroom, then the bedroom. He could see the glow of the lights over the stairs. Then those lights went off and the house was dark again. He was getting away. Where could the police possibly be?
         The whole world outside lit up with blue and red lights.
         "Freeze, this is the police," a voice boomed statically from a megaphone.
         Andrew jumped up and looked out of his window. The police must have snuck up quietly and waited for the intruder to exit the house before springing their trap. It was a good idea to keep the intruder from trying to barricade inside the house. Andrew ran to the dining room where he had a better view of the front of Engrid's house. He saw the intruder standing on the front porch with his hands high and lifted up. In the darkness and deep shadows, Andrew couldn't see who it was.
         The police quickly approached the shadowy figure and put handcuffs on him and led him to a waiting squad car. With sirens going full blast, the four police cars peeled away from the curb with the intruder bound in handcuffs in the backseat. Andrew was so happy that he was able to help make the world a little safer. When the sirens started up, everyone appeared at their windows and doors to see what had happened. Peace and justice had prevailed, that's what had happened.

Chapter 10

Around 10:45 pm, Engrid's car returned to her driveway. Andrew looked out the window. He hoped that her house had not been too badly disrupted in the robbery attempt. He decided to go let her know what had happened so she wouldn't be too shocked to find jewelry missing or anything out of place.
         "Engrid!" He called out. She was turning the key in the door. "It's me Andrew."
         "Oh, hello Andrew, how are you?"
         She opened the door and went in. She turned on the lights and Andrew followed her in.
         "What's the matter?" she asked.
         "While you were gone, there was an intruder upstairs and I called the police. They came and arrested him. I thought you should know in case there's any jewelry missing."
         "Oh, no!" she gasped, clasping her hand over her gaping mouth, a look of horror on her face.
         "You might want to go down to the police station in the morning to file a report and press charges."
         "Oh, no!" She exclaimed.
         "I'm sorry, Engrid, but they caught the person who did this, and they didn't get away. I saw them arrest him." He was trying to be reassuring.
         He could see the panic in her elderly eyes. He suddenly felt he was missing a very important piece of the puzzle. What had he done wrong? He'd witnessed her house being burgled and so he called the police. What had he done wrong?
         "I've got to go down to the police station." Engrid said.
         "You can go in the morning."
         "No, we have to go right now."
         "Engrid, what's the matter?"
         Engrid was pacing in a circle around the foyer.
         "It was Evan, Andrew."
         "What?" Andrew was baffled.
         "You had Evan arrested." Engrid explained.
         "Evan? What are you talking about?"
         "You don't know him?"
         "Yes, I've met him and I know he lives next door, why?"
         "That's all you know?"
         "Well yeah, what else is there? What was he doing in your house in the middle of the night?"
         "Oh dear."
         "What are you talking about, Engrid?"
         She just kept pacing and mumbling to herself, so jumbled Andrew couldn't understand what she was saying.
         "I'll explain it in the morning when I can think clearly."
         She hurried out the door to her car and drove away. Andrew ran to his Pathfinder, but by the time he got out of the driveway, she was already gone. He guessed she was going to the police station. He pulled out his phone and looked up the directions. When he arrived, Engrid's silver Town Car was parked outside. He jumped out and ran into the front of the police station.
         "Whoa, whoa, there, skippy, where do you think you're going in such a rush?" the desk sergeant said, blocking his path.
         "Did an Engrid Matthews come in here?" Andrew asked.
         "I'm afraid I can't tell you that. Sorry."
         "Why not?" Andrew huffed.
         "That's confidential and on a need to know basis."
         "I need to know." Andrew insisted.
         "Sorry, I can't help you. Now, please return to your vehicle and go home."
         "I need to see Engrid."
         "Do you think she is in custody?"
         "No, she's here because someone broke into her house a little while ago. She was away and I am the person who called you guys to come out to her house." Andrew explained.
         "Oh, so she's not incarcerated here?"
         "No."
         "Oh, well that's different. I'll see what I can find out. Have a seat."
         He disappeared into the back of the building while Andrew took a seat in the dark brown plastic chairs that were lined up against the wall. A few minutes passed and the sergeant returned.
         "Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Matthews is fine and asks that you go home. She said that it was her mistake and that she will explain it in the morning."
         "But what does that mean?" Andrew asked. He just wanted a few answers. Engrid was being maddeningly evasive.


         Evan was done fixing the toilet. It hadn't taken very long because he couldn't find anything wrong with it. He disassembled the flush valve to see if any parts were corroded but could find nothing wrong at all. Not even the float bulb or flap chain seemed to be out of place, plus it flushed and refilled perfectly. He decided he should go home and watch some TV. He clicked off the light. He wasn't sure why Engrid had been so insistent that he come tonight. It could have waited until tomorrow. He walked back through the bedroom, past her four-poster bed to the door. When he got downstairs to the front door, he thought he saw some movement outside. He paused for a moment but didn't see anything else. He stepped out on the porch and pulled the door closed behind him. He heard cars cranking. That was an unexpected sound for this time of night. He saw lights, lots of blue and red ones. He turned around from facing the door.
         "Freeze, this is the police." an officer boomed
         His mind spun and froze. Evan threw his hands up in the air as panic and fear set in. What in the world had just happened? What idiot would call the police on him? He was in and out of Engrid's house all the time.
         Two police officers hurried up the steps with their weapons drawn. They forcefully grabbed his arms and put the cold metal handcuffs on him. They led him out to the car like a common thief. They threw him in the back of a squad car and sped away just like in all the cop shows.
         Within minutes, they arrived at the police station. He was put in a holding cell with a few other people. There was an old drunk man asleep on the floor with an extinguished cigarette hanging from between his index and middle fingers. There were two people who were most likely prostitutes, but Evan dared not ask. Evan was dressed in his usual faded blue jeans and a black Metallica T-shirt. He sat on a bench suspended by two chains from the wall. He put his hand on his chin like a form of The Thinker sculpture. He was still confused. He couldn't imagine what had happened to get him thrown in jail.
         He sat there for a couple of hours. He figured he would get his one phone call in a few minutes. He wasn't looking forward to telling his mom that he was in jail. As time passed, he began to calm down.
         A uniformed cop came and stood at the cell bars.
         "Grayson. You've got a visitor."
         "Huh?" Evan looked up.
         Engrid appeared around the corner.
         "Engrid, thank God you're here!"
         "I am so sorry." She said, "It was all a big mistake."
         "I guess someone thought I was an intruder and called the cops. But who would have called the cops?"
         She cast her eyes to the floor.
         "Andrew," Evan spat, "I'll bet he's the one who called the cops on me."
         "Well, he didn't know any better."
         "I'm gonna kill him." Evan was ticked off.
         "You'll do nothing of the sort," Engrid commanded, scowling, "He doesn't know what's been going on."
         "What's that supposed to mean? What's there for him to know?"
         "A lot. He doesn't know that you don't like him. I tried to set up a meeting that he wouldn't understand the significance of. Oh my goodness, this is not what I had planned. I'm so sorry this happened to you."
         "What meeting? What are you talking about?" Evan asked.
         "I tried to get you two reconciled, but then I realized that he didn't know that reconciliation was needed."
         "Engrid, you aren't making any sense. What are you talking about?"
         "Never mind. I'll explain later. Let me try to get you out of here."
         "Thanks. Mom's probably having a fit right about now. She knows I went to your house to fix the toilet, but that was hours ago."
         "I'll drop you off by your house. Officer, will there be anything else we need to do?"
         "Ma'am, you've already taken care of that. Mr. Grayson is free to go."
         As they were walking through the front of the police station, they saw Andrew sitting in a plastic chair bolted to the floor.
         "YOU!" Evan roared, marching over to Andrew.
         Andrew looked up in shock. Evan loomed over Andrew's more diminutive form. Engrid grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the exit.
         "YOU!" Evan growled again pointing his finger at Andrew, "I know it was you that called the cops."
         "Come on Evan, I'll take you home." Engrid said gently, pulling him toward the door. Andrew sat silently, there was no blood in his face at all, so he was as pale as a ghost.


         In the car, Evan sat with his arms crossed. Engrid drove in silence. She was churning over how she was going to explain the events of the evening.
         "Engrid, what happened tonight?" Evan asked, turning in his seat to look at her directly.
         She didn't respond, simply keeping her eyes on the road.
         "What happened tonight?" He repeated the question.
         She was still thinking about whether or not she should tell him. She was afraid of how he would react.
         For Evan, the thing was that when he saw Andrew sitting in the police station, his angst turned to anger. Now that he was sitting in the calm interior of Engrid's car, he had time to think about it. In his mind, he could be as gay as he wanted, but on the outside, in this place, he couldn't. Besides, he had no way of knowing what Andrew thought.
         Evan kept telling himself, "Gay people don't exist around here." Evan didn't want to give up his life here. Evan had studied at New York University. His apartment overlooked Broadway just a few blocks north of Houston Street. He took a year off after that and got a paid internship at a publishing company in New York City as a manuscript reader. Then he stayed on at the publisher for another two years as an assistant editor.
         He'd been so excited to go. It was one of the few times in his life he had left the state of South Carolina. Engrid had begged him to go to school out of state and see the world. He remembered when he had applied for the study program in early American Literature.
         He remembered how excited he had been to be accepted into the program. His mother was happy for him. She didn't want to see him leave, but she knew it was best in the long run. He had packed up his things and took the bus all the way from the station in Columbia to the station at 24th and Broadway. He remembered the first time he ever saw the Holland Tunnel in the early morning hours and the sunrise over the NYC skyline as the light dawned over New Jersey. It sounded so magical and foreign- New Jersey. It was the haunt of all things great and small.
         He set foot for the first time in New York nearly nine years ago. He loved most of his time there. He loved the lights and sounds. He loved drag shows and martini bars. It just never occurred to him that he would find someone to do that with here. The guys in New York just seemed too artificial. He wanted someone who was a real person. He wanted someone who would be part of his life in a long and meaningful way, rather than the one-night stands that were universally available there.
         Evan did things in New York on a daily basis that would get him thrown out of Deerfield. Then about four months before he moved back to South Carolina, he realized how cold and impersonal the city was. It was all steel and concrete with tiny patches of grass with a scruffy tree in it and that qualified as a park. Central Park was nice, but it was too little too late.
         There was nowhere to go to get away from zillions of people crowding around him. He felt like the city was crushing him and he was starting to lose his breath. The honeymoon period had ended.
         He wanted to be surrounded by people that he loved and who loved him. It only takes one very special person to fulfill that but having lots of other more auxiliary people isn't a bad option. Since he was done with New York, he wanted a clean break. So, he broke up with his boyfriend, Grant, and moved back almost immediately. Grant was heartbroken and had offered to move with him, but Evan declined. Grant never understood Evan's reasons for leaving him.
         Evan looked over at Engrid as the street lamps reflected off her glasses and the light passed over her wrinkled face. This woman embodied love for Evan. He knew in his heart that all she wanted to do was help him. He understood that she was afraid that if he and Andrew didn't get along and become friends, she would lose one or both of them. Evan knew that Engrid would never lose his love and respect no matter what foolish lunacy she got herself, and other people, into. But Engrid didn't know that. She was afraid that Evan would let his pride wreck everything. She was afraid that Evan would distance himself from her to avoid Andrew.
         Neither of them spoke the rest of the way to Evan's house. She dropped him off. His mother had already gone to bed. She trusted Evan; after all he was 27 and had lived in the 'big city.' He looked in on her and she was sound asleep.


         As Andrew was driving home from the police station, it struck him what had happened. It leapt out in his mind what Engrid had said to him on the phone yesterday. He distinctly remembered her saying, 'if you see anything going on at my house while I'm gone, I want you to go over there and investigate.' Then this mysterious stranger turns up in her house that very night. Andrew thought, 'I'll bet she sent him over there. But why? Why didn't she just bring Evan over that afternoon and say "Andrew, this is Evan...Evan, this is Andrew." Why did she feel the need to orchestrate this whole cockamamie scheme?' Andrew had no answer for that question. Tomorrow was Saturday, he decided to go over there and ask directly what was going on. Engrid was going to fill in some of the missing pieces for him.

Chapter 11

Saturday morning dawned cloudy and humid.
         Andrew was standing at his front window in the living room marveling at the fact that he had a front yard. He was watching two squirrels running up and down the maple trees and was so excited that there were squirrels right out there. He went out on the porch and sat on one of the two matching rocking chairs. He rocked slowly as a car languidly moseyed by. He just breathed in the warm thickness of the air.
         As he sat there, he heard a sound- a swish and thwack. That was an odd sound. He looked around to see where the swish and thwack sound was coming from. A young man on a bicycle appeared between the massive maple trees that lined Maple Avenue. He had a large canvas bag on the front and back of his bike.
         Andrew almost leapt out of the chair when he realized that it was the paperboy. It never occurred to him that paper boys actually existed. He had subscribed to the paper. Maybe today would be the first issue he received. Sure enough, when he got to Andrew's house, he reached into his bag and threw one in the general direction of the front porch.
         "Thanks!" Andrew called out.
         "No prob, Mr. Garrison." The boy called out over his shoulder.
         Mr. Garrison? Andrew suddenly felt about 60.
         Andrew literally jumped up and down on his porch then ran out onto the concrete walkway to retrieve his newspaper. He'd never been so happy to see a newspaper in his young life. He ran back inside. It was his first newspaper in his new house, he was going to do this properly. He went to the kitchen and poured himself a heaping bowl of corn flakes and sat down.
         As he was fixing breakfast, Andrew couldn't help but think about what Engrid was going to have to say to him. What had yesterday really been about? He felt like there was too much of the story he didn't know to really figure it out on his own. He crunched thoughtfully on his corn flakes as the rolled newspaper waited patiently. He was doing this properly, so he nonchalantly unrolled it to see what news and information awaited him, as if it were nothing special and was just another day.
         His eyes bugged out. The front-page story that Saturday morning: "Local Man Arrested for Robbing the Elderly." The story went on to say, "Evan Robert Grayson, 27, was arrested last night in the act of robbing the home of Engrid Mae Matthews, 84. Mr. Grayson knew that Mrs. Matthews would be away that evening and so took advantage of that time to relieve Mrs. Matthews of some of her antique jewelry. The burglary was prevented by the quick thinking of her new neighbor, Andrew James Garrison, 27, who phoned the police to report suspicious activity at Mrs. Matthews' residence."
         Andrew stared in shock. Engrid didn't believe that Evan had robbed her. He hadn't really either until now. Apparently, since she was friends with Evan's mother, Engrid must have thought there had been some mistake. Andrew knew that Engrid was a sweet, kind woman, and had no idea that Evan was playing her for a sucker. That was just wrong. You don't treat elderly people that way. Andrew was incensed. He didn't know what to do. He knew enough about Engrid to know that she was too stubborn for him to explain to her that Evan really had tried to rob her.
         So, that meant that he was going to have to bite the bullet and talk to Evan himself. He didn't know quite what to say but knew that he was going to have to say something. He couldn't just sit back and let Evan take advantage of a kind, elderly woman- regardless of how weird she could be. He paced back and forth in his kitchen trying to decide what to do. He wondered whether or not Engrid regularly read the paper. He figured she might subscribe out of habit, but rarely actually read it. Maybe today, she would just put it in her recycling pile and not see it. But this story was emblazoned front and center. Even if she just unrolled it to lay it out flat on the stack of others, she was bound to see it.
         He heard a buzzing sound. He looked out of his kitchen window. Evan was outside Engrid's house with a grass string trimmer. He was trimming around the edge of the back porch. Engrid was nearby with a pair of hedge clippers in her hand chopping away at a large boxwood.
         "That sick fuck!" Andrew said out loud. Andrew couldn't believe what he was seeing. Evan was weaseling his way toward her, so he could try again. What made it even sicker was that Engrid seemed perfectly happy to let him do it. Her sense of suspicion was broken. It must be in the same repair shop as her gaydar. Andrew was convinced that something sexual had passed between Evan and him at his office last Wednesday. He felt it again last night when he saw Evan in the police station. He could just feel it. He knew without a shred of doubt that Evan was gay. He wasn't sure if Evan was willing to accept that, but it was pretty evident to Andrew.
         He watched Evan through the window. Even though he hated the fact that Evan was thoroughly evil because he was taking advantage of Engrid and that he was going to have to be stopped, he couldn't help but notice Evan. His non-bulky, well-muscled body moved beneath his clothes. Andrew could see Evan's shoulder muscles as he moved the weed whacker back and forth through the grass.
         "Argh!" Andrew mumbled to himself, "Why do I have to be attracted to the town psycho?"
He watched Engrid and Evan for a few minutes through the window. Engrid eventually went into the house to take a break from yard work. It was his opportunity. Andrew marched out to where Evan was trimming grass.
         He walked up behind him and tapped him on his shoulder. Evan turned around to see who it was. He turned off the trimmer.
         "What?" Evan asked.
         "We need to talk."
         "About what?"
         "Follow me." Andrew turned and walked back toward his house. Evan walked along beside him. Neither said a word.
         Engrid was dusting her piano in the living room, which overlooked the side yard facing Andrew's house and the street. Some movement outside the window caught her eye. She saw the two men walking towards Andrew's house. She was so excited she could barely stand it. She was beyond pleased with herself.
         "Finally! They're going to be okay!" She was almost to the point of being giddy. She watched them go up the steps and disappear into the house.
         Once inside, Andrew turned to face Evan.
         "I know what you're up to and I'm not going to let you get away with it. It's just not right."
         Evan looked confused. It ticked Andrew off even more that Evan didn't seem to see what he was doing to Engrid as wrong or unethical.
         "Do you want some breakfast?" Andrew asked, kicking himself for asking. He was unsure why he did, it just popped out.
         "I want to know what you're talking about." Evan demanded.
         Andrew turned and walked toward the kitchen. Evan followed.
         "What is going on?"
         "Sit down. Do you like toast?" Andrew asked, mystified why he'd asked that considering the topic he was about to broach.
         "Yeah," he said cautiously, "Toast would be nice." Evan placed his beautiful, postcard quality posterior in a chair and stretched his arms out on the table. Andrew got out the bread and put some in the toaster. He went to the refrigerator and got out some strawberry preserves. Here he was making breakfast while Evan sat at the table waiting for his food. It was somewhat less romantic than he imagined, but at least his imagined scenario came true.
         "Do you like strawberries?" Andrew asked.
         "Yeah. Do you mind getting to the point? I've got a lot to do today." Evan said brusquely.
         "I know you tried to rob Engrid last night."
         "What?" Evan sputtered.
         "I read the newspaper this morning."
         "So?" Evan arched his eyebrows, "The newspaper? How old are you?"
         Andrew threw the paper onto the table in front of Evan. Evan picked it up curiously and looked at it. He leapt up out of his chair.
         Evan shouted. Andrew was startled. Evan's eyes were wide as quarters as he paced around the room. Andrew was proud of himself- he had trapped a criminal. He'd stopped a burglar dead in his tracks. John Walsh of America's Most Wanted would be so proud. The toast popped up. Andrew didn't take his eyes off Evan. Andrew suddenly realized that Evan was dangerous. He was a known criminal so who knew what he would do? It dawned on Andrew that he was in a very vulnerable state. What if Evan tried to kill him? Andrew eyed Evan warily. Evan was too thunderstruck to notice.
         What was happening to him? Evan was completely confused and scared. What did people think? He was ruined in this town. Only Engrid and his mother would ever trust him again.
         "How could you, Evan? She's such a good person."
         "I didn't," Evan growled.
         "It's right there."
         "It's wrong. I would never do anything to hurt her."
         Andrew was beyond furious. Evan could tell that Andrew didn't believe him. Andrew could see the fear in Evan's eyes. Andrew was surprised that seeing Evan trapped and scared turned him on a little. Being attracted to Andrew was the last thing on Evan's mind at that moment.
         "You don't believe me?" Evan asked.
         "Why should I?" Andrew hissed.
         Evan turned and stormed out of the house. Andrew just stood there in his kitchen. He watched Evan leave. Watching Evan leave was not a bad thing, aesthetically speaking. He looked out the window and watched Evan go back over to Engrid's. She was back out in the side yard with the hedge clippers.
         Evan walked right past her and picked up the weed trimmer and cranked it. Its little engine sprung to life and Evan attacked the grass that was growing on the side of the house with a vengeance. It didn't take a rocket scientist to tell that their meeting had not been a pleasant one- again.
         Engrid decided that she had had enough, and she threw down the hedge clippers and marched toward Andrew's house. Since he was still watching through the kitchen window, Andrew knew she was coming. At least he had fresh toast to offer her. She was not the least bit interested in food.
         She opened his door and came in without knocking or announcing her presence or anything. She marched right into his kitchen where Andrew was buttering the toast.
         "I don't know what you said to him, but how could you?" she hissed. Engrid hissed. He had no idea she had a temper. Engrid was royally pissed off.
         "What?"
         "I don't know. But Evan is as angry as I have ever seen him. He's practically got tears in his eyes."
         "He tried to rob you, Engrid."
         "He did no such thing." Engrid protested.
         "It's right here," Andrew said, tapping on the newspaper that was still sitting on the table.
         She looked at the newspaper and her eyes widened.
         "It's wrong," she said.
         "Then what happened last night?" He asked.
         "I asked Evan to check on something at my house while I was away. He wasn't robbing me. He was there because I asked him to be there. You and your itchy trigger finger is what started this whole mess."
         Andrew hung his head in shame. He had completely misjudged the situation.
         "I'm so sorry, I didn't know," He said meekly, "What should I do?"
         "You could start by going over and apologizing to him. You really hurt him." She was still worked up, but Andrew's contriteness took the edge off.
         Andrew sighed deeply. He really hadn't meant to hurt Evan. Well, actually he did, but that was before he realized that he was wrong.
         "How? What should I say?"
         "That's between Evan and you. I actually am staying out of it this time." Engrid said, putting her hands up in surrender.
         "I don't know what to say."
         "You made a royal mess of things and now you've really hurt someone."
         "I know, but I don't know what to do to fix it."
         "Neither do I, but you've got some fixing to do."
         With that, she turned and stomped out of the house. Andrew sat at the table. He went over and looked out the window. Evan was sitting on the back steps looking out over the backyard. Engrid went in the front door and disappeared into the house. Andrew summoned up the courage to go outside and see what he could do to repair the situation. He walked over there. Evan saw him coming and looked away. Andrew wasn't going to be deterred. He owed it to both Evan and Engrid to at least attempt to patch things up. He sat down on the back step next to Evan. Evan looked the other way.
         "Go away," Evan growled, but remained in place.
         Andrew just sat in silence. He hoped he looked penitent enough.
         Andrew started, "Evan, I don't know what to say. I'm sorry I didn't understand what was going on. Everyone likes you, including me. I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression."
         Evan didn't say anything. Andrew hoped that Evan would eventually speak to him again. Evan just sat there with his hands on his knees. They sat next to one another on the steps for a long time. Evan eventually stood up and faced Andrew. Andrew looked up.
         "Andrew, I need to go." Evan turned to walk off.
         "Evan, wait!" Andrew stood up and followed him.
         "Don't follow me," Evan turned and said warningly.
         "We need to talk."
         "I don't have anything to say to you so get out of my face." Evan stormed off.
         Andrew stopped following him. He turned around. Engrid was standing on the back porch watching them. Evan disappeared through the gate in the privacy fence and went down the gravel path that ran between the rows of houses. Evan was taking the backway home or was going somewhere else entirely. Andrew hung his head in shame. Engrid just looked at him stonily. He went over to the gazebo in his backyard and sat down on a bench.
         Engrid waited a few minutes for him to be alone and then she walked over. She sat next to him on the bench and patted his knee lightly.
         "Andrew, I know you didn't mean for this to happen. I know I didn't mean for this to happen. But it has and we have to face facts. Evan genuinely doesn't like you. I tried to change that and failed. There's nothing else I can do to help you two, if not be friends, at least get along."
         There were tears welling up in Andrew's eyes. He knew that deep down in his gut, he felt something for Evan. It tore his guts out to think about how much he had done to destroy any hope that Evan might one day feel similarly.
         What Andrew couldn't have known was that Evan didn't hate him. Evan was afraid of him. Andrew wasn't the only one who felt a spark between them. Evan felt it too and it scared him to death. In New York City, it was okay to be gay. Evan could be gay there and it wasn't an issue. For Evan, things were different in Deerfield.
         Andrew sat on the gazebo and stared at the floor. Engrid sat beside him with her hand on his knee.
         "I don't know what to tell you." She began, "Except to say that I will be here for you. I love Evan. I've known Evan since the day he was born. He was absolutely terrified of me for years. I was the scary old woman who lived in the big scary house. Then when he was twelve, some neighborhood boys and he hit a baseball through that window right there," she pointed toward the house, "Evan got dared to come retrieve the ball. He and I became friends after that. He's been to my house countless times and we've spent God only knows how many hours together. When he lived in New York, he wrote to me once a month to tell me what was going on. I wrote him back and kept him up-to-date on what was going on here. I loved hearing of his grand adventures in the big city. I visited him there twice."
         "Really?"
         "Yes, I did. I spent a week there two different times. It was nice. He had school and work, so it was mostly a self-guided tour. He had a friend and roommate named Grant who showed me some of the sights."
         "I didn't know that."
         "You and I don't have what Evan and I have. I know almost nothing about you as a person. I don't love you the way I love Evan because I don't know you. We have no history. But we will. You could move out right now and I would be sad for a couple of days, but then life would move on and I would have trouble remembering your name in a few months. But building a history takes time. It can't just be invented. That's what Evan discovered in New York. You can't just up and invent a life one day. It has to be built over time. It takes effort, it takes work, and it takes time. All that you see here didn't just spring up out of nowhere. My house was built in 1916. Your new house was built in 1872 as part of the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. It took centuries to get this far. You can't expect to just jump into the middle of it and expect everyone to just open their arms and bring you in full force. That kind of trust requires time and it requires commitment."
         "I understand. I want to be part of it."
         "Part of what, though?"
         "This!" He said, sweeping his arms around. "I want to be part of this place, this town. I want to love and to be loved. I want to have someone to come home to at the end of the day. I want to be in a place where people are interested in each other and care about what happens in each other's lives."
         "You will. Eventually. Just don't rush it. I think you rushed it and Evan doesn't like that."
         "I'll try to slow down a bit." Andrew said, nodding.
         "Good. That'll help." Engrid said.
         She stood up. "I don't know what's going to happen with Evan. He may not want to talk to you for a while. The best thing with Evan is to let him come to you- just a piece of friendly advice."
         "I'll remember that."
         She stepped down from the gazebo and walked toward her house leaving Andrew alone. Andrew feared that the day would never come when Evan would talk to him.

Chapter 12

A few days passed without either Andrew or Evan seeing each other. It was their usual custom that Andrew would go to work at the investment firm and Evan would check on Engrid. Andrew offered to check on her, but she said that wasn't necessary. She said that it would be too early when he had to come over before work. Engrid was quite pleased with herself. She had two beautiful, twenty-something guys fighting over her.
         Late Wednesday afternoon, while it was still light out, Andrew was in his backyard. He decided he wanted some flowers in his backyard. He decided since he'd never grown anything except a tiny potted cactus in a windowsill, that he should start with something simple. He had stopped by Graham's Greenhouses out on Route 6 and got some marigolds and impatiens. The impatiens were a mottled purple and white while the marigolds were the traditional bright orange yellow.
         After changing into an old Green Day T-shirt and running shorts, he carried the trays of seedlings from the back of the Pathfinder around the side of the house to the backyard. He sat them down. He had a gazebo in his backyard that was very similar to Engrid's, but Engrid's was in much better condition. Engrid's probably would be in just as rough shape as Andrew's if Evan wasn't also a talented carpenter and was constantly repainting and replacing termite infested boards.
         Andrew thought that perhaps he would tear the gazebo down and build a new one. He wanted one with a swing in the middle. That would be lovely on a warm, summer evening. He could imagine himself cuddling with Evan on a swing watching the lightning bugs floating on the breeze.
         He sat the trays of flowers down heavily next to the gazebo. He had no idea how to prepare the ground for planting, so he went out to the tool shed to see what was available. He saw an assortment of odd-looking items. Clearly, Rose's children hadn't touched the tool shed after her sudden death. It was cluttered and messy as if it hadn't been disturbed in years. There was a crusty old countertop made with rough hewn timbers along the left side. It was littered with nuts, bolts, nastily caked grease guns, empty aerosol paint cans, a metal tray of sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, a battery post brush, empty margarine containers full of washers and electrical connectors.
         Most anything one could imagine needing was available in Rose's old tool shed. The floor was various shades of gray and brown depending on the number of grease and motor oil stains on a particular spot. Along the right side was a wall of garden implements- hoes, rakes, shovels, a ten-pound sledge hammer, a sling blade, a snow shovel, a pick ax, a terribly rusted sickle, and a lawn mower blade hanging on a nail.
         Andrew thought to himself, "I hope a homicidal maniac never gets loose in here."
         Andrew stood in utter bewilderment. He realized that he was a bit of a city boy after all. He might need some help. He decided that he might want to break up the soil a little before digging holes. The hoe seemed an appropriate choice. He picked it up from its spot propped against the wall and carried it out on his shoulder. He looked like an imitation of the farmer from the Peter Rabbit stories.
         Evan was on the far side of Engrid's gazebo. He had been smoothing out the pine bark mulch around the gazebo. He heard a whacking sound and craned his neck to look across the gazebo floor. He saw Andrew heaving the hoe over his shoulder and it bounced off the surface of the packed dirt. Rose hadn't grown anything around her gazebo in years, if ever. Evan stood and watched Andrew struggle with the unwieldy and ineffective hoe. He raised it up and with a mighty swoosh, brought the hoe down onto the dirt. Thunk. It bounced a little to the right but made no dent in the hard-packed clay soil. Evan continued to observe. He was amused that Andrew was trying to break up packed soil with that sad excuse for a hoe.
         His stony heart was moved with pity- a little. For the moment, he was content to watch Andrew struggle. Andrew threw the hoe down and stomped back toward the tool shed. Evan was curious to see what ingenious thing Andrew tried next. Andrew returned with a flat end shovel. He placed the shovel firmly on the ground and placed his foot on the back of the blade and pushed downward. The shovel didn't budge. He pushed harder- nothing. He leapt onto the back of the shovel with both feet. He didn't land very evenly, and the shovel snatched its own handle out of his hand and slapped the ground. He fell to the ground and nearly smashed the flowers waiting patiently in their trays. He struggled back to his feet. He picked up the shovel and started angrily smacking the ground with it. That was ineffective as well. Evan couldn't help but laugh watching this spectacle.
         Andrew put the shovel down and picked the hoe up again. He raised it as high as he could. As he was swinging it downward, the old hoe end came off the rotted wooden handle and flew away. It hit the privacy fence at the back of the yard and fell to the ground. Evan laughed out loud as Andrew stormed over to the privacy fence to retrieve the hoe head. He clasped his hands over his mouth to keep from being heard.
         Engrid had been watching too from further away as she had been carrying a water hose out to her neat and tidy tool shed. All her tools were in good repair and were unlikely to become orbital objects. She walked up behind Evan.
         "Well, are you going to go help him?" Engrid asked, trying not to laugh.
         "I hadn't planned on it, no." Evan ran his fingers through his hair and laughed. Engrid couldn't help but laugh a little herself as Andrew disappeared back into his tool shed.
         "Wonder what he'll try next?" Engrid mused.
         "I don't know. The shovel was a classic." Evan couldn't contain his laughter into his hands as he leaned against the edge of the gazebo floor laughing hysterically. "Fell, then got ticked off and started smacking the ground. Like that was supposed to help or something."
         "But that hoe coming off, it looked like the Three Stooges." Engrid was laughing now herself.
         "Except there's only one!" Tears were welling up in Evan's eyes.
         Andrew returned with the rusted lawn mower blade and another hoe. Engrid covered her mouth with one hand and shushed him with the other. Engrid and Evan exchanged baffled but amused looks.
         "What's he gonna do with that?" Evan asked out loud.
         "Heck if I know." Engrid said, shaking her head.
         Andrew bent over and started scratching the ground for a moment.
         "He can't be serious." Evan said.
         "Evan, you'd better go help him before he kills himself."
         "I guess so, Engrid." She and Evan were both laughing.
         "Calm down first or he'll know we were watching." She grabbed Evan's arm as he stepped out from behind the gazebo. He stepped back and leaned against a pole and tried to catch his breath, facing away from Andrew. Engrid leaned around him to see what Andrew was doing now. He was aiming the hoe again.
         "Wait, there he goes again!" Engrid said pointing.
         Evan turned around just as Andrew swung the hoe. It bounced.
         "He's persistent, I'll have to give him that," Evan said. He regained his composure and stepped out from behind the gazebo and walked toward Andrew's sweating, heaving form. He turned before he saw Evan and so his back was toward Evan as he approached. Just as Evan got up behind him, Andrew raised the hoe again.
         "Whoa, whoa, there, sparky!" Evan called out as he grabbed the end of the hoe.
         "What the....?" Andrew was startled.
         "I see you're having some trouble." Evan said gruffly, trying to stifle the grin before it gave him away.
         "Go away. I can do this myself." Andrew huffed, "I don't need your help."
         "So I can see. Well, if you change your mind, too bad." Evan turned and walked back toward Engrid's gazebo. Since he knew she was there, he noticed her wrinkled old face peeking around one of the posts watching the goings on. She shrugged her shoulders to ask what happened.
         "Wait," Andrew called out. Evan stopped and slowly turned around.
         "Yes? What's the matter now?"
         "Um, well, uh, do you have any suggestions?"
         "I'm not your gardener."
         "I just wondered if you might, you know, have other ideas."
         "Use the grubbing hoe. It works better." He turned and started walking again.
         "Okay, okay, you win. What's a grubbing hoe?"
         "It looks sort of like a pick, only it isn't. And it's bigger." Evan called back over his shoulder. It was getting darker. It would be twilight soon. Andrew threw the hoe down and walked quickly back to the shed. It was very dark inside. He'd have to install a light bulb tomorrow. He found something fitting that description and took it back outside. He took a swing. It made a dent in the ground but that was about it. Evan had disappeared. He and Engrid were back behind her gazebo watching him with curious interest.
         "He's so dumb I feel sorry for him," Evan commented.
         "He can't help it. He doesn't know any better," Engrid said, "He'll learn, you've just got to give him some time. It also wouldn't kill you to help him out now and then. You could teach Andrew a lot of things."
         Evan thought to himself, "Engrid, you have no idea."
         He had fallen silent and was watching Andrew chopping away at the earth. The grubbing hoe was just the ticket. What Evan feared Engrid discovering was that he was becoming entranced by Andrew. What no one knew was that Evan had walked past the investment firm windows several times just to catch a glimpse of Andrew. If anyone were to ask, he was simply heading to and from the dry-cleaning store he co-owned.
         He felt something else from Andrew. He felt a spark. He knew the sense from New York that 6th sense that lets one gay man know that another was in the vicinity. It was a look and a sensation that non-gay people miss entirely. It was almost like subliminal communication. He saw that look at Andrew's office. He saw it again tonight when he approached. It was in his voice tone, the way he stood when he asked about other suggestions, and the way he carried himself. Evan wasn't sure how to approach the subject with Andrew, but he knew it would have to be done- and soon.

Chapter 13

Thursday afternoon, Andrew was at work. He had already survived the daily assaults of Mr. Wimberly and was feeling surprisingly tactful. Betty, Mr. Jacobs' other assistant, was out of town. She and her husband had gone to Daytona Beach for the week. It was a very quiet day.
         He picked up the phone and called over to the dry-cleaners. It was 1:30, but Myrtle hadn't left yet. It was she who answered the phone.
         "Is Evan there?"
         "May I ask who's calling?"
         "Andrew Garrison, Engrid's new neighbor."
         "Yes, of course, how are you?"
         "I'm doing well, thank you for asking. Is Evan available?"
         She was surprised, given what she knew, but she hid that from Andrew. "I'll go see."
         She put the phone down on the counter and walked to the back of the store. Apparently, the whole town knew of the relationship between Evan and Engrid and so knew that the newspaper story meant that Andrew had an itchy trigger finger when it came to calling the police and not that Evan had tried to rob Engrid. The people in this town clearly knew each other well and looked out for one another. In a minute or two, Evan came on the line.
         "Evan, this is Andrew."
         "I know. What is it?" He sounded pleasant enough.
         "I'm sorry for my recent gaffs, both at the office and with the police. I didn't know what I was doing. I want to make it up to you. Would you want to come to my house for dinner tonight?"
         "It would be nearly 8:00 by the time I got everything closed down, cleaned up, and got over to your place."
         Andrew almost jumped from his desk- it wasn't a 'no.'
         "8:00 would be good. Do you want to come over?"
         Evan thought about it for a moment. Since the newspaper article hadn't totally destroyed him in town, he wasn't as upset as he had been on Saturday. Plus he was curious about Andrew. He thought about it and decided to roll the dice and see what happened.
         "Sure, why not. 8:00 tonight, your house. What's on the menu?" Evan said.
         "Haven't decided yet. What do you like?"
         "I'm not picky. I'll eat anything that doesn't try to eat me first. But if it does, I might bite back." Then there was just a hint of laughter in his voice.
         Andrew thought to himself, 'Did Evan just flirt with me? That couldn't be possible.' Out loud he said, "Okay, I'll keep that in mind. So, 8:00 it is then."
         "Sure. I'll be there." They hung up. Evan was actually a little excited. He was also nervous. He was going to get to talk to Andrew one on one- alone.


         5:00 arrived. Andrew hurried to the grocery store because he had a date tonight. Whatever he cooked, it had to be good. He was hurrying up and down the aisle panicking over what he was going to cook. As he was reading the label on a box of pasta salad, he heard a voice.
         "Are you Andrew Garrison?" a voice asked from behind him.
         "Yes." He said turning to face the stranger.
         "My name is Dora Murchison. I'm your next-door neighbor on the other side from Engrid. I'm a friend of hers. She was telling me the other day what a wonderful person you were. I thought I recognized you. I saw you from a distance a couple of days ago."          
         "Hi, Mrs. Murchison," he said, shaking her hand. "It's good to meet you."
         "I'm glad I got to meet you. Are you settling in nicely?"
         "I'm slowly getting unpacked."
         "Well, that's nice. I hope you have a good day."
         "You too, Mrs. Murchison."
         She walked away. Finally, he was starting to make connections in this town. Soon, he would be able to go around town and greet people by name and they would greet him the same way. It was going to be wonderful. He was even more cheerful now than he had been before. After he decided to make a nice salad, pot roast with vegetables, and some other things, he got home.
         Once in his kitchen it was almost 6:30. He wondered why it would take Evan an hour to get here from the dry cleaner's if it closed at 7:00. How in the world would it take Evan an hour to get everything cleaned up? Andrew put the pot roast in an instant pot pressure cooker and set about preparing the baguette he'd bought.
         6:55. He was setting the table in the kitchen. He decided that the formal dining room would be too much for the occasion. He wanted it to seem causal. Maybe a candlelit dinner in the dining room with Sinatra in the background was a bit much given the circumstances. Maybe that could be a plan for Valentine's Day. He was so excited that Evan was coming for dinner.


         Evan was pretty sure he was coming for a date. He could not quite pinpoint why he felt that way and he hoped it was not just his imagination getting away from him. He didn't really know what was about to happen to him. All he knew was that he was intrigued. He was interested to see what Andrew had in store.
         6:55. Mrs. Bainbridge was leaving the dry-cleaning store. She was a young wife and mother who frequented the store. Her own husband was pitifully unattractive and not a very nice person. So, the town's theory was that she came to the dry cleaner's often just so she could see Evan for a few minutes. Anyone with half a brain would be attracted to Evan. There was even a rumor in town that she was having an affair with him. But most people didn't actually believe that one because no one thought Evan would do something like that. Evan was one of the most moral and upright people they knew, along with being known as the local Ice King because of his apparent complete lack of interest in romantic attachments.
         He locked up the front doors and turned the 'open' sign around to 'closed.' He went to the back and cleaned up everything and went out to his Cherokee. He wasn't sure what tonight was really about. He couldn't shake the notion that Andrew was attracted to him and he indeed was attracted to Andrew. Despite his earlier protestations, he was beginning to like the tan, smart, preppy, raven-haired investment advisor. He decided that Andrew was just having a bad day when they first met. Also, seeing Andrew struggle with gardening humanized him, which helped Evan.
         Evan decided, just to be safe, to go home and take a shower and wear something clean and neat to go over there. In case it was a date, he wanted to make a good impression.
         He walked in his house. His mother was upstairs in her room reading the latest issue of Reader's Digest.
         "Where're you going?" She asked as he hurried past her open bedroom door. He turned around and poked his head in the doorway.
         "I'm going out to dinner, Ma."
         "Oh. Okay. I guess I'll clean up the dishes later."
         "No, I'll do that when I get back."
         "Okay. Who are you going out with?"
         "Andrew."
         "That's nice. I'm glad you're trying to be friends."
         "We'll see, Ma," Evan replied. "We'll see. Love you."
         "Love you too dear."
         He went and took a shower and put on a white dress shirt and black pants and black shoes and matching black socks. When he walked back past her bedroom, she looked up and was startled. Evan was dressed up without being forced. She was amazed. He hadn't dressed that nicely for his great Aunt Bernice's funeral last spring. She didn't say anything to him about it and he walked quickly down the stairs. She glanced at the clock. 7:50, was awfully late for dinner, she thought. Something was up- she could sense it. It was mother's intuition, she guessed. She figured Evan must have a date, but with whom? It certainly couldn't be Andrew. The Andrew bit was obviously a cover, but who could the date be with and why hadn't he said anything about it earlier?
         7:50. Andrew was rushing around making sure everything was perfect for his guest. He wanted Evan to like being here. If he was going to woo a closeted man, it was going to take considerable effort. He smoothed all the wrinkles out of the white tablecloth. He had used white ceramic dishes with a faux China pattern and his new silverware. He hoped it wasn't too much.
         7:55. Evan's black Jeep Cherokee drove up and parked behind Andrew's black Nissan Pathfinder. Andrew heard the vehicle drive up and went to look out of his front window. He was as startled to see Evan dressed up as Evan's mother had been. Andrew grinned. He now knew that Evan was fully aware that this was a date. Evan walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. Andrew opened it.
         "Hi, Evan. Thanks for coming."
         "Not a problem," Evan replied, smiling. Andrew returned the smile with his own.
         "Come in!" Andrew stepped aside, and Evan crossed the threshold into Andrew's house.
         They walked noiselessly through the house and into the kitchen.
         "It's almost finished," Andrew pulled a chair away from the table and Evan sat down and slid up to the table. Andrew kept grinning. Evan smiled back at him. It was too perfect. Andrew started chopping the lettuce for a salad.
         "Can I help?" Evan asked.
         Andrew looked around, "There are radishes in the crisper. Would you mind washing and slicing them?"
         "Happy to help," he said and went to the refrigerator.
         "Did you have a good day at work?" Evan asked as he rummaged around in the refrigerator drawers.
         "It was good. Quiet, but good," Andrew was so nervous he could barely stand it.
         "Good. It was about normal at the store today." Evan said, "Where're your cutting boards?"
         "I'm done with this one," Andrew said, and set the knife and cutting board in front of Evan.
         "Thanks," Evan said, and started washing off the radishes in the sink.
         Evan was still smiling. Seeing the place settings, he was glad he had trusted his instincts and dressed up for the occasion. He had somehow known what Andrew was up to the moment he asked him to come to dinner.
         Once he was done, Evan asked for another assignment.
         "No, that's it. Thanks. You just sit and relax. I've caused you enough trouble lately."
         Evan smiled. "True."
         Evan stood behind Andrew as he put all of the greens into a bowl with wooden serving tongs.
         "Do you like wine?" Andrew asked, turning to face him.
         "Yeah." Evan replied.
         "What kind?"
         "Gewurztraminer."
         Andrew just stood perfectly still. It took him a second to realize that Evan knew what he was talking about.
         "Really?"
         "Yeah."
         "How do you know about that?"
         "You'd be surprised. I know a lot of things, Mr. Garrison." Evan said with a mock seductive voice.
         "I'll bet you do," Andrew replied coyly. They weren't even drunk yet and they were already coming on to one another.
         "Well, I'm fresh out of Gewurztraminer, so are there any others you like?"
         "What are we having?"
         "Pot roast." Andrew replied with a twinkle in his eye- wine with beef?
         "Hmmm. I think pot roast would be a Cabernet Franc occasion. Got any of that Mr. Fancy Pants?"
         "I've got some French wine in the cellar."
         "You have a cellar?"
         "Well, a closet."
         "You keep your wine in a closet?"
         "I keep a lot of things in a closet."
         "I'll be you do," Evan cracked a huge smile. Andrew laughed. Andrew went to the closet off the kitchen and pulled down a bottle of red wine. He uncorked it and poured two full glasses. He was in a wine mood.
         Evan picked up his glass and sipped a little of it.
         "Oh, that's good. Where'd you get it?"
         "France."
         "Really?"
         "No. I got it at the store, silly." He took a big gulp of the wine and sat the glass back down.
         "No shit?" Evan teased.
         "Not a speck." Andrew replied, grinning.
         They sat quietly for a few minutes as they sipped and the wine started to work its magic. Evan had left Grant and New York almost two years ago. He ached to be with someone again. His body longed to be held and touched. Doing that here in Deerfield was dangerous and he never felt like there was anyone he really connected with. Andrew was different. Evan was hoping to God that Andrew liked him. Evan was afraid that Andrew wouldn't like him, and it wasn't as if he'd had given Andrew much encouragement in that department. Evan had learned to be guarded with his body and with his relationships due to hard, lived experience.
         "I'm so glad you came." Andrew answered, "I wasn't sure you would want to."
         "It's okay," Evan replied, "It was an honest mistake. Once Engrid confessed to what she did, I was more annoyed at her than you. If I saw someone I thought was a burglar, I would call the cops too."
         Andrew breathed a sigh of relief, "That makes me feel so much better."
         All the fancy table decorations and the wine and dinner with just the two of them. He was so convinced Andrew was gay, but he wasn't brazen enough to be the one to make the first move. This was Andrew's house; it was Andrew's responsibility to make the first move.
         Evan ate his pot roast and waited for Andrew to say something.
         "Evan, I have to ask you something." Andrew finally broke the silence.
         "What is it?"
         He sat looking at Andrew. He knew Andrew wasn't ready to ask this question, but he had to. Evan's mouth was dry and pasty, his heart was pounding in his ears waiting to hear what Andrew had to say. Andrew put down his fork and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
         "Evan, are you gay?" Andrew asked, swallowing hard.
         Evan sat quietly for a second. It was like in the movies when a car drives off a cliff and all the music fades away, everything gets silent, and goes into slow motion. That was Andrew's mind at that moment.
         "Yes. I am." Evan replied, "Are you?"
         "Yes." Andrew sat back; the relief was evident for both of them. The uncertainty was now off. That was out in the air and they both felt infinitely better for it.
         "Andrew?"
         "Yes, Evan."
         "This is a date, isn't it?" Evan asked, cocking his head to one side.
         "It is now." Andrew smiled, "I wanted plausible deniability if you answered, 'no.'"
         "I'm glad," Evan smiled.
         "Andrew, have you ever...you know....had a boyfriend or anything?" He leaned forward. He wanted to know just how serious Andrew was being.
         "Yes." Andrew replied.
         "How many?"
         "Just two. In college." Andrew replied.
         "Were you in love?"
         "No. I've never been in love." Andrew admitted.
         "You?"
         "Once. When I lived in New York, I had a boyfriend for almost two years. We were almost married, but I wanted to move back here. He wanted to come with me, but I wanted a clean break. The only thing I loved more in this world than Grant was this place. So, we broke up, I moved back here, and went back to work at the store."
         "Why did you go to New York in the first place?"
         "It wasn't here. I got there and totally loved it. I fell in love with the city, but then after several years, I realized that it wasn't home. I could live there and be okay and be relatively happy, but at the end of the day, I'd rather be here. It's pretty simple, really. I tried to look Grant up after I moved back here but he had moved too, so I have no idea where he is now. I tried finding him online but didn't have any luck. He was pretty upset about the breakup."
         "I'm sorry."
         "No, it's a good thing. Could you imagine if Grant had moved here with me? The town would go into an uproar and he'd be miserable."
         "Where's Grant from?" Now that the focus had shifted slightly, they could both relax a minute.
         "Outside of Seaside, New Hampshire. He took me home several times to visit his family. They have a dairy farm up there."
          "Oh. What did you and Grant do there?"
         "He and I would go snow skiing in the mountains and he would show me Mt. Washington. We rode on snow machines. It was awesome. I love traveling. But I don't get to do much of it anymore. That's part of why we want to hire a manager to take care of the store. I'm tired of it and ready to be a teacher. Right now at the community college level, but if I like it, who knows? Maybe I'll pursue a Ph.D and be a professor."
         "That would be awesome!" Andrew exclaimed.
         "I think so."
         "Where do you want to go?" Andrew asked, "And profess things?"
         "I wouldn't mind moving back to New England. Maybe California."
         "Somewhere you can be the real you," Andrew said.
         "At the risk of sounding corny, I'm not sure who that is now." Evan admitted.
         "What do you mean?" Andrew asked.
         "Since you're gay too, you probably get it. To get by in society, you avoid discrimination by dressing the right way, speaking the right way, and presenting yourself in a certain way. The trouble starts when you step outside of those lines. Your heteronormativity becomes an armor. After a while, you get so comfortable with it, you don't know where the line is between who you are and the persona you've created, or if they're one in the same."
         "Heteronormativity?" Andrew said.
         "Yeah. What did you think I was pondering while pushing around Engrid's rickety lawn mower?"
         "I don't know...chicks...sports?" Andrew joked, "But you are right. I don't know where the stuffed shirt, buttoned down investment advisor ends and the Flaming Queen Andrew of Fire Island begins."
         "Flaming Queen Andrew of Fire Island," Evan repeated, "You should get that on some business cards."
         "I'll get you ones that say, 'Evan, High Queer Empress of Deerfield.'"
         Evan laughed, "I have to ask, if you could have lived anywhere in the world, why did you pick this remote backwater?"
         "I don't know. I moved to the state to go to college and I didn't feel like moving anywhere else, so I picked this place because I got a job at the investment firm."
         "That's it? That's the sob story that brought you to our town?"
         "'Fraid so."
         "Dude, that's sad." Evan laughed, "We need to get you a life."
         "Look who's talking."
         "Touch" Evan replied, smiling.
         Evan could talk to Andrew forever it seemed.
         About 10:00, Andrew and Evan went into the living room to watch a movie. Evan sat down on the couch while Andrew went to the shelf of movies.
         "What do you feel like watching?"
         "Whatever. As long as it's not too long." Evan leaned back on the couch and watched Andrew. He wasn't so bad after all. He was a tinge ashamed of what he'd said to Engrid about him.
         "Can you speak whale?" Andrew asked, casting Evan a glance over his shoulder.
         "Yahwooeraeewurakoo." Evan said, opening his mouth widely and rolling his head around doing an impression of Dory from Finding Nemo.
         "You are too cute," Andrew said.
         "I try," Evan replied, "Gotta love me!"
         "I'll try," Andrew responded, trying to sound unconvinced, "But no promises."
         Andrew looked at Evan. He had taken his shoes off and was sitting back on the big poofy couch and had snuggled down with a throw pillow. It took every ounce of will power Andrew possessed not to leap onto the couch and start making out with Evan right that instant.
         They started the movie and settled down on the sofa next to one another. After the movie ended they talked some more. Andrew leaned in closer to Evan. Evan didn't seem to mind. Andrew moved up and pressed his lips to Evan's. Evan reciprocated at first, then broke away.
         "What's the matter?" Andrew asked.
         "I'd better go," Evan said, he was suddenly in a hurry to leave. He'd seemed so relaxed, but now so rushed.
         "No, stay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do anything wrong."
         "You didn't. I just need to go."
         Andrew sat back on the couch as Evan stood to leave. Andrew raised his hand up. Evan grasped Andrew's hand in his own and looked into Andrew's eyes. Then, he let go, turned and walked away. He let himself out. Andrew sat on the couch. All he'd wanted was a kiss. Maybe a little cuddling, but mainly he wanted a kiss. He'd gotten that, but at what price? One thing he had learned from the evening: Evan was indeed gay and thus a target for courting. He knew he needed to be subtle about it due to their current cultural surroundings.

+

         Engrid was talking on her telephone to Dora. She was sitting in her living room overlooking the grassy expanse that lay between her house and Andrew's. She was leafing through some sheet music picking out a few pieces to play at a wedding in a few weeks. Rev. Creighton had asked her to help because the organist that was going to do it originally got her hand slammed in a car door. Pachelbel's Canon in D was a staple, so she liberated the pages from the binder and set them on the end table. The phone was on the music stand of the piano with the speaker function on so Engrid's hands were free to leaf through the music.
         "Well, I don't know what we're going to do if this new grant proposal isn't approved for the children." Dora said.
         "What will it do?" Engrid asked, absently.
         "The library has applied for a federal grant to open a room dedicated to children's books. We'll be able to have more kids for story time and we'll be able to have lots of books for the kids to read. They'll learn so much, it would be a crying shame to keep them from being able to learn."
         "So true," Engrid said. She heard a car drive up outside. She leaned over on the piano bench to look out of the window.
         "Oh, that's just Evan." She said out loud to herself.
         "Not him again. I've heard enough about him the last couple of weeks to last me two lifetimes." Dora laughed.
         "He drove up outside."
         "Do I need to let you go?"
         "No, no. That's the strange thing, it's not my house he drove up in front of."
         "Let me guess...Andrew's." She said.
         "Yes. Who else?"
         "So, your plot has..."
         "My goodness." Engrid moved over from the piano bench to the divan by the window and crouched down so as not to be spotted.
         "What?" Dora's curiosity had been sparked- despite her best efforts to seem disinterested. She walked over to her own fenestration overlook and pulled back the drapes.
         "Evan is dressed up."
         "Wow!" Dora exclaimed.
         "I know. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen Evan dressed up and still have fingers left over." Engrid replied.
         "Maybe it's a city thing." She was curious too, but not about to let on to Engrid.
         "He's not in the city."
         "I know, but he knows Andrew's familiar with the city so maybe he's trying to make an impression."
         "Why? They don't get along." Engrid said, "Despite my best efforts to the contrary."
         "Maybe that's just what they want us to think." Dora goaded her.
         "It just doesn't make sense. Why would he be going to Andrew's house at 8:00 on a Thursday night? Let alone in a white dress shirt and nice pants."
         "I dunno."
         "And black dress shoes. I didn't know Evan even owned a pair of dress shoes." Engrid marveled.
         "Well, Engrid, I'm sure he has lots of outfits you've never seen."
         "Why is he so dressed up?"
         "Maybe it's a business meeting."
         "For what?"
         "Maybe Evan wants some investment advice about the store?"
         "At 8:00 on a Thursday night from someone he despises? It just doesn't add up, Dora. I'm telling you, there's something fishy going on here."
         By now, Evan had disappeared into Andrew's house. In order to get a clear view of the goings on inside, she had to move into the library. She jostled down the main hallway to the library, about halfway down the length of the house. That window would give her a better view through Andrew's kitchen window.
         "What's that rustling noise?" Dora asked.
         "I'm running."
         "What on earth for?"
         "They moved. I want to see what's going on. Andrew's kitchen light is on."
         She reached the library and quickly seated herself in a high-backed armchair. She scooted it closer to the window, so she had a better view of Andrew's kitchen window.
         "Leave them alone, Engrid." Dora chided, "Really. It's none of your business what they're doing. Just shut your blinds and leave them be."
         "You were interested a minute ago."
         "That was idle curiosity. What you're doing is called espionage."
         "I am not spying. I am a concerned citizen."
         "You're a snoop is what you are." Dora chided her.
         "I just want to make sure they're alright."
         "It's none of your business what those two are up to over there. Just stay out of it. You might find out more than you bargained for."
         "You sound just like Evan when I tried to get Andrew a girlfriend."
         "You should have listened to him."
         "No, I haven't given up. I've just hit a bump. I can't find anyone good enough."
         "Okay then. But you should leave them alone."
         "That's odd." Engrid commented.
         "What?" Dora couldn't help but be curious.
         Engrid cut her eyes at the phone. She knew Dora was hooked too.
         "They're cooking dinner. Evan is washing something in the sink. They look like radishes. And smiling. Who knew Evan could smile?" Engrid said.
         "I guess maybe Evan's dislike was him protesting a bit too much, to paraphrase Shakespeare." Dora said.
         "They're sitting down to eat." Engrid continued reporting.
         "Well, it would be rude of Andrew to have Evan wash his radishes and then toss him out of the door."
         Engrid ignored the insinuation, "It's 8:00. It's rather late for dinner, don't you...ooooh. They're drinking wine. Fancy shmancy."
         "What kind?"
         "How should I know?"
         "Maybe they're having Gewurztraminer." Dora said.
         "Ge-what?" Engrid asked.
         "Never mind."
         "You made that up, there's no such thing as...whatever you said." Engrid replied.
         "What are they doing now?" Dora asked.
         Engrid addressed her own thoughts rather than answering Dora's question, "I just don't know what's going on. It just seems fishy. Two guys who seem to despise one another having wine together on a random Thursday in May. It just doesn't add up. What could I be missing?"
         "Maybe they're like Morgan."
         "Who's Morgan?"
         "You remember....Morgan Hazelton."
         "Who?"
         "You know him. He used to help me out kind of like Evan does for you."
         "Oh no! That's definitely not what's going on." Engrid shook her head.
         "How can you be sure?" Dora was egging her on. Dora loved getting Engrid's dust ruffles in a wad every now and then.
         "But Morgan was...he was...well you know...different from the other boys."
         "Yes, Engrid, he was definitely different."
         "But he....you know....swung the other way."
         "Indeed, he did." Dora confirmed.
         "He was a...you know...a homosexual." Engrid said.
         "Yes, he was. He was also madly in love with Nathaniel Whitehurst, the high school principal's son. Still is. I get cards from him occasionally. Morgan and Nathaniel are now married and living in Santa Barbara."
         "Yes. I do remember that, now that you mention it. That was Evan's principal when he was in high school- a completely dreadful old fool. But Morgan was different in other ways. These two aren't like that at all."
         "What does that mean?"
         "Well he was...you know...girly."
         "What?"
         "Dora, he wore...you know...women's things."
         "He did no such thing." Dora protested, "That was just a rumor the bullies made up."
         "How do you know?"
         "I just told you that he helped me out kind of like Evan does for you."
         "Oh, that's right, I'd forgotten about that."
         "Morgan wasn't girly. He was every bit as strapping a young man as Evan. Even if he wasn't, what difference would that make?"
         "Well, I..." Engrid was flummoxed, "I. But...it's Evan."
         "You're considering the possibility, aren't you?" Dora said, her knowing smirking coming through loud and clear on the phone.
         "I went to visit Evan in New York. He had a roommate named Grant who was gay."
         "Roommate?" Dora said, "Oh Engrid, even you can't be that naive."
         Engrid tried to wrap her mind around what Dora was suggesting. It was theoretically possible, she supposed, that Evan was gay.
         "I don't know. Evan doesn't like Andrew."
         "Presumably, Andrew invited him and he accepted. Then, not only did Evan actually show up, he put some effort into it and dressed up."
         "Dora, you're being ridiculous." Engrid said, sitting back in her chair, but less convinced than she was before, "They are just having dinner to clear the air and maybe talk about business."
         "Or getting down to business," Dora said and burst out laughing.
         "Don't be gross," Engrid said.
         Engrid could hear Dora laughing through the phone at her own joke.
         "Goodbye, Dora," Engrid said, hanging up the phone. Without Dora chattering in her ear, she could concentrate on analyzing what she was seeing. They were still sitting at the table. After a few minutes, Engrid grew bored and went back to the living room to resume perusing her sheet music collection. She was looking for a spiral bound book that she thought was stored in the piano bench, but it wasn't there.
         Fortunately for Evan and Andrew, the living room was on the opposite side of the house from Engrid's.

Chapter 14

Andrew was uncertain what his next move would be. He was convinced that someday, somehow, he was going to be with Evan Grayson. He somehow sensed that he and Evan were destined to reside in one another's arms. The question was how to get from here to there.
         Friday morning arrived bright and early. Engrid was sitting at her kitchen table eating a bowl of corn flakes when she heard the back door open. Soon Evan's face appeared in her doorway.
         "Good morning!" He said cheerfully. Evan was never particularly cheerful. She looked at him quizzically. He noticed her expression.
         "How are you?" She asked, sipping her orange juice. She didn't take her eyes off him. He was definitely up to something.
         "Fine. Anything going on around here?"
         "Not today." she put her glass down, "Have a seat."
         He sat across the table from her.
         "What's wrong, Engrid?"
         "Nothing. How was your dinner with Andrew?"
         "Fine." He didn't bother to ask how she knew about their rendezvous.
         She noticed him tense just slightly when she asked about it. She knew something was up. This smelled fishier than a molded tuna melt.
         "Good. I'm glad you two are getting along a little better. I would hate to see you two be at odds."
         "We definitely made peace last night. Things are going to be a lot better between Andrew and me from now on." Evan smiled, and then coughed to transition to a serious expression.
         Engrid was suspicious. She just couldn't shake what Dora had said the night before. She had always wondered about Evan's lack of interest in having a girlfriend. Then the two men being at odds with each other and then suddenly having dinner together and drinking wine while dressed up- on a weeknight. It just didn't make sense. All the pieces weren't adding up- at least not to an acceptable conclusion. Engrid was afraid that Dora's theory was holding up too well.
         "How do you feel about Andrew now?"
         "He's a nice person, I guess. Why?" Evan said, nonchalantly pouring himself a glass of water from the tap.
         "Nothing...it's just that I thought it was odd that you and he would make up so fast- especially after what you said about him earlier."
         "He called me at the store yesterday and invited me over for dinner. I took your advice and gave him a second chance. I'm glad I did-- turns out he's not half bad."
         "Good. Why were you all dressed up?"
         "Just seemed like a nice thing to do. I wanted to make a good impression."
         "Okay," She didn't sound convinced, but decided not to interrogate any further. She didn't want Evan to shut down, which she was surprised he hadn't already done.
         "Why are you grilling me, Engrid?" He asked flatly, "I was only doing what you asked me to." There was a hint of irritation in his voice.
         He got up and left the room. Oops. She hadn't intended to upset him; she just wanted to know what was going on. Engrid had struck a nerve. He feared that she somehow knew about the kiss. He wasn't about to admit to Engrid that he had kissed Andrew full on the mouth and could scarcely wait until he got to do it again. If she wanted that confession, she was going to have to ask him directly. He wasn't going to lie, but he also was not going to volunteer that information, just in case she was fishing and really didn't know.
         Engrid sat at the table and heard the backdoor close. She waited for a moment, then got up and put the dishes away. She wasn't sure if she should be annoyed at his rudeness or worried that something was wrong.


         A week passed. Evan still came by every day to check on her, but didn't stay very long. There were times past when he would stay for hours. She couldn't think of anything that needed doing. She missed talking to him. He was distant suddenly. She felt Andrew had something to do with it, but she just couldn't prove it. She didn't really know what 'it' was to prove it. She just felt that Andrew was turning Evan against her. She rarely saw Andrew. She would see his lights on at night- when he finally got home- which sometimes was late. Occasionally, she would see his shadow pass by a window. She would see Evan walk by on the sidewalk and pass her house and go to Andrew's. She had never interrogated Andrew about what Evan was doing in his house. She decided to lay low for a while and see what developed.


         It was the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. Engrid saw Evan's black Cherokee drive up outside Andrew's house. Evan jumped out and ran up to the door. Engrid was surprised. Evan never ran. Evan moseyed. Evan didn't run. Evan was excited. Evan was never excited. She was happy that he was happy. She was just concerned that Evan was getting himself in trouble. She had liked Andrew when she first met him, but she didn't trust him. She continued to worry that Andrew was turning Evan against her and that she would lose Evan. She hoped she was just being paranoid.
         She loved Evan as family. She wanted to love Andrew that much too, but Andrew wouldn't come close enough to let her love him. Andrew was like a magnet that was stronger than she was. She would gladly turn Evan over to a nice young woman. She'd hand deliver him with a bow on his head. She was glad that Evan had made a new friend but felt that he was shutting her out in the process. Engrid was feeling a tinge of jealousy.
         She watched Andrew come out of his house and they left together in Evan's Cherokee. She remained crouched on her divan watching through the lace inner drapes.
         "So, where are we going?" Andrew asked.
         "It's a secret."
         "Then how will I know?"
         "You'll know when I tell you, that's how," Evan was being coy. Andrew just smirked a little. He knew Evan was enjoying a sense of power over him.
         "You aren't going to take me out in the woods and murder me, are you?" Andrew joked.
         "This is going to be so much fun." Evan said, grinning from ear to ear.
         "That wasn't a 'no.'" Andrew observed.
         They drove on for a while. They turned onto a dirt road off the main highway. The Cherokee's tires moved effortlessly through the loamy soil. They went on for a while when Evan pulled up behind a truck with a four-wheeler on a small trailer behind it.
         "Where are we going?" Andrew asked.
         "Padgett Harmon knows I'm a flaming homo. She's okay with that. She got me drunk one time and then tried to make a move on me. I accidentally told her that I was gay. She laughed at first until she realized I was serious. I told her I was bringing someone here. So, she provided the 4-wheeler." Evan got out of the Cherokee and started to unhitch the four-wheeler from the small trailer that attached it to the back of a nice late model white Ford F-150.
         "Where are we?" Andrew asked.
         "The very back of the old Harmon Plantation. It's mostly timber land now but used to be a cotton plantation."
         "Oh. Will we be disturbed?"
         "Padgett assured me we wouldn't. She wouldn't lie about this."
         "She's probably spying on us right now."
         "Maybe. What difference does it make? You don't know her. If she was going to rat me out, she'd have done it years ago."
         Andrew wasn't convinced, but oh well. It was scorching hot that day. It was approaching 95 and the humidity of summer had reared its ugly head already. Andrew was already a little pasty with sweat. Evan had barely sweated at all. Andrew was dressed in a white cotton button down and khaki shorts. Evan was in his ever-present T-shirt and jeans. Andrew assumed that Evan had legs, but he'd never seen them. Evan went to the back of the Jeep. He got out two helmets. He put one on his own head and tossed the other one to Andrew.
         "Here. I wouldn't want anything to happen to that face of yours." Evan said.
         Evan released the tie downs that secured the 4-wheeler and rolled it toward the ramp at the back. Once on the ground, he climbed aboard.
         "Well, are you going to get on?" He asked, casting a glance over his shoulder.
         Andrew awkwardly got himself onto the seat behind Evan. He placed his arms around Evan's waist. His stomach was solid. Evan switched the 4-wheeler on, turned the key and pressed the start button and the little engine roared to life. He put it in gear with the foot pedal.
         "Hold on to your Gluteus Maximus, Mister!" Evan said as he pressed down on the throttle lever and released the brake. They took off through the woods. Andrew was a bit dizzied by the speed of the trees as they passed. It was evident that Evan knew precisely where he was going. Soon, the woods opened onto a pasture. They sped across the pasture toward the tree line at the other end. They dove into the forest once again as the little 4-wheeler engine whined.
         Soon, Evan slowed down and then stopped. Andrew realized that he'd had his face pressed in between Evan's shoulder blades for a while and wasn't paying attention to where they were going. They were at the edge of a small pond in the middle of a clearing. Andrew looked around. Evan got off and removed his helmet. He put it on the rack that was on the front of the machine. There was a blanket spread out on the grass and there was a picnic basket there. Evan had everything all set up and ready.
         Andrew slowly got off the 4-wheeler, uncertain that what he was seeing was real. Evan had a picnic set up on the edge of a beautiful pond in the middle of nowhere. It was perfect in every way.
         "This looks amazing," Andrew said.
         Evan was so excited to see that Andrew liked what he saw.
         Evan raced over to the blanket like an excited little boy. He plopped down on the blanket and folded his legs. Andrew sat down next to him and drew his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around them.
         "Why'd you go through all this trouble?" Andrew asked.
         "Because I wanted to."
         Andrew just smiled. He knew he liked Evan for a reason. Evan was perfect in every way Andrew could see. Evan was beautiful, smart, funny, kind, thoughtful, caring, and possessed basically every characteristic one would find attractive in another human being. Andrew watched and waited to see what Evan would do next.
         Evan grabbed the picnic basket and started unloading its contents.
         "Who fixed all this?"
         "I did," Evan replied. I told my mother I was taking some food with me when me and a few friends went fishing today. I always go fishing over Memorial Day Weekend, so it was no biggie."
         Evan had quite a spread. He had made a couple of different kinds of sandwiches and fried chicken."
         "Wow." Andrew said.
         It made him so happy to see Evan so excited. There was a part of him that was tingling in excitement about how the day would play out.
         "Alright. Dig in!" Evan said, picking up a ham and cheese sandwich and taking a huge bite of it.
         "When did you do this?"
         "I set all this up this morning. Then I drove back and got you and brought you here. So, don't worry about the food, it's been in a cooler and it's only been out here for about a half hour. After the awesome week I've had with you, I'd hate to kill you with my cooking."
         Andrew laughed a little. Evan smiled. Andrew just marveled that Evan was sitting in front of him. Even though he was the only one, Andrew didn't think he was attractive in the least. He tried to cover that by being neatly dressed and spending way too much time and money on his hair.
         "What are you thinking?" Andrew asked, noticing Evan's distant expression.
         "Nothing," Evan smiled sweetly. Andrew's heart leapt in his chest.
         "Can I ask you a question?" Andrew asked.
         "Sure. Why not?" Evan replied.
         "Why did you run away when I kissed you? I've wanted to ask all week, but I'm not sure I want to know the answer."
         Evan sat quietly for a moment. The longer Evan thought about his answer, the more Andrew began to worry.
         Andrew couldn't take the silence anymore. "Evan, is it because you aren't attracted to me?"
         "Oh God no! It's not that at all."
         "Then what? It was just a kiss."
         "I know. In my head I know that's all and it shouldn't be this big of a deal."
         "Then we'll just have to try again sometime." Andrew suggested.
         Evan looked over at him, "Andrew, I have a confession."
         "What's that?" Andrew said.
         "I feel guilty running away like that. Ever since that kiss, I haven't been able to think of anything else." Evan admitted.
         "Really? So it wasn't just me," Andrew replied.
         Evan beamed, "You like kissing me?"
         "Who wouldn't?" Andrew gushed, "It was amazing. That whole night was special."
         "Andrew, I have another confession."
         "Yes?" Andrew asked hopefully.
         "Ever since we kissed, I've wanted to do it again."
         It was Andrew's turn to beam, "Really?"
         "Yes," Evan replied, scooting over closer.
         Andrew leaned forward. Evan made the move and pressed his lips against Andrew's. Andrew swooned so hard he almost passed out.
         After their rather lengthy make out session, the two men sat in silence listening to the sound of the breeze rustling through the tall pines that lined the shore. Being the middle of a rather hot day, there weren't any birds chirping- just the sound of a gentle breeze as it passed through the treetops. Evan and Andrew reclined on the blanket and watched the clouds pass through the pine needles and branches overhead. Andrew suddenly felt very heavy. He could feel the heat, the sun, and a full stomach lulling him to sleep. He could feel the heat of the sun on his face and the warmth of the breeze on his cheeks and lips. Both Evan and Andrew could feel the ghost of their kiss still lingering on their mouths.
         As Andrew laid on the blanket thinking, he felt water crashing into his face. He sputtered and opened his eyes. Evan was standing over him with a plastic cup in his hand. The cup was now empty. Evan was grinning from ear to ear.
         "It's playtime." Evan announced.
         Evan had Andrew all to himself for an entire day. No Engrid, no mother, no work- no nothing but two guys falling in love.
         While Andrew had been lost in his thoughts, Evan had changed into his swimming trunks. Andrew was sorely disappointed to have missed that. Evan reached into a paper grocery bag and pulled out another pair and tossed them over to Andrew. Bare-chested, Evan went and sat by the edge of the pond and looked out over the water. It wasn't a very big pond. It was only about three acres. But it was big enough for them to splash around in for the afternoon.
         While Evan had his back turned, Andrew slipped his pants and underwear off and pulled the trunks on. He stood up and tied the drawstring on the trunks, so they were snug enough not to come off, even though that wouldn't be the end of the world. He walked up beside Evan, crossed his legs, and sat down.
         They sat side by side looking out over the water as the beaming sun passed overhead. What was to become of them, neither knew. All they knew was that mysteriously and inexplicably, they had fallen for one another. They were an unlikely pair to the outside world. To the outside world, they were completely different- one a meticulous army brat; the other a surly down-home country boy. What they had in common was a burning desire to be loved and to love another. That's all either wanted really. They didn't want a big house or fame or fortune. Their dreams were much smaller. They didn't want a grand mansion on a hilltop. They wanted a home. They didn't want to be famous. They wanted to be known. They didn't want to be important. They wanted to be needed. It all seemed so simple.
         But for now, they were none of those things. They were two lovers sitting by a pond on Memorial Day Weekend. What they faced was a hot, sultry, southern summer. The wind blowing softly over the face of the water sent little ripples that graced the water's edge. Evan unfolded a leg from beneath him and put his bare foot in the water.
         "Just right," Evan declared.
         Andrew smiled. Evan had no idea how perfect he was. That made him all the more perfect. Andrew looked over at Evan and just grinned.
         "What?" Evan asked playfully.
         "Nothing." Andrew stood up and stepped into the water. "You were right. The water's perfect."
         He waded out into the water a little and turned around. "Aren't you coming in?"
         "Just admiring the view," Evan replied with a grin. Evan sat on the shoreline marveling at Andrew's understated beauty.
         Evan stood up and waded out into the water too. When he got out as far as Andrew, he just stood there looking at Andrew. The water was lapping up against Andrew's navel. It was slightly higher on him since he was a little shorter. Andrew lunged and tackled Evan and they both crashed into the water. Evan popped up out of the water first sputtering then laughing. When Andrew's head broke the surface, Evan splashed him right in his face. Andrew sputtered and laughed too. Then he returned the splash. They stood in the water splashing each other. The water was still a little chilly since it was still early in the summer. In ponds that size, by about late June, the water is as warm as bathwater.
         They laughed, frolicked and kissed long and passionately again with much greater success in the water for about an hour when they decided to wade back ashore. They didn't want to get sunburned and neither thought to bring sunblock.


         They drove back to Andrew's house. Engrid's car was gone. Once inside, they embraced again and kissed passionately on the living room sofa. Andrew was making his way down Evan's bare torso when the doorbell rang. Evan and Andrew exchanged alarmed expressions. Andrew climbed off Evan, who put his shirt back on and hid behind the couch. Both cars were parked outside, so they knew that whoever it was knew they were there.
         Andrew answered the door. It was Dora.
         "Hi, Mrs..."
         "Murchison. Dora Murchison. We met the other day at the grocery store, remember?"
         "Yes, I remember you! Please come in. I'm Andrew Garrison."
         Dora came into the house.
         "Yes, Engrid's told me all about you," Dora said, "All good things, don't worry."
         "I'm glad."
         "Can we talk for a moment? It's urgent," Dora said.
         "Of course. Do you want something to drink?" Andrew asked, motioning toward the kitchen.
         "No, this will only take a minute. Do you mind if we sit in the living room?"
         "Um, uh, I suppose that would be okay," Andrew said shakily.
         She smiled demurely and went into the living room and sat on the couch.
         Andrew sat in an armchair facing the couch.
         "So, Mrs. Murchison, how are you?" Andrew began, trying to get his breath back.
         "I'm fine. I work at the library. You should come visit. Engrid tells me you have lots of books. The library has quite a selection as well."
         "I'm sure it does. I will have to drop by some time."
         "Normally, I'm at the library on Saturdays, but not today. I was there all week getting things arranged for this new children's book room we're hoping to open soon and so I said this was a holiday and I was treating it like one."
         "Good for you Mrs. Murchison."
         "Oh, for heaven's sake, call me Dora."
         "Okay. Dora. Call me Andrew."
         "Okay then, Andrew. I know we just met, but I thought I should tell you a little something that I thought you should know."
         "What's that?"
         "God made people in all sorts of ways, Andrew. He made Engrid to be stubborn and goal oriented. God made me to be a peacemaker. God makes people all sorts of ways."
         "True." Andrew nodded.
         "And...God made people 'other ways' as well."
         Andrew looked confused but feared what she meant.
         "You forget- I live on the other side of you."
         "I'm not following."
         "Evan!" She called, "Come out, come out wherever you are...literally."
         Evan stood up from behind the couch, startling Dora. She was not anticipating him materializing behind her.
          "You saw us?" Evan asked, sheepishly.
         "Yes. Just now through the window. I didn't mean to, I just glanced out. It's why the issue was urgent. I'm not upset. I'm actually pretty good with this sort of thing."
         "You are?" Andrew was amazed and pleasantly surprised.
         "I had someone like Evan helping me out around the house when he was younger. It turned out he was gay. Evan has all the signs. You do too, but in a different way."
         "What do you mean?" Andrew asked.
         "Well, you're a little more obvious than Evan."
         "What do you mean?" Andrew was a bit offended.
         He could see Evan smirking behind the couch.
         She dismissed the question with a wave of her hand, "It doesn't matter."
         "Why are you telling us this?" Andrew asked.
         Evan's heart leapt that Andrew had referred to them with the plural, 'us.'
         "It seemed like the only honest thing to do. To let you know that you are safe with me."
         "I'm glad," Andrew said, "Why are we safe with you?"
         "I saw what Morgan, the guy who helped me out, had to go through. I didn't know how to help him, but I learned. I learned a lot from Morgan and I miss him now that he's moved away."
         "What about Engrid?" Evan asked.
         Dora turned to face him, "This is an odd angle for my neck, come sit on the couch. I promise not to do what Andrew was about to do."
         Both guys blushed several shades of purple. Evan obeyed and sat next to Dora on the couch.
         "What about Engrid?" Evan repeated the question.
         "She may suspect something. We were talking on the phone when you two had dinner the other night. She was in a tizzy about it since you put on a pretty good show of not liking Andrew. I mentioned, offhandedly, that you might be...interested in one another. She dismissed it, but I do not think for one second that she forgot it."
         "I know we should tell her," Andrew said.
         Evan cleared his throat to disagree.
         "She's going to find out sooner or later. The longer we wait, the more hurt she'll be." Andrew said.
         Dora frowned, "I don't have an answer to that, but how long do you think before people start asking questions?"
         "What difference does it make if people start asking questions?" Andrew asked.
         "Probably none. But, if you need someone else to run things, by, I'm a safe person to come to. At least I don't live too far away."
         "We will be fine." Andrew stated.
         Evan did not look convinced that they would be fine.
         "I know you will. You are intelligent, likable people, and so I'm sure you won't have any trouble at all. But, if you do, I'm here for you. That's all I wanted to say."
         "I'm glad you felt comfortable telling us, I guess." Evan said.
         "One other thing though...next time....be more careful with the blinds. I would hate to glance out my window one night and...see...um... more of you than I'd care to, shall we say."
         "Thanks for the warning." Andrew said.
         Dora patted Evan on the leg and said, "Well, my dears, I should get out of your hair."
         Andrew smiled. He was glad he'd met Dora. He could tell already that she was going to be an amazing asset and ally in the days to come. She was uncertain that she had done the right thing by telling Andrew about having seen him and Evan and about her knowing about them. Oh well, what's done is done.
         Dora, while her statements were positive, her presence was a bit of a mood killer. After a while, Evan went home.
         Andrew's phone buzzed.
         "Hi Mom," he said., stretching out on the couch with his feet up.
         "I was just thinking about you." She said, "Have you made any new friends?"
         "Yes."
         "Who?"
         "His name is Evan." Andrew said, trying not to smile too much.
         "How did you meet him?"
         "He lives two houses down from me. Plus, I was assigned his business account at work."
         "That's wonderful!"
         "He is great," Andrew said, then looked a bit surprised with himself.
         "I'm glad you like him." She said, "What is he like?"
         "He's very nice. He's tall, blonde with green eyes. He owns a small business in town and he's a client of mine too. He's very smart. He seems to like me too."
         "Wow!" Marian said. "I'm so glad you are settling in."
         "I am."
         "I don't mean to pry, but how much do you like Evan?"
         "I like him a lot." Andrew said, grinning from ear to ear.
         "You said he likes you too?"
         "Yes, he likes me a lot too. He prepared a picnic by a pond for us today. He took me out there on an ATV."
         Marian nodded, "Did you wear a helmet?"
         "Yes. Evan said he didn't want anything to happen to my face. I guess he likes the way it is."
         Marian smiled, then changed the subject, "How is the woman I talked to when you were touring the house? The neighbor."
         "Engrid. She seems to be doing fine."
         "That's right. Engrid. What's her last name again?"
         "Matthews." Andrew replied.
         Marian nodded and made a note with her scratchy pencil.
         "Why?" Andrew asked.
         "Just curious." Marian responded breezily.
         Their conversation continued for a bit as Marian filled Andrew in on the going on at the mission. They ended the call and Andrew took a nap.

Chapter 15

A
ndrew awoke with a start. He had an odd feeling. Something wasn't right. He had the feeling that he was being watched. He rolled over far enough to see up the slats of the blinds. Engrid's bedroom light was off and her curtains drawn, so she wasn't watching him. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Something moved. He was sure of it. He lay back down at an angle, so his face was toward the bedroom door leading out to the landing at the top of the stairs but was careful to keep one eye open just wide enough to see what was going on. He was certain he'd seen something moving. But maybe it was just his imagination. Then his eyes slowly adjusted to seeing again and he could make out the figure of a person standing in the doorway.
         The icy fingers of panic shot through his body as he lay perfectly motionless on his bed. Andrew closed his eyes and reopened them. The shadowy figure remained. Who was that? It just stood there. It suddenly popped into Andrew's head that it must be a ghost. Surely a house as old as his must have at least one ghost in it. He suddenly remembered a story that Engrid had told him about the house's history.
         Apparently, Richard had been a history buff and had bought this house because it was reputed to have a ghost. Of course, Engrid neglected to tell him this until after he'd already signed the papers and had moved in. Since nothing happened right away, he'd put the story out of his mind. The story had something to do with a traveler on a rainy night. In 1876, this house that Andrew now lived in was only about three years old. It replaced a house that was built in 1825. In 1876, this was the only house around. None of the other houses that now lined Maple Avenue existed. The previous house had been destroyed by a tornado.
         Local legend had it that a very malevolent doctor lived in that area and frequently traveled that road at night on his way to a house of ill repute a few miles further out from town. He had failed to save the only son of a poor farmer. Well, the farmer's wife was a practitioner of black magic and tried to conjure up something to scare the doctor with. It turns out the thing that the old farmer's wife got to scare the doctor was a vicious ghost hound. One evening in July, the doctor was outbound toward the house of ill repute when he noticed something in the woods keeping pace with his horse. He kept his eye on it. The hound seemed to glow in the full moonlight of that 19th Century evening. Suddenly it leapt onto the road, spooked the horse and caused the doctor to fall off his horse. No one really knows what happened to the doctor that night. All people know for sure is that his bloody clothes were found on the roadway directly in front of Andrew's new house.
         Engrid had said that usually on hot, balmy nights, Rose and Richard both said that a shadowy figure would be in their house late at night. Rose said that on a number of occasions she would get the feeling that she was being watched. She would look around and in some dark corner or unlit doorway, the shadowy doctor from long ago would be standing there watching her. Rose never said she felt threatened by it. It was just there. Some say the doctor was not that bad and was keeping watch over that house to make sure that the ghost hound never came inside. Andrew did not find Engrid's story very comforting at that moment.
         Andrew was suddenly taken with a bout of courage, fear, and stupidity. Andrew threw back the covers and stood up. The figure turned and ran down the stairs. Andrew took off after him. He heard heavy thudding footsteps on the stairs. His own, lighter, fleshy padding came down after it. He heard the intruder as he got to the bottom of the stairs. He ran down the wide hallway to the back door with Andrew hot on his heels.
         "Stop! Wait!" Andrew yelled. For some reason, he wanted to know why the ghost still stayed in the house and hadn't moved on.
         The ghost ran out of the back door and into the yard. Andrew kept running. He ran out into the backyard calling out for it to stop that he wanted to talk about what happened. He walked around the gazebo and tried to find it. In his mind, he was convinced that the ghost of a reconstruction era doctor was hiding in his backyard.
         Andrew saw the flickering of lights as he walked around. His shouting had awakened Engrid. She pulled her robe tightly around her waist and worked her flashlight with her other hand.
         "What in the world are you doing out here?" She asked. "Oh!" She gasped and pointed her flashlight at the sky.
         "What's the matter?" Andrew asked. He stopped long enough to feel a draft. He looked down and realized that he wasn't wearing anything. His lean, nude body was glistening in the moonlight of that balmy night.
         "I am so sorry," He said and bolted towards his back door. He threw it open and went inside- his face burning hot with shame at what had just happened.
Engrid stood on the grass motionless, her flashlight trained on Andrew's back door. She wasn't sure what to make of the spectacle she'd just seen. She just stood there quietly in the pale, summer moonlight. Movement called her attention away from the door. A shadowy figure was moving beneath the watchful gaze of the streetlights pouring in between the houses. It was Dora. She was moving quickly, an expression of concern and confusion across her careworn face.
         "What's the matter? What's all this ruckus out here?"
         "I'm not sure," Engrid said, shifting her gaze to Dora, "I think Andrew saw the ghost."
         "What ghost?"
         "You know. The ghost story Richard used to tell about the dead doctor."
         Dora raised her hand to shield the glare from the flashlight Engrid was now pointing in her face. "Don't tell me you've been filling Andrew's head with all that nonsense. You'll have him scared out of his wits."
         "It's not nonsense. What else would explain what I just saw?"
         "What was that?"
         "Andrew was running around in his backyard at 3:45 in the morning buck naked yelling 'stop' 'wait' and all."
         "I know what he was saying, I heard him too. He was making so much noise, I thought the police were chasing an escaped convict through the neighborhood."
         "He was chasing the ghost, I'll bet you."
         "What was he planning on doing with it when he caught it?"
         Engrid just shrugged.
         "Richard was just pulling your crusty old leg, now go back to bed."
         Engrid pointed her light back at his door. Dora cleared her throat and said, "I don't think he's doing an encore, Engrid, now go to bed. The poor kid's been under a lot of pressure and you and your tall tales have driven him plumb batty."
         Dora turned and walked back toward her house. "Go to bed!" She called over her shoulder at Engrid who hadn't moved from the spot from which she last saw Andrew.
         "What about that?" Engrid asked.
         Dora stopped and turned around.
         "What about what?"
         Engrid pointed to the door of Andrew's toolshed.
         "Andrew is not an idiot. Something happened tonight." Engrid said.
         Dora walked back over and looked where Engrid pointed.
         She was at a loss to explain what she'd just seen. She wasn't about to give up. Andrew was a smart person; he wouldn't do something like that without good reason.
         "If there is something out here, we should call the police," Dora said, her voice quivering a bit. She was suddenly nervous. It was the wee hours of the morning. Andrew had been shouting while running around naked in his backyard. Engrid wasn't wrong, Dora thought, Andrew was pretty sharp. Something must have happened.
         It was the only place Engrid could think of that a ghost or, more likely, a criminal could be hiding. Andrew must not have seen the criminal leave. There was no gate in the privacy fence behind Andrew's house. The only ones were behind Engrid's house and behind Evan and Myrtle's house. Both households were careful to keep them locked, especially at night- on account of just such an occasion.
         "It's probably nothing," Engrid said, waving her hand dismissively and started back toward her house.
         "Wait," Dora said.
         As Engrid came back, she thought she caught motion on the far side of the dilapidated gazebo. She turned to face that direction. The moonlight was shining down and illuminated her surroundings fairly well. She clicked off her flashlight and listened carefully. For the first time that evening, she realized the crickets were so loud she could barely hear herself think.
She crept slowly toward the gazebo, the tail of her bathrobe and nightgown fluttering in a slight breeze that happened to be rustling by. Dora followed Engrid by the pale moonlight shining off of her snowy hair. Slowly, Engrid made her way around the perimeter of the gazebo. Satisfied no one was hiding in its vicinity, she trained her attention back to the dilapidated tool shed. She rejoined Dora who was still rooted to the same spot. Slowly, so as not to be heard approaching, they made their way toward the shed.
         Dora noticed that the door wasn't locked. It could only be locked from the outside. She reached out her hand and grasped the rusty handle. She wrapped her fingers around it and pulled it slowly toward her. She stepped back as she pulled the outward swinging door past herself.
         Engrid clicked her flashlight back on and shone its brightness through the tiny space. The lawnmower was in place. The rough hewn wood workbench was covered with its usual assortment of useless junk. She noticed a large tarpaulin in the middle of the floor. She didn't remember a tarp being there before, but they had no way of knowing what Andrew might have moved around in there. Engrid tapped Dora's shoulder and pointed toward the tarp. Dora's eyes were as big as saucers. Engrid decided to peek and see what was hiding under that tarp. She walked up to it and reached down. The tarp moved- or did it? She wasn't quite sure. All she knew was that she was sure it had moved. She stepped back. The tarp definitely moved that time. The tarp rose before her. Her eyes got wide behind her thick lenses. She took several large steps toward the door.
         "Engrid!" Dora yelled, backing out of the toolshed, "Get out of there!"
         The tarp was standing; it was as big as a man. The tarp rushed towards her. She screamed and stumbled out of the door, just missing knocking Dora to the ground. Engrid fell to the ground as the tarp shoved her as it ran by. The man wearing tarp shed it and ran.
         "That was no ghost," Engrid said, slowly getting up off the ground with Dora's help and dusting off her knees.
         "We need to call the police," Dora said.
         "There's no point. There's no way to catch up with him now."
         Both women stood in startled amazement, watching as the figure fled into the shadows between Dora and Andrew's houses. Neither had any idea who that could be. Engrid shook her head and turned toward her house. Dora followed.
         "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
         "There's a prowler out here," Dora said, "If you're not calling the police, then you and I are having a slumber party."
         Engrid nodded her agreement and both went to Engrid's house.


         The next evening, Engrid was sitting on her front porch waiting for Andrew to get home. She was going to have a word with him about last night. She wasn't upset as much as confused. She also wanted to tell him what she'd seen in the tool shed after he'd gone back in the house. The birds were chirping as the stifling heat bore down. Since the summer solstice was just a few weeks ago, it was still light until after 9:00, so the sun hadn't really begun its descent toward the horizon.
         Sure enough, like clockwork, 5:25pm, a black Pathfinder crested the hill and approached. It turned into Andrew's driveway and parked. Engrid hopped up and went across the grass. Andrew was almost to the first step when he heard footsteps on the gravel. He turned.
         "Good afternoon Engrid, sorry about last night."
         "It's okay. I just want to know what happened."
         "Come inside. I'll make you some dinner."
         "You don't have to put yourself out like that."
         "I don't want to eat alone. Unless you've got other plans, I'd like you to stay."
         "Okay." She wasn't going to start an argument, if he wanted to feed her; it was more than fine with her. She followed him to the steps and into the house.
         They went into the kitchen where Andrew started making some chili and beans to go with the sandwiches he was about to make. He pulled the meat out of the refrigerator and put it in the microwave.
         "What happened last night?" Engrid was curious.
         "You can start by making some salads." Andrew smiled over his shoulder.
         She hopped up and opened the refrigerator and pulled out some lettuce and carrots. She sat them on the counter while she rambled around for a cutting board.
         "You still haven't answered my question." She said, carefully slicing the carrots.
         "I had a dream that someone was in my house."
         "Really?" the pace of her cutting slowed considerably.
         "I woke up and had the strangest feeling that I was being watched. Then I realized that there was a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. I told it to go away. It turned and ran down the stairs. I chased after it. I remembered your story about the old doctor and I wanted to stop the ghost and ask why it was still there. I guess people think the strangest things in dreams. But I chased after it. I totally forgot I was naked and I had no idea anyone would see me that late at night," He said to the light inside the microwave.
         "Hmm. Did you say you heard it running down the stairs?"
         "Yeah. Real heavy footsteps. Then it ran out the back door. I just kept chasing."
         "Wouldn't a ghost have just vanished or gone through the door without opening it? That's what Richard said happened with the dead doctor, as soon as they saw it, it vanished into thin air without a sound."
         Andrew turned to face her. She had completely stopped slicing carrots.
         "Engrid, do you think that there was someone actually in my house last night?"
         "Yes." She replied without hesitation.
         Andrew's eyebrows shot up, "What?"
         "After you went back inside, Dora came out to see what was going on. We thought about the toolshed, so we went and looked in there. There was somebody in there. I didn't get a good look, but they nearly knocked Dora and I both on our butts when they ran away."
         "Should I call the police?"
         "I don't see what the point would be. Whoever or whatever it was is long gone now. Like I said, I didn't get a good look, so I wouldn't be able to give any sort of description except maybe height and weight, but nothing else."
         "I guess you're right. But how did he get in?"
         "I don't know. Maybe he came in the back door. Are you sure you locked it last night? Sometimes I forget."
         "I'm pretty sure. I thought it was locked, but it must not have been."

Chapter 16

S
unday morning dawned. Andrew called Engrid, "Hello, Engrid, how are you this morning?"
         "Good." She said in response, he could hear a spoon clinking against a bowl in the background.
         "Um, would you mind if I came to church with you?"
         "I'd like that, Andrew. Since I play the piano and all, I have to be there awfully early, so you might want to drive yourself."
         "That's fine. Can I ride with you? I can explore while you get warmed up."
         "That would be very nice. I generally leave around 9:00 so I can get things situated before Sunday School."
         Oh. He hadn't planned on Sunday School.
         "Well, maybe I'll skip Sunday School this week."
         "Well, the men folk would love to have you join them. They need a fresh face now and then."
         "Maybe another time. But I will be there for the main service. It's at 11, right?"
         "On the dot. I'll see you then?"
         "Sure thing, Engrid. Say, does Evan go to church there?"
         "Yes. He's a Sunday School teacher, you know."
         "He is?"
         "Sure is. He's great with the kids. Those kids just love Evan. It's good for them to have a solid male role model to look up to. With all the mess on TV, it's nice for them to see a good man for a change."
         "That's definitely true Engrid. Evan's the best. I'll see you."
         "See you there, Andrew."
         He hung up the phone. Evan was a Sunday School teacher? That had never occurred to Andrew before.
         He sat on the edge of the bed, one black sock on a foot and the other in his hand. About 10:30, he got into the Pathfinder and backed out of his driveway.
         Once he got there, he sat in the parking lot. He wished he'd ridden with Engrid, that way he would have someone to help make introductions. He got out of the Pathfinder and walked towards the main entrance. The church was a small Presbyterian church out in the country away from the main town.
         It was a little country church. It was red brick with white trim work around the windows and eaves. It had a nice white steeple on it with a little cross way up at the top. It looked like something out of a picture book. He'd never really gone to a church since leaving his parents on the mission field. He imagined southern church women in their floral dresses, fancy hats, gloves, and high heels. There were a few dresses, but no hats and no gloves. Most of the women were wearing slacks of various colors and flats. A few of the middle-aged women were even wearing sandals and denim jumpers with teddy bears and flowers embroidered on them. Obviously, they were school teachers the other 6 days.
         Fortunately, as he approached the small huddled crowd by the door, he recognized Betty from work. He didn't know she went to church here, but it was nice to see a familiar face among so many strange ones.
         "Well hello, Andrew!" Betty greeted him warmly.
         "Everyone, this is Andrew Garrison, he and I work together."
         "That's lovely," an elderly woman in green said. "I'm Georgia Haltam."
         There were a ton of other introductions, but most of the names slipped away despite Andrew's best efforts to remember them all. Betty spirited him away and they went inside. She could sense that he was nervous.
         "So, Andrew. What made you decide to drive all the way out here?" Betty asked.
         "Engrid Matthews is my next-door neighbor. So, I heard about it through her."
         "Yeah, I think I remember hearing something about that. You can sit with my husband and I if you want.'
         "That'd be nice. If that's okay."
         "I wouldn't have offered otherwise," she teased. He smiled.
         "Where is your husband?" Andrew was looking around at the unfamiliar but likable and friendly faces.
         "He's around somewhere. With all these people around, Sunday School must have already let out."
         A few people stopped by to introduce themselves to Betty's friend from work.
         "The people are nice." Andrew observed.
         "Oh, they're wonderful."
         "How was Daytona? When did you get back?"
         "It was fantastic. We got back last night. I wanted to stay an extra day, but Worth had to get back."
         "Ah. How long have you been here?"
         "I grew up in this church. Worth grew up at the Baptist church in town. We've been married for four and a half years."
         "Oh, okay."
         Engrid and the choir suddenly appeared through a door at the front of the sanctuary. Engrid walked quickly across and seated herself on the piano bench. The choir got in place behind the pulpit. The pastor walked out and sat in a large chair behind the pulpit. Andrew's eyes got big. That preacher didn't look like any pastor he'd ever seen.
         "What's the pastor's name?" Andrew whispered to Betty.
         "Her name's Michelle Creighton. She's a good preacher. We were a little worried- with her being a woman and all, but she's turned out to be good."
         Michelle was a larger woman with wild red hair and was wearing a flowing robe that was a bright blue. Her reading glasses were perched on her nose as she waited.
         Engrid began playing something that Andrew didn't recognize.
         Worth appeared at the end of the pew and was properly introduced, via whispers, to Andrew. As Andrew was looking around, the door at the back of the sanctuary opened again. A stream of elementary and middle school aged kids came filing out and joined their parents in the pews. Following behind them were a few other people. They were all young women except one. That exception was an exception to so many rules. That exception was God's gift to the sighted people of the world. That exception was proof that God likes to show off every now and then. Evan either didn't notice or opted not to acknowledge Andrew but went and sat down. Apparently, several of the kids were unclaimed. One young woman sat down, three kids, who looked like fifth graders, sat next to her and then Evan sat on the other side of them. Several older kids were in the row behind them. Apparently, one of Evan's jobs at the church was crowd control.
         The music stopped and the reverend stood behind the pulpit.
         The service went very smoothly, Engrid scarcely missed a note, and the sermon was about the expansive nature of love. Andrew liked the idea that love cannot be exhausted because giving it away only creates more for yourself and others. Soon, the service was complete. Betty had been right; Rev. Creighton was a very good speaker. As Andrew was standing up, Engrid intercepted him as several others were headed in his direction.
         "I'm so glad you came!" Engrid said.
         "So am I. I'll have to come back again."
         "You certainly will," Mrs. Haltam called out from behind Engrid's back. As Andrew was engaged in conversation with Betty, Worth, and Mrs. Haltam, he noticed a figure standing just on the edge of his peripheral vision.
         Evan was standing, waiting his turn to talk to the visitor. As Andrew excused himself and walked over to Evan, a four-year-old ran up and wrapped her arms around Evan's leg.
         "Hold me Mr. Evan!" the child implored.
         "No, Sarah, your mother's waiting for you outside."
         "I don't want to." She folded her arms and scowled. Evan acquiesced and picked the child up in his arms. She was so excited; she wrapped her arms around Evan's neck. "Thank you, Mr. Evan."
         "You're welcome, Sarah. Now go outside." He put her down and she scampered toward the door. Andrew couldn't help but smile. Evan was so awesome that it was just sickening.
         "I see you've been busy." Andrew remarked.
         "Yeah. They'll keep you on your toes," Evan smiled. He couldn't help but look deeply into Andrew's eyes. Then he snapped back, remembering where they were. More people were crowding around them.
         "Don't hog him, Evan," Betty said, "There are others for him to meet."
         Andrew was subjected to another whirlwind of faces and names. He tried to remember descriptions, so he could ask Engrid later.
         After the throng dispersed, Andrew and Evan walked back out toward the parking lot.
         "What are you doing for lunch?" Andrew asked.
         "Actually, I'm supposed to invite you to Engrid's house for lunch. Mom, I, and Dora are having lunch there and she wants you to join us."
         "I wonder why she didn't ask me when I talked to her on the phone this morning."
         "It's Engrid. Who knows?"
         "True. Who knows? I don't even think Engrid knows half the time."
         "No kidding." Evan laughed.
         "Are you riding back with me?" Andrew asked.
         "Yeah. I rode with mom, but I told her you'd drive me back."
         "How generous of me." Andrew grinned, "Would you like to go out later?"
         "A date?" Evan smiled.
         "Yes."
         "Sounds great.
         They got in and drove back toward town. Once they got back, Evan walked home to change. Andrew wasn't sure what the logic was in riding back with him, other than Evan wanted to be near Andrew. Evan didn't like being away from Andrew. So, if it meant walking home in his church clothes, then so be it. If those kids hadn't needed refereeing during church, Evan would have sat with him then. There was plenty of room between Andrew and the end of the pew for another person.

Chapter 17

W
hen Andrew got home from lunch, a few minutes passed before his phone buzzed again. This time, Evan was on the line.
         "So, about tonight?" Evan asked.
         "What about it?" Andrew asked slyly.
         "You asked me out on a d.a.t.e. Remember?" he whispered.
         "I did ask you out on a date. Evan, would you go out with me on a date?"
         "Hmmm." Evan said coyly, "I guess I might have time. Let me check my schedule." Andrew heard a few papers rustling.
         "Guess what? I'm free."
         "Yay!" Andrew said. "So, 4:30 then?"
         "What are we seeing?"
         "I don't know. I figure we could go out to this little Italian bistro I know in Columbia. Benicia's. Then, we'll go to the theater and see what's playing next."
         "Oooh. Italian, eh? So, dinner and a movie. I guess I'm gonna have to start putting out soon." Evan said, his grin coming through on the phone.
         Andrew laughed out loud. Evan chuckled a little.
         "So," Andrew said, "I'll pick you up at 4:30, we'll drive into town, eat dinner and then we'll go out to a movie. I'll have you home by midnight."
         "Yes. I turn into a dreadful troll at midnight." Evan teased.
         "Evan, you couldn't be a troll if you tried."
         "Nice try."
         "It's true. Of us, I'm the troll. You're the sexy, smart, funny one."
         "Hardly. But, 4:30. I'll be ready. Ma's going over to Aunt Georgia's house this afternoon. So, just drop by the house. We wouldn't want people to think I liked you or anything."
         "Of course not, it would ruin your reputation as an Ice King."
         "See, you understand."
         "Yeah. So, Mr. Marvelous, I'll see you at 4:30."
         "See you then."
         They said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. By the time they had all gotten home from church, changed, gone over to Engrid's, eaten and cleaned up after lunch, it was already 3. 4:30 would soon be upon them.
         Andrew rushed upstairs and threw open his walk-in closet door. He walked to the middle of the aisle and looked around- a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. He started pulling things out and looking at them. Opposite the door, at the other end of the aisle, there was a full-length mirror. Andrew would assemble a pants and shirt combination, then hold it up in front of the mirror, covering his body. He tried light and festive and decided he looked like a beach bum tourist. He tried Manhattan black and decided he looked like he was either in mourning or going Goth. He tried loose fitting and decided he looked like a Goodwill reject. He tried tight and decided it made him look scrawnier than he already was. He started to get frustrated that he couldn't find the perfect outfit. Since Evan's mom was going to be gone, he wanted Evan's jaw to drop when he saw him. Tonight was their first actual date, date. The dinner was nice, but this was a traditional date that they both were calling a 'date.' So, naturally, it was Andrew's plan to make Evan want him more than he'd ever wanted anyone ever.
         Meanwhile, Evan was upstairs at his own house. Myrtle was getting out the vacuum to clean the carpet in the den. Evan was standing in front of his much smaller closet. Nothing appealed to him to wear. He went into the attic. When he moved home from New York, he had stored most of his 'city clothes' in wooden foot lockers that were now in the attic. He had to decide fast so he would have time to wash it so he wouldn't smell like an old lady's shoebox when Andrew got there. He decided on a blue shirt that had just a hint of shimmer to it and flat fronted off white pants and a belt. As Evan was rifling through a green foot locker, he had to remind himself that what looked awesome in Chelsea, would get his butt kicked in Columbia. But what he picked out was decent and didn't smell at all. He went back to his bedroom and rummaged through his clutter drawer to find his hair gel and skin cleanser with moisturizer. He hadn't used any of it in so long he hoped it hadn't expired. He couldn't find an expiration date, so he figured it must still be good.
         His mother was finished vacuuming and was channel surfing. He called down the stairs to her, "Are you still going over to Aunt Georgia's?"
         "Yeah. I'll leave here a little before 4:00 and get back here around 9 or 10. Why?"
         "Just curious is all."
         "Okay. Got a hot date?" She joked.
         "I wish." Evan laughed. "Some friends of mine and I are going to the movies in Columbia tonight. I'll be back here between 11 and 12."
         "Uh-huh. Trying to kick your poor mother out of her own house so her son can get his groove on?"
         "Yeah right."
         She had found a nature program about Bengal tigers and that kept her occupied. About 3:45, she left for Aunt Georgia's. As soon as her blue Oldsmobile backed out of the driveway, Evan ran for the shower. He couldn't shower with her in the house because she would want to know what had possessed Evan to shower in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday to go out with his scruffy friends from his high school days.
         Back at Andrew's house, he was still deciding what to wear. But he had given up and went and took a shower. Then he put on a simple white button-down, collared shirt, and black pants. It was classic and acceptable. He wasn't sure what else to wear.
         About 4:25, Evan was racing to get ready. Andrew was going to be there any second and time was running out. Andrew was tying his shoes. Evan was buttoning his shirt. Andrew was making sure everything was turned off in the house. Evan was making sure he hadn't missed anything while shaving. Andrew walked out of his house and got in the Pathfinder. Evan was making sure his teeth were clean. Andrew drove up outside Evan's house. Evan heard Andrew drive up outside his house.
         Andrew sat in the car and waited. If Evan didn't come out in a couple of minutes, he would ring the doorbell. Time was up, Andrew got out of the car to go up the steps. The door opened as Andrew stepped away from his vehicle. There he was. Evan walked to the edge of the front porch. He stood tall and straight. Every strand of his wavy blonde hair was perfectly in place. His skin was clear and his eyes sparkled, his smile revealed perfect teeth.
         Evan hoped he hadn't gotten toothpaste on anything. He hoped that he didn't have anything hanging from his nose. He hoped his fly was securely zipped. He hurried down the steps and across the grass. Then his eye caught Andrew's and he stopped. Andrew had taken extra care in grooming too. Evan just stood completely still and stared. Andrew's dark almost black eyes held a certain mystery to them. Andrew's jet-black hair glistened in the sunlight and heat. Andrew smiled. Evan smiled back. When Evan saw Andrew standing in his front yard, all insecurities and worries vanished. All his troubles disappeared when he fell into the entrancing gaze of those eyes.
         After a few seconds of being startled by one another, they snapped back to reality. Evan went around and got in and Andrew did the same. Andrew started the car and took off down the street.
         "I'm assuming our dinner place is nice" Evan asked, breaking the silence.
         "Yes. I picked a nice, quiet, romantic restaurant."
         "Very nice. I'd hate to think you'd picked a dive for our first official date."
         Several miles outside of town, Bam. Flap, flap, flap. The SUV lurched to the left. Andrew slammed on the brakes and the car swerved all over the road, just missing an oncoming car whose horn blared at the near miss. Evan tensed up and grabbed the door. Andrew's arm flew out and hit Evan on his chest. The car slid to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
         "Blowout," Andrew said.
         Evan got out of the car. "Where's the spare?"
         "Underneath the cargo area. I'll get it; you don't need to do that."
         Evan walked to the back and bent over to see if he could see the tire under the car.
         "How do you get it out?" Andrew asked.
         "I don't know. We'll see."
         He lifted the hatch and pulled back the carpet. He got the jack stand and the handles out. The spare was attached by a pulley that kept it tight against the bottom of the undercarriage.
         "I see how this works," Evan said, "You put this rod in that hole in the bumper and twist. That lowers the tire. When it gets down to the ground, you just release it."
         Evan started unbuttoning his shirt. "Don't want to get it dirty." He peeled the shirt back revealing that he did not have an undershirt on. Andrew nearly passed out. Bare chested, Evan put the shirt on the backseat. Andrew took the rod from Evan's hand and started lowering the tire. Once it was on the ground, Andrew stood behind Evan and waited as Evan awkwardly liberated the tire from its holster.
         "What else can I do?" Andrew asked.
         "You can start by busting the nuts first." Evan said.
         Andrew laughed out loud, "What?"
         "Before I jack up the car, you've got to loosen the nuts."
         "Why didn't you say 'loosen?'"
         Evan smiled slyly, "I think we both know why I phrased it that way."
         Andrew looked around. Evan tapped the tire iron with his foot. Andrew picked up the identified tire iron. He walked over to the edge of the car and looked down.
         "Oh." Andrew put the wrench on the nuts and pulled hard. With a squawk, they let go and the wrench moved counterclockwise.
         In about 20 minutes, they got the tire changed. Evan was sparkling in the equatorial heat.
         "Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
         "No, but we've missed our reservations," Andrew said.
         "We did?"
         "Yeah. We'll never make it in time."
         "I know a cool little place in Columbia we should go to."
         "What is it?"
         "Suar It's a quirky little restaurant. It's not too far from the theater."
         "Okay." After Evan put his shirt back on, they got in the Pathfinder, and drove off down the road.
         As they were driving, Andrew started talking, "So, Evan, can I ask you a question?"
         "Sure. What's going on?"
         "How long have you known you were gay?"
         Evan thought about it for a moment, "I guess I always have. I didn't really put the word 'gay' to it until I was around 11 or so. I just knew that I liked boys and not girls. It never really occurred to me that was wrong until about then."
         "What happened?"
         "Nothing much, but some of the other kids called this boy a fag and it stung me. I didn't say anything about it, of course. See, these two boys were rumored to have been caught together in a bathroom stall at school. I don't know if it was true or not, probably not, but those two boys' reputations were ruined. They were pegged as fags and that was the end of a lot of friendships and athletics and stuff. So, they were done for."
         "Oh. So, where are they now?"
         "I dunno. I guess they're still around. What about you?"
         "What about what?"
         "When did you know you were gay?" Evan clarified.
         "I guess about the same as you."
         "When did you come out?"
         "To whom?"
         "To anyone."
         "I came out to my family when I was 15. The first time I came out to anyone other than them was when I was about 16. It was my best friend, Wanda."
         "I guess your best friend being named Wanda was a clue." Evan quipped.
         "I guess so. Anyway, my uncle and I were living in San Diego at the time, we'd just moved from Norfolk, Virginia. Wanda was a friend that I met on the internet. Since I moved so much, most of my friends were online."
         "Okay. What did Wanda say?"
         "She was cool with it. In fact, she had a cousin who was gay. She and her family lived in San Antonio."
         "I guess Texas isn't a fun place to be gay either."
         "Guess not. Anyway, she said that it was just something that was and she'd known me long enough that this wasn't a problem for her."
         "What did your uncle say?"
         "My uncle doesn't know."
         "Really? Why not?"
         "Why should he? He'd be totally against it."
         "Well, I guess I can't complain. Padgett is about the only person who knows I'm gay- other than you- at least around here."
         "I guess it's important that I'm clued in on that one. I was out in college, though."
         "That's cool. So was I."
         They rode in silence for a few minutes. They were almost to the edge of Irmo and would be passing into the city of Columbia proper soon.
         "I guess it's not safe to be out around here." Andrew said.
         "It would probably be okay, but I don't know that I'm ready to roll those dice. There's so much controversy about it that I would be afraid that I'd lose so many friends. God only knows what Engrid would say."
         "You think she'd be opposed to us being together?"
         "She probably would be at first, but maybe after she calmed down a little it would be different."
         "At least Dora would be with our side and help bring Engrid around, if she needed it."
         "I guess." Evan was still ill-at-ease about Dora knowing or Engrid eventually finding out, but he refused to let it ruin his evening.
         "Dora said she wouldn't say anything about it. I don't think she has. Engrid would have broached the subject and she hasn't."
         Evan gave Andrew directions on how to get to Suar They went to dinner there and went to a movie. After that, they were standing in the parking lot.
         "Is there anything else to do around here?" Andrew asked.
         "There's Sweet Pea's."
         "What's that?"
         "You never came to Columbia when you were in college?"
         "No. We always went to Atlanta."
         "That's too bad. You'll like Sweet Pea's."
         "Okay. I trust you- how do we get there from here?"
         When they got in the vehicle, Evan gave him directions.
         They drove into the parking lot and parked. Andrew looked at it. It wasn't what he expected something named "Sweet Pea's" to look like. It had reflectively tinted windows, and a line out front.
         "What is this place?"
         "It's a fun place. Do you like to dance?" Evan asked, raising his eyebrows.
         "Yeah. What is it? I thought it was a restaurant."
         "It is. Sort of. It's also a bar and a dance club."
         "Will I get hit on?"
         "Maybe," Evan smiled mischievously.
         They got out and got in line.
         "Get your ID ready," Evan said as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
         As they were standing in line, Andrew noticed something unusual about the crowd around them. Pretty much everyone was a guy. Most of the guys appeared to be with one other guy. It dawned on him that Evan had brought him to a gay bar. It made perfect sense, he just hadn't thought of it.
         Andrew leaned over and whispered in Evan's ear, "This is a gay bar?"
         "Nah? Really?" Evan said and smiled.
         "You didn't think I'd take you to a honky tonk, did you?"
         "No. This is cool. I didn't know they had these here."
         "They do. A few in fact, but this one's my favorite."
         "How often do you come here?"
         "Not often. Once a month or so. I come alone and go home alone, but it's fun."
         "That's awesome."
         They got to the head of the line, showed their ID, and walked in. It was still a little early, but things would pick up soon, even though it was Sunday night. Andrew walked over to the bar. He had never really gone to a gay bar before. He'd never allowed that as a possibility for himself. It wasn't that he was opposed to the idea, it was just that the urge had never hit him.
         He turned around on the stool. Evan was standing behind him. Andrew had to remind himself that this was Evan from Engrid's backyard. This was the same man that, just that morning, had been teaching Sunday School. This was a different side of Evan Grayson. Evan was beautiful and SEXY.
         "Would you dance with me?" Evan slid up next to him and smiled broadly.
         "I don't know."
         Evan's expression shifted to concern, "If you're not comfortable, we can leave."
         "No, no. It's not that, it's just that..."
         "Just what?" Evan was trying to read his expressions.
         "I've never been to a gay bar before." Andrew admitted.
         Evan took a step back in surprise. "Really?"
         "Shocking, I know."
         "Well, I know what'll loosen you up."
         "What?"
         Evan stood next to Andrew at the bar and leaned over it a little. The bartender walked over to them. Andrew just looked at the bartender in hopeless bewilderment.
         Evan spoke up, "Yeah. I want a Grey Goose Martini, three olives, dirty."
         Wordlessly, the bartender started preparing the order.
         "What do you want to drink?" Evan asked.
         "I don't know. Something with vodka or gin."
         The bartender put Evan's drink in front of him and said, "Slow Comfortable Screw."
         "Huh?" Andrew looked up at him.
         "It's a drink. It's got both vodka and gin."
         "What'd you call it?" Evan said, a smirk crossing his lips.
         "It's called a Slow, Comfortable Screw. Looks like you both could use one."
         "Sure, why not?" Andrew said.
         Wordlessly, the bartender started preparing the order. Andrew turned around and watched the floor. It wasn't full yet, but it was getting there. It was probably going to be slower because it was a Sunday night. Friday and Saturday, that place was probably packed with closet cases that were adored by respectable society the rest of the week. The bartender put the drink down in front of Andrew. Evan paid him for both drinks. Andrew just looked at the glass for a few seconds.
         "You did drink in college, didn't you?"
         "A little. Mostly I just mixed stuff in my room for me and my friends."
         "Really? I guess you don't seem like the barhopping type," Evan remarked.
         Andrew picked up his drink and sipped a little, then a little more. He was so nervous, he downed the whole thing. Even the bartender looked at him in amazement. Evan was quietly sipping his martini. Seeing Andrew finished, Evan downed the rest of his martini and put the glass on the bar. He grasped Andrew's hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor. It took a minute or two for the alcohol to kick in, but Evan was already there from the moment they walked in the door. He was so excited to have someone else there to dance with.
         He looked at Evan as he danced up against him. Feeling Evan's body moving against his own was electrifying. Andrew was still a bit in shock reconciling in his brain that this was the same Evan who existed in the rest of the world. He would never be able to see Evan the same way again. For a purely white guy, Evan could move. That man had rhythm in all the right ways.
         Andrew tried to dance a little. Evan smiled at him and it melted him. Andrew felt so awkward dancing with the hottest guy on the floor. He also felt a little proud. It wasn't that the other guys were ugly by any means. They were the standard well-toned, well-groomed gay men. But they had one major defect. That defect was that they weren't Evan. He felt pride that all the other guys had to dance with inferior men while he got to dance with embodied perfection. Not only was he dancing with embodied perfection, embodied perfection was going home with him.
         Evan leaned in closer. Andrew leaned back. Evan said in his ear, "Shake your ass not your shoulders."
         "What?"
         "Shake your ass, not your shoulders. Like this..." Evan demonstrated shaking one's ass but not one's shoulders. That was a very attractive demonstration. Then Evan came back up and danced right up against Andrew's body. Once Andrew got into it, he didn't want it to end. But he knew he had to go to work in the morning.
         They danced for quite a while as the music thumped in their ears. Then Evan said, "I guess we'd better go."
         "What time is it?"
         "11:30. If we hurry, we can be home by a little after midnight or so."
         "Yeah, we'd better go."
         They went out to the Pathfinder in the parking lot.
         "Did you enjoy it?" Evan asked as Andrew unlocked the doors and got in.
         "I did. It was fun seeing you dancing."
         "Why is that?" Evan asked.
         Andrew replied, "You were by far the hottest guy in there. Did you see the looks on the other guy's faces? They were staring at you. They were envious of me."
         "They were envious of you?"
         "Yeah. They wanted to know how someone like me was dancing with a guy like you. They wanted you."
         "Maybe," Evan slid a little closer over toward Andrew.
         "I was staring too," Andrew replied, looking over at him.
         "Really?" Evan liked the compliment even if he didn't agree with it. Evan leaned a little closer. Andrew leaned toward him. He had repositioned himself on the seat so that they were facing one another.
         Evan said softly, "They were staring at you. They were wondering how some standard issue white dude like me landed a hot Brazilian like you."
         Andrew blushed.
         "I'm glad you had fun tonight," Evan said.
         "I'm glad you knew about this place. We'll have to come back."
         "Yes, we will. Maybe next Friday or Saturday." Evan offered.
         "Maybe Saturday. I've got some yard work to do and then we'll come here."
         "Get all hot and sweaty first?" Evan asked, smiling seductively.
         "Yeah, something like that."
         They were eye to eye now; Andrew could feel Evan's breath on his chin. This time, it was Evan's move. Evan leaned in and pressed his lips to Andrew's. Andrew had been waiting for this moment and was ready for it. It felt like he had finally found love as he felt Evan's flesh against his own. Andrew's head swam as his blood supply was redirected elsewhere. They broke their kiss.
         "We'd better get going," Evan said.
         "Yeah," Andrew said, clearing his throat and cranking the car. They set out toward home.
         "I cannot believe tonight happened," Andrew said to no one in particular; the distant, moonstruck look still evident on his face.
         Evan just smiled and glanced over at his newfound love. This had to be one of the happiest nights of his life. Evan too was still swooning over the thought of that kiss, the remnants of which he could still taste.
         Maple Avenue pulled into view.
         "You can just drive to your house, I can walk from there.
         "Okay," Andrew replied.
         As they decelerated towards Andrew's driveway, they noticed that both Engrid's and Myrtle's houses were completely darkened.
         "I guess they're already in bed," Andrew remarked.
         "Neither of them would ever be classified as 'night owls.'"
         Andrew pulled to a stop in his driveway.
         "Goodnight," Evan said, stepping out of the Pathfinder.
         "Goodnight," Andrew smiled and turned towards his front door.
         As he reached the bottom step, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Evan quickly approaching. They faced one another. Evan leaned in and they kissed once again.
         "I just wanted a goodnight kiss," Evan smiled and walked off towards his own bed.
         Engrid had been right. Her advice to let Evan come to him had done just the trick. Andrew's patience was paying off.

Chapter 18

O
n his way home from work, Andrew stopped off at the garden supply store in town. He bought a few flowers to put around the gazebo in the backyard. It needed help and he wanted to make a nice place for Evan and him to be. He carried the trays of impatiens and zinnias around the house to the gazebo. He dug the holes and started planting the flowers. He was happy to have a home that he could make a nice inviting place.
         As Andrew was spraying the flowers with a water hose, Evan walked up behind him. Andrew had changed into a pair of running shorts and an old T-shirt. Evan realized that Andrew was going to be beautiful regardless of what he was wearing. The fact that Andrew didn't feel the need to dress up for the occasion made him all the more appealing.
         "How's it going?" Evan asked casually.
         "I thought they might want a little water."
         "A little water? Then don't pound 'em with a monsoon."
         "What do you mean?"
         "They need a gentle rain. You're giving them a hurricane. First, you've got the water turned up too high. Evan walked over to the spigot and turned the water to about half the pressure Andrew had it on. He walked back over.
         "Now," He stood behind Andrew and wrapped his arms around his body to guide his hands, "What you want to do is pinch the hose in this hand. Like this."
         Evan showed him what to do, "Then put your finger over the other end so that the water comes out like a sheet."
         "Like this?" Andrew started doing it for himself.
         "That's perfect. Spray the water over the flowers, not onto them. Let gravity make the water settle over the flowers rather than squirting it directly on them. Like an artificial rain shower."
         "Oh, I see."
         "Yeah, it takes a gentle touch. Caress the hose."
         Andrew cut his eyes at him. Evan smirked, "Sorry, I got carried away."
         He stepped back to watch Andrew practice watering the flowers. He had the hang of that. Evan walked out toward the tool shed. He returned with an empty tin can. Andrew was still spraying. As Andrew continued, Evan scooped up some of the fertilizer in the can and started spreading it around where Andrew's water was coming down.
         "What does that do?"
         "It's some mild nitrogen fertilizer. Just get it good and wet. When you're putting it on, be careful to keep it off the leaves of the plants. It'll burn them if you're not careful. Then the plant will die."
         "Okay," Andrew kept spraying the water back and forth over the leaves the way Evan had told him to do it.
         "You're doing really well, Andrew. You might turn out to be an alright gardener after all. Who knew?"
         "I guess. A little professional help did just the trick."
         "I'm no professional. Engrid taught me everything I know."
         Andrew looked at his watch. "Want something to eat? It's past dinner time."
         "Yeah, lunch was a long time ago. I guess I can stay."
         "It won't be linen tablecloth, candles, and china; but at least it's food."
         "That's good enough for me," Evan replied, "So long as it's not a thinly veiled attempt to get into my pants." He smiled. Andrew grinned. Evan was one to cut to the chase.
         "What if it isn't so thinly veiled?" Andrew asked.
         Evan smiled broadly. They walked side by side into the house. Evan started to get the sandwich makings out of the refrigerator as Andrew set the table. Andrew couldn't take his eyes off Evan. He was transfixed. Evan was rambling around looking for mayonnaise to go with the honey baked ham slices he'd discovered in a resealable plastic bag. Andrew snapped back to reality and kept putting silverware on the table.
         "There's some soup in a big bowl in there if you want it."
         "What kind is it?" Evan asked.
         "Vegetable. It's also got some ground beef in it too."
         "Sounds good to me." He found the bowl and handed it to Andrew who put it in the microwave. Andrew set the timer and walked back over to the table.
         "Andrew, can I ask you a question?"
         "Sure, why not."
         "Why did you choose to live here?"
         "This house or this town?"
         "This house. Why did you pick this house?"
         "It was homey. Since I moved around so much as a kid, all I wanted was a home. This place fits that perfectly. I like Engrid, she is very nice to me. I thought it would be cool to live next door to her. It would be like having a grandma around. The best part was totally unexpected and wasn't something I'd planned on."
         "What's that?" Evan asked, he pulled a chair back from the table and sat down.
         "Well, my neighbor, Engrid, you see, has this houseboy. True to form, this houseboy is hot- as stated in the Cosmic Houseboy Handbook. Complete with good musculature and fantastic personality. I never expected I'd find myself falling for my neighbor's houseboy." Andrew said as he sat down at the table.
         "So, you're falling for your neighbor's houseboy? That's a little twisted, you know?" Evan said, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
         "Twisted or not, I am. I'm falling for my next-door neighbor's houseboy. But, do you know what the best part is?"
         "What?"
         "He's falling for me, too."
         "Is that so?" Evan nodded slowly, "So, your neighbor's houseboy is falling in love with her next-door neighbor?"
         "Yes. He is. Engrid's neighbor is falling fast and hard in love with her houseboy."
         "I have it on good authority that it's the other way around." Evan said playfully.
         "It seems like I heard that one too, now that you mention it."
          "Got anything to drink?" Evan said, his throat suddenly parched.
         "I've got tea, water, and a couple of sodas."
         "Tea would be nice," Evan said, putting the ham on his sandwich. Andrew got up from the table. He put some ice in the glasses and poured the tea; then he sat back down.
         "So, tell me more about what you've heard about this houseboy." Andrew said.
         "I don't know much...just hearsay mostly. You know the usual...intelligent, funny, drop dead fire and ice gorgeous, well dressed, and just about perfect."
         "Sounds like a nice guy. I think I might have to meet him sometime." Andrew teased.
         "You should. I think he'd like that."
         "So, are you going to eat that sandwich?" Andrew asked.
         "I guess so. I've got to eat something. I'm hungry."
         "So am I."
         "You seem hungry. Haven't eaten lately?" Evan said
         "I'll tell you one thing, though, if this houseboy doesn't kiss me soon, I'm gonna have to kick him out."
         Evan parted his lips to reveal chewed loaf bread and ham. "Bring it on."
         Andrew laughed, "You are disgusting."
         Evan just smiled. In a few minutes, they had finished eating their sandwiches and drinking their iced tea.
         "Got any good movies?" Evan asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
         "A few. What do you want to see?"
         "I don't know. Let's go see what you've got." Evan walked across the hall to the living room. Andrew started looking through his playlist on his phone. He selected one and put it on the stereo. Momentarily, the room was filled with the majesty of Ella. She was singing- "Let's fall in love tonight." It was one of Evan's favorites.
I adore you, so strong for you, why go on stalling, I am falling, love is calling, why be shy, let's fall in love, why shouldn't we fall in love?
         Evan walked over to Andrew and grasped his hand. He pulled him to himself. They started rocking back and forth to the beat of her singing.
         "You are so beautiful," Evan whispered in Andrew's ear. "Why shouldn't we fall in love?"
         "We already have." Andrew whispered back. "I'm not ready for it, but I think I'm in love with you Evan."
         "I'm in love with you, Andrew. I love you so much it hurts. It scares me."
         Andrew stepped back and looked at Evan. They were both still dressed in dirty T-shirts and shorts from gardening.
         Ella continued to croon.
Let's take a chance, why be afraid of it? Let's make our own paradise.
         Andrew stepped back forward. He pressed his lips to Evan's. Evan wrapped his arms tightly around Andrew's body and kissed him back as hard as he could. Andrew wrapped his arms around Evan and kissed that man for all he was worth. They stepped back. Evan stumbled and fell back onto the couch. Andrew landed on top of him. They never broke their kiss the whole time. It hurt a little when their noses collided.
         Good thing Dora wasn't home because neither gave the blinds a single thought.
         Andrew laid on top of Evan's body. He could feel Evan's rhythmic breathing. Up and down his chest went and lifted and lowered Andrew's head. Evan looked down at the top of Andrew's raven hair. Evan was so in love that his whole body ached, but his mind was reeling at what was happening and his heart was fluttering wildly.
         Andrew had never felt so good. He just laid there. He reached up with his arm and slid his hand against Evan's face, then back down his bare chest.
         "Just checking. Wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming," Andrew said into Evan's stomach.
         "You're not dreaming. I am." Evan said, putting his hand on Andrew's shoulder. Evan knew that soon he would have to go home. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to live here with Andrew. He never wanted to leave Andrew. They fell asleep in one another's arms.
         At some point during the night, they made their way upstairs. Evan awoke with the bright morning light streaming through the windows. He looked over and saw Andrew, bare-chested, hair mussed, and sound asleep. Evan could get used to this. Both Evan and Andrew had a very good morning together indeed.

Chapter 19

L
ater, after Evan left, Andrew got to work and sat at his desk. He was on the phone with a client. After hanging up, Andrew was just leafing through some of his mail. He was on cloud 9 but tried to school his features into a neutral expression. He felt better than he had in ages. He felt more alive and vibrant that he imagined was possible. His mind swirled with the images and remembrances of what he and Evan had done. Betty walked up to his desk.
         "Amanda, Darcy, and I are taking a pool. We have a question for you. I want you to be honest with us. Are you ready?"
         "Sure," he glanced furtively at their excited expressions, unsure how to get out of it.
         "Okay. This is a yes or no question. Did you have sex last night?"
         Andrew hesitated. The startled look on his face gave them their answer.
         "Ha!" Darcy called out, "I was right."
         "Wow," Amanda chimed in, "You're a fast operator. You've been in town a few months and you're already screwing around."
         Andrew was feeling mischievous. "What's the pot up to?"
         "$75." Betty replied, "$25 apiece."
         He smirked and leaned back in his seat, "I'll match it and you go double or nothing if you can figure out who I had sex with. Are you game?"
         "Hell yeah!" Amanda called out, "You're on buster."
         "Can we ask questions?" Darcy asked.
         "You get five yes or no questions and you only get one shot at guessing. You have until close of business today to figure it out or I win. Still want to? Pot's at $225."
         Andrew was feeling his oats and was pretty confident they would never figure it out in a million years. He could use their money to buy Evan something nice.
         "Okay. You're on." Betty said. She walked over to the others. The three women huddled for a few minutes. Andrew returned to work but kept his eyes on them. About five minutes passed when the three women came back over to his desk. They all pulled up chairs and sat down. The triumvirate had convened.
         "Are you ready?" Andrew asked, "Remember, yes or no questions only."
         Darcy spoke first, "Question number 1. Is she native to this area?"
         "Yes."
         Amanda posed the second question, "Question number 2. Does she work in a business on the same street as this one?"
         "Yes."
         Betty went next, "Question number 3. Does she have a lot of contact with customers?"
         "Yes."
         They circled back to Darcy for the next question, "Question number 4. Is she well liked?"
         "Yes."
         Betty admitted, "We don't really have a fifth question."
         Amanda piped up at the last second, "Was it a man?"
         Andrew's face completely froze and he blanched three shades whiter. He wanted desperately to play it off, but it just wasn't happening. His brain just wouldn't kick into gear. He sat with a look of stunned disbelief on his face. They had their answer. Their eyes got big as they stared in shock.
         "Holy crap!" Amanda blurted out, "I mean, are you sure?"
         Betty cut her eyes at Amanda for asking such a dumb question.
         Darcy whispered, "You had sex with a man?"
         "Yes." Andrew croaked, the shame making his face feel as hot as fire.
         "You're gay?" Betty said in shock.
         "Yes." Andrew decided to be honest. There was no hiding it now. They had him figured out. Women are good at that.
         Darcy whispered, "Did you have sex with Evan?"
         Andrew's jaw hung open stupidly. Once again, they had their answer.
         "Holy crap," Amanda said again, thunderstruck, "I guess that explains why I've been trying since the 7th grade to bag him. You've been here a few months and you've already had him. That's impressive."
         Betty laughed, "Evan's the local Ice King. He's cold as ice in the love department, you deserve a trophy or something."
         "He's not cold at all," Andrew said. He heard the swoon in his voice too.
         The girls smiled so wide their faces stretched an extra couple of inches.
         "You can't tell anybody about this." Andrew said to them, "Absolutely no one."
         They looked back at him.
         Betty said, "Of course not. This is serious. You two could be in big trouble if that ever got around. So, we'll keep our mouths shut."
         "You can trust us," Darcy said.
         "Just remember," Amanda said, "it was your idea to get us to guess. Why did you do that if you didn't want us to find out?"
         Andrew hung his head in shame and horrified humiliation, "I guess I just got carried away. I guess I figured you'd never guess who."
         "We'll keep it quiet," Betty assured him, "You have our word."
         11:00. The door opened, and Evan walked in for a scheduled meeting. He was dressed in a polo shirt and khakis. All eyes were on him.
         "Good morning," Evan greeted Andrew's coworkers and his former classmates.
         They tried not to giggle. Giggling was undignified, plus it would tip Evan off that they knew. He walked over to Andrew's desk. Andrew was on the phone and motioned for him to sit down, which Evan did. While Evan's back was toward them, the women were grinning at the two lovebirds. Betty made kissing motions with her lips angled so Andrew could see. Darcy was doing a pelvic thrust. Amanda just looked embarrassed on their behalf for their childish and immature behavior. Mr. Jacobs appeared out of his office and they all snapped back to work shuffling papers like they were doing serious business. He walked over to Andrew.
         "Mr. Garrison, may I see you in my office?"
         "Certainly Mr. Jacobs."
         Andrew ended the call and Mr. Jacobs ushered Andrew into his office and shut the door. Evan was left sitting at the desk alone. He had a shoulder bag with him and he pulled out some computer printouts covered in numbers and started reading through it.
         Andrew and his boss met. Mr. Jacobs sat while Andrew remained standing.
         "Mr. Garrison, how's your work coming?"
         "It's going very well, thank you." Andrew's blood pressure had to have been dangerously high. He just knew that Mr. Jacobs had found out about Evan.
         "I'm glad to hear that. You've been doing very good work so far, I can't complain at all about your job performance."
         "I sense there's a 'but' coming."
         "There is. You realize that the walls in this office are paper thin. I hear most everything that goes on out there; including the little wager that was going on. So, I heard what you said to the women about your little rendezvous last night. Now, what you do in the privacy of your own home with your own body is none of my business."
         "Yes sir," Andrew felt like a defective subatomic particle.
         "I have no control over what you do at home. I do, however, have control over what goes on in this office."
         "But sir."
         "Don't worry. Your job's not in danger. As long as this doesn't affect the quality of your work, your job is not the issue. The issue is that, whether you and Mr. Grayson are involved sexually or not, he is still a client of this firm. I cannot have you bedding him at night and then work with him as a client in the daytime. I won't allow that. I'll have to reassign his account to Darcy who will handle it from now on."
         "Okay sir, I'll let him know, then?"
         "Yes. I'll alert Darcy to the situation," He picked up the phone and dialed her extension and explained his decision.
         "Okay, Mr. Garrison, you may go."
         Andrew got up out of the chair and stumbled toward the door. His legs had the consistency of cooked spaghetti. Evan was going to want to know why he was being transferred to another person. He wanted to work with Andrew. What was Andrew going to tell him to explain his transfer to another person?
         He went back to his desk to sit down.
         Andrew cleared his throat, "Mr. Grayson, your account has been transferred to Darcy. If you don't mind, she's waiting for you right over there."
         Evan furrowed his brow, "Why am I being transferred? I want to work with you. Why is that a problem?"
         "Mr. Jacobs decided due to workload distribution to reassign your account to Darcy. Please..." Andrew motioned towards Darcy's desk. Disappointed, Evan collected his things, put them back in his shoulder bag, and moved over to Darcy's desk.

Chapter 20

E
ngrid arrived in the parking lot of the Market Basket grocery store. She'd left Evan in her backyard spraying spiders. She hated spiders and so always found somewhere else to be when they were involved. She got out of the car and rescued a shopping cart from the parking space next to hers. She pushed it toward the door. As she was going, she noticed a red Subaru Outback parked near the entrance to the grocery store. She wouldn't have noticed it except that it had an unusual license plate. It was uncommon in this part of South Carolina to see out-of-state plates. In the larger cities and near the coast, it wasn't all that uncommon for out of state plates to appear, but in Deerfield, that was a rarity. She leaned in close to the plate to see from whence it hailed.
         "New Hampshire. Live Free or Die," she murmured to herself.
         She went on in the store and filed that tidbit in the back of her mind. She went through the store and picked up a few vegetables, some fruit, ice cream, cheese, milk, bread, and other basic things. She had no immediate plans to host any sort of meal. As she was going through the aisles, she kept noticing someone following her. She couldn't seem to catch who it was, but it was rather disconcerting. She'd never been followed before. She would dart behind a display of sour cream and onion potato chips and then turn to see if the person was still there. Invariably, the person wouldn't be there.
         "I must be seeing things," Engrid muttered to herself, "I've finally gone batty."
         She just shook her head and kept shopping. She was reading the label on a can of tuna when she noticed the man walk by again. She was convinced it was a man. She glanced up. She just couldn't focus her old bifocals fast enough to see who it was. She walked quickly to the end of the aisle and looked in the direction the man went.
         "Two can play this game," she said aloud. She squinted her eyes and said, "The hunter has now become the hunted." She went back to her cart and jostled to the other end of the aisle and looked both ways. She glanced back over her shoulder to see if he was there. He wasn't.
         "I must be seeing things." She hadn't gotten a good look at the stranger, but enough that she knew he was wearing dark clothing, which was unusual around there, especially in the summer. She decided that she really was a fruity old bat and so picked up a bag of chicken seasoning mix and started reading the label, glancing up periodically hoping the prey would slip up. He didn't. The mysterious stranger stayed just out of sight while she was reading. She put the bag of seasoning mix in her cart and kept walking. She walked down the length of the store, looking up each aisle to see if he was waiting there.
         "Well what am I gonna do with him if I catch him?" Engrid wondered aloud, "I'd be like a dog that treed a raccoon."
         "Do you need some help, Mrs. Matthews?" It was Ashley, the produce manager.
         "No, actually, I'm fine."
         "Are you sure? I was coming back from break and you looked like you were looking for something."
         "Actually, I was looking for someone. Have you seen a man in dark clothing walking around the store?"
         "No, but then I've been in the back room for 15 minutes or so."
         "Oh. Well, if you see him, let me know."
         "I will, Mrs. Matthews, have a good day." She walked back towards her domain in the produce section. "You have a good day too, Ashley," Engrid called after her. She looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious stranger.
         Engrid still wasn't convinced that she wasn't being followed. She wasn't normally the least bit paranoid and had been accused multiple times of being flat out oblivious. So, if she felt there was someone following her, there must be someone there. She wasn't the sort to just make something like that up. She walked around the grocery store a few more times to see if he was still there. When she was convinced that the mysterious man was gone, she went to the checkout register.
         "Good morning, Engrid, how are you?" The check-out person said cheerfully as she began to scan the groceries.
         "I'm fine Martha, say, did a man in dark clothing come in here?"
         "Yeah. He didn't buy anything. It looked like he was looking for someone."
         "Really? Do you think he was looking for me?"
         "I don't know why he would be. Why do you ask?"
         "I don't know. I just felt like he was following me around the store."
         "I don't think it was you he was looking for. He was here before you and he's already left. So, he couldn't have been looking for you."
         "Not looking for me, necessarily. I think I caught up with him here and he started following me."
         "Why would a total stranger be following you around the grocery store?"
         "Beats me."
         "It's strange."
         "It is. Oh well. Oh, say, did you see what car he left in?" Engrid asked.
         "A red Subaru."
         "The one with the out of state license plate?"
         "It was the only red Subaru in the parking lot, so I reckon it'd have to be the one."
         "I guess so," Engrid picked up her bagged groceries and put them in her cart. She walked out the door and across the parking lot. She looked down and across the street. She so nothing or nothing out of the ordinary.
         She got in her car and returned home. She got out and took her groceries inside. After she was putting her newly purchased culinary items away, she went outside to Evan. He was in the tool shed. She walked across the back yard and appeared in the doorway of the tool shed. Evan was standing in the room removing the lid of a garden sprayer.
         "Did you notice an unusual vehicle in town today?"
         "Not really, why?"
         "I think there was someone following me in the store."
         "Really? Why would they want to do that?"
         "I don't know. I just got the feeling that someone was following me."
         "What does that have to do with whether or not I saw a strange vehicle? Are strange people supposed to drive strange cars?"
         "On the way into the store, I noticed a car with a New Hampshire license plate parked outside. Then a strange man followed me around the store while I was shopping. Then Martha said that a man fitting the description I gave of the man following me left in a red Subaru. There was only one of that type of car in the parking lot, so he would have to have left in that one."
         "I didn't see anything unusual. If I saw a red Subaru, I probably didn't notice."
         "I guess you'd have had no reason to."
         She folded her arms and watched Evan put the concentrated spray in the sprayer then diluting it.
         He said, "Would you mind hooking up the water hose and having it outside the gazebo so I can fill up the sprayer?"
         "Sure." She walked out to the overturned bucket at the side of the house. Evan carried the sprayer out to the steps of the gazebo. He went back to the tool shed to get some safety goggles to keep it out of his eyes. When he got back, she was already filling the sprayer with water.
         "I know I'm a nosy old woman, but I'm not paranoid or loony."
         "No, you're right- you're not."
         "So, I'm not making this up. If I think there was someone following me around that store, there was someone following me around that store, Evan. I just can't figure out why someone would want to do that. I'm not all that interesting, you know."
         "I know," Evan replied deadpan, beginning to pump the pressure stem of the garden sprayer. She gave him a look. He cracked a smile.
         "Do you think someone is stalking me?"
         "Why?"
         "Maybe he's a con artist or something. They prey on the elderly sometimes. They dupe old people into giving away all their money. How they sleep with themselves at night I have no idea, but I guess they manage somehow."
         "About like everybody else I guess."
         "I guess so. It just seems wrong, but they didn't ask me."
         Evan was finished pumping pressure into the garden sprayer. He put on his goggles. "You might want to go over to the steps. I wouldn't want you to get any in your eyes. That would burn like fire."
         "Yes it would," she stated walking away as Evan picked up the sprayer wand and went to work. He sprayed for a few minutes and then looked around to see what Engrid was up to. She was inspecting Andrew's gazebo. She was going around the perimeter, looking up at it and then down at the ground surrounding it. She squatted down and took a close look at the pattern of the freshly planted flowers.
         When Evan was finished spraying, she ventured back over as he was rinsing out the garden sprayer.
         "His gazebo needs some help." Engrid said.
         "It needs a lot of help," Evan replied.
         "The flowers are nice. I like the colors and the pattern."
         "They do look nice." Evan admitted.
         "The zig zag patterns look familiar."
         "How so?"
         "Remember the garden club last year?"
         "Yes."
         "You helped me and Thelma Harper put together the garden arrangements around the oak trees. It's the same pattern you used then."
         "So?"
         "Evan, I saw you and Andrew out there. I know you like each other. You were all over him and he didn't seem to mind in the slightest."
         Evan's blood pressure spiked.
         "It's fine. Dora said something that made me think. Plus, I remember you having a gay roommate, Grant in New York. If you and Andrew are an item, it's fine by me."
         Engrid could see the relief flooding through Evan's body.
         "Thank you," He croaked.
         Evan pulled Engrid into a tight, unexpected hug. He held on for a while. When he stepped back, his eyes glistened with tears.


         By the time his workday was through, Andrew was a nervous wreck. He went out to his Pathfinder in the narrow parking lot behind McWilliams Investments. He tried to breathe a little deeper. Those women were honest, and they knew what could happen to him if word got out. As he sat there, Betty walked by and motioned for him to roll down his window.
         "Hi Betty."
         "I'm so sorry about all this. But you really can trust us."
         "I hope so."
         "You can. Now go home and get some rest." She tapped the bottom of his window frame as she walked away. He started the car and drove home.
         Once home, Andrew was cleaning the kitchen to kill time. He wanted to call Evan, but he didn't want to be pushy or risk telling Evan what happened at work. The doorbell rang. It was Evan.
         "Come in!" Andrew said.
         "I hope it's okay that I dropped by," Evan said.
         "Yes, it is!" Andrew said, cheering up after seeing his new love.
         Evan smiled and came in.
         "What are you doing?" Evan asked.
         "Just cleaning the kitchen."
         "Exciting."
         "I know."
         Evan followed Andrew back into the kitchen. Evan asked for an assignment and was instructed to wash the refrigerator drawers. Evan seemed happy with his task, put on an apron, and went about it at the sink while Andrew wiped down the table and countertops. Andrew's phone was on the table and buzzed.
         "Who's that?" Evan asked.
         Andrew looked at the screen, "It's my Dad."
         "Not your Mom?"
         "Probably both." Andrew admitted. "He texted asking if this was a good time to talk."
         "Do you want me to go?" Evan offered.
         "No. It probably won't take long."
         "Okay."
         "You're not getting out of your chores that easily, mister." Andrew teased.
         Andrew answered his father.
         "Hi Dad," Andrew said.
         "Hi, Andrew." Lewis said, "Is this a good time?"
         He seemed nervous.
         "Yes. What's wrong?" Andrew asked.
         "Nothing's wrong, I just have a couple of questions."
         "Okay."
         "Is Evan around?"
         "Yes. He's over there."
         Andrew turned the camera toward the sink. Evan waved at Andrew's father.
         "What is he doing?" Lewis asked.
         "He's washing refrigerator drawers." Andrew answered, as if that should be obvious.
         "Evan, come closer to the camera. My last question involves you too."
         Evan came and sat down. Both guys looked into the camera.
         "After what I just saw, my last question may be moot. How ever you answer, it's okay."
         Andrew and Evan held their breath.
         "Andrew, are you and Evan in a...romantic relationship?" Lewis asked, carefully keeping his voice neutral.
         Andrew and Evan exchanged glances.
         "Yes, sir, we are." Andrew said.
         Lewis nodded, "Good."
         "Huh?" Andrew said. He couldn't possibly have heard correctly.
         "Andrew, ever since you were a little boy, I wondered what sort of person you would be with. I prayed that God would send you someone kind and decent and gentle. Someone who will take care of you and help you. When I imagined that person, I have to admit, I didn't picture someone like Evan, but it's okay."
         "I'm glad," Andrew said, letting his breath out in a long stream.
         "Not that he isn't all those things, but how did you know?" Andrew asked.
         "Your mother looked up Engrid's phone number online and called her."
         "You're joking!" Andrew said.
         "She gave one of the most glowing reviews I've ever heard about someone."
         Evan blushed, "Engrid is very nice."
         "That's why Mom asked for her last name." Andrew said, "I should have known."
         Lewis looked at Evan, "If Andrew likes you, that means a lot. He's always been special and I want to make sure you will treat him well."
         "I will, Mr. Garrison. You have my word. Andrew is safe with me."
         "Call me Lewis," he said, "And that means a lot. You look like an upstanding young man and I hope you two make each other very happy."
         "That means a lot," Evan said.
         "What's going on?" An accented male voice said off camera.
         "I'm meeting Andrew's new boyfriend," Lewis said.
         The voice sputtered, "Andrew has a boyfriend? What! Let me see."
         There was a scuffle on the Brazilian side of the phone call. A face appeared on the screen.
         "Whoa!" James said, his eyebrows shooting up.
         "Whoa!" Evan said, his eyebrows shooting up too, "Andrew, you didn't tell me your brother was an identical twin."
         The face looking back at Evan looked precisely like the face sitting next to him.
         "Ele maravilhoso," James said.
         "What?" Evan asked.
         "Apparently you turned James' head too. He said you're gorgeous."
         Evan blushed again.
         "Evan is quite popular with the Garrison Guys, it seems," Lewis said, "And yes that's our collective term for ourselves."
         "Well, he's mine. I saw him first." Andrew said, to the laughter of his father and brother.
         "How many Garrison Guys are there?" Evan asked.
         "Four," Lewis answered, "The three of us and their older brother Mark."
         "How Biblical," Evan observed.
         "Andrew and James have the same name," Lewis said.
         "What?" Evan asked.
         "Since they were twins, we named one Andrew James and the other James Andrew."
         "Wow!" Evan said, "That's awesome."
         After the call ended and the chores were done, Evan went home, and Andrew got ready for bed.

Chapter 21

S
          everal days went by. Evan told his mother he was moving out. She was annoyed, but given his age, she knew it was bound to happen. He packed up a few things and it took about 20 minutes to move into Andrew's house. All Evan had was two suitcases and a green army surplus duffle bag. He left his steamer trunks in the attic at his mother's house. It was unlikely she would ever even notice they were there. He didn't want Andrew's first impression of him as a living companion to be a messy packrat. He knew the fastidious Andrew would stridently object to anything resembling clutter.
          After a few weeks of living together, Evan awoke upstairs with Andrew tucked under his arm like a cozy chinchilla. Andrew murmured as he sensed Evan shifting his weight. Evan always loved the ruffled look of Andrew's black hair in the morning. He was always so put together outside the house, Evan felt a sense of pride that he got to see a side of Andrew Garrison's cuteness that was denied to the rest of humanity.
          After awakening and breakfasting, Evan left for work. He failed to notice a red Subaru Outback parked across the street from the house. It followed him when he left. Andrew looked from the window and saw the car following Evan's Cherokee as he drove away; but didn't really pay it any attention. It was just another car going down the street. About ten minutes went by and Andrew heard a car outside. He peeked out and saw that it was that same red Subaru that followed Evan earlier. Dora was walking down the sidewalk toward Engrid's house to pick up flowers to deliver to shut-ins later in the morning when the car pulled to a stop on the curb. She noticed the car and stopped.
          "Hi, how are you?" The nice young man inside asked.
          "I'm fine," Dora replied, then leaned down to see into the car, "Can I help you?"
         "Do you know Evan Grayson?"
          "Yes, why?"
          "I've been looking for him."
          "He might be home. I'm not sure."
          "Thank you, Ms....?"
          "Murchison, Dora Murchison. Who are you?" She asked.
          "My name is Grant Kirkland. I'm a friend of his from New York. I haven't seen Evan in a very long time."
          "You didn't call ahead?"
          "I wanted to surprise him. He'll want to see me. We were very close."
          Dora looked at him for a moment. He seemed earnest and sincere.
          "Well, if you came all this way, I suppose it couldn't hurt."
          He pulled a little closer to the curb and turned off his car. He was very tall and extremely well-dressed and muscular. He was well-tanned and looked very much like the tall, dark, and handsome guy. He wore a navy-blue Henley that showed off his pecs nicely and designer jeans that showed off his rear end perfectly. His hair was perfectly coiffed and had streaks of silver that gave him a distinguished look in addition to the youthful vibrance he radiated. He was the sort of guy who was used to getting his way with anyone he wanted. He got out and walked beside Dora up toward the steps of Andrew's house. Andrew watched intently from the window.
          "Evan lives here?"
          "Yes, Mr. Kirkland." She replied, "You didn't know that?"
          "Please, call me Grant."
          "Then call me Dora." She kind of liked this guy. He seemed amiable despite his intimidating bearing. She was curious how he came to be out front of a house that just so happened to be where the person he was looking for lived. That seemed like a very unlikely coincidence, but she decided to see if that question got answered shortly.
          Engrid was sitting at the piano practicing for a funeral that afternoon. The piano was in the living room and was angled so that she could see the street and the side of Andrew's house from the bench. She recognized Grant Kirkland. She had met him in New York. Engrid's eyes almost bugged out of her head and she coughed as she choked on her tea and tried not to spew it on the keyboard. She had no idea why Grant would be here after all this time, but the possibilities were not good in Engrid's mind.
          She knocked the piano bench over in her haste and hurried through the front door towards Andrew and Evan's.
          "Dora!" Engrid called out.
          Dora turned. She furrowed her brow. Grant stopped next to her. He had not anticipated this development. He recognized Engrid too.
          "Dora!" Engrid was panting.
          "What in the world is going on?" Dora asked, "You're acting like a crazy person. Even more so than usual."
          "Do you have any idea who this is?" Engrid asked, trying to catch her breath.
          Andrew, who was watching from the window, came outside too and stood on the porch. It was still early. Evan had to be at work by 7, but Andrew did not need to go in until 8.
          "He's a friend of Evan's." Dora replied, "Grant Kirkland."
          "You know who he is?" Engrid was surprised.
          "He told me his name," Dora said, "I feel like I'm missing something. Do you know who he is?"
          Before Engrid could respond, Andrew came down the steps and intercepted, "What's going on?"
          "Who are you?" Grant asked.
          Andrew had been clearing the breakfast dishes before heading upstairs to get dressed. He was wearing green night pants and a faded gray Army t-shirt. His hair was a bit askew to finish off the comfortable bedroom look.
          "Andrew Garrison. Who are you?"
          "Grant Kirkland."
          "Oh," Andrew said.
          "Yes. Do you know Evan Grayson?" Grant asked.
          "Yes."
          "Does he live here?"
          "Yes," Andrew continued his monosyllabic answers.
          The two elderly women watched the two twenty-something guys sizing each other up like prizefighters.
          "You know who he is?" Dora asked.
          "Grant is Evan's ex-boyfriend."
          "Not for long." Grant replied, "I want him back. I have missed him every day since he left. He is the one great love of my life."
          "Well that's too bad," Andrew replied saucily, "He's mine now."
          "What?" Grant asked dumbly.
          "Evan is my boyfriend, so you just pack up your junk and go back to wherever you came from."
          Engrid and Dora exchanged glances. Andrew had cojones and was protecting his turf, which was Evan. They were interrupted by the sound of Evan's Jeep cresting the hill. He pulled into the driveway and stopped. He was in a hurry and didn't notice the conference in the front yard at first.
          "Evan!" Grant yelped and ran towards him, "My God you're beautiful."
          Grant wrapped Evan up in a giant bear hug and lifted him from the ground and spun him in a circle. Andrew and Engrid and Dora were all gobsmacked. They had never seen anyone lift Evan clear off the ground and spin him around. Evan did not reciprocate the enthusiasm.
          Grant put Evan down. Andrew was a touch envious. He wished he was strong enough to pick Evan up like that. Evan was 30 pounds of muscle heavier than thin, bookish Andrew.
          "Grant," Evan seemed astonished.
          "Why are you here?" Engrid asked.
          All eyes turned to her. She was looking at Evan.
          "I forgot my phone." Evan replied, "I came back to get it."
          "Grant, why are you here?" Evan asked.
          "Evan, can we talk?" Grant asked.
          "Uh, I, well." Evan stammered. Andrew felt bad. He's never seen Evan so shook up and out of sorts.
          "Grant wants you back," Andrew replied.
          Evan's eyes doubled in size.
          "Grant, I."
          "Evan. I have missed you every single day since you left New York. I cannot think of anyone but you. I can't stand the idea of living my life without you by my side."
          "Grant..." Evan started.
          "Before you say anything, Evan, I know you love me. I am as sure of that as I am of anything in the world. I love you and you love me. We've been through so much together."
          "Grant," Evan's voice was dry and scratchy, "I've moved on. You should too."
          "No." Grant replied directly.
          "It isn't your choice. It's mine." Evan replied.
          "Evan, don't be stupid. You made a mistake by breaking up with me. I know that, and, in time, you will see that too."
          "Grant, I think you should leave." Evan said.
          "Why?" Grant asked, an edge to his voice.
          "I'm with Andrew now."
          "You picked this guy?" Grant's lip upturned in a sneer of derision.
          "Yes." Evan said firmly.
          Andrew visibly relaxed.
          "Thank God." Engrid whispered underneath her breath.
          Grant heard her.
          "Engrid, I know you remember me. Remember all the fun you and I had when you visited. We can have that here and get to know each other better."
          "Here?" Engrid asked.
          "Yes. I bought a house and I got a job at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. I live in Deerfield now."
          "Grant, you can't be serious," Evan said, not quite believing his own ears, "That's insane."
          "I love you Evan and I want you back. This guy isn't nearly good enough for you. You can do better. I mean look at him. What could you possibly see in that train wreck of a guy?"
          "Hey," Andrew said, "He said buzz off and I suggest you do that."
          "Who do you think you are?" Grant asked, wheeling around to face Andrew, "You don't know anything."
          "I know that Evan picked me and dumped you. Take the hint and take a hike." Andrew said angrily, running his fingers through his hair making his bed head even worse.
          Dora stifled a laugh. She'd never heard Andrew talk like that. Andrew took a step closer to Evan and Grant. Grant took Evan's hand in his own but Evan pulled it away.
          "Andrew," Evan said, "You don't want to get into it with Grant."
          "Do you still love me?" Andrew asked.
          "Yes. I'm with you," Evan said, "I do not love Grant anymore."
          "You will regret this," Grant said, "I won't leave until Evan is back with me."
          "Grant, leave," Evan said.
          Grant looked at the jeans and untucked white button down of Evan's easy grace. He loved Evan so much it was squeezing his heart to think that Evan would not take him back. Grant would not stop until he made Evan his again and forever.
          "Fine," Grant said, "I will leave but this is not over."
          "It is," Andrew said, "Show up here again and I'll call the cops."
          "Andrew, I know you think you know Evan, but you don't." Grant said, "You can never mean anything to him."
          "Go away," Andrew said, warning in his voice.
          Grant looked at the group who were united against him. He would destroy them all if that is what it took to get Evan back. He was accustomed to getting his way and this was not going to be an exception. He turned on his heels and stormed away.

Chapter 22

"I
          am so sorry," Evan said, "I had no idea he was even here."
          "I'll bet that's who was following me around the grocery store yesterday." Engrid said, "I noticed that car in the parking lot."
          "If he's had time to buy a house and get a job, how long has he been here?" Dora asked, "I'll bet he's been following us all and we didn't even know. That would explain how he ended up here."
          "What do you mean?" Engrid asked.
          Dora explained, "He just pulled to the curb and asked if I knew Evan. I said I did. He said he was looking for him but then asked if Evan lived here. It's a heck of a coincidence if he didn't already know that. I'm guessing he followed Evan and used me as his in."
          Their old lady brains were already churning over this latest development.
          "What do you think he meant when he said this wasn't over?" Engrid asked.
          "He's just angry," Andrew said, dismissing their concerns, "I'm sure it's nothing."
          "Be careful," Evan said, "Grant can get really possessive and angry."
          "I'm sure I'll be fine," Andrew said, "I can look out for myself."
          "Just be careful," Evan said, "If you see him again, call me."
          "I will," Andrew said, "But don't worry."
          "Well, we'd better get going," Engrid said, dismissing herself and Dora.
          While they left, Evan smiled at Andrew.
          Andrew noticed, "What?"
          "You're such a badass." Evan said.
          "Thank you. I still can't quite believe you picked me over him." Andrew replied, "He's so much hotter than me."
          "Not to me he isn't," Evan said, "Andrew, you are the sexiest guy I have ever met. Really. Grant can't hold a candle to you."
          "Really?"
          "Really. I left him and I found you. I rejected him again because you are the best, Andrew Garrison. You are the best thing to ever happen to me."
          Andrew grabbed Evan and gave him a powerful hug.
          With a sly grin, Evan whispered in Andrew's ear, "If I wasn't so late, I'd take you in that house and let you do whatever you wanted to me."
          "They can wait, can't they? You're already late."
          Evan pulled back, "You are right."
          Evan grabbed Andrew's hand and pulled him toward the house so fast that Andrew stumbled getting underway.
          Engrid and Dora were walking up the steps to Engrid's house and looked over as Evan practically dragged Andrew back into their house.
          "Well, I guess Evan found what he likes." Engrid said, "And it wasn't a girl."
          "Nope," Dora said, "It definitely was not."
          "Do you remember what it was like to be young and in love?" Engrid asked, walking with Dora to the kitchen to get her car keys.
          "Vaguely." Dora said, "It's been a while."
          "Would you ever, this is going to sound dumb, but would you ever date again?" Engrid asked.
          "No, I don't think so." Dora replied.
          "Why? Would you?"
          "Maybe." Engrid replied honestly.
          "Maybe Andrew has a great-grandfather." Dora said grinning.
          "Oh hush. But really, why wouldn't you?"
          "I guess I just prefer my own company to a man's."
          Engrid nodded, "That's a good way to think of it."
         
After rewarding Evan handsomely for picking him, Andrew arrived at work fifteen minutes late and put his insulated lunch box under his desk.
          "What's up?" Betty asked, "You're never late."
          "Nothing," Andrew said, logging into his computer without looking up.
          "Liar," Darcy said with a smile, "You look...startled?"
          She wasn't sure that was exactly the right word, but it was the best she could do.
          "Well, my 8:30 texted me he was running late," Andrew said, "So I guess I've got a few minutes.
          That got everyone's attention, even Martin Jacobs popped his head out of this office.
          "Is Andrew okay?" He asked.
          "We're not sure yet," Darcy said, "He's being cagey."
          "Okay." Andrew explained, "Evan's ex-boyfriend from New York showed up. He moved here to win Evan back."
          "Whoa!" Darcy said, taking a step back like she'd been hit by a physical force.
          "Yeah," Andrew continued, "He just showed up at my house this morning wanting Evan back."
          "That's insane," Darcy said.
          Amanda bustled in the door, "What's insane?"
          Betty replied, "Andrew's boyfriend's ex wants him back."
          "Evan has an ex-boyfriend?" Amanda asked, plopping her purse the size of a shopping bag on her desk.
          "Apparently," Darcy replied, "He showed up at their house this morning."
          Martin stood in his office door listening.
          "What did Evan say?" Martin asked.
          The other heads swiveled in surprise. Martin tried not to get involved in office gossip, but even he got interested in the goings on from time to time.
          "Evan told him to go away. Evan picked me." Andrew said proudly.
          "That's awesome!" Darcy said.
          Andrew broke out in a huge grin, "This gorgeous, muscular, well dressed guy shows up begging Evan to take him back. He says he's moved here and won't stop until Evan takes him back. Evan sent him packing."
          Andrew put up a victorious fist. He was so excited.
          "He moved here?" Betty said, "If he lives here, we've probably seen him. What does he look like?"
          "He's tall with dark hair."
          "And muscles, you said muscles," Amanda added.
          "Yes. His name is Grant Kirkland."
          "Oh my God," Darcy said, "My sister works at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. A new guy started working there a couple of weeks ago named Grant and looks like that. She's been swooning over him ever since."
          "I think I met him," Betty said, "Worth and I were at the bank taking out a loan for our new boat. He was our loan officer. I'm pretty sure his name was Grant something or other."
          "So I guess it's true," Andrew said, "Grant really did move here."
          "It looks like it," Amanda replied, "But if Evan picked you, then you're in the clear."
          "I am." Andrew said, slightly less sure of himself than moments before.
          Betty piped up, "I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm sure whatever Evan said got through to him."
          They continued bantering for a few minutes until the first client arrived and they settled into their professional voices and bearings.


          When Andrew got home, he saw Evan's Jeep parked in the driveway.
          "I'm glad you didn't change your mind," Andrew said walking into the living room where Evan was sitting on the couch leafing through a magazine.
          "No. Grant is my past. But I want to be with you," Evan said, "In fact, I stopped off on my way home and got a few things."
          "What'd you get?"
          "Follow me," Evan said.
          Andrew followed Evan through the house and into the backyard. Evan had a beach towel over something that Andrew suspected was a grill.
          "Ta-da!" Evan said, snatching the beach towel off.
          "Ooh - a grill!" Andrew said.
          "It's nothing fancy, just a charcoal grill but I got steaks and potatoes and briquets. You and I are grilling out in the backyard tonight." Evan said, extremely pleased with himself, "And you don't have to lift a finger. I've got everything."
          "That sounds amazing," Andrew said and planted a long kiss on Evan's mouth.
          Once Evan had the food ready, they sat down at the kitchen table. It was a little hot to eat outside comfortably.
          "The women at work know about Grant." Andrew said, taking a big bite to give himself longer to think before responding to whatever Evan said next.
          "Oh yeah?" Evan said, eating a slightly oversized hunk of steak, "What'd they say?"
          "One of them met him and the other one's sister works with him."
          "I guess he really did move to Deerfield," Evan said, "I kind of thought he was bluffing."
          "That doesn't change your thinking, does it?" Andrew asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
          Evan leaned forward and took Andrew's hand in his own, "Not in the slightest but I think I made my position very clear this morning. I was stunned to see him, but it also reaffirmed that I don't want to be with him anymore. I want to be with you. All I could think about was getting him away from you."
          "Away from me?" Andrew asked, "What does that mean?"
          Andrew could tell that Evan was weighing his next words carefully.
          "Grant has a temper." Evan said, his tone turning dark, "He can be really...difficult."
          "Okay. But he knows not to come here again." Andrew said.
          "You don't understand," Evan said, "I think Grant is crazy and a little dangerous."
          "Dangerous? You really think he'd hurt me?"
          Evan was silent for a moment.
          "What?" Andrew asked, "Do you really think he'd hurt me?"
          "I don't know." Evan answered honestly, "He knows how to use a gun. I know that."
          Andrew sat in surprised silence for a moment before clearing his throat and speaking, "Are you saying he might shoot me?"
          Evan's expression brightened, "No. I'm sure when I told him off this morning, that was the end of it."
          "Okay. If you say so," Andrew said, "Sorry for spoiling the mood."
          "You didn't spoil anything. If it was bothering you I'm glad you asked." Evan replied.
          "Plus you made several positions very clear this morning," Andrew said grinning to lighten the mood.
          "That I did." Evan said.
          After wrapping up their dinner, they sat in the living room together watching a little TV while Andrew reviewed some spreadsheets for work the next day. Eventually, they retired to bed for the evening. Evan fell asleep with a paperback open on his chest. Andrew got up and walked over to Evan's side of the bed to turn off the lamp. Andrew returned under the sheets guided only by the moonlight streaming through the window. Soon he was fast asleep, comfortable in the knowledge that Evan Grayson, the most eligible bachelor in Deerfield, was his forever and for always.


          Andrew awoke with a start. The only sound was that of the ceiling fan whirring overhead and Evan's quiet breathing in the bed next to him. Andrew slept on the side of the bed nearest the door. The only light was the streetlamps and the red glare from his digital alarm clock. 3:45 am. Why was he awake? Did he hear something? He didn't remember any particular dream that would have scared him awake. Then that creepy feeling came over him again. The feeling that he was being watched was back. Maybe the ghost of the long-deceased physician had taken up residence once again in the dusty crevices of that old house. Andrew slowly rolled over to look at the door.
          In the dim light that was filtering in through the curtains, he could see a shadowy figure making its way slowly down the stairs. Its shoes made heavy footfalls on the stairs. Andrew crawled slowly out of bed, trying not to wake Evan. Evan stirred in his sleep, but settled back down.
          He slipped on a pair of running shorts over his black boxer-briefs before tip-toeing over to the doorway. He peeked out. His bedroom door was right at the top of the stairs. The landing stretched across from his bedroom to the guest room across the way. The shadowy figure was almost to the bottom. The figure stopped. Andrew ducked back into the doorway, so as not to be seen by it. The last thing he wanted to do was to arouse the anger of a ghost. He wasn't sure what he would do if the ghost was angry and turned on him.
          The ghost did glance back over its vaporous shoulder; but saw nothing. Andrew waited a few seconds then peeked out again. The ghost was already at the bottom of the stairs. He crept down slowly, keeping a wary eye on the ghoul before him. Fortunately, none of the stairs were squeaky, so Andrew made his way down fairly quickly without the ghost noticing.
          Now that he was on a level field with the ghost, he really had no plan from that point. The central hallway in Andrew's house, which ran from the front door to the back door, was about fifteen feet wide. The ghost seemed to be inspecting the house. Andrew crept up behind the ghost; his skin was already breaking out in a cold sweat. The panic was rising like a lump in his throat, almost choking off his air supply entirely.
          The ghost turned around. It saw Andrew. The panic was overwhelming. Andrew froze. The ghost's face was covered in dark shadows. Andrew took a step back, hoping to lure the ghost into the faint ray of light filtering in through the open kitchen door. The ghost didn't take the bait and stepped further from Andrew and closer to the front door.
          Andrew tried to speak, but his throat was so dry and pasty, all he could do was make a faint whispering sound. He cleared his throat instead. The ghost stood perfectly still. Even though he couldn't see the eyes, Andrew could feel the ghosts' eyes boring holes in his exposed chest. The ghost stomped its heavy booted foot against the floor and Andrew jumped about three feet. The ghost lunged at him. Andrew turned, but couldn't get away; the ghost raised an arm and brought it down onto Andrew's shoulder, knocking him to the floor. Andrew fell and rolled over onto his back to get a better look at the perpetrator. This was no ghost.
          "Don't hurt me!" Andrew cried out.
          The ghost paused, its fist raised in the air, ready to strike again.
          "Please don't hurt me."
          He put his arms up to shield his face from the coming blows. Someone had broken into his house and attacked him. How many times had the person gotten in and watched him sleeping peacefully in his bed without being noticed? That thought made his blood run cold and a tingling sensation ran up his spine. With a new surge of fear and boldness, Andrew balled up his fist and brought it up. The intruder grabbed his hands and pinned him to the floor.
          He was completely at the mercy of whoever this was. Andrew's half-naked body squirmed and struggled. He feared what was about to happen. Andrew stopped struggling and tried to see the ghost's face. The ghost released his grip just slightly. The ghost got up off Andrew and started to walk away. Andrew silently got up off the floor. He ran after the ghost. It turned just as Andrew approached it. He hit it from the side. The intruder lost his balance and fell onto the floor with Andrew crashing down on top of him. Instinctively, Andrew pinned the ghost's arms down to the floor with his knees.
          Andrew was angry, "Who are you?"
          The intruder made a few struggling grunts but said nothing.
          "I said, 'Who are you?' Answer me!" Andrew shook him with such for even Andrew would have been impressed with himself if he hadn't been action on pure adrenaline.
          He dug his knee into the ghost's elbow.
          The shadowy figure was shadowy because it was wearing a hoodie. Andrew pulled back the intruder's hood and his eyes bugged out. The face looking back at him was none other than Grant Kirkland. He was so shocked by what he saw that he lost focus for a moment. Grant took advantage and wriggled himself loose from Andrew's grip. He threw Andrew off to the side. Andrew fell and rolled up against the wall.
          "What are you doing in my house?" Andrew screamed up from his place on the floor.
          Grant stood, towering over Andrew. Andrew looked up. Grant slid his hand into the pocket of the hoodie. He pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Andrew's forehead. He leaned over and put the cold metal barrel of the gun up against the hot flesh of Andrew's head.
          "Please don't," Andrew said, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please don't kill me."
          "Leave him alone."
          Andrew was so startled. He didn't understand and looked confused.
          "Don't play stupid with me. I already told you once, I will not tell you again. Evan is mine."
          "Please don't kill me."
          "If you interfere with me getting Evan back to New York with me, I will come into this house and blow your head off...do you understand?"
          Andrew nodded, tears streaming down his face.
          Grant continued, "Is he upstairs?"
          "No," Andrew lied, he wasn't sure if Evan being in the house would make things better or worse.
          "Good."
          Andrew nodded. The sweat had beaded up to the point that it ran into his left eye and stung like fire. Andrew blinked and tried to look away as his eye turned red from the irritation.
          Grant stood up and calmly walked out the front door. Andrew just laid there on the floor, crying. He sobbed into his arms.
          "What's going on?" Evan asked into the darkness from the top of the stairs, "Why were you screaming?"
          He heard Andrew sniffle. Evan turned on a light and ran down the stairs and found Andrew on the floor, shaking with a few tears making their way down his face.
          "What happened?" Evan asked, "Were you sleepwalking? I didn't know you did that."
          "I don't," Andrew said, trying to get up.
          "You were crying," Evan observed, helping Andrew off the floor.
          "Grant," Andrew said.
          "What about him?"
          "He was here."
          "What!" Evan's eyebrows shot up.
          "He pulled a gun on me and told me he'd kill me if I interfered with him taking you back to New York."
          "Andrew! Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Evan pulled Andrew close and hugged him tight, "I'm so sorry. I'm never leaving you. Not ever."
          "We need to call the police," Andrew said.
          "Yes. And first thing tomorrow we're getting a security system." Evan added.
          "Yes. I'll call someone. He scared me, Evan."
          "I know. But he's gone now and I'm here," Evan comforted.
          Andrew let himself sink into Evan's strong chest and wonderful heart.
          Andrew called the police. Grant had to be stopped. Andrew realized that what Grant had said before and tonight was not bluster. He was ready to take action to get Evan back. He got put on hold.
          "Is he crazy?" Andrew asked, while listening to the hold music.
          "Yes," Evan replied without hesitation, "Well, at least unstable."
          "Is that why you left him in the first place?"
          "Yes, it is. He has a terrible temper and is very possessive of me. I could barely talk to anyone without him blowing up at me. He was constantly accusing me of cheating. I just couldn't take it anymore."
          "That's terrible," Andrew said, stating the obvious but was interrupted by the dispatcher before he could say anything more.


          The dispatcher answered, "9-1-1, what's your emergency?"
          Andrew explained the situation to the dispatcher.
          "I see, Mr. Garrison. Do you know where he lives?"
          "No, but I have his name and I know he works at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. That should be enough. He's a loan officer there." Andrew replied.
          "A loan officer at the bank broke into your house at gunpoint?" the dispatcher replied with great incredulity in her voice. Andrew suspected she was too young to get into a bar legally.
          "He's my boyfriend's ex. That's why he broke in." Andrew was irritated. It was the middle of the night and the dispatcher didn't seem too invested in keeping him safe.
          "You're boyfriend? Mr. Garrison?" She said with excess emphasis on the 'boyfriend' and 'mister.'
          "Yes? What about it?" Andrew said.
          "That's so cool," she gushed, "My friend Tony at school is gay and he's so nice."
          "I'm sure he's a peach, but I was just held up at gunpoint in my home."
          "Oh, yes, sorry. We'll send someone to his work tomorrow to talk to him."
          "You aren't going to arrest him?"
          "There isn't anyone with that name in our system. So we don't know where to find him until tomorrow and that's only because you know where he works. If you have an address, we can send someone now."
          "He just moved here. How long would it take for him to be in your system?"
          "I don't know. If he's renting, he might not ever.
          "Fine." Andrew said.
          "This is my first week. I finished my G.E.D. last spring and now I'm taking classes at the community college. I do this part time."
          "Good for you," Andrew said both hoping he did and hoping he did not sound rude. He wasn't sure which, since it was almost 4am and someone had just threatened to murder him.
          He ended the call. Evan was scowling.
          "That wasn't helpful," Evan said, "They're going to show up at his work? That's it?"
          Andrew shrugged, "I guess."
          They trudged back upstairs and laid down, but sleep eluded them.

Chapter 23

G
          rant was in a hurry. He was so sure he'd set an alarm, but it didn't go off. He was not late yet, but any more hindrances and he would be. He hadn't gotten a whole lot of sleep considering what he'd been up to the night before at Andrew and Evan's house. He was dressed in a navy-blue coat and a tie with cupcakes on it. He'd been trying to ingratiate himself to his coworkers and the new townspeople he had met. He wanted to get ahead of any negative press that Evan might put out about him. If he could make their first impression of him a positive one, then they would be less likely to believe what Evan said.
          He parked his car in the employee parking lot and was headed toward the entrance to the bank when he noticed two uniformed police officers get out of a squad car. He tried to school his features into a mask of calmness. Of course, that rat, Andrew, called the cops. Andrew would have to be punished so he never made that mistake again.
          The officers approached.
          "Can I help you?" Grant asked, trying to sound harried but kindly and helpful, "Are you here for the training about what to do during an armed robbery?"
          "No. We just have a few questions for Grant Kirkland."
          "I'm Grant. What's the matter? Would you rather talk in my office?"
          "That's fine." The older of the two officers replied.
          "I'm not in trouble, am I?" Grant said jovially, still trying to sound like an innocent civilian standing at the ready to help the police.
          "I don't think so," the younger of the two officers replied, "I'm Jimmy Behr and this is my partner Payson Flores. We're with the Deerfield police, which you probably already knew."
          Jimmy smiled, and the three men exchanged cordial handshakes. Jimmy was in his late 20s with Payson being the senior statesman of the group in his mid-40s with his Hispanic features changing from the young man he once was to the middle-aged man he was now becoming. Jimmy was a lively chatterbox of youth and excitement while Payson was clearly there to keep them on track and not have Jimmy give his whole life story to the suspect.
          "We should probably go to your office," Payson said calmly, "If it's not too much trouble."
          "No trouble at all. I am a big fan of your service to the public and, as a bank employee, we are in your debt for keeping us safe." Grant said, showing off his most friendly and charming smile.
          "Thank you!" Jimmy gushed, "We really appreciate your support."
          Payson nodded but did not say anything else. Grant ushered them into the bank. He told his supervisor that the police had a few questions, but they should be done before his first appointment of the day arrived. Once seated with Grant behind the desk, the two officers took the facing chairs where clients normally met.
          "I like your tie," Jimmy observed.
          "Thank you. I try to provide a pleasant experience for our customers. They're usually nervous enough when they get to those chairs. I try to put them at ease."
          "That's good, I..." Jimmy started, but Payson interrupted.
          "We only have a few questions and then we'll be on our way."
          "Perfect. What can I do to help you?"
          "Where were you last night around 4am?" Payson asked.
          "I was at home asleep."
          "Can anyone corroborate that?"
          "Unfortunately, no. I sleep alone every night." Grant said.
          "So, no roommates either?" Payson followed-up.
          "No, none of those."
          "Do you have a girlfriend?"
          "No. I don't have one of those either. I'm not on the market either."
          "Okay," Payson said, then shifted his line of questioning, "Do you know Andrew Garrison?"
          "We've met, yes. He seems like a really nice guy."
          "He is," Jimmy interjected, "I met him a couple of months ago. He works with my cousin Betty. She invited him over to a backyard barbeque. He's really cool."
          Grant tried to keep the scowl off his face. He decided he must have succeeded because neither officer seemed to notice his reaction.
          "I'm glad to hear he's a good guy." Grant said, "Is there something about him I should know?"
          "Well," Payson said, drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair, "I'm sure we can clear this up. I'll put all our cards on the table. I'm guessing he's got some issue with you. I don't think you did anything wrong, but he called the police this morning saying that you broke into his house and threatened him with a gun."
          Grant's jaw dropped, and he tried to look emotionally wounded, "I've never threatened anyone before, much less with a gun."
          "Then why would he say that?" Payson asked.
          "I have no idea. It could be he mistook me for someone else."
          "Where did you meet?" Jimmy asked, "You said you'd met him."
          Grant looked like he was thinking, "Do you know Evan Grayson?"
          "Yes," both officers replied, "Everyone knows Evan."
          "Well," Grant said, maintaining his facade of friendly helpfulness, "Since you put your cards on the table, I'll do the same. I knew Evan when he lived in New York. He always spoke so highly of Deerfield that, when I decided to leave the city and try something new, I came here. I met up with Evan and I was at his and Andrew's house a while back. Why Andrew would say something like that is beyond me. He seemed like a super nice guy."
          "That checks out," Jimmy said, "They're not just roommates either."
          "No, they aren't." Grant admitted, "Do you think it could be mistaken identity? You asked about 4am, so I assume that's when he called the police."
          "It is," Payson said.
          "That's so late it's practically early," Grant said with a smile, "Maybe he had a bad dream or someone who looks a little like me did it? I'm not sure what more information I can provide."
          "Thank you for your time," Payson said.
          They shook hands again and the officers departed.
          As they were approaching the squad car, Jimmy asked Payson, "Do you think he did it?"
          "I don't know. I've never been on a fishing expedition where the criminal just raised his hand and said 'Yup, I did it. Ya got me.'"
          "So, how do we prove it?"
          Jimmy unlocked the door and got into the driver's seat.
          "Well, he didn't shoot the gun, so we can't test for residue. I can ask Andrew if he has a security camera or anything."
          "Could we get a warrant to search Grant's place?"
          "Probably not. Besides, it would not prove anything. Even if he has a gun, that doesn't mean anything. This is South Carolina everyone from the cops to the minister to the florist has a gun."
          Jimmy was unsettled as he put the car in gear.
          "What are you thinking?" Payson asked, "To answer your question, no I don't think he did it."
          "I don't know if he did, but if he did and we let it slide, I'd feel terrible if something happened to Andrew. He really is a nice guy. Plus I've known Evan ever since middle school. I would want to make sure that we keep them both safe."
          "I want that too," Payson replied, "We're not letting it go."
          "I like the security camera idea." Jimmy said, "If they don't have one, we could ask the neighbors if they have anything or saw anything."
          "That's our next step." Payson replied as he was chauffeured along the streets of Deerfield.


          Andrew was at his office when his desk phone rang.
          "Andrew Garrison?"
          "Yes?"
          "This is Payson Flores with the Deerfield police. We are following-up on the 9-1-1 call you made this morning."
          "Thank you for calling, officer, what do you need to know?" Andrew asked.
          The others in the office spun their heads in his direction. Andrew had kept the news about the break in and the threats to himself. They'd been busy enough that morning that no one had asked him anything.
          "Do you have a security camera?"
          "No, I don't. Now Evan insists we get one."
          "Did Evan witness anything?"
          "No. He was asleep."
          "He didn't hear anything and come to check it out?"
          "No. By the time he woke up, Grant was gone. Grant asked if he was there, but I said no. Even if Grant killed me, I wanted Evan to survive."
          Amanda mouthed to Darcy, "What the Hell?"
          "Do you happen to know if any of your neighbors have a security camera? We questioned him this morning and he denies doing anything. That isn't surprising and doesn't really mean anything, we're just trying to collect information. If he did do it, we want to make sure we do everything we can to keep you and Evan safe."
          "Thank you, officer, I appreciate that."
          "You can call me Payson."
          "Thank you, Payson," Andrew said, "I'll ask my neighbors and if they have anything, I'll let you know. I don't want to panic anyone with the police showing up."
          Payson chuckled, "That makes sense. Yes, if you can find anything or think of anything, we'll keep going. My partner and I will also keep thinking."
          "Thank you."
          "Well," Payson said, "At the risk of sounding like Colombo, there is one more thing. It was dark and late. Is there any way that this was some sort of dream or is there any way it could have been someone who just looked kinda like him?"
          "No, absolutely not. I know for a 100% fact that it was Grant Kirkland."
          "What makes you so sure?"
          "Evan can tell you more, but what I know is this. Grant showed up at our house yesterday morning wanting Evan to dump me and take him back. Evan essentially told him to get lost. He sounded mad, but he left saying 'this isn't over.' Then that very night he breaks in and threatens to kill me if I interfere with him taking Evan back to New York with him."
          "God Almighty." Payson breathed into the phone, "Grant said he knew Evan from New York."
          "Talk to Evan," Andrew advised, "Anything else I tell you would be hearsay. Just know that Evan and Grant were boyfriends in New York and, according to Evan, Grant is unstable, jealous, and dangerous. Based on my experience last night, I would have to agree."
          "Damn," Payson said, "I had no idea. We'll definitely keep pursuing this. We'll give Evan a call next."
          "Okay." Andrew said, "If you need anything else, let me know."
          "Thank you." Payson replied before ending the call.
          Andrew looked at the astonished looks he was getting from his coworkers.
          Andrew said irritably, "And now you know as much as I do about what is going on."
          "He seriously threatened you?" Amanda was aghast, "To win Evan back?"
          "Yes." Andrew replied.
          "Andrew," Martin said, "You are a valued member of our team. If there is anything I can do, just let me know. I'm not sure what that might be, but I just wanted to offer."
          "Thank you." Andrew replied, "Right now, my work is the only stable piece of my life, so I'm happy to keep at it."
          "Good," Martin smiled, happy with that answer, "But if you need a few days off to rest or sort things out, just reschedule your clients and I'll back you up."
          "I will, but there really isn't anything else I can do as far as I know." Andrew said, "The police are investigating, and we can only hope that Grant doesn't do anything else. Evan's going to get a home security system on his way home from work. Other than that, I don't know there's anything else I or anyone else can do."
          As the workday was winding down, Andrew wasn't sure he wanted to go home. He didn't feel safe there after last night. Evan had texted that he'd read some Google reviews and succeeded in picking out an automated alarm system from the local home improvement store after he was done at the dry cleaner's, but needed a Garrison brain to figure out what to do with it.
          Amanda, whose desk was nearest the door and was the de facto receptionist, was packing up her things and preparing to log off for the day when a young man in athletic wear strolled into the firm with a canvas messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
          "May I help you?" Amanda asked.
          "I am here to see Andrew Garrison."
          "Do you have an appointment?"
          "It won't take long." the guy, little more than a boy, smiled.
          The entire office held their collective breath. Was there about to be an active shooter? Did they have a new client? What was in the messenger bag?
          Amanda smiled but swallowed nervously, "I'm sorry but there's been some threats against the company. May I see what's in the bag?"
          "Um." He replied, "I'm not supposed to."
          That answer made everyone even more tense.
          "What do you need with me?" Andrew spoke up, "I'm Andrew Garrison. Whatever you are here for has nothing to do with them."
          "I'm aware," the man-boy replied.
          "What can I do for you?" Andrew asked, as scared as everyone else combined.
          The guy straightened his back and reached into the bag. He looked around and realized how scared everyone looked.
          "Andrew Garrison," he said, pulling out an envelope, "You've been served."
          "I've been what?" Andrew asked, jangled nerves making him a bit dense.
          He tossed the envelope on Andrew's desk, "You're being sued."
          He cinched up the messenger bag, bid them good day and left McWilliams Investments. Andrew looked at the envelope like it was a tarantula.
          "Sued?" Amanda said, "What in the world?"
          Andrew opened the envelope and read for a few moments. Every eye in the office was glued to his face watching for any sort of reaction.
          "This guy is ridiculous." Andrew spat.
          "What?" Darcy asked.
          "Grant is suing me for 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.'"
          "What the actual...is he nuts?" Amanda huffed.
          "Yes." Andrew said, "Evan flat out told me that Grant is crazy. Until last night I thought he was just hurt over whatever led to their breakup, but no, Grant really is nuts."
          "Wait," Betty said, pointing to the paper that Andrew was holding, "There's something on the back."
          Andrew flipped the paper over. There was a handwritten note. Andrew wasn't sure how Grant could have put it there, but it was signed with his name. He read quickly, his eyes glistened a bit.
          "It must be bad," Amanda said, "I'm sorry Andrew."
          Andrew sniffled, "It says, 'You are a terrible person and no good for someone as great as Evan. I'm going to call immigration and get you deported back to whatever hellhole country you came from."
          "He can't do that," Amanda said.
          "I'm a US citizen. He's just a racist ass who took one look at me and decided I was trash."
          Betty motioned for Andrew to stand up. Andrew stood.
          All three other advisors plus Martin crowded around him and hugged him in one big pile of arms and sad faces.
          "It's going to be okay," Betty said, "He cannot and will not get away with this."
          They broke their embrace and stepped back.
          "What are you going to do?" Darcy asked.
          Andrew thought about it for a moment, "I really don't know. This is a stupid, frivolous lawsuit. I doubt it'll go anywhere."
          Martin spoke up, "Andrew, I highly suggest you get a restraining order. My brother is a judge. I can call him right now if you want."
          "I don't know if that's necessary."
          "Andrew," Martin continued, clearly fretting over this latest development, "I'm scared for you. This guy is a jealous ex. He showed up at your house. He broke into your house in the middle of the night with a gun and threatened to kill you. And now a lawsuit? Andrew, I'm calling my brother. I think you and Evan should stay with me for a few days until the police have enough evidence to arrest this guy."
          Andrew's throat visibly constricted as he tried to swallow but his throat was so dry he was afraid his tongue would get stuck and block his airway.
          "Okay," Andrew said.
          "Come to my office. I'll call him. The rest of you, go home. If Grant shows up here, I don't want any of you around."
          Andrew and Martin retired to his office while the others went home.
          "I'm so sorry about this," Andrew said.
          Martin waved his hand to dismiss, "I see no way in the world this is your fault. You are a sharp and capable person. I want you to be safe."
          "I appreciate that." Andrew replied as Martin inhaled to speak to the answerer of his call.
          "Darlene! I hope you are doing well. Uh-huh. And Walter? Oh great. Yes, I'm well. The investment firm is doing very well, thank you for asking. Say, is Chris around? Yes. I see. Well, have him give me a call. I have a friend who needs a restraining order. Yes. Uh-huh. I know that sounds dramatic, but the police are investigating and until the person threatening him is caught, my friend is in danger. Okay. Great! We'll be there in ten minutes. Thank you for staying late. I really appreciate it. Yes. Say hi to Walter for me. Okay. Yes, 10 minutes."
          Martin ended the phone call.
          "I can get the restraining order?"
          "Yes. Darlene is going to write up the paperwork while we walk over to the courthouse to pick it up. Chris isn't available, but they have an on-call judge we can talk to. Call the officer back and let him know. They'll be the ones to tell him. If he can meet us at the courthouse, even better. The judge will sign, but if the police are right with us saying to do it, there's no way the judge will say no."
          "You've done this before?" Andrew asked.
          "No, but he's been a judge for years, so you hear things. Plus, I watch a lot of cop shows on TV." Martin smiled.
          "I just hope we don't end up being the 'based on a true story,' narrative for one." Andrew said, casting a furtive glance at the door.
          "Me either." Martin replied.
          "A young, interracial gay couple murdered in a small southern town." Andrew mused.
          "Don't go writing the screenplay for them," Martin admonished, trying to sound light, but they both understood the gravity of the situation.
          Andrew picked up his phone as they walked out.
          "Payson? Yes, it's Andrew Garrison."
          "Andrew, is everything okay?"
          "Well, no. I got served with a lawsuit from Grant a few minutes ago. With everything going on, I'm going to go over to the courthouse and get a restraining order."
          "It's after 5, you might have to wait until tomorrow."
          "My boss' brother is a judge. He already called."
          "Fantastic! I'm busy with my kids, but Jimmy is on duty tonight. I'll call him and let him know to meet you there. Jimmy will go straight over to Grant's house before the ink is dry. We know his address now."
          "Great," Andrew replied.
          "Wait, a lawsuit?"
          "Yes, he's suing me for 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.'"
          "Ironic considering the accusations against him."
          "Ironic doesn't even begin to describe it." Andrew said, shaking his head.
          They ended the call. McWilliams Investments was only a few blocks from the county courthouse.
          Andrew walked alongside his boss who was only eight years older than him. Andrew and Martin got the restraining order signed by the on-call judge and, as planned, Jimmy took the police copy and Grant's copy and went immediately to serve the restraining order. Jimmy was decidedly on Andrew's side and assured him that they would do everything they could to stop Grant after what he did. The judge also ordered the lawsuit to the top of his docket for the next day. He looked over the papers and asked Andrew a few questions. The judge agreed with Andrew that the lawsuit seemed frivolous. The judge said that the hearing would take place over Skype so that they were not in violation of the restraining order.
          "I'm going to go home," Andrew said, "I'm exhausted, and Evan needs my help installing the security system."
          "Okay," Martin replied, "But I'll leave my phone on, so if you change your mind, just let me know."
          "I will, thank you."
          It was getting dark by the time Andrew and Martin parted ways and Andrew went home to find Evan at the kitchen table looking like he was trying to construct a bomb with instructions from a poorly coded AI translator.
          "Andrew, thank God you're home. I was about to call the police."
          "I was with them."
          "Oh, my God, what happened?"
          "I got a restraining order against Grant."
          "That's a great idea," Evan said, "I should have thought of that."
          "It was my boss' idea. He also said we could stay with him for a while until the police have enough evidence to arrest Grant."
          "That was nice of him," Evan said.
          "Yeah. He seems to really care about me."
          "I'm glad."
          "Jimmy is over at Grant's right now."
          "Jimmy, huh, who might Jimmy be?"
          "Jimmy Behr."
          "Wow, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. How is he?"
          "He's fine as far as I know. He and another officer named Payson Flores are investigating."
          "I'm glad they got on it. After your call with the dispatcher last night, I didn't have high hopes."
          "The police are definitely taking it seriously." Andrew said, "They questioned Grant this morning, asked me a few questions, and then showed up at the courthouse to take the restraining order directly to Grant."
          "I'm impressed."
          "I don't know what will happen with Grant, but we've definitely got the police on our side. Apparently, he was trying to lay on the charm this morning, but the officers weren't falling for it. Then he served me with a lawsuit."
          "Good. Yeah, Grant can be a smooth talker until he gets mad."
          "Well, he's likely good and pissed right now." Andrew said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
          "Yeah, the restraining order might help, but it might make him do something rash." Evan said.
          "I was worried about that. Should I call Martin back and take him up on his offer to stay with him?"
          "If we can't get this security system set up, then yes."
          "How long do you think it'll take?" Andrew asked.
          "That's your department." Evan said, "I'll cook dinner."
          "Look at you, being the happy homemaker."
          Evan grinned, "I am going to make our home the best I can. Now, doting husband, figure out this alarm system then take out the trash. Otherwise we're getting a pit bull from the pound."
          Evan took up his post at the stove making chipped beef with the leftover steak from the night before, Andrew set about deciphering the alarm system code. Little did they know who was watching them right that very moment.


          In the gathering darkness of the encroaching night, Grant stood near the back of Engrid's house facing the happy couple and watched them through the kitchen window. It was a beautiful house. Evan looked so happy cooking dinner for Andrew and himself. He could see him bustling around the kitchen. He couldn't quite see where Andrew was, but figured he was just out of sight since Evan kept pausing to talk to someone.
          Grant kept to the shadows and moved along the side of Engrid' house and walked up onto the porch and peered in through the windows. The light in the central hallway, living room, and kitchen were all on. He could see the comfortable furniture and the art prints hanging on the walls. He saw the organized bookshelves, lamps, the fireplace, and all the trappings of a lovely home they'd built for themselves. Grant realized how perfect it all looked. Everything Andrew owned was perfect. It was all neat, clean, organized and put away. He stepped back and looked up and down the length of the porch. The swing and the row of wicker rocking chairs set perfectly still in the moonlight.
          He was suddenly filled with revulsion and hatred. He hated the fact that Andrew gave Evan his heart's most precious and ardent desire- to have both roots and wings. Grant had the chance two years ago to give Evan that, but he blew it. He had failed when he let Evan leave and it cost him the love of a lifetime. He was determined not to fail again. Since Andrew was perfect, he needed to be destroyed. It was the only way to get Evan back - remove Andrew as an option. Grant suddenly had to fight the urge to burn that beautiful, century-old home to the ground. He saw the lights come on at Engrid's house. He stepped to the far side of the porch. He knew he was in violation of the restraining order. While he did not care one bit about the restraining order, he had no interest in being arrested.
          There was a war within his heart. He understood now that Evan was not going to take him back. Part of him wanted to torture Andrew by killing Evan. If he couldn't have Evan, there was no way that shrimpy, stupid, useless, foreign-born, brown-skinned bastard was getting him. Grant raged silently to himself, fingering the pistol in the holster attached to his belt.


          Engrid had been talking to Dora on the phone in the kitchen. She was still dressed in a powder blue pants suit, with a ruffled blouse, and matching flats that she had worn to church choir practice that evening. She decided now that it was dark out and the heat was letting up that she'd go out to the porch and chat from the swing. She shrugged off the blazer and draped it over the back of the kitchen chair, just leaving the ruffled blouse as her top. She shouldered the phone under her chin and grabbed her iced tea glass, opened her front door and stepped over to the swing. She'd never turned her swing around, so it still faced Andrew's house. She thought she saw movement on the front porch. She put the glass down on the floor of the porch and resumed her conversation.
          "So," Dora was saying into the phone at Engrid's ear, "Would you be willing to proofread the budget proposal to the state archives for the money they want us to manage for the adult literacy program?"
          "What use would I be?"
          "I just want to make sure the numbers are right, and you were a math teacher, were you not?"
          "I was. George always said I had a head for figures."
          "He figured it was the best way to get you to marry him. As it was for him then, so it is now, flattery will get me what I want from you too." Dora laughed.
          "I'll look at the budget. It's just arithmetic. I'm not going to have to co-sign a cosine, am I?" Engrid chuckled at her own pun.
          She leaned forward. She was sure she saw movement on the front porch of Andrew's house. She looked at the light coming from the kitchen window. She could see Evan at the pantry door and Andrew at the table, but she couldn't see what he was doing. Either way, she knew it wasn't Evan or Andrew on the porch as they were accounted for. She had a sinking feeling about the identity of the trespasser. She looked out to the street and saw the telltale red Outback parked far enough away she would never have noticed it if she hadn't been looking for it. That confirmed that it must be Grant on the porch.
          "Well that can't be good," Engrid said.
          "What?" Dora asked.
          "Grant is back."
          "What does he want?"
          "Probably the same thing he wanted yesterday." Engrid said, taking a sip of her tea.
          "Evan." Dora answered her own question.
          "I assume. Evan's a nice guy, and I love him dearly, but even I'm not sure he's worth all this fuss." Engrid groused.
          "Should you call Evan or Andrew?"
          "I probably should." Engrid said.
          Grant saw Engrid and hoped Engrid had not seen him. She was on the phone. The old biddy was probably calling the police, which meant he had to act fast. He knew it was now or never.
          He tried to open the door. Shockingly, they had not thought to lock it. He knew they were in the kitchen. Evan dropped a pot when he saw Grant. Andrew looked up from the scattered bits of their new alarm system and registered a mix of horror and surprise.
          "You really should lock that door," Grant said, "Anyone could walk in here."
          Evan's phone began vibrating in his pocket. The warning from Engrid came too late.
          "Grant, get out. I have a restraining order." Andrew said, standing up.
          "I know. You think some piddly piece of paper is going to stop me?"
          "Grant, go away. We're done." Evan said, getting a dish towel to clean up the mess he'd made when he dropped the pot.
          Andrew's phone sat on the table. Its screen lit up saying he was getting a call from Engrid Matthews.
          "I know." Grant replied.
          "Are you here to apologize?" Andrew asked.
          "No," Grant replied with a growl, "Never."
          "Grant, don't do anything stupid," Evan said, "We can still be friends."
          Andrew knew Evan was just trying to deescalate the situation, but he still felt the need to dry heave at the idea of being friends with such a mean-spirited person.
          "No, we can't. You are either my world or you are nothing to me."
          "Then I guess that makes me nothing to you," Evan said.
          Grant slid the pistol out of the holster and lifted it up.
          "Grant!" Andrew yelled, "Put the gun down now!"
          Grant looked calm, almost serene pointing the pistol at Evan.
          "Why are you doing this?" Evan asked, "I thought you loved me."
          "I do. But if I can't have you, no one can. No one else is good enough for you. I tried to make you see that, but I couldn't."
          "Grant," Andrew said, "Let's go to the living room and talk. There's no reason to hurt anyone."
          Grant took a step back into the central hallway. Evan and Andrew put their hands up like surrendered soldiers and went to the hall to go across to the living room. As they passed, Evan grabbed Grant's wrist but Grant was far too strong, even for Evan. He shoved Evan away and pointed the pistol back at him.
          "No!" Andrew screamed, and lunged toward Grant.
          Grant swung back toward Andrew. Andrew was fast and furious. He swept the gun hand out of the way and plowed into Grant at full speed, kicking his knee and tackling him to the ground. Grant crashed to the floor with Andrew landing on top of him. Grant kept the gun in his hand. Grant threw Andrew off and he rolled over and popped up off the floor to a standing position. Evan was too shocked to be impressed with Andrew's agility.
          "Grant, you don't have to do this!" Evan screamed, "It does not have to be like this."
          Grant's eye moved between his two possible targets. He raised the gun up. He pointed it at Evan. He slowly pulled the cockpin back to the distinctive metal click.
          "Don't do it," Evan said, "We've been through so much. Why must our final moments together be like this?
          In a blur, Andrew charged forward. He jumped in front of Evan just as a sharp crack shattered the night.
          Andrew landed on his feet, looking stunned. He looked down at the gaping bullet hole in his chest. His blood started flowing. Andrew stumbled backwards and collapsed in a heap on the floor. Grant ran from the house.
          Evan let out an animalistic scream and knelt beside Andrew's body. Andrew's eyes glassed over. Evan grabbed Andrew's arms and tried to pull him up as if that was all it would take to reanimate dead flesh.


          Dora and Engrid both heard the gunshot and Evan's screaming.
          "Oh God," Dora said, "No, just please God no."
          Engrid said, "I'm calling the police. Dora. lock your door."
          She ended the call before Dora could respond. Engrid was so shaken that she nearly dropped her phone trying to dial 9-1-1.
          "Hello?" she lost it and sobbed into the phone.
          "I see your information on the screen; we'll send the police immediately."
          "Send an ambulance..." she managed to sputter.
          "Of course, Mrs. Matthews," The pleasant dispatcher said.
          She heard the front door open and a shadowy figure moved quickly down the front steps, down the concrete walkway. She realized she was a sitting duck on the front porch. She silently prayed that he was in too much of a hurry to notice her. She was wrong.
          Grant stopped. Engrid couldn't help but sniffle. She had heard the gunshot. She could still hear Evan wailing. She knew neither Evan nor Andrew had chased Grant. Engrid could only conclude that Andrew had just been brutally murdered. Grant heard the sniffle. He turned and walked toward her. He slowly moved soundlessly in her direction through the grass. She watched him approaching but was paralyzed with fear.


          He retrieved the gun from his waistband and pointed it at her. All Engrid could do was look at him pleadingly. She couldn't get her mouth to form any words. The phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor of the porch.
          "You say anything to anybody and you're next." He turned and ran back towards his car. He got in and drove off down the street. He passed the inbound police cars that came to a screeching halt, all lights and sirens full blast. Since she was calling on her phone, it was her house they came to since it was her address on their screen.
          Engrid got up, her eyes so teary she could barely make it down the steps.
          "Ma'am, are you okay? I'm officer Jimmy Behr of the Deerfield police. I'm here to help you."
          She pointed at Andrew's house with her hand and managed to sputter, "He's been shot."
          "Who?" Jimmy asked, panic rising as he was pretty sure he knew who it was and who did it. He'd delivered the restraining order himself just a few hours ago after meeting Andrew at the courthouse.
          "Andrew Garrison."
          "Oh shit," Jimmy said, pulling his gun and rushing over to the other house with a second officer in tow while the paramedics got the all clear from Jimmy.
          "Are you okay ma'am?" one of the paramedics asked her.
          She just shook her head.
          "Get her in the ambulance."
          She vigorously shook her head. She managed to stay up on her unsteady feet and walk as quickly as she could towards Andrew's house. The two paramedics followed. She was starting to get her mind back online after the horrific shock it had just had.
          "I'm okay. I'm not why I called." She said, "Someone's been shot. He's inside."
          She went up the steps. When she got to the top, she threw up over the porch railing when she looked through the opened doorway and saw Andrew's lifeless body lying on the floor, Evan kneeling beside him running his fingers through Andrew's blood-soaked black hair. She steadied herself by holding onto the porch railing. She turned around and watched as Jimmy and the other officer each grabbed one of Evan's arms and hauled him out of the pool of Andrew's blood.
          The paramedics started working to revive Andrew. Evan had blood all over himself. There was a massive pool of blood covering the hardwood floor. Evan had been in the middle of it, surrounded and covered in it. Andrew's Mediterranean complexion was ghostly pale as all his blood drained out onto the floor.
          "No!" Evan screamed as the officers pulled him to his feet.
          Evan's feet slipped in Andrew's blood. The officers lost their grip and Evan fell into the pool, getting more blood all over himself. The officers got another grip on him and hauled him up again.
          "Come on, Evan, we need to get you out of here." Jimmy said, "Let the paramedics do their work."
          Evan got one arm free and reached out, grasping in Andrew's direction. Evan had so much blood on him, he looked like he was the one who had been shot.
          Engrid was standing on the porch when Evan was dragged, literally kicking and screaming, from the house. He saw Engrid and wrapped his bloody arms around her and squeezed for all he was worth. She hugged him back and he put his head on her shoulder. He bawled into her collarbone.
          "This is all my fault," Evan cried, "I got Andrew killed. I'm so fucking stupid. Andrew is dead because of me."
          She petted him gently, "No, it isn't. None of this is your fault."
          They sat for a few moments before the paramedics hauled Andrew by on a gurney and down the steps to the waiting ambulance.
          "We need to get him to the hospital." a paramedic said.
          "He's not dead?" Engrid gushed.
          "He's in bad shape." the paramedic acknowledged, "He might not make it, but we'll do our best. Do you know how we can get in touch with his family?"
          Engrid just stared at them for a few seconds before responding, "I'll see that his parents are notified."
          "He's not dead?" Evan said with the faint traces of hope welling up behind the tortured pain in his eyes.
          "He is alive." Engrid said.
          She pulled him over and they sat together on the swing. She didn't say anything; she just held him and rocked him like a baby, cradling his head with her hand. Evan just cried and cried there on that swing. When Engrid had thrown up earlier, she hadn't leaned over quite in time, so she vomited all down the front of her blouse and was now covered with the blood that had smeared from Evan. They made quite a grisly sight.
          Jimmy dispatched the other officer to start putting up crime scene tape. Several neighbors heard the sirens and came to find out what had happened. Several officers were keeping them away. Engrid and Evan's eyes were so blurry from the tears, they couldn't see anything anyway. Dora was among the onlookers.
          Jimmy quietly approached, "Evan, I'm sorry."
          "For what?" Evan asked.
          "I was investigating Grant this morning after Andrew called. Then I was the one who served him with the restraining order. I'm sure I did something wrong that made him snap."
          "You didn't, Jimmy. Grant is just dangerous, and he needs to be stopped. We can talk later if you need a statement."
          "Then, say 'yes' if I'm right. Grant came here, gained entrance to the house, there was an altercation. Grant saw Andrew as competition for your affection and so shot him in cold blood."
          Evan nodded. That pretty much summed it up.
          "Okay. I'll have someone type that up in the morning and you can come by the police station to sign."
          "Mrs. Matthews, will you be able to go to the police station in the morning and file your witness statement? I would take it now, but we are shorthanded. The whole department is looking for Grant right now. There's quite a manhunt getting underway. We will do....I mean I will do whatever I can to bring Grant to justice."
          "Thank you," Engrid said incalculably spent, unsure how much more energy she had left in her aged bones.
          Jimmy pulled a business card out of his pocket, "I am going to leave you alone and let the crime scene folks do their thing. This has my number on it. Call me if you need anything that I can do."
          "I will." Evan managed to choke out past the phlegm.
          "I really wish I could have done more to keep you and Andrew safe," Jimmy said shaking his head in sad defeat before walking away to go work with the crime scene investigators.
          Engrid said, "Let's go to my house and get ourselves cleaned up. Then we'll go over to the hospital.
          He latched on tighter. Engrid knew that Evan was broken and needed healing. She really wished she knew how to help other than just be there. Engrid did not rush him, she let him hug her for as long as he wanted. The strength abated, and his arms flopped off to the sides.
          "Let's get us both cleaned up," Engrid suggested. They stood and made their way slowly the few dozen yards to Engrid's house.

Chapter 24

A
          t Engrid's house, Evan went to the bathroom to begin getting cleaned up. Engrid brought some fresh towels and left them outside of the door and went to get herself cleaned up in the master bathroom. She emptied her pockets, including her phone and put it on the edge of the bathroom sink.
          Her phone lit up with a message. It was a text from Dora, "I don't want to be a pest, but if you need anything let me know."
          Engrid responded, "Thank you. Could you go to the hospital and check on Andrew?"
          "He's alive?" Dora typed, "Hallelujah."
          "Barely, but yes." Engrid responded.
          Dora didn't respond, but Engrid knew she got the message when she heard the Explorer's engine roar down the street and off into the night.
          After she was tidied up, she went to the living room and sat in her happy place, the piano bench. She had to do something to get her mind off all that was swirling around her. She let the hymnal drop open wherever it wanted and started playing. Evan finished bathing, got dressed and sat on the stairs listening to her. She was known all over town for her skill at any sort of keyboard, but he was glad he got to hear her more than anyone. He got up and went to the living room doorway.
          She stopped when she sensed him behind her. Evan couldn't help but smile. He loved that old woman more than she could know. Engrid had been the one who convinced him to move to New York in the first place. She said it would be a good experience for him to get out of here and see what the rest of the world was like. He gained a lot of wisdom because of that move.
          "How are you feeling?" She asked.
          He shook his head.
          "I cannot begin to imagine," she said.
          "Do you mind playing some more?" He asked.
          "No, not at all," she said and turned back to the keyboard.
          He stretched out on the couch and listened. It wasn't a hymn he knew, but she knew them all. After another twenty minutes, she stopped again.
          "I can't believe Andrew tackled Grant." Evan said to the ceiling.
          "He what?" Engrid said, turning around on the bench.
          "He distracted Grant and then tackled him to the floor. Like some sort of ninja."
          Engrid shook her head, "He's brave and he loves you, Evan. I hope you know how special Andrew is."
          Evan nodded, his eyes glistening with unfallen tears. "He risked his life to save me. Grant was going to shoot me, not Andrew."
          Engrid wiped a tear from her eye.
          She had no idea what to say, so she just said the first thing that came to mind, "Do you want some breakfast? It's going to be light out soon. Another day."
          "No. I'm not hungry."
          "Good," she smiled, "I was only being polite. After what I saw tonight, I may never eat again."
          "Amen," Evan said, the faintest hint of a smile forming.
          "You just rest there," Engrid said, "I can at least get you a glass of tea."
          "I have to call Andrew's parents first." Evan said blankly.
          Engrid didn't speak, but her shoulders slumped. She knew he was right.
          "Do you want some privacy?" Engrid asked.
          Evan nodded.
          "Can I have her number? I know she called you." Evan said.
          "Sure. I assume she told you."
          Engrid brought up the contact information on her screen and handed him the phone.
          "I'll be in the kitchen." She said and left him with both phones.
          Marian answered on the second ring. She was already awake, dressed for the day, and sipping her coffee. She nearly dropped her mug when she saw Evan's face on the video call.
          "My God, what's happened?" Marian asked, putting her coffee mug down hard enough on the table that she spilled some.
          "What's going on?" Lewis asked and appeared in the frame.
          Evan sat silently, fighting tears.
          "Is Andrew okay?" Marian asked.
          Evan shook his head, large, hot tears started, making their way down his face.
          He took a ragged breath, "There was an intruder tonight. He had a gun."
          Lewis and Marian both gasped.
          "Andrew was shot. He's alive, but he's in bad shape. He's hurt so bad. He's at the hospital now in surgery. The paramedics said he might not survive."
          "We need to pray," Lewis said.
          Evan continued as if he hadn't heard, "Mr. and Mrs. Garrison, your son is a hero. He saved my life tonight. If it weren't for him, I would be dead right now."
          Evan collapsed in tears. The phone slipped from his hand and fell on the floor as he heard Marian and Lewis praying fervently in Portuguese. Engrid poked her head into the living room. She didn't know what was being said, but she understood the tone and cadence of a parent's desperate prayer. She waited until they were done.
          She stood over the phone and picked it up.
          "Amen," she added to whatever they had said, then continued, "Evan is right. Andrew is the bravest man I have ever met. He tackled the intruder to the floor and took a bullet to save Evan's life."
          Neither Evan nor Engrid cared to explain who the intruder was and how he came to be in Andrew's house in the first place. Lewis and Marian begged off the call and went to pray and hope and grieve.
          Evan sat on the couch as though he might drop dead of a broken heart if anything else happened to Andrew.
          "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
          "I'm going to the hospital. When the police are done with the scene, I'll clean up the mess. I can't let Andrew see the house like that. I don't want him to remember any of it." Evan spoke with the monotone of someone with no emotional energy left.
          "You can't do that by yourself. I can't have you cleaning up his blood and guts off the floor." Engrid said with conviction.
          "Someone has to."
          "I'll help." Engrid offered.
          "We also have to be careful." Evan warned.
          "Why?"
          "Grant got away. He's still out there." Evan explained, "If he did this, none of us are safe until he is in prison."
          Engrid took Evan's arm and looked straight into his eyes, "I know, but we need to get some rest and go check on Andrew. Dora is in the waiting room in case he gets out of surgery before we get there. Andrew is our priority right now. We'll let the police handle Grant."
          Evan nodded.          

Chapter 25

W
          hen Engrid woke up a few hours later, she was alone in the house. Evan's Cherokee was gone. Engrid got dressed in linen pants and a floral print blouse with hibiscus flowers that tied on the side with a small clip. She looked a little like a Caribbean tourist, but she wanted to dress in something bright. She didn't want to dress in church clothes or anything that looked remotely funerary. She made some toast in her ancient toaster oven. Fatigue and emotional trauma gave her a 1,000-yard stare that not even the smell of burnt toast could cut through until the last minute. As she had done many times before, she scraped the burnt bits off over the sink with a butter knife. After choking down her toast with a full glass of whole milk and drinking her coffee, she drove over to the police station.
          She went up the granite steps of the Deerfield Police Department and pulled open the double doors and went to the front desk.
          "I am looking for Jimmy Behr." Engrid said.
          "He's here, have a seat and I'll let him know you're here."
          The officer ushered the elderly woman to a plastic stackable waiting room chair. Engrid sat and adjusted the floral blouse to center the buttons down the front of her body rather than having them weave around like a drunk person.
          "Thank you for coming in, Mrs. Matthews," Jimmy said, "My partner, Payson Flores should be along shortly as well. He may or may not have more questions for you.
          "I don't really have much to tell." Engrid said, "I met Grant once in Andrew and Evan's front yard."
          "We know all of that," Jimmy said, "Last night, when Andrew was shot, what did you see? To the best of your recollection."
          Engrid considered her answer, "I was talking to my friend Dora on the phone. I was sitting on my front porch on my swing. I saw someone on their front porch who was neither Andrew nor Evan. I knew about the altercation in their front yard a day or so before. Then I called the police. I was afraid something would happen. I'm glad I did because had I waited until I heard the gunshot to call for an ambulance, Andrew would be dead.
          "I know," Jimmy said, "Here is a piece of paper. Please write down everything you can think of that might be relevant to this case and sign it."
          "What will you do with it?" Engrid asked.
          "We use it in our investigation. It's information that we can use and take into consideration."
          "Okay." Engrid was satisfied with that answer and began writing out her statement.
          She finished her business with the police and left for the hospital.


          When she arrived, she quickly found Andrew's room. He wasn't alone. Dora and Evan were sitting in dun-colored hospital chairs. Dora's chair was by the window while Evan's chair was as close to the bed as he could be without being in the bed with Andrew. Andrew was asleep.
          "How is he?" She whispered to Dora.
          Dora motioned for them to step outside into the hallway.
          Dora and Engrid went into the hallway, while Evan held Andrew's hand gently.
          "He'll be fine," Dora said, "The doctor said that the bullet did hit him in an artery, but your quick 9-1-1 call saved his life. Any longer, and Andrew would be dead. He's gotten multiple pints of blood."
          "I'm so glad that he's going to be fine. I'm glad the doctors talked to you." Engrid said, breathing a sigh of relief.
          "If anyone asks, I'm his grandmother." Dora said.
          "Noted." Engrid replied.
          "The bullet missed all of the major organs. So, he got a transfusion and he'll have to rest for a while, but he'll be good as new soon."
          "That is amazing. I can't believe it." Engrid said, fighting tears of joy.
          "Yes, it is and neither can I. How did it go with the police?" Dora asked.
          "I don't know. I told them what little I know."
          When they came back in, Andrew was awake.
          "Hey, Andrew," Engrid said softly, "I hear you're going to be okay."
          Andrew smiled, "You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily did you?"
          "No. You're like a bad penny," she laughed.
          Andrew laughed, then winced, "No jokes, just yet."
          "Sorry."
          "So," Andrew said, "What'd I miss?"
          "Nothing you need to be concerned about," Engrid answered.
          The three sat in silence and thought of something to say.
          "Well," Evan started, "I've been offered a job teaching high school English."
          "I didn't know you'd applied." Engrid said.
          "They've been trying to get me to do it since I got back from New York. I didn't want to leave Mom alone to run the store, so I didn't do it. But, now I feel like the time has come for me to do something different. I called Principal Whitehurst and I said I would do it."
          "That's a lot of work." Andrew said.
          "It is," Evan admitted, "They asked if I would teach the advanced placement class for English Literature this upcoming fall. The woman who usually teaches it said she didn't want to anymore. They're going to fast track a provisional license for me until I pass the Praxis exams."
          "Maybe you could start taking some Master's classes at the university in Columbia. Then you could be a professor." Engrid said.
          "That's what I said," Andrew smiled.
          "See, even your boyfriend agrees that you should continue your education." Engrid said, gesturing to Andrew.
          "Maybe," Evan said noncommittally. He sat quietly for a moment.
          "Do you want some food?" Engrid asked Andrew.
          "Yes. A bacon double cheeseburger." Andrew replied without hesitation.
          "I can do that." Engrid said.
          "I doubt a hospital kitchen is set up for that." Evan said.
          "I'll go buy one, hand deliver it here, and Heaven help the fool who tries to stop me." Engrid said.
          They laughed as Engrid left the hospital room.

Chapter 26

T
          hat night, Evan and Dora were at Engrid's house sitting at the small table in her kitchen. She'd taken Andrew the bacon double cheeseburger and then got food for everyone else. None of them felt like cooking. Engrid munched on her burger, listening to the wrappers crinkling.
          Evan finished eating his fast food burger meal and balled up the wrappings. He walked them over to the trash. Dora just picked at her food while Engrid stared blankly at the wall.
          "I think I'm going for a walk." Evan said, rinsing his hands off in the sink.
          "Okay," Engrid said absently, "I'll put fresh towels in the bathroom for you."
          "No need." Evan said.
          "Why not?" Engrid asked, then realized what Evan intended, "You are not going over there and mopping up all that blood by yourself."
         "Unless you're offering to help, yes I am." Evan responded in a tone that allowed no argument.
         Engrid sighed heavily, "I know if I don't, you'll do it anyway. I hope Andrew realizes what a stubborn mule of a man you can be."
         "I just want it over. Andrew will be home in a few days and I don't want the house to smell like that. I want that house to look like nothing ever happened. Plus, you puked in the front yard."
         "I think I can be forgiven for that," Engrid said, somewhat testily.
         "I agree," Evan said.
         Dora watched the conversation like it was a tennis match.
          "Well," Dora said, "Many hands make light work, so let's all get to it."
          "I'll get some buckets out of the tool shed and meet you there," Evan said.
          He went out the back door and descended the steps. Engrid and Dora went out the front door. Engrid froze in her tracks. She still had her car keys in her pocket from her trip to the hospital earlier.
         Dora took a breath to speak, but Engrid shushed her with a sharp gesture. Dora looked at her, confused.
         "Get in my car," Engrid whispered, "Hurry."
         They hurried through the shadowy darkness towards Engrid's Town Car. Grant saw them. They knew he saw them when a bullet flew through the night. Engrid jumped in the car. Grant ran toward his car to get away.
         "Call the police," Engrid instructed Dora, cranking her car and throwing it into reverse.
         Evan heard the gunshot. He threw down the buckets and came running, his heart pounding in his chest. He saw Grant running toward the little Subaru. Evan was lightning fast, and adrenaline fueled as he sprinted full tilt across the grass. He and Grant had unfinished business. Engrid switched the car from reverse to drive, floored the accelerator and the land yacht Town Car flew forward. She honked her car horn to startle Grant. Her gambit worked. He paused for just a moment, his surprised expression illuminated by her car headlights. Both women screamed and Engrid slammed on the brakes as Evan's form materialized out of the darkness and slammed Grant up against the side of the Subaru. Engrid swerved as the car skidded to a stop, inches from the curb, narrowly missing running over Evan.
         Dora dialed 9-1-1 and told the police to hurry because there was a prowler with a gun. Engrid popped the trunk and grabbed a set of jumper cables. She hurried as quickly as her legs would take her while Dora kept the dispatcher apprised of the situation.
          Evan grabbed Grant's wrists and slammed him against the roof of the car repeatedly until he dropped the gun. When it hit the ground, the pistol discharged a second round, but that bullet harmlessly embedded itself into a nearby tree. Dora and Engrid both yelped when the gun fired again. Evan pulled Grant forward and slammed him face first onto the ground.
          "Evan, what are you doing? I love you Evan!" Grant cried out, the blood staining his teeth a vampiric red, "Don't do this to me, Evan. I love you so much!"
          Evan did not even pause. He pulled Grant's wrists back as Engrid arrived with the jumper cables from her trunk. Evan tied up Grant while the sound of sirens rose in the distance. Payson was back on duty so he and Jimmy responded to the 9-1-1 distress call.


          Jimmy and Payson arrested Grant, unceremoniously shoving him into the back of his squad car. After taking their three statements, Jimmy and Payson left with Grant safely in the backseat of their squad car. After the sounds of the police car died away and they were greeted with the crickets that lived in the shrubbery and chirped their happy songs every night when the weather was warm and balmy.
          "Are gay people's lives always this off the rails?" Engrid asked.
          "No," Evan said flatly, and walked back toward the shed.
          "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
          "To get the buckets."
          Engrid and Dora both sighed and met him on the porch.
          Engrid almost tossed her cookies again when Evan unlocked and opened the door. She didn't really know what blood smelled like, but it was breathtakingly foul.
          "I think our first task," Dora said, "Is opening every window in the house.
          "I'll get us some VapoRub to put under our noses to help block the smell." Evan offered. It was a small kindness, but it was all he was able to provide.
          Evan let each take a gob of the VapoRub on their fingers and smear it under their noses. After that was done, he and Dora set about opening the windows while Engrid started filling buckets with warm water from the sink. The buckets were too big for the sink, so she filled a medium sized pot and then poured that into the buckets on the floor. The floor would be relatively easy, though she was unsure how to get blood spatter off of plaster and drywall. She could only tackle one conundrum at a time.

Chapter 27

O
          ver the next few hours, the three of them managed to get the house decently clean and aired out. It wasn't perfect, but Evan planned to call a cleaning service in the morning to get the rest done.
          "Are you ready to go back to my house?" Engrid asked.
          "I'm going back over to the hospital." Evan replied.
          "I don't know if that's such a good idea. I'm sure Andrew will be tired."
          "I'm bringing things to sleep there."
          Dora put her hand on Evan's shoulder, "I know you feel guilty about what happened to Andrew, but you shouldn't. None of this is your fault."
          Evan shook his head, "It's not about that. I'm going because I love him, and I can't stand the idea of him waking up alone, well, ever again."
          Both women smiled.
          "I see Andrew has officially melted the heart of the local Ice King." Dora said.
          Evan smiled.
          "Well, remember, be careful, those hospital doors don't have locks." Engrid said.
          "And no sponge baths without the patient's consent." Dora added, wagging her finger at him.
          "Sooo," Evan said, "I'm sure he'll consent. I can be very persuasive, plus, it wouldn't be the first time I wedged a chair under a door handle."
          Engrid stifled a cough.
          Dora started laughing, "I guess you can be persuasive."
          They all descended into hysterics. The weight of all that had happened crashed down on them. After several minutes. they dabbed their eyes and tried to regain their composure.
          "I think we all needed a good laugh." Engrid said, trying to take a deep breath to calm herself.
          After the ladies left, Evan packed a bag, grabbed an army surplus cot out of the closet, and headed back to the hospital so that he would be there when Andrew woke up.


          Evan had to slip past the nurses' station since visiting hours were long over. He slowly, quietly opened the door and peeked in. Andrew was sound asleep. Evan slipped quietly into the room and set up the cot and pulled out a few things he'd brought from home. Once he bedded down, he lay on the cot looking up at Andrew. Andrew looked so small and frail. Slowly, Evan was overcome by the exhaustion of the day and sleep came quickly in the quiet room.
          Evan awoke to see Andrew watching him. Evan smiled and sat up quickly.
          "You're awake!" Evan said.
          "I should say that to you." Andrew teased with a weak smile, "I've been awake for two hours. You must be exhausted, you didn't budge."
          "I'm here." Evan said, moving to a chair in the room.
          "I was about to yank one of these cords out to get the cavalry in here to check on you." Andrew teased.
          "No need."
          "I'm glad you are here," Andrew said, "You are the only person I want to see right now."
          Evan stood up and gently petted Andrew's hair, "I love you Andrew. I know I've told you that, but I want you to hear it again."
          "I love you too, Evan. When I saw him point that gun at you, something primal snapped. I could have killed him with my bare hands if I had to. I would have done absolutely anything to protect you," Andrew said.
          "I know. You are a hero, Andrew Garrison."
          "What?"
          "You saved my life. You took a bullet for me. You are a hero." Evan said, gently stroking Andrew's forearm, being careful to avoid the IV.
          Andrew looked uncomfortable, "No. It just happened."
          "Well, a hero deserves a hero's reward," Evan said, his voice shifting to indicate the serious topic was over.
          "Huh?" Andrew said, "What did you have in mind?"
          Evan took one of the chairs and moved it to the door. He tipped the chair back slightly and wedged the back of the chair under the door handle. Andrew watched him with curious interest.
          Evan dug around his satchel and brought out a sponge, a dishtowel, and a bowl. He filled the bowl with warm water from the tap in the bathroom and brought it back.
          "Now, Andrew, Dora insisted that I had to get the patient's consent for a sponge bath."
          "Okay."
          "Now, I'm going to need a verbal yes. Do you, Andrew James Garrison, consent to a sponge bath from me, Evan Robert Grayson?"
          "Yes." Andrew said, grinning like an idiot.
          As Evan was wringing out the sponge in the bowl, the chair slid back as the door opened. Evan quickly hid the sponge behind his back. The nurse entered and looked at them both.
          "Evan?" she said, dressed in blue scrub pants and a nurse's smock with teddy bears on it.
          "Kathy?" Evan said, "It's been a while."
          "Yes, it has." She replied.
          Evan said casually, "How long have you worked here?"
          "About five years now. I'm glad you are back." Kathy said, "How do you two know each other?"
          "Kathy," Evan said, proudly puffing up his chest, "This is my boyfriend, Andrew."
          "You can't be serious?" she gasped, almost dropping Andrew's chart.
          "I am." Evan said confidently.
          "That's wonderful!" she said, "But you can't stay in here like that."
          "What?" Evan said, his face falling.
          "The cot. You can sleep in here. You can use the chair or curl up at his feet like a cat, just get rid of the cot. It's a tripping hazard."
          "I like the cat idea," Andrew said.
          "I saw you come in here with it last night. Andrea said that I should stop you. She's one of the traveling nurses. I said, 'That's Evan, he pretty much comes and goes as he pleases.' She said, 'like a stray cat?' I said, 'Basically."
          "So, now I'm a stray cat?" Evan said, only mildly amused.
          "Just be careful," Andrew warned, "If you feed him, he'll show up every day at mealtime."
          Kathy laughed.
          "So, we're sticking with the 'Evan is a stray cat' metaphor?" Evan said, smiling, "Fine, then. Which one of you is feeding me tonight?"
          "Me-ow!" Kathy joked, doing a clawing motion with her hand.
          Evan and Andrew both laughed.
          "Well," Kathy said, "I do have a question for you, Andrew. Do you consent to a sponge bath from this guy?"
          Andrew nodded, "Definitely."
          "How did you know?" Evan asked.
          "The water, the soap, the towel, and I assume you have a wet sponge pressed up against your back."
          "You're pretty smart," Andrew said.
          "People hate stupid nurses," Kathy replied, "I'll tell Diego that you're covered."
          "Diego?" Andrew said, sitting up a bit and grinning.
          Evan very gently bopped Andrew's shoulder, "You're off the market."
          "Well, I'll come back in about 20 minutes to check on you and take vitals." Kathy laughed.
          Kathy exited, and Andrew got his first sponge bath.
         

Chapter 15

A
ndrew awoke with a start. He had an odd feeling. Something wasn't right. He had the feeling that he was being watched. He rolled over far enough to see up the slats of the blinds. Engrid's bedroom light was off and her curtains drawn, so she wasn't watching him. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Something moved. He was sure of it. He lay back down at an angle, so his face was toward the bedroom door leading out to the landing at the top of the stairs but was careful to keep one eye open just wide enough to see what was going on. He was certain he'd seen something moving. But maybe it was just his imagination. Then his eyes slowly adjusted to seeing again and he could make out the figure of a person standing in the doorway.
         The icy fingers of panic shot through his body as he lay perfectly motionless on his bed. Andrew closed his eyes and reopened them. The shadowy figure remained. Who was that? It just stood there. It suddenly popped into Andrew's head that it must be a ghost. Surely a house as old as his must have at least one ghost in it. He suddenly remembered a story that Engrid had told him about the house's history.
         Apparently, Richard had been a history buff and had bought this house because it was reputed to have a ghost. Of course, Engrid neglected to tell him this until after he'd already signed the papers and had moved in. Since nothing happened right away, he'd put the story out of his mind. The story had something to do with a traveler on a rainy night. In 1876, this house that Andrew now lived in was only about three years old. It replaced a house that was built in 1825. In 1876, this was the only house around. None of the other houses that now lined Maple Avenue existed. The previous house had been destroyed by a tornado.
         Local legend had it that a very malevolent doctor lived in that area and frequently traveled that road at night on his way to a house of ill repute a few miles further out from town. He had failed to save the only son of a poor farmer. Well, the farmer's wife was a practitioner of black magic and tried to conjure up something to scare the doctor with. It turns out the thing that the old farmer's wife got to scare the doctor was a vicious ghost hound. One evening in July, the doctor was outbound toward the house of ill repute when he noticed something in the woods keeping pace with his horse. He kept his eye on it. The hound seemed to glow in the full moonlight of that 19th Century evening. Suddenly it leapt onto the road, spooked the horse and caused the doctor to fall off his horse. No one really knows what happened to the doctor that night. All people know for sure is that his bloody clothes were found on the roadway directly in front of Andrew's new house.
         Engrid had said that usually on hot, balmy nights, Rose and Richard both said that a shadowy figure would be in their house late at night. Rose said that on a number of occasions she would get the feeling that she was being watched. She would look around and in some dark corner or unlit doorway, the shadowy doctor from long ago would be standing there watching her. Rose never said she felt threatened by it. It was just there. Some say the doctor was not that bad and was keeping watch over that house to make sure that the ghost hound never came inside. Andrew did not find Engrid's story very comforting at that moment.
         Andrew was suddenly taken with a bout of courage, fear, and stupidity. Andrew threw back the covers and stood up. The figure turned and ran down the stairs. Andrew took off after him. He heard heavy thudding footsteps on the stairs. His own, lighter, fleshy padding came down after it. He heard the intruder as he got to the bottom of the stairs. He ran down the wide hallway to the back door with Andrew hot on his heels.
         "Stop! Wait!" Andrew yelled. For some reason, he wanted to know why the ghost still stayed in the house and hadn't moved on.
         The ghost ran out of the back door and into the yard. Andrew kept running. He ran out into the backyard calling out for it to stop that he wanted to talk about what happened. He walked around the gazebo and tried to find it. In his mind, he was convinced that the ghost of a reconstruction era doctor was hiding in his backyard.
         Andrew saw the flickering of lights as he walked around. His shouting had awakened Engrid. She pulled her robe tightly around her waist and worked her flashlight with her other hand.
         "What in the world are you doing out here?" She asked. "Oh!" She gasped and pointed her flashlight at the sky.
         "What's the matter?" Andrew asked. He stopped long enough to feel a draft. He looked down and realized that he wasn't wearing anything. His lean, nude body was glistening in the moonlight of that balmy night.
         "I am so sorry," He said and bolted towards his back door. He threw it open and went inside- his face burning hot with shame at what had just happened.
Engrid stood on the grass motionless, her flashlight trained on Andrew's back door. She wasn't sure what to make of the spectacle she'd just seen. She just stood there quietly in the pale, summer moonlight. Movement called her attention away from the door. A shadowy figure was moving beneath the watchful gaze of the streetlights pouring in between the houses. It was Dora. She was moving quickly, an expression of concern and confusion across her careworn face.
         "What's the matter? What's all this ruckus out here?"
         "I'm not sure," Engrid said, shifting her gaze to Dora, "I think Andrew saw the ghost."
         "What ghost?"
         "You know. The ghost story Richard used to tell about the dead doctor."
         Dora raised her hand to shield the glare from the flashlight Engrid was now pointing in her face. "Don't tell me you've been filling Andrew's head with all that nonsense. You'll have him scared out of his wits."
         "It's not nonsense. What else would explain what I just saw?"
         "What was that?"
         "Andrew was running around in his backyard at 3:45 in the morning buck naked yelling 'stop' 'wait' and all."
         "I know what he was saying, I heard him too. He was making so much noise, I thought the police were chasing an escaped convict through the neighborhood."
         "He was chasing the ghost, I'll bet you."
         "What was he planning on doing with it when he caught it?"
         Engrid just shrugged.
         "Richard was just pulling your crusty old leg, now go back to bed."
         Engrid pointed her light back at his door. Dora cleared her throat and said, "I don't think he's doing an encore, Engrid, now go to bed. The poor kid's been under a lot of pressure and you and your tall tales have driven him plumb batty."
         Dora turned and walked back toward her house. "Go to bed!" She called over her shoulder at Engrid who hadn't moved from the spot from which she last saw Andrew.
         "What about that?" Engrid asked.
         Dora stopped and turned around.
         "What about what?"
         Engrid pointed to the door of Andrew's toolshed.
         "Andrew is not an idiot. Something happened tonight." Engrid said.
         Dora walked back over and looked where Engrid pointed.
         She was at a loss to explain what she'd just seen. She wasn't about to give up. Andrew was a smart person; he wouldn't do something like that without good reason.
         "If there is something out here, we should call the police," Dora said, her voice quivering a bit. She was suddenly nervous. It was the wee hours of the morning. Andrew had been shouting while running around naked in his backyard. Engrid wasn't wrong, Dora thought, Andrew was pretty sharp. Something must have happened.
         It was the only place Engrid could think of that a ghost or, more likely, a criminal could be hiding. Andrew must not have seen the criminal leave. There was no gate in the privacy fence behind Andrew's house. The only ones were behind Engrid's house and behind Evan and Myrtle's house. Both households were careful to keep them locked, especially at night- on account of just such an occasion.
         "It's probably nothing," Engrid said, waving her hand dismissively and started back toward her house.
         "Wait," Dora said.
         As Engrid came back, she thought she caught motion on the far side of the dilapidated gazebo. She turned to face that direction. The moonlight was shining down and illuminated her surroundings fairly well. She clicked off her flashlight and listened carefully. For the first time that evening, she realized the crickets were so loud she could barely hear herself think.
She crept slowly toward the gazebo, the tail of her bathrobe and nightgown fluttering in a slight breeze that happened to be rustling by. Dora followed Engrid by the pale moonlight shining off of her snowy hair. Slowly, Engrid made her way around the perimeter of the gazebo. Satisfied no one was hiding in its vicinity, she trained her attention back to the dilapidated tool shed. She rejoined Dora who was still rooted to the same spot. Slowly, so as not to be heard approaching, they made their way toward the shed.
         Dora noticed that the door wasn't locked. It could only be locked from the outside. She reached out her hand and grasped the rusty handle. She wrapped her fingers around it and pulled it slowly toward her. She stepped back as she pulled the outward swinging door past herself.
         Engrid clicked her flashlight back on and shone its brightness through the tiny space. The lawnmower was in place. The rough hewn wood workbench was covered with its usual assortment of useless junk. She noticed a large tarpaulin in the middle of the floor. She didn't remember a tarp being there before, but they had no way of knowing what Andrew might have moved around in there. Engrid tapped Dora's shoulder and pointed toward the tarp. Dora's eyes were as big as saucers. Engrid decided to peek and see what was hiding under that tarp. She walked up to it and reached down. The tarp moved- or did it? She wasn't quite sure. All she knew was that she was sure it had moved. She stepped back. The tarp definitely moved that time. The tarp rose before her. Her eyes got wide behind her thick lenses. She took several large steps toward the door.
         "Engrid!" Dora yelled, backing out of the toolshed, "Get out of there!"
         The tarp was standing; it was as big as a man. The tarp rushed towards her. She screamed and stumbled out of the door, just missing knocking Dora to the ground. Engrid fell to the ground as the tarp shoved her as it ran by. The man wearing tarp shed it and ran.
         "That was no ghost," Engrid said, slowly getting up off the ground with Dora's help and dusting off her knees.
         "We need to call the police," Dora said.
         "There's no point. There's no way to catch up with him now."
         Both women stood in startled amazement, watching as the figure fled into the shadows between Dora and Andrew's houses. Neither had any idea who that could be. Engrid shook her head and turned toward her house. Dora followed.
         "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
         "There's a prowler out here," Dora said, "If you're not calling the police, then you and I are having a slumber party."
         Engrid nodded her agreement and both went to Engrid's house.


         The next evening, Engrid was sitting on her front porch waiting for Andrew to get home. She was going to have a word with him about last night. She wasn't upset as much as confused. She also wanted to tell him what she'd seen in the tool shed after he'd gone back in the house. The birds were chirping as the stifling heat bore down. Since the summer solstice was just a few weeks ago, it was still light until after 9:00, so the sun hadn't really begun its descent toward the horizon.
         Sure enough, like clockwork, 5:25pm, a black Pathfinder crested the hill and approached. It turned into Andrew's driveway and parked. Engrid hopped up and went across the grass. Andrew was almost to the first step when he heard footsteps on the gravel. He turned.
         "Good afternoon Engrid, sorry about last night."
         "It's okay. I just want to know what happened."
         "Come inside. I'll make you some dinner."
         "You don't have to put yourself out like that."
         "I don't want to eat alone. Unless you've got other plans, I'd like you to stay."
         "Okay." She wasn't going to start an argument, if he wanted to feed her; it was more than fine with her. She followed him to the steps and into the house.
         They went into the kitchen where Andrew started making some chili and beans to go with the sandwiches he was about to make. He pulled the meat out of the refrigerator and put it in the microwave.
         "What happened last night?" Engrid was curious.
         "You can start by making some salads." Andrew smiled over his shoulder.
         She hopped up and opened the refrigerator and pulled out some lettuce and carrots. She sat them on the counter while she rambled around for a cutting board.
         "You still haven't answered my question." She said, carefully slicing the carrots.
         "I had a dream that someone was in my house."
         "Really?" the pace of her cutting slowed considerably.
         "I woke up and had the strangest feeling that I was being watched. Then I realized that there was a shadowy figure standing in the doorway. I told it to go away. It turned and ran down the stairs. I chased after it. I remembered your story about the old doctor and I wanted to stop the ghost and ask why it was still there. I guess people think the strangest things in dreams. But I chased after it. I totally forgot I was naked and I had no idea anyone would see me that late at night," He said to the light inside the microwave.
         "Hmm. Did you say you heard it running down the stairs?"
         "Yeah. Real heavy footsteps. Then it ran out the back door. I just kept chasing."
         "Wouldn't a ghost have just vanished or gone through the door without opening it? That's what Richard said happened with the dead doctor, as soon as they saw it, it vanished into thin air without a sound."
         Andrew turned to face her. She had completely stopped slicing carrots.
         "Engrid, do you think that there was someone actually in my house last night?"
         "Yes." She replied without hesitation.
         Andrew's eyebrows shot up, "What?"
         "After you went back inside, Dora came out to see what was going on. We thought about the toolshed, so we went and looked in there. There was somebody in there. I didn't get a good look, but they nearly knocked Dora and I both on our butts when they ran away."
         "Should I call the police?"
         "I don't see what the point would be. Whoever or whatever it was is long gone now. Like I said, I didn't get a good look, so I wouldn't be able to give any sort of description except maybe height and weight, but nothing else."
         "I guess you're right. But how did he get in?"
         "I don't know. Maybe he came in the back door. Are you sure you locked it last night? Sometimes I forget."
         "I'm pretty sure. I thought it was locked, but it must not have been."

Chapter 16

S
unday morning dawned. Andrew called Engrid, "Hello, Engrid, how are you this morning?"
         "Good." She said in response, he could hear a spoon clinking against a bowl in the background.
         "Um, would you mind if I came to church with you?"
         "I'd like that, Andrew. Since I play the piano and all, I have to be there awfully early, so you might want to drive yourself."
         "That's fine. Can I ride with you? I can explore while you get warmed up."
         "That would be very nice. I generally leave around 9:00 so I can get things situated before Sunday School."
         Oh. He hadn't planned on Sunday School.
         "Well, maybe I'll skip Sunday School this week."
         "Well, the men folk would love to have you join them. They need a fresh face now and then."
         "Maybe another time. But I will be there for the main service. It's at 11, right?"
         "On the dot. I'll see you then?"
         "Sure thing, Engrid. Say, does Evan go to church there?"
         "Yes. He's a Sunday School teacher, you know."
         "He is?"
         "Sure is. He's great with the kids. Those kids just love Evan. It's good for them to have a solid male role model to look up to. With all the mess on TV, it's nice for them to see a good man for a change."
         "That's definitely true Engrid. Evan's the best. I'll see you."
         "See you there, Andrew."
         He hung up the phone. Evan was a Sunday School teacher? That had never occurred to Andrew before.
         He sat on the edge of the bed, one black sock on a foot and the other in his hand. About 10:30, he got into the Pathfinder and backed out of his driveway.
         Once he got there, he sat in the parking lot. He wished he'd ridden with Engrid, that way he would have someone to help make introductions. He got out of the Pathfinder and walked towards the main entrance. The church was a small Presbyterian church out in the country away from the main town.
         It was a little country church. It was red brick with white trim work around the windows and eaves. It had a nice white steeple on it with a little cross way up at the top. It looked like something out of a picture book. He'd never really gone to a church since leaving his parents on the mission field. He imagined southern church women in their floral dresses, fancy hats, gloves, and high heels. There were a few dresses, but no hats and no gloves. Most of the women were wearing slacks of various colors and flats. A few of the middle-aged women were even wearing sandals and denim jumpers with teddy bears and flowers embroidered on them. Obviously, they were school teachers the other 6 days.
         Fortunately, as he approached the small huddled crowd by the door, he recognized Betty from work. He didn't know she went to church here, but it was nice to see a familiar face among so many strange ones.
         "Well hello, Andrew!" Betty greeted him warmly.
         "Everyone, this is Andrew Garrison, he and I work together."
         "That's lovely," an elderly woman in green said. "I'm Georgia Haltam."
         There were a ton of other introductions, but most of the names slipped away despite Andrew's best efforts to remember them all. Betty spirited him away and they went inside. She could sense that he was nervous.
         "So, Andrew. What made you decide to drive all the way out here?" Betty asked.
         "Engrid Matthews is my next-door neighbor. So, I heard about it through her."
         "Yeah, I think I remember hearing something about that. You can sit with my husband and I if you want.'
         "That'd be nice. If that's okay."
         "I wouldn't have offered otherwise," she teased. He smiled.
         "Where is your husband?" Andrew was looking around at the unfamiliar but likable and friendly faces.
         "He's around somewhere. With all these people around, Sunday School must have already let out."
         A few people stopped by to introduce themselves to Betty's friend from work.
         "The people are nice." Andrew observed.
         "Oh, they're wonderful."
         "How was Daytona? When did you get back?"
         "It was fantastic. We got back last night. I wanted to stay an extra day, but Worth had to get back."
         "Ah. How long have you been here?"
         "I grew up in this church. Worth grew up at the Baptist church in town. We've been married for four and a half years."
         "Oh, okay."
         Engrid and the choir suddenly appeared through a door at the front of the sanctuary. Engrid walked quickly across and seated herself on the piano bench. The choir got in place behind the pulpit. The pastor walked out and sat in a large chair behind the pulpit. Andrew's eyes got big. That preacher didn't look like any pastor he'd ever seen.
         "What's the pastor's name?" Andrew whispered to Betty.
         "Her name's Michelle Creighton. She's a good preacher. We were a little worried- with her being a woman and all, but she's turned out to be good."
         Michelle was a larger woman with wild red hair and was wearing a flowing robe that was a bright blue. Her reading glasses were perched on her nose as she waited.
         Engrid began playing something that Andrew didn't recognize.
         Worth appeared at the end of the pew and was properly introduced, via whispers, to Andrew. As Andrew was looking around, the door at the back of the sanctuary opened again. A stream of elementary and middle school aged kids came filing out and joined their parents in the pews. Following behind them were a few other people. They were all young women except one. That exception was an exception to so many rules. That exception was God's gift to the sighted people of the world. That exception was proof that God likes to show off every now and then. Evan either didn't notice or opted not to acknowledge Andrew but went and sat down. Apparently, several of the kids were unclaimed. One young woman sat down, three kids, who looked like fifth graders, sat next to her and then Evan sat on the other side of them. Several older kids were in the row behind them. Apparently, one of Evan's jobs at the church was crowd control.
         The music stopped and the reverend stood behind the pulpit.
         The service went very smoothly, Engrid scarcely missed a note, and the sermon was about the expansive nature of love. Andrew liked the idea that love cannot be exhausted because giving it away only creates more for yourself and others. Soon, the service was complete. Betty had been right; Rev. Creighton was a very good speaker. As Andrew was standing up, Engrid intercepted him as several others were headed in his direction.
         "I'm so glad you came!" Engrid said.
         "So am I. I'll have to come back again."
         "You certainly will," Mrs. Haltam called out from behind Engrid's back. As Andrew was engaged in conversation with Betty, Worth, and Mrs. Haltam, he noticed a figure standing just on the edge of his peripheral vision.
         Evan was standing, waiting his turn to talk to the visitor. As Andrew excused himself and walked over to Evan, a four-year-old ran up and wrapped her arms around Evan's leg.
         "Hold me Mr. Evan!" the child implored.
         "No, Sarah, your mother's waiting for you outside."
         "I don't want to." She folded her arms and scowled. Evan acquiesced and picked the child up in his arms. She was so excited; she wrapped her arms around Evan's neck. "Thank you, Mr. Evan."
         "You're welcome, Sarah. Now go outside." He put her down and she scampered toward the door. Andrew couldn't help but smile. Evan was so awesome that it was just sickening.
         "I see you've been busy." Andrew remarked.
         "Yeah. They'll keep you on your toes," Evan smiled. He couldn't help but look deeply into Andrew's eyes. Then he snapped back, remembering where they were. More people were crowding around them.
         "Don't hog him, Evan," Betty said, "There are others for him to meet."
         Andrew was subjected to another whirlwind of faces and names. He tried to remember descriptions, so he could ask Engrid later.
         After the throng dispersed, Andrew and Evan walked back out toward the parking lot.
         "What are you doing for lunch?" Andrew asked.
         "Actually, I'm supposed to invite you to Engrid's house for lunch. Mom, I, and Dora are having lunch there and she wants you to join us."
         "I wonder why she didn't ask me when I talked to her on the phone this morning."
         "It's Engrid. Who knows?"
         "True. Who knows? I don't even think Engrid knows half the time."
         "No kidding." Evan laughed.
         "Are you riding back with me?" Andrew asked.
         "Yeah. I rode with mom, but I told her you'd drive me back."
         "How generous of me." Andrew grinned, "Would you like to go out later?"
         "A date?" Evan smiled.
         "Yes."
         "Sounds great.
         They got in and drove back toward town. Once they got back, Evan walked home to change. Andrew wasn't sure what the logic was in riding back with him, other than Evan wanted to be near Andrew. Evan didn't like being away from Andrew. So, if it meant walking home in his church clothes, then so be it. If those kids hadn't needed refereeing during church, Evan would have sat with him then. There was plenty of room between Andrew and the end of the pew for another person.

Chapter 17

W
hen Andrew got home from lunch, a few minutes passed before his phone buzzed again. This time, Evan was on the line.
         "So, about tonight?" Evan asked.
         "What about it?" Andrew asked slyly.
         "You asked me out on a d.a.t.e. Remember?" he whispered.
         "I did ask you out on a date. Evan, would you go out with me on a date?"
         "Hmmm." Evan said coyly, "I guess I might have time. Let me check my schedule." Andrew heard a few papers rustling.
         "Guess what? I'm free."
         "Yay!" Andrew said. "So, 4:30 then?"
         "What are we seeing?"
         "I don't know. I figure we could go out to this little Italian bistro I know in Columbia. Benicia's. Then, we'll go to the theater and see what's playing next."
         "Oooh. Italian, eh? So, dinner and a movie. I guess I'm gonna have to start putting out soon." Evan said, his grin coming through on the phone.
         Andrew laughed out loud. Evan chuckled a little.
         "So," Andrew said, "I'll pick you up at 4:30, we'll drive into town, eat dinner and then we'll go out to a movie. I'll have you home by midnight."
         "Yes. I turn into a dreadful troll at midnight." Evan teased.
         "Evan, you couldn't be a troll if you tried."
         "Nice try."
         "It's true. Of us, I'm the troll. You're the sexy, smart, funny one."
         "Hardly. But, 4:30. I'll be ready. Ma's going over to Aunt Georgia's house this afternoon. So, just drop by the house. We wouldn't want people to think I liked you or anything."
         "Of course not, it would ruin your reputation as an Ice King."
         "See, you understand."
         "Yeah. So, Mr. Marvelous, I'll see you at 4:30."
         "See you then."
         They said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. By the time they had all gotten home from church, changed, gone over to Engrid's, eaten and cleaned up after lunch, it was already 3. 4:30 would soon be upon them.
         Andrew rushed upstairs and threw open his walk-in closet door. He walked to the middle of the aisle and looked around- a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. He started pulling things out and looking at them. Opposite the door, at the other end of the aisle, there was a full-length mirror. Andrew would assemble a pants and shirt combination, then hold it up in front of the mirror, covering his body. He tried light and festive and decided he looked like a beach bum tourist. He tried Manhattan black and decided he looked like he was either in mourning or going Goth. He tried loose fitting and decided he looked like a Goodwill reject. He tried tight and decided it made him look scrawnier than he already was. He started to get frustrated that he couldn't find the perfect outfit. Since Evan's mom was going to be gone, he wanted Evan's jaw to drop when he saw him. Tonight was their first actual date, date. The dinner was nice, but this was a traditional date that they both were calling a 'date.' So, naturally, it was Andrew's plan to make Evan want him more than he'd ever wanted anyone ever.
         Meanwhile, Evan was upstairs at his own house. Myrtle was getting out the vacuum to clean the carpet in the den. Evan was standing in front of his much smaller closet. Nothing appealed to him to wear. He went into the attic. When he moved home from New York, he had stored most of his 'city clothes' in wooden foot lockers that were now in the attic. He had to decide fast so he would have time to wash it so he wouldn't smell like an old lady's shoebox when Andrew got there. He decided on a blue shirt that had just a hint of shimmer to it and flat fronted off white pants and a belt. As Evan was rifling through a green foot locker, he had to remind himself that what looked awesome in Chelsea, would get his butt kicked in Columbia. But what he picked out was decent and didn't smell at all. He went back to his bedroom and rummaged through his clutter drawer to find his hair gel and skin cleanser with moisturizer. He hadn't used any of it in so long he hoped it hadn't expired. He couldn't find an expiration date, so he figured it must still be good.
         His mother was finished vacuuming and was channel surfing. He called down the stairs to her, "Are you still going over to Aunt Georgia's?"
         "Yeah. I'll leave here a little before 4:00 and get back here around 9 or 10. Why?"
         "Just curious is all."
         "Okay. Got a hot date?" She joked.
         "I wish." Evan laughed. "Some friends of mine and I are going to the movies in Columbia tonight. I'll be back here between 11 and 12."
         "Uh-huh. Trying to kick your poor mother out of her own house so her son can get his groove on?"
         "Yeah right."
         She had found a nature program about Bengal tigers and that kept her occupied. About 3:45, she left for Aunt Georgia's. As soon as her blue Oldsmobile backed out of the driveway, Evan ran for the shower. He couldn't shower with her in the house because she would want to know what had possessed Evan to shower in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday to go out with his scruffy friends from his high school days.
         Back at Andrew's house, he was still deciding what to wear. But he had given up and went and took a shower. Then he put on a simple white button-down, collared shirt, and black pants. It was classic and acceptable. He wasn't sure what else to wear.
         About 4:25, Evan was racing to get ready. Andrew was going to be there any second and time was running out. Andrew was tying his shoes. Evan was buttoning his shirt. Andrew was making sure everything was turned off in the house. Evan was making sure he hadn't missed anything while shaving. Andrew walked out of his house and got in the Pathfinder. Evan was making sure his teeth were clean. Andrew drove up outside Evan's house. Evan heard Andrew drive up outside his house.
         Andrew sat in the car and waited. If Evan didn't come out in a couple of minutes, he would ring the doorbell. Time was up, Andrew got out of the car to go up the steps. The door opened as Andrew stepped away from his vehicle. There he was. Evan walked to the edge of the front porch. He stood tall and straight. Every strand of his wavy blonde hair was perfectly in place. His skin was clear and his eyes sparkled, his smile revealed perfect teeth.
         Evan hoped he hadn't gotten toothpaste on anything. He hoped that he didn't have anything hanging from his nose. He hoped his fly was securely zipped. He hurried down the steps and across the grass. Then his eye caught Andrew's and he stopped. Andrew had taken extra care in grooming too. Evan just stood completely still and stared. Andrew's dark almost black eyes held a certain mystery to them. Andrew's jet-black hair glistened in the sunlight and heat. Andrew smiled. Evan smiled back. When Evan saw Andrew standing in his front yard, all insecurities and worries vanished. All his troubles disappeared when he fell into the entrancing gaze of those eyes.
         After a few seconds of being startled by one another, they snapped back to reality. Evan went around and got in and Andrew did the same. Andrew started the car and took off down the street.
         "I'm assuming our dinner place is nice" Evan asked, breaking the silence.
         "Yes. I picked a nice, quiet, romantic restaurant."
         "Very nice. I'd hate to think you'd picked a dive for our first official date."
         Several miles outside of town, Bam. Flap, flap, flap. The SUV lurched to the left. Andrew slammed on the brakes and the car swerved all over the road, just missing an oncoming car whose horn blared at the near miss. Evan tensed up and grabbed the door. Andrew's arm flew out and hit Evan on his chest. The car slid to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
         "Blowout," Andrew said.
         Evan got out of the car. "Where's the spare?"
         "Underneath the cargo area. I'll get it; you don't need to do that."
         Evan walked to the back and bent over to see if he could see the tire under the car.
         "How do you get it out?" Andrew asked.
         "I don't know. We'll see."
         He lifted the hatch and pulled back the carpet. He got the jack stand and the handles out. The spare was attached by a pulley that kept it tight against the bottom of the undercarriage.
         "I see how this works," Evan said, "You put this rod in that hole in the bumper and twist. That lowers the tire. When it gets down to the ground, you just release it."
         Evan started unbuttoning his shirt. "Don't want to get it dirty." He peeled the shirt back revealing that he did not have an undershirt on. Andrew nearly passed out. Bare chested, Evan put the shirt on the backseat. Andrew took the rod from Evan's hand and started lowering the tire. Once it was on the ground, Andrew stood behind Evan and waited as Evan awkwardly liberated the tire from its holster.
         "What else can I do?" Andrew asked.
         "You can start by busting the nuts first." Evan said.
         Andrew laughed out loud, "What?"
         "Before I jack up the car, you've got to loosen the nuts."
         "Why didn't you say 'loosen?'"
         Evan smiled slyly, "I think we both know why I phrased it that way."
         Andrew looked around. Evan tapped the tire iron with his foot. Andrew picked up the identified tire iron. He walked over to the edge of the car and looked down.
         "Oh." Andrew put the wrench on the nuts and pulled hard. With a squawk, they let go and the wrench moved counterclockwise.
         In about 20 minutes, they got the tire changed. Evan was sparkling in the equatorial heat.
         "Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
         "No, but we've missed our reservations," Andrew said.
         "We did?"
         "Yeah. We'll never make it in time."
         "I know a cool little place in Columbia we should go to."
         "What is it?"
         "Suar It's a quirky little restaurant. It's not too far from the theater."
         "Okay." After Evan put his shirt back on, they got in the Pathfinder, and drove off down the road.
         As they were driving, Andrew started talking, "So, Evan, can I ask you a question?"
         "Sure. What's going on?"
         "How long have you known you were gay?"
         Evan thought about it for a moment, "I guess I always have. I didn't really put the word 'gay' to it until I was around 11 or so. I just knew that I liked boys and not girls. It never really occurred to me that was wrong until about then."
         "What happened?"
         "Nothing much, but some of the other kids called this boy a fag and it stung me. I didn't say anything about it, of course. See, these two boys were rumored to have been caught together in a bathroom stall at school. I don't know if it was true or not, probably not, but those two boys' reputations were ruined. They were pegged as fags and that was the end of a lot of friendships and athletics and stuff. So, they were done for."
         "Oh. So, where are they now?"
         "I dunno. I guess they're still around. What about you?"
         "What about what?"
         "When did you know you were gay?" Evan clarified.
         "I guess about the same as you."
         "When did you come out?"
         "To whom?"
         "To anyone."
         "I came out to my family when I was 15. The first time I came out to anyone other than them was when I was about 16. It was my best friend, Wanda."
         "I guess your best friend being named Wanda was a clue." Evan quipped.
         "I guess so. Anyway, my uncle and I were living in San Diego at the time, we'd just moved from Norfolk, Virginia. Wanda was a friend that I met on the internet. Since I moved so much, most of my friends were online."
         "Okay. What did Wanda say?"
         "She was cool with it. In fact, she had a cousin who was gay. She and her family lived in San Antonio."
         "I guess Texas isn't a fun place to be gay either."
         "Guess not. Anyway, she said that it was just something that was and she'd known me long enough that this wasn't a problem for her."
         "What did your uncle say?"
         "My uncle doesn't know."
         "Really? Why not?"
         "Why should he? He'd be totally against it."
         "Well, I guess I can't complain. Padgett is about the only person who knows I'm gay- other than you- at least around here."
         "I guess it's important that I'm clued in on that one. I was out in college, though."
         "That's cool. So was I."
         They rode in silence for a few minutes. They were almost to the edge of Irmo and would be passing into the city of Columbia proper soon.
         "I guess it's not safe to be out around here." Andrew said.
         "It would probably be okay, but I don't know that I'm ready to roll those dice. There's so much controversy about it that I would be afraid that I'd lose so many friends. God only knows what Engrid would say."
         "You think she'd be opposed to us being together?"
         "She probably would be at first, but maybe after she calmed down a little it would be different."
         "At least Dora would be with our side and help bring Engrid around, if she needed it."
         "I guess." Evan was still ill-at-ease about Dora knowing or Engrid eventually finding out, but he refused to let it ruin his evening.
         "Dora said she wouldn't say anything about it. I don't think she has. Engrid would have broached the subject and she hasn't."
         Evan gave Andrew directions on how to get to Suar They went to dinner there and went to a movie. After that, they were standing in the parking lot.
         "Is there anything else to do around here?" Andrew asked.
         "There's Sweet Pea's."
         "What's that?"
         "You never came to Columbia when you were in college?"
         "No. We always went to Atlanta."
         "That's too bad. You'll like Sweet Pea's."
         "Okay. I trust you- how do we get there from here?"
         When they got in the vehicle, Evan gave him directions.
         They drove into the parking lot and parked. Andrew looked at it. It wasn't what he expected something named "Sweet Pea's" to look like. It had reflectively tinted windows, and a line out front.
         "What is this place?"
         "It's a fun place. Do you like to dance?" Evan asked, raising his eyebrows.
         "Yeah. What is it? I thought it was a restaurant."
         "It is. Sort of. It's also a bar and a dance club."
         "Will I get hit on?"
         "Maybe," Evan smiled mischievously.
         They got out and got in line.
         "Get your ID ready," Evan said as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
         As they were standing in line, Andrew noticed something unusual about the crowd around them. Pretty much everyone was a guy. Most of the guys appeared to be with one other guy. It dawned on him that Evan had brought him to a gay bar. It made perfect sense, he just hadn't thought of it.
         Andrew leaned over and whispered in Evan's ear, "This is a gay bar?"
         "Nah? Really?" Evan said and smiled.
         "You didn't think I'd take you to a honky tonk, did you?"
         "No. This is cool. I didn't know they had these here."
         "They do. A few in fact, but this one's my favorite."
         "How often do you come here?"
         "Not often. Once a month or so. I come alone and go home alone, but it's fun."
         "That's awesome."
         They got to the head of the line, showed their ID, and walked in. It was still a little early, but things would pick up soon, even though it was Sunday night. Andrew walked over to the bar. He had never really gone to a gay bar before. He'd never allowed that as a possibility for himself. It wasn't that he was opposed to the idea, it was just that the urge had never hit him.
         He turned around on the stool. Evan was standing behind him. Andrew had to remind himself that this was Evan from Engrid's backyard. This was the same man that, just that morning, had been teaching Sunday School. This was a different side of Evan Grayson. Evan was beautiful and SEXY.
         "Would you dance with me?" Evan slid up next to him and smiled broadly.
         "I don't know."
         Evan's expression shifted to concern, "If you're not comfortable, we can leave."
         "No, no. It's not that, it's just that..."
         "Just what?" Evan was trying to read his expressions.
         "I've never been to a gay bar before." Andrew admitted.
         Evan took a step back in surprise. "Really?"
         "Shocking, I know."
         "Well, I know what'll loosen you up."
         "What?"
         Evan stood next to Andrew at the bar and leaned over it a little. The bartender walked over to them. Andrew just looked at the bartender in hopeless bewilderment.
         Evan spoke up, "Yeah. I want a Grey Goose Martini, three olives, dirty."
         Wordlessly, the bartender started preparing the order.
         "What do you want to drink?" Evan asked.
         "I don't know. Something with vodka or gin."
         The bartender put Evan's drink in front of him and said, "Slow Comfortable Screw."
         "Huh?" Andrew looked up at him.
         "It's a drink. It's got both vodka and gin."
         "What'd you call it?" Evan said, a smirk crossing his lips.
         "It's called a Slow, Comfortable Screw. Looks like you both could use one."
         "Sure, why not?" Andrew said.
         Wordlessly, the bartender started preparing the order. Andrew turned around and watched the floor. It wasn't full yet, but it was getting there. It was probably going to be slower because it was a Sunday night. Friday and Saturday, that place was probably packed with closet cases that were adored by respectable society the rest of the week. The bartender put the drink down in front of Andrew. Evan paid him for both drinks. Andrew just looked at the glass for a few seconds.
         "You did drink in college, didn't you?"
         "A little. Mostly I just mixed stuff in my room for me and my friends."
         "Really? I guess you don't seem like the barhopping type," Evan remarked.
         Andrew picked up his drink and sipped a little, then a little more. He was so nervous, he downed the whole thing. Even the bartender looked at him in amazement. Evan was quietly sipping his martini. Seeing Andrew finished, Evan downed the rest of his martini and put the glass on the bar. He grasped Andrew's hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor. It took a minute or two for the alcohol to kick in, but Evan was already there from the moment they walked in the door. He was so excited to have someone else there to dance with.
         He looked at Evan as he danced up against him. Feeling Evan's body moving against his own was electrifying. Andrew was still a bit in shock reconciling in his brain that this was the same Evan who existed in the rest of the world. He would never be able to see Evan the same way again. For a purely white guy, Evan could move. That man had rhythm in all the right ways.
         Andrew tried to dance a little. Evan smiled at him and it melted him. Andrew felt so awkward dancing with the hottest guy on the floor. He also felt a little proud. It wasn't that the other guys were ugly by any means. They were the standard well-toned, well-groomed gay men. But they had one major defect. That defect was that they weren't Evan. He felt pride that all the other guys had to dance with inferior men while he got to dance with embodied perfection. Not only was he dancing with embodied perfection, embodied perfection was going home with him.
         Evan leaned in closer. Andrew leaned back. Evan said in his ear, "Shake your ass not your shoulders."
         "What?"
         "Shake your ass, not your shoulders. Like this..." Evan demonstrated shaking one's ass but not one's shoulders. That was a very attractive demonstration. Then Evan came back up and danced right up against Andrew's body. Once Andrew got into it, he didn't want it to end. But he knew he had to go to work in the morning.
         They danced for quite a while as the music thumped in their ears. Then Evan said, "I guess we'd better go."
         "What time is it?"
         "11:30. If we hurry, we can be home by a little after midnight or so."
         "Yeah, we'd better go."
         They went out to the Pathfinder in the parking lot.
         "Did you enjoy it?" Evan asked as Andrew unlocked the doors and got in.
         "I did. It was fun seeing you dancing."
         "Why is that?" Evan asked.
         Andrew replied, "You were by far the hottest guy in there. Did you see the looks on the other guy's faces? They were staring at you. They were envious of me."
         "They were envious of you?"
         "Yeah. They wanted to know how someone like me was dancing with a guy like you. They wanted you."
         "Maybe," Evan slid a little closer over toward Andrew.
         "I was staring too," Andrew replied, looking over at him.
         "Really?" Evan liked the compliment even if he didn't agree with it. Evan leaned a little closer. Andrew leaned toward him. He had repositioned himself on the seat so that they were facing one another.
         Evan said softly, "They were staring at you. They were wondering how some standard issue white dude like me landed a hot Brazilian like you."
         Andrew blushed.
         "I'm glad you had fun tonight," Evan said.
         "I'm glad you knew about this place. We'll have to come back."
         "Yes, we will. Maybe next Friday or Saturday." Evan offered.
         "Maybe Saturday. I've got some yard work to do and then we'll come here."
         "Get all hot and sweaty first?" Evan asked, smiling seductively.
         "Yeah, something like that."
         They were eye to eye now; Andrew could feel Evan's breath on his chin. This time, it was Evan's move. Evan leaned in and pressed his lips to Andrew's. Andrew had been waiting for this moment and was ready for it. It felt like he had finally found love as he felt Evan's flesh against his own. Andrew's head swam as his blood supply was redirected elsewhere. They broke their kiss.
         "We'd better get going," Evan said.
         "Yeah," Andrew said, clearing his throat and cranking the car. They set out toward home.
         "I cannot believe tonight happened," Andrew said to no one in particular; the distant, moonstruck look still evident on his face.
         Evan just smiled and glanced over at his newfound love. This had to be one of the happiest nights of his life. Evan too was still swooning over the thought of that kiss, the remnants of which he could still taste.
         Maple Avenue pulled into view.
         "You can just drive to your house, I can walk from there.
         "Okay," Andrew replied.
         As they decelerated towards Andrew's driveway, they noticed that both Engrid's and Myrtle's houses were completely darkened.
         "I guess they're already in bed," Andrew remarked.
         "Neither of them would ever be classified as 'night owls.'"
         Andrew pulled to a stop in his driveway.
         "Goodnight," Evan said, stepping out of the Pathfinder.
         "Goodnight," Andrew smiled and turned towards his front door.
         As he reached the bottom step, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Evan quickly approaching. They faced one another. Evan leaned in and they kissed once again.
         "I just wanted a goodnight kiss," Evan smiled and walked off towards his own bed.
         Engrid had been right. Her advice to let Evan come to him had done just the trick. Andrew's patience was paying off.

Chapter 18

O
n his way home from work, Andrew stopped off at the garden supply store in town. He bought a few flowers to put around the gazebo in the backyard. It needed help and he wanted to make a nice place for Evan and him to be. He carried the trays of impatiens and zinnias around the house to the gazebo. He dug the holes and started planting the flowers. He was happy to have a home that he could make a nice inviting place.
         As Andrew was spraying the flowers with a water hose, Evan walked up behind him. Andrew had changed into a pair of running shorts and an old T-shirt. Evan realized that Andrew was going to be beautiful regardless of what he was wearing. The fact that Andrew didn't feel the need to dress up for the occasion made him all the more appealing.
         "How's it going?" Evan asked casually.
         "I thought they might want a little water."
         "A little water? Then don't pound 'em with a monsoon."
         "What do you mean?"
         "They need a gentle rain. You're giving them a hurricane. First, you've got the water turned up too high. Evan walked over to the spigot and turned the water to about half the pressure Andrew had it on. He walked back over.
         "Now," He stood behind Andrew and wrapped his arms around his body to guide his hands, "What you want to do is pinch the hose in this hand. Like this."
         Evan showed him what to do, "Then put your finger over the other end so that the water comes out like a sheet."
         "Like this?" Andrew started doing it for himself.
         "That's perfect. Spray the water over the flowers, not onto them. Let gravity make the water settle over the flowers rather than squirting it directly on them. Like an artificial rain shower."
         "Oh, I see."
         "Yeah, it takes a gentle touch. Caress the hose."
         Andrew cut his eyes at him. Evan smirked, "Sorry, I got carried away."
         He stepped back to watch Andrew practice watering the flowers. He had the hang of that. Evan walked out toward the tool shed. He returned with an empty tin can. Andrew was still spraying. As Andrew continued, Evan scooped up some of the fertilizer in the can and started spreading it around where Andrew's water was coming down.
         "What does that do?"
         "It's some mild nitrogen fertilizer. Just get it good and wet. When you're putting it on, be careful to keep it off the leaves of the plants. It'll burn them if you're not careful. Then the plant will die."
         "Okay," Andrew kept spraying the water back and forth over the leaves the way Evan had told him to do it.
         "You're doing really well, Andrew. You might turn out to be an alright gardener after all. Who knew?"
         "I guess. A little professional help did just the trick."
         "I'm no professional. Engrid taught me everything I know."
         Andrew looked at his watch. "Want something to eat? It's past dinner time."
         "Yeah, lunch was a long time ago. I guess I can stay."
         "It won't be linen tablecloth, candles, and china; but at least it's food."
         "That's good enough for me," Evan replied, "So long as it's not a thinly veiled attempt to get into my pants." He smiled. Andrew grinned. Evan was one to cut to the chase.
         "What if it isn't so thinly veiled?" Andrew asked.
         Evan smiled broadly. They walked side by side into the house. Evan started to get the sandwich makings out of the refrigerator as Andrew set the table. Andrew couldn't take his eyes off Evan. He was transfixed. Evan was rambling around looking for mayonnaise to go with the honey baked ham slices he'd discovered in a resealable plastic bag. Andrew snapped back to reality and kept putting silverware on the table.
         "There's some soup in a big bowl in there if you want it."
         "What kind is it?" Evan asked.
         "Vegetable. It's also got some ground beef in it too."
         "Sounds good to me." He found the bowl and handed it to Andrew who put it in the microwave. Andrew set the timer and walked back over to the table.
         "Andrew, can I ask you a question?"
         "Sure, why not."
         "Why did you choose to live here?"
         "This house or this town?"
         "This house. Why did you pick this house?"
         "It was homey. Since I moved around so much as a kid, all I wanted was a home. This place fits that perfectly. I like Engrid, she is very nice to me. I thought it would be cool to live next door to her. It would be like having a grandma around. The best part was totally unexpected and wasn't something I'd planned on."
         "What's that?" Evan asked, he pulled a chair back from the table and sat down.
         "Well, my neighbor, Engrid, you see, has this houseboy. True to form, this houseboy is hot- as stated in the Cosmic Houseboy Handbook. Complete with good musculature and fantastic personality. I never expected I'd find myself falling for my neighbor's houseboy." Andrew said as he sat down at the table.
         "So, you're falling for your neighbor's houseboy? That's a little twisted, you know?" Evan said, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
         "Twisted or not, I am. I'm falling for my next-door neighbor's houseboy. But, do you know what the best part is?"
         "What?"
         "He's falling for me, too."
         "Is that so?" Evan nodded slowly, "So, your neighbor's houseboy is falling in love with her next-door neighbor?"
         "Yes. He is. Engrid's neighbor is falling fast and hard in love with her houseboy."
         "I have it on good authority that it's the other way around." Evan said playfully.
         "It seems like I heard that one too, now that you mention it."
          "Got anything to drink?" Evan said, his throat suddenly parched.
         "I've got tea, water, and a couple of sodas."
         "Tea would be nice," Evan said, putting the ham on his sandwich. Andrew got up from the table. He put some ice in the glasses and poured the tea; then he sat back down.
         "So, tell me more about what you've heard about this houseboy." Andrew said.
         "I don't know much...just hearsay mostly. You know the usual...intelligent, funny, drop dead fire and ice gorgeous, well dressed, and just about perfect."
         "Sounds like a nice guy. I think I might have to meet him sometime." Andrew teased.
         "You should. I think he'd like that."
         "So, are you going to eat that sandwich?" Andrew asked.
         "I guess so. I've got to eat something. I'm hungry."
         "So am I."
         "You seem hungry. Haven't eaten lately?" Evan said
         "I'll tell you one thing, though, if this houseboy doesn't kiss me soon, I'm gonna have to kick him out."
         Evan parted his lips to reveal chewed loaf bread and ham. "Bring it on."
         Andrew laughed, "You are disgusting."
         Evan just smiled. In a few minutes, they had finished eating their sandwiches and drinking their iced tea.
         "Got any good movies?" Evan asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
         "A few. What do you want to see?"
         "I don't know. Let's go see what you've got." Evan walked across the hall to the living room. Andrew started looking through his playlist on his phone. He selected one and put it on the stereo. Momentarily, the room was filled with the majesty of Ella. She was singing- "Let's fall in love tonight." It was one of Evan's favorites.
I adore you, so strong for you, why go on stalling, I am falling, love is calling, why be shy, let's fall in love, why shouldn't we fall in love?
         Evan walked over to Andrew and grasped his hand. He pulled him to himself. They started rocking back and forth to the beat of her singing.
         "You are so beautiful," Evan whispered in Andrew's ear. "Why shouldn't we fall in love?"
         "We already have." Andrew whispered back. "I'm not ready for it, but I think I'm in love with you Evan."
         "I'm in love with you, Andrew. I love you so much it hurts. It scares me."
         Andrew stepped back and looked at Evan. They were both still dressed in dirty T-shirts and shorts from gardening.
         Ella continued to croon.
Let's take a chance, why be afraid of it? Let's make our own paradise.
         Andrew stepped back forward. He pressed his lips to Evan's. Evan wrapped his arms tightly around Andrew's body and kissed him back as hard as he could. Andrew wrapped his arms around Evan and kissed that man for all he was worth. They stepped back. Evan stumbled and fell back onto the couch. Andrew landed on top of him. They never broke their kiss the whole time. It hurt a little when their noses collided.
         Good thing Dora wasn't home because neither gave the blinds a single thought.
         Andrew laid on top of Evan's body. He could feel Evan's rhythmic breathing. Up and down his chest went and lifted and lowered Andrew's head. Evan looked down at the top of Andrew's raven hair. Evan was so in love that his whole body ached, but his mind was reeling at what was happening and his heart was fluttering wildly.
         Andrew had never felt so good. He just laid there. He reached up with his arm and slid his hand against Evan's face, then back down his bare chest.
         "Just checking. Wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming," Andrew said into Evan's stomach.
         "You're not dreaming. I am." Evan said, putting his hand on Andrew's shoulder. Evan knew that soon he would have to go home. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to live here with Andrew. He never wanted to leave Andrew. They fell asleep in one another's arms.
         At some point during the night, they made their way upstairs. Evan awoke with the bright morning light streaming through the windows. He looked over and saw Andrew, bare-chested, hair mussed, and sound asleep. Evan could get used to this. Both Evan and Andrew had a very good morning together indeed.

Chapter 19

L
ater, after Evan left, Andrew got to work and sat at his desk. He was on the phone with a client. After hanging up, Andrew was just leafing through some of his mail. He was on cloud 9 but tried to school his features into a neutral expression. He felt better than he had in ages. He felt more alive and vibrant that he imagined was possible. His mind swirled with the images and remembrances of what he and Evan had done. Betty walked up to his desk.
         "Amanda, Darcy, and I are taking a pool. We have a question for you. I want you to be honest with us. Are you ready?"
         "Sure," he glanced furtively at their excited expressions, unsure how to get out of it.
         "Okay. This is a yes or no question. Did you have sex last night?"
         Andrew hesitated. The startled look on his face gave them their answer.
         "Ha!" Darcy called out, "I was right."
         "Wow," Amanda chimed in, "You're a fast operator. You've been in town a few months and you're already screwing around."
         Andrew was feeling mischievous. "What's the pot up to?"
         "$75." Betty replied, "$25 apiece."
         He smirked and leaned back in his seat, "I'll match it and you go double or nothing if you can figure out who I had sex with. Are you game?"
         "Hell yeah!" Amanda called out, "You're on buster."
         "Can we ask questions?" Darcy asked.
         "You get five yes or no questions and you only get one shot at guessing. You have until close of business today to figure it out or I win. Still want to? Pot's at $225."
         Andrew was feeling his oats and was pretty confident they would never figure it out in a million years. He could use their money to buy Evan something nice.
         "Okay. You're on." Betty said. She walked over to the others. The three women huddled for a few minutes. Andrew returned to work but kept his eyes on them. About five minutes passed when the three women came back over to his desk. They all pulled up chairs and sat down. The triumvirate had convened.
         "Are you ready?" Andrew asked, "Remember, yes or no questions only."
         Darcy spoke first, "Question number 1. Is she native to this area?"
         "Yes."
         Amanda posed the second question, "Question number 2. Does she work in a business on the same street as this one?"
         "Yes."
         Betty went next, "Question number 3. Does she have a lot of contact with customers?"
         "Yes."
         They circled back to Darcy for the next question, "Question number 4. Is she well liked?"
         "Yes."
         Betty admitted, "We don't really have a fifth question."
         Amanda piped up at the last second, "Was it a man?"
         Andrew's face completely froze and he blanched three shades whiter. He wanted desperately to play it off, but it just wasn't happening. His brain just wouldn't kick into gear. He sat with a look of stunned disbelief on his face. They had their answer. Their eyes got big as they stared in shock.
         "Holy crap!" Amanda blurted out, "I mean, are you sure?"
         Betty cut her eyes at Amanda for asking such a dumb question.
         Darcy whispered, "You had sex with a man?"
         "Yes." Andrew croaked, the shame making his face feel as hot as fire.
         "You're gay?" Betty said in shock.
         "Yes." Andrew decided to be honest. There was no hiding it now. They had him figured out. Women are good at that.
         Darcy whispered, "Did you have sex with Evan?"
         Andrew's jaw hung open stupidly. Once again, they had their answer.
         "Holy crap," Amanda said again, thunderstruck, "I guess that explains why I've been trying since the 7th grade to bag him. You've been here a few months and you've already had him. That's impressive."
         Betty laughed, "Evan's the local Ice King. He's cold as ice in the love department, you deserve a trophy or something."
         "He's not cold at all," Andrew said. He heard the swoon in his voice too.
         The girls smiled so wide their faces stretched an extra couple of inches.
         "You can't tell anybody about this." Andrew said to them, "Absolutely no one."
         They looked back at him.
         Betty said, "Of course not. This is serious. You two could be in big trouble if that ever got around. So, we'll keep our mouths shut."
         "You can trust us," Darcy said.
         "Just remember," Amanda said, "it was your idea to get us to guess. Why did you do that if you didn't want us to find out?"
         Andrew hung his head in shame and horrified humiliation, "I guess I just got carried away. I guess I figured you'd never guess who."
         "We'll keep it quiet," Betty assured him, "You have our word."
         11:00. The door opened, and Evan walked in for a scheduled meeting. He was dressed in a polo shirt and khakis. All eyes were on him.
         "Good morning," Evan greeted Andrew's coworkers and his former classmates.
         They tried not to giggle. Giggling was undignified, plus it would tip Evan off that they knew. He walked over to Andrew's desk. Andrew was on the phone and motioned for him to sit down, which Evan did. While Evan's back was toward them, the women were grinning at the two lovebirds. Betty made kissing motions with her lips angled so Andrew could see. Darcy was doing a pelvic thrust. Amanda just looked embarrassed on their behalf for their childish and immature behavior. Mr. Jacobs appeared out of his office and they all snapped back to work shuffling papers like they were doing serious business. He walked over to Andrew.
         "Mr. Garrison, may I see you in my office?"
         "Certainly Mr. Jacobs."
         Andrew ended the call and Mr. Jacobs ushered Andrew into his office and shut the door. Evan was left sitting at the desk alone. He had a shoulder bag with him and he pulled out some computer printouts covered in numbers and started reading through it.
         Andrew and his boss met. Mr. Jacobs sat while Andrew remained standing.
         "Mr. Garrison, how's your work coming?"
         "It's going very well, thank you." Andrew's blood pressure had to have been dangerously high. He just knew that Mr. Jacobs had found out about Evan.
         "I'm glad to hear that. You've been doing very good work so far, I can't complain at all about your job performance."
         "I sense there's a 'but' coming."
         "There is. You realize that the walls in this office are paper thin. I hear most everything that goes on out there; including the little wager that was going on. So, I heard what you said to the women about your little rendezvous last night. Now, what you do in the privacy of your own home with your own body is none of my business."
         "Yes sir," Andrew felt like a defective subatomic particle.
         "I have no control over what you do at home. I do, however, have control over what goes on in this office."
         "But sir."
         "Don't worry. Your job's not in danger. As long as this doesn't affect the quality of your work, your job is not the issue. The issue is that, whether you and Mr. Grayson are involved sexually or not, he is still a client of this firm. I cannot have you bedding him at night and then work with him as a client in the daytime. I won't allow that. I'll have to reassign his account to Darcy who will handle it from now on."
         "Okay sir, I'll let him know, then?"
         "Yes. I'll alert Darcy to the situation," He picked up the phone and dialed her extension and explained his decision.
         "Okay, Mr. Garrison, you may go."
         Andrew got up out of the chair and stumbled toward the door. His legs had the consistency of cooked spaghetti. Evan was going to want to know why he was being transferred to another person. He wanted to work with Andrew. What was Andrew going to tell him to explain his transfer to another person?
         He went back to his desk to sit down.
         Andrew cleared his throat, "Mr. Grayson, your account has been transferred to Darcy. If you don't mind, she's waiting for you right over there."
         Evan furrowed his brow, "Why am I being transferred? I want to work with you. Why is that a problem?"
         "Mr. Jacobs decided due to workload distribution to reassign your account to Darcy. Please..." Andrew motioned towards Darcy's desk. Disappointed, Evan collected his things, put them back in his shoulder bag, and moved over to Darcy's desk.

Chapter 20

E
ngrid arrived in the parking lot of the Market Basket grocery store. She'd left Evan in her backyard spraying spiders. She hated spiders and so always found somewhere else to be when they were involved. She got out of the car and rescued a shopping cart from the parking space next to hers. She pushed it toward the door. As she was going, she noticed a red Subaru Outback parked near the entrance to the grocery store. She wouldn't have noticed it except that it had an unusual license plate. It was uncommon in this part of South Carolina to see out-of-state plates. In the larger cities and near the coast, it wasn't all that uncommon for out of state plates to appear, but in Deerfield, that was a rarity. She leaned in close to the plate to see from whence it hailed.
         "New Hampshire. Live Free or Die," she murmured to herself.
         She went on in the store and filed that tidbit in the back of her mind. She went through the store and picked up a few vegetables, some fruit, ice cream, cheese, milk, bread, and other basic things. She had no immediate plans to host any sort of meal. As she was going through the aisles, she kept noticing someone following her. She couldn't seem to catch who it was, but it was rather disconcerting. She'd never been followed before. She would dart behind a display of sour cream and onion potato chips and then turn to see if the person was still there. Invariably, the person wouldn't be there.
         "I must be seeing things," Engrid muttered to herself, "I've finally gone batty."
         She just shook her head and kept shopping. She was reading the label on a can of tuna when she noticed the man walk by again. She was convinced it was a man. She glanced up. She just couldn't focus her old bifocals fast enough to see who it was. She walked quickly to the end of the aisle and looked in the direction the man went.
         "Two can play this game," she said aloud. She squinted her eyes and said, "The hunter has now become the hunted." She went back to her cart and jostled to the other end of the aisle and looked both ways. She glanced back over her shoulder to see if he was there. He wasn't.
         "I must be seeing things." She hadn't gotten a good look at the stranger, but enough that she knew he was wearing dark clothing, which was unusual around there, especially in the summer. She decided that she really was a fruity old bat and so picked up a bag of chicken seasoning mix and started reading the label, glancing up periodically hoping the prey would slip up. He didn't. The mysterious stranger stayed just out of sight while she was reading. She put the bag of seasoning mix in her cart and kept walking. She walked down the length of the store, looking up each aisle to see if he was waiting there.
         "Well what am I gonna do with him if I catch him?" Engrid wondered aloud, "I'd be like a dog that treed a raccoon."
         "Do you need some help, Mrs. Matthews?" It was Ashley, the produce manager.
         "No, actually, I'm fine."
         "Are you sure? I was coming back from break and you looked like you were looking for something."
         "Actually, I was looking for someone. Have you seen a man in dark clothing walking around the store?"
         "No, but then I've been in the back room for 15 minutes or so."
         "Oh. Well, if you see him, let me know."
         "I will, Mrs. Matthews, have a good day." She walked back towards her domain in the produce section. "You have a good day too, Ashley," Engrid called after her. She looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious stranger.
         Engrid still wasn't convinced that she wasn't being followed. She wasn't normally the least bit paranoid and had been accused multiple times of being flat out oblivious. So, if she felt there was someone following her, there must be someone there. She wasn't the sort to just make something like that up. She walked around the grocery store a few more times to see if he was still there. When she was convinced that the mysterious man was gone, she went to the checkout register.
         "Good morning, Engrid, how are you?" The check-out person said cheerfully as she began to scan the groceries.
         "I'm fine Martha, say, did a man in dark clothing come in here?"
         "Yeah. He didn't buy anything. It looked like he was looking for someone."
         "Really? Do you think he was looking for me?"
         "I don't know why he would be. Why do you ask?"
         "I don't know. I just felt like he was following me around the store."
         "I don't think it was you he was looking for. He was here before you and he's already left. So, he couldn't have been looking for you."
         "Not looking for me, necessarily. I think I caught up with him here and he started following me."
         "Why would a total stranger be following you around the grocery store?"
         "Beats me."
         "It's strange."
         "It is. Oh well. Oh, say, did you see what car he left in?" Engrid asked.
         "A red Subaru."
         "The one with the out of state license plate?"
         "It was the only red Subaru in the parking lot, so I reckon it'd have to be the one."
         "I guess so," Engrid picked up her bagged groceries and put them in her cart. She walked out the door and across the parking lot. She looked down and across the street. She so nothing or nothing out of the ordinary.
         She got in her car and returned home. She got out and took her groceries inside. After she was putting her newly purchased culinary items away, she went outside to Evan. He was in the tool shed. She walked across the back yard and appeared in the doorway of the tool shed. Evan was standing in the room removing the lid of a garden sprayer.
         "Did you notice an unusual vehicle in town today?"
         "Not really, why?"
         "I think there was someone following me in the store."
         "Really? Why would they want to do that?"
         "I don't know. I just got the feeling that someone was following me."
         "What does that have to do with whether or not I saw a strange vehicle? Are strange people supposed to drive strange cars?"
         "On the way into the store, I noticed a car with a New Hampshire license plate parked outside. Then a strange man followed me around the store while I was shopping. Then Martha said that a man fitting the description I gave of the man following me left in a red Subaru. There was only one of that type of car in the parking lot, so he would have to have left in that one."
         "I didn't see anything unusual. If I saw a red Subaru, I probably didn't notice."
         "I guess you'd have had no reason to."
         She folded her arms and watched Evan put the concentrated spray in the sprayer then diluting it.
         He said, "Would you mind hooking up the water hose and having it outside the gazebo so I can fill up the sprayer?"
         "Sure." She walked out to the overturned bucket at the side of the house. Evan carried the sprayer out to the steps of the gazebo. He went back to the tool shed to get some safety goggles to keep it out of his eyes. When he got back, she was already filling the sprayer with water.
         "I know I'm a nosy old woman, but I'm not paranoid or loony."
         "No, you're right- you're not."
         "So, I'm not making this up. If I think there was someone following me around that store, there was someone following me around that store, Evan. I just can't figure out why someone would want to do that. I'm not all that interesting, you know."
         "I know," Evan replied deadpan, beginning to pump the pressure stem of the garden sprayer. She gave him a look. He cracked a smile.
         "Do you think someone is stalking me?"
         "Why?"
         "Maybe he's a con artist or something. They prey on the elderly sometimes. They dupe old people into giving away all their money. How they sleep with themselves at night I have no idea, but I guess they manage somehow."
         "About like everybody else I guess."
         "I guess so. It just seems wrong, but they didn't ask me."
         Evan was finished pumping pressure into the garden sprayer. He put on his goggles. "You might want to go over to the steps. I wouldn't want you to get any in your eyes. That would burn like fire."
         "Yes it would," she stated walking away as Evan picked up the sprayer wand and went to work. He sprayed for a few minutes and then looked around to see what Engrid was up to. She was inspecting Andrew's gazebo. She was going around the perimeter, looking up at it and then down at the ground surrounding it. She squatted down and took a close look at the pattern of the freshly planted flowers.
         When Evan was finished spraying, she ventured back over as he was rinsing out the garden sprayer.
         "His gazebo needs some help." Engrid said.
         "It needs a lot of help," Evan replied.
         "The flowers are nice. I like the colors and the pattern."
         "They do look nice." Evan admitted.
         "The zig zag patterns look familiar."
         "How so?"
         "Remember the garden club last year?"
         "Yes."
         "You helped me and Thelma Harper put together the garden arrangements around the oak trees. It's the same pattern you used then."
         "So?"
         "Evan, I saw you and Andrew out there. I know you like each other. You were all over him and he didn't seem to mind in the slightest."
         Evan's blood pressure spiked.
         "It's fine. Dora said something that made me think. Plus, I remember you having a gay roommate, Grant in New York. If you and Andrew are an item, it's fine by me."
         Engrid could see the relief flooding through Evan's body.
         "Thank you," He croaked.
         Evan pulled Engrid into a tight, unexpected hug. He held on for a while. When he stepped back, his eyes glistened with tears.


         By the time his workday was through, Andrew was a nervous wreck. He went out to his Pathfinder in the narrow parking lot behind McWilliams Investments. He tried to breathe a little deeper. Those women were honest, and they knew what could happen to him if word got out. As he sat there, Betty walked by and motioned for him to roll down his window.
         "Hi Betty."
         "I'm so sorry about all this. But you really can trust us."
         "I hope so."
         "You can. Now go home and get some rest." She tapped the bottom of his window frame as she walked away. He started the car and drove home.
         Once home, Andrew was cleaning the kitchen to kill time. He wanted to call Evan, but he didn't want to be pushy or risk telling Evan what happened at work. The doorbell rang. It was Evan.
         "Come in!" Andrew said.
         "I hope it's okay that I dropped by," Evan said.
         "Yes, it is!" Andrew said, cheering up after seeing his new love.
         Evan smiled and came in.
         "What are you doing?" Evan asked.
         "Just cleaning the kitchen."
         "Exciting."
         "I know."
         Evan followed Andrew back into the kitchen. Evan asked for an assignment and was instructed to wash the refrigerator drawers. Evan seemed happy with his task, put on an apron, and went about it at the sink while Andrew wiped down the table and countertops. Andrew's phone was on the table and buzzed.
         "Who's that?" Evan asked.
         Andrew looked at the screen, "It's my Dad."
         "Not your Mom?"
         "Probably both." Andrew admitted. "He texted asking if this was a good time to talk."
         "Do you want me to go?" Evan offered.
         "No. It probably won't take long."
         "Okay."
         "You're not getting out of your chores that easily, mister." Andrew teased.
         Andrew answered his father.
         "Hi Dad," Andrew said.
         "Hi, Andrew." Lewis said, "Is this a good time?"
         He seemed nervous.
         "Yes. What's wrong?" Andrew asked.
         "Nothing's wrong, I just have a couple of questions."
         "Okay."
         "Is Evan around?"
         "Yes. He's over there."
         Andrew turned the camera toward the sink. Evan waved at Andrew's father.
         "What is he doing?" Lewis asked.
         "He's washing refrigerator drawers." Andrew answered, as if that should be obvious.
         "Evan, come closer to the camera. My last question involves you too."
         Evan came and sat down. Both guys looked into the camera.
         "After what I just saw, my last question may be moot. How ever you answer, it's okay."
         Andrew and Evan held their breath.
         "Andrew, are you and Evan in a...romantic relationship?" Lewis asked, carefully keeping his voice neutral.
         Andrew and Evan exchanged glances.
         "Yes, sir, we are." Andrew said.
         Lewis nodded, "Good."
         "Huh?" Andrew said. He couldn't possibly have heard correctly.
         "Andrew, ever since you were a little boy, I wondered what sort of person you would be with. I prayed that God would send you someone kind and decent and gentle. Someone who will take care of you and help you. When I imagined that person, I have to admit, I didn't picture someone like Evan, but it's okay."
         "I'm glad," Andrew said, letting his breath out in a long stream.
         "Not that he isn't all those things, but how did you know?" Andrew asked.
         "Your mother looked up Engrid's phone number online and called her."
         "You're joking!" Andrew said.
         "She gave one of the most glowing reviews I've ever heard about someone."
         Evan blushed, "Engrid is very nice."
         "That's why Mom asked for her last name." Andrew said, "I should have known."
         Lewis looked at Evan, "If Andrew likes you, that means a lot. He's always been special and I want to make sure you will treat him well."
         "I will, Mr. Garrison. You have my word. Andrew is safe with me."
         "Call me Lewis," he said, "And that means a lot. You look like an upstanding young man and I hope you two make each other very happy."
         "That means a lot," Evan said.
         "What's going on?" An accented male voice said off camera.
         "I'm meeting Andrew's new boyfriend," Lewis said.
         The voice sputtered, "Andrew has a boyfriend? What! Let me see."
         There was a scuffle on the Brazilian side of the phone call. A face appeared on the screen.
         "Whoa!" James said, his eyebrows shooting up.
         "Whoa!" Evan said, his eyebrows shooting up too, "Andrew, you didn't tell me your brother was an identical twin."
         The face looking back at Evan looked precisely like the face sitting next to him.
         "Ele maravilhoso," James said.
         "What?" Evan asked.
         "Apparently you turned James' head too. He said you're gorgeous."
         Evan blushed again.
         "Evan is quite popular with the Garrison Guys, it seems," Lewis said, "And yes that's our collective term for ourselves."
         "Well, he's mine. I saw him first." Andrew said, to the laughter of his father and brother.
         "How many Garrison Guys are there?" Evan asked.
         "Four," Lewis answered, "The three of us and their older brother Mark."
         "How Biblical," Evan observed.
         "Andrew and James have the same name," Lewis said.
         "What?" Evan asked.
         "Since they were twins, we named one Andrew James and the other James Andrew."
         "Wow!" Evan said, "That's awesome."
         After the call ended and the chores were done, Evan went home, and Andrew got ready for bed.

Chapter 21

S
          everal days went by. Evan told his mother he was moving out. She was annoyed, but given his age, she knew it was bound to happen. He packed up a few things and it took about 20 minutes to move into Andrew's house. All Evan had was two suitcases and a green army surplus duffle bag. He left his steamer trunks in the attic at his mother's house. It was unlikely she would ever even notice they were there. He didn't want Andrew's first impression of him as a living companion to be a messy packrat. He knew the fastidious Andrew would stridently object to anything resembling clutter.
          After a few weeks of living together, Evan awoke upstairs with Andrew tucked under his arm like a cozy chinchilla. Andrew murmured as he sensed Evan shifting his weight. Evan always loved the ruffled look of Andrew's black hair in the morning. He was always so put together outside the house, Evan felt a sense of pride that he got to see a side of Andrew Garrison's cuteness that was denied to the rest of humanity.
          After awakening and breakfasting, Evan left for work. He failed to notice a red Subaru Outback parked across the street from the house. It followed him when he left. Andrew looked from the window and saw the car following Evan's Cherokee as he drove away; but didn't really pay it any attention. It was just another car going down the street. About ten minutes went by and Andrew heard a car outside. He peeked out and saw that it was that same red Subaru that followed Evan earlier. Dora was walking down the sidewalk toward Engrid's house to pick up flowers to deliver to shut-ins later in the morning when the car pulled to a stop on the curb. She noticed the car and stopped.
          "Hi, how are you?" The nice young man inside asked.
          "I'm fine," Dora replied, then leaned down to see into the car, "Can I help you?"
         "Do you know Evan Grayson?"
          "Yes, why?"
          "I've been looking for him."
          "He might be home. I'm not sure."
          "Thank you, Ms....?"
          "Murchison, Dora Murchison. Who are you?" She asked.
          "My name is Grant Kirkland. I'm a friend of his from New York. I haven't seen Evan in a very long time."
          "You didn't call ahead?"
          "I wanted to surprise him. He'll want to see me. We were very close."
          Dora looked at him for a moment. He seemed earnest and sincere.
          "Well, if you came all this way, I suppose it couldn't hurt."
          He pulled a little closer to the curb and turned off his car. He was very tall and extremely well-dressed and muscular. He was well-tanned and looked very much like the tall, dark, and handsome guy. He wore a navy-blue Henley that showed off his pecs nicely and designer jeans that showed off his rear end perfectly. His hair was perfectly coiffed and had streaks of silver that gave him a distinguished look in addition to the youthful vibrance he radiated. He was the sort of guy who was used to getting his way with anyone he wanted. He got out and walked beside Dora up toward the steps of Andrew's house. Andrew watched intently from the window.
          "Evan lives here?"
          "Yes, Mr. Kirkland." She replied, "You didn't know that?"
          "Please, call me Grant."
          "Then call me Dora." She kind of liked this guy. He seemed amiable despite his intimidating bearing. She was curious how he came to be out front of a house that just so happened to be where the person he was looking for lived. That seemed like a very unlikely coincidence, but she decided to see if that question got answered shortly.
          Engrid was sitting at the piano practicing for a funeral that afternoon. The piano was in the living room and was angled so that she could see the street and the side of Andrew's house from the bench. She recognized Grant Kirkland. She had met him in New York. Engrid's eyes almost bugged out of her head and she coughed as she choked on her tea and tried not to spew it on the keyboard. She had no idea why Grant would be here after all this time, but the possibilities were not good in Engrid's mind.
          She knocked the piano bench over in her haste and hurried through the front door towards Andrew and Evan's.
          "Dora!" Engrid called out.
          Dora turned. She furrowed her brow. Grant stopped next to her. He had not anticipated this development. He recognized Engrid too.
          "Dora!" Engrid was panting.
          "What in the world is going on?" Dora asked, "You're acting like a crazy person. Even more so than usual."
          "Do you have any idea who this is?" Engrid asked, trying to catch her breath.
          Andrew, who was watching from the window, came outside too and stood on the porch. It was still early. Evan had to be at work by 7, but Andrew did not need to go in until 8.
          "He's a friend of Evan's." Dora replied, "Grant Kirkland."
          "You know who he is?" Engrid was surprised.
          "He told me his name," Dora said, "I feel like I'm missing something. Do you know who he is?"
          Before Engrid could respond, Andrew came down the steps and intercepted, "What's going on?"
          "Who are you?" Grant asked.
          Andrew had been clearing the breakfast dishes before heading upstairs to get dressed. He was wearing green night pants and a faded gray Army t-shirt. His hair was a bit askew to finish off the comfortable bedroom look.
          "Andrew Garrison. Who are you?"
          "Grant Kirkland."
          "Oh," Andrew said.
          "Yes. Do you know Evan Grayson?" Grant asked.
          "Yes."
          "Does he live here?"
          "Yes," Andrew continued his monosyllabic answers.
          The two elderly women watched the two twenty-something guys sizing each other up like prizefighters.
          "You know who he is?" Dora asked.
          "Grant is Evan's ex-boyfriend."
          "Not for long." Grant replied, "I want him back. I have missed him every day since he left. He is the one great love of my life."
          "Well that's too bad," Andrew replied saucily, "He's mine now."
          "What?" Grant asked dumbly.
          "Evan is my boyfriend, so you just pack up your junk and go back to wherever you came from."
          Engrid and Dora exchanged glances. Andrew had cojones and was protecting his turf, which was Evan. They were interrupted by the sound of Evan's Jeep cresting the hill. He pulled into the driveway and stopped. He was in a hurry and didn't notice the conference in the front yard at first.
          "Evan!" Grant yelped and ran towards him, "My God you're beautiful."
          Grant wrapped Evan up in a giant bear hug and lifted him from the ground and spun him in a circle. Andrew and Engrid and Dora were all gobsmacked. They had never seen anyone lift Evan clear off the ground and spin him around. Evan did not reciprocate the enthusiasm.
          Grant put Evan down. Andrew was a touch envious. He wished he was strong enough to pick Evan up like that. Evan was 30 pounds of muscle heavier than thin, bookish Andrew.
          "Grant," Evan seemed astonished.
          "Why are you here?" Engrid asked.
          All eyes turned to her. She was looking at Evan.
          "I forgot my phone." Evan replied, "I came back to get it."
          "Grant, why are you here?" Evan asked.
          "Evan, can we talk?" Grant asked.
          "Uh, I, well." Evan stammered. Andrew felt bad. He's never seen Evan so shook up and out of sorts.
          "Grant wants you back," Andrew replied.
          Evan's eyes doubled in size.
          "Grant, I."
          "Evan. I have missed you every single day since you left New York. I cannot think of anyone but you. I can't stand the idea of living my life without you by my side."
          "Grant..." Evan started.
          "Before you say anything, Evan, I know you love me. I am as sure of that as I am of anything in the world. I love you and you love me. We've been through so much together."
          "Grant," Evan's voice was dry and scratchy, "I've moved on. You should too."
          "No." Grant replied directly.
          "It isn't your choice. It's mine." Evan replied.
          "Evan, don't be stupid. You made a mistake by breaking up with me. I know that, and, in time, you will see that too."
          "Grant, I think you should leave." Evan said.
          "Why?" Grant asked, an edge to his voice.
          "I'm with Andrew now."
          "You picked this guy?" Grant's lip upturned in a sneer of derision.
          "Yes." Evan said firmly.
          Andrew visibly relaxed.
          "Thank God." Engrid whispered underneath her breath.
          Grant heard her.
          "Engrid, I know you remember me. Remember all the fun you and I had when you visited. We can have that here and get to know each other better."
          "Here?" Engrid asked.
          "Yes. I bought a house and I got a job at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. I live in Deerfield now."
          "Grant, you can't be serious," Evan said, not quite believing his own ears, "That's insane."
          "I love you Evan and I want you back. This guy isn't nearly good enough for you. You can do better. I mean look at him. What could you possibly see in that train wreck of a guy?"
          "Hey," Andrew said, "He said buzz off and I suggest you do that."
          "Who do you think you are?" Grant asked, wheeling around to face Andrew, "You don't know anything."
          "I know that Evan picked me and dumped you. Take the hint and take a hike." Andrew said angrily, running his fingers through his hair making his bed head even worse.
          Dora stifled a laugh. She'd never heard Andrew talk like that. Andrew took a step closer to Evan and Grant. Grant took Evan's hand in his own but Evan pulled it away.
          "Andrew," Evan said, "You don't want to get into it with Grant."
          "Do you still love me?" Andrew asked.
          "Yes. I'm with you," Evan said, "I do not love Grant anymore."
          "You will regret this," Grant said, "I won't leave until Evan is back with me."
          "Grant, leave," Evan said.
          Grant looked at the jeans and untucked white button down of Evan's easy grace. He loved Evan so much it was squeezing his heart to think that Evan would not take him back. Grant would not stop until he made Evan his again and forever.
          "Fine," Grant said, "I will leave but this is not over."
          "It is," Andrew said, "Show up here again and I'll call the cops."
          "Andrew, I know you think you know Evan, but you don't." Grant said, "You can never mean anything to him."
          "Go away," Andrew said, warning in his voice.
          Grant looked at the group who were united against him. He would destroy them all if that is what it took to get Evan back. He was accustomed to getting his way and this was not going to be an exception. He turned on his heels and stormed away.

Chapter 22

"I
          am so sorry," Evan said, "I had no idea he was even here."
          "I'll bet that's who was following me around the grocery store yesterday." Engrid said, "I noticed that car in the parking lot."
          "If he's had time to buy a house and get a job, how long has he been here?" Dora asked, "I'll bet he's been following us all and we didn't even know. That would explain how he ended up here."
          "What do you mean?" Engrid asked.
          Dora explained, "He just pulled to the curb and asked if I knew Evan. I said I did. He said he was looking for him but then asked if Evan lived here. It's a heck of a coincidence if he didn't already know that. I'm guessing he followed Evan and used me as his in."
          Their old lady brains were already churning over this latest development.
          "What do you think he meant when he said this wasn't over?" Engrid asked.
          "He's just angry," Andrew said, dismissing their concerns, "I'm sure it's nothing."
          "Be careful," Evan said, "Grant can get really possessive and angry."
          "I'm sure I'll be fine," Andrew said, "I can look out for myself."
          "Just be careful," Evan said, "If you see him again, call me."
          "I will," Andrew said, "But don't worry."
          "Well, we'd better get going," Engrid said, dismissing herself and Dora.
          While they left, Evan smiled at Andrew.
          Andrew noticed, "What?"
          "You're such a badass." Evan said.
          "Thank you. I still can't quite believe you picked me over him." Andrew replied, "He's so much hotter than me."
          "Not to me he isn't," Evan said, "Andrew, you are the sexiest guy I have ever met. Really. Grant can't hold a candle to you."
          "Really?"
          "Really. I left him and I found you. I rejected him again because you are the best, Andrew Garrison. You are the best thing to ever happen to me."
          Andrew grabbed Evan and gave him a powerful hug.
          With a sly grin, Evan whispered in Andrew's ear, "If I wasn't so late, I'd take you in that house and let you do whatever you wanted to me."
          "They can wait, can't they? You're already late."
          Evan pulled back, "You are right."
          Evan grabbed Andrew's hand and pulled him toward the house so fast that Andrew stumbled getting underway.
          Engrid and Dora were walking up the steps to Engrid's house and looked over as Evan practically dragged Andrew back into their house.
          "Well, I guess Evan found what he likes." Engrid said, "And it wasn't a girl."
          "Nope," Dora said, "It definitely was not."
          "Do you remember what it was like to be young and in love?" Engrid asked, walking with Dora to the kitchen to get her car keys.
          "Vaguely." Dora said, "It's been a while."
          "Would you ever, this is going to sound dumb, but would you ever date again?" Engrid asked.
          "No, I don't think so." Dora replied.
          "Why? Would you?"
          "Maybe." Engrid replied honestly.
          "Maybe Andrew has a great-grandfather." Dora said grinning.
          "Oh hush. But really, why wouldn't you?"
          "I guess I just prefer my own company to a man's."
          Engrid nodded, "That's a good way to think of it."
         
After rewarding Evan handsomely for picking him, Andrew arrived at work fifteen minutes late and put his insulated lunch box under his desk.
          "What's up?" Betty asked, "You're never late."
          "Nothing," Andrew said, logging into his computer without looking up.
          "Liar," Darcy said with a smile, "You look...startled?"
          She wasn't sure that was exactly the right word, but it was the best she could do.
          "Well, my 8:30 texted me he was running late," Andrew said, "So I guess I've got a few minutes.
          That got everyone's attention, even Martin Jacobs popped his head out of this office.
          "Is Andrew okay?" He asked.
          "We're not sure yet," Darcy said, "He's being cagey."
          "Okay." Andrew explained, "Evan's ex-boyfriend from New York showed up. He moved here to win Evan back."
          "Whoa!" Darcy said, taking a step back like she'd been hit by a physical force.
          "Yeah," Andrew continued, "He just showed up at my house this morning wanting Evan back."
          "That's insane," Darcy said.
          Amanda bustled in the door, "What's insane?"
          Betty replied, "Andrew's boyfriend's ex wants him back."
          "Evan has an ex-boyfriend?" Amanda asked, plopping her purse the size of a shopping bag on her desk.
          "Apparently," Darcy replied, "He showed up at their house this morning."
          Martin stood in his office door listening.
          "What did Evan say?" Martin asked.
          The other heads swiveled in surprise. Martin tried not to get involved in office gossip, but even he got interested in the goings on from time to time.
          "Evan told him to go away. Evan picked me." Andrew said proudly.
          "That's awesome!" Darcy said.
          Andrew broke out in a huge grin, "This gorgeous, muscular, well dressed guy shows up begging Evan to take him back. He says he's moved here and won't stop until Evan takes him back. Evan sent him packing."
          Andrew put up a victorious fist. He was so excited.
          "He moved here?" Betty said, "If he lives here, we've probably seen him. What does he look like?"
          "He's tall with dark hair."
          "And muscles, you said muscles," Amanda added.
          "Yes. His name is Grant Kirkland."
          "Oh my God," Darcy said, "My sister works at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. A new guy started working there a couple of weeks ago named Grant and looks like that. She's been swooning over him ever since."
          "I think I met him," Betty said, "Worth and I were at the bank taking out a loan for our new boat. He was our loan officer. I'm pretty sure his name was Grant something or other."
          "So I guess it's true," Andrew said, "Grant really did move here."
          "It looks like it," Amanda replied, "But if Evan picked you, then you're in the clear."
          "I am." Andrew said, slightly less sure of himself than moments before.
          Betty piped up, "I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm sure whatever Evan said got through to him."
          They continued bantering for a few minutes until the first client arrived and they settled into their professional voices and bearings.


          When Andrew got home, he saw Evan's Jeep parked in the driveway.
          "I'm glad you didn't change your mind," Andrew said walking into the living room where Evan was sitting on the couch leafing through a magazine.
          "No. Grant is my past. But I want to be with you," Evan said, "In fact, I stopped off on my way home and got a few things."
          "What'd you get?"
          "Follow me," Evan said.
          Andrew followed Evan through the house and into the backyard. Evan had a beach towel over something that Andrew suspected was a grill.
          "Ta-da!" Evan said, snatching the beach towel off.
          "Ooh - a grill!" Andrew said.
          "It's nothing fancy, just a charcoal grill but I got steaks and potatoes and briquets. You and I are grilling out in the backyard tonight." Evan said, extremely pleased with himself, "And you don't have to lift a finger. I've got everything."
          "That sounds amazing," Andrew said and planted a long kiss on Evan's mouth.
          Once Evan had the food ready, they sat down at the kitchen table. It was a little hot to eat outside comfortably.
          "The women at work know about Grant." Andrew said, taking a big bite to give himself longer to think before responding to whatever Evan said next.
          "Oh yeah?" Evan said, eating a slightly oversized hunk of steak, "What'd they say?"
          "One of them met him and the other one's sister works with him."
          "I guess he really did move to Deerfield," Evan said, "I kind of thought he was bluffing."
          "That doesn't change your thinking, does it?" Andrew asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
          Evan leaned forward and took Andrew's hand in his own, "Not in the slightest but I think I made my position very clear this morning. I was stunned to see him, but it also reaffirmed that I don't want to be with him anymore. I want to be with you. All I could think about was getting him away from you."
          "Away from me?" Andrew asked, "What does that mean?"
          Andrew could tell that Evan was weighing his next words carefully.
          "Grant has a temper." Evan said, his tone turning dark, "He can be really...difficult."
          "Okay. But he knows not to come here again." Andrew said.
          "You don't understand," Evan said, "I think Grant is crazy and a little dangerous."
          "Dangerous? You really think he'd hurt me?"
          Evan was silent for a moment.
          "What?" Andrew asked, "Do you really think he'd hurt me?"
          "I don't know." Evan answered honestly, "He knows how to use a gun. I know that."
          Andrew sat in surprised silence for a moment before clearing his throat and speaking, "Are you saying he might shoot me?"
          Evan's expression brightened, "No. I'm sure when I told him off this morning, that was the end of it."
          "Okay. If you say so," Andrew said, "Sorry for spoiling the mood."
          "You didn't spoil anything. If it was bothering you I'm glad you asked." Evan replied.
          "Plus you made several positions very clear this morning," Andrew said grinning to lighten the mood.
          "That I did." Evan said.
          After wrapping up their dinner, they sat in the living room together watching a little TV while Andrew reviewed some spreadsheets for work the next day. Eventually, they retired to bed for the evening. Evan fell asleep with a paperback open on his chest. Andrew got up and walked over to Evan's side of the bed to turn off the lamp. Andrew returned under the sheets guided only by the moonlight streaming through the window. Soon he was fast asleep, comfortable in the knowledge that Evan Grayson, the most eligible bachelor in Deerfield, was his forever and for always.


          Andrew awoke with a start. The only sound was that of the ceiling fan whirring overhead and Evan's quiet breathing in the bed next to him. Andrew slept on the side of the bed nearest the door. The only light was the streetlamps and the red glare from his digital alarm clock. 3:45 am. Why was he awake? Did he hear something? He didn't remember any particular dream that would have scared him awake. Then that creepy feeling came over him again. The feeling that he was being watched was back. Maybe the ghost of the long-deceased physician had taken up residence once again in the dusty crevices of that old house. Andrew slowly rolled over to look at the door.
          In the dim light that was filtering in through the curtains, he could see a shadowy figure making its way slowly down the stairs. Its shoes made heavy footfalls on the stairs. Andrew crawled slowly out of bed, trying not to wake Evan. Evan stirred in his sleep, but settled back down.
          He slipped on a pair of running shorts over his black boxer-briefs before tip-toeing over to the doorway. He peeked out. His bedroom door was right at the top of the stairs. The landing stretched across from his bedroom to the guest room across the way. The shadowy figure was almost to the bottom. The figure stopped. Andrew ducked back into the doorway, so as not to be seen by it. The last thing he wanted to do was to arouse the anger of a ghost. He wasn't sure what he would do if the ghost was angry and turned on him.
          The ghost did glance back over its vaporous shoulder; but saw nothing. Andrew waited a few seconds then peeked out again. The ghost was already at the bottom of the stairs. He crept down slowly, keeping a wary eye on the ghoul before him. Fortunately, none of the stairs were squeaky, so Andrew made his way down fairly quickly without the ghost noticing.
          Now that he was on a level field with the ghost, he really had no plan from that point. The central hallway in Andrew's house, which ran from the front door to the back door, was about fifteen feet wide. The ghost seemed to be inspecting the house. Andrew crept up behind the ghost; his skin was already breaking out in a cold sweat. The panic was rising like a lump in his throat, almost choking off his air supply entirely.
          The ghost turned around. It saw Andrew. The panic was overwhelming. Andrew froze. The ghost's face was covered in dark shadows. Andrew took a step back, hoping to lure the ghost into the faint ray of light filtering in through the open kitchen door. The ghost didn't take the bait and stepped further from Andrew and closer to the front door.
          Andrew tried to speak, but his throat was so dry and pasty, all he could do was make a faint whispering sound. He cleared his throat instead. The ghost stood perfectly still. Even though he couldn't see the eyes, Andrew could feel the ghosts' eyes boring holes in his exposed chest. The ghost stomped its heavy booted foot against the floor and Andrew jumped about three feet. The ghost lunged at him. Andrew turned, but couldn't get away; the ghost raised an arm and brought it down onto Andrew's shoulder, knocking him to the floor. Andrew fell and rolled over onto his back to get a better look at the perpetrator. This was no ghost.
          "Don't hurt me!" Andrew cried out.
          The ghost paused, its fist raised in the air, ready to strike again.
          "Please don't hurt me."
          He put his arms up to shield his face from the coming blows. Someone had broken into his house and attacked him. How many times had the person gotten in and watched him sleeping peacefully in his bed without being noticed? That thought made his blood run cold and a tingling sensation ran up his spine. With a new surge of fear and boldness, Andrew balled up his fist and brought it up. The intruder grabbed his hands and pinned him to the floor.
          He was completely at the mercy of whoever this was. Andrew's half-naked body squirmed and struggled. He feared what was about to happen. Andrew stopped struggling and tried to see the ghost's face. The ghost released his grip just slightly. The ghost got up off Andrew and started to walk away. Andrew silently got up off the floor. He ran after the ghost. It turned just as Andrew approached it. He hit it from the side. The intruder lost his balance and fell onto the floor with Andrew crashing down on top of him. Instinctively, Andrew pinned the ghost's arms down to the floor with his knees.
          Andrew was angry, "Who are you?"
          The intruder made a few struggling grunts but said nothing.
          "I said, 'Who are you?' Answer me!" Andrew shook him with such for even Andrew would have been impressed with himself if he hadn't been action on pure adrenaline.
          He dug his knee into the ghost's elbow.
          The shadowy figure was shadowy because it was wearing a hoodie. Andrew pulled back the intruder's hood and his eyes bugged out. The face looking back at him was none other than Grant Kirkland. He was so shocked by what he saw that he lost focus for a moment. Grant took advantage and wriggled himself loose from Andrew's grip. He threw Andrew off to the side. Andrew fell and rolled up against the wall.
          "What are you doing in my house?" Andrew screamed up from his place on the floor.
          Grant stood, towering over Andrew. Andrew looked up. Grant slid his hand into the pocket of the hoodie. He pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Andrew's forehead. He leaned over and put the cold metal barrel of the gun up against the hot flesh of Andrew's head.
          "Please don't," Andrew said, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please don't kill me."
          "Leave him alone."
          Andrew was so startled. He didn't understand and looked confused.
          "Don't play stupid with me. I already told you once, I will not tell you again. Evan is mine."
          "Please don't kill me."
          "If you interfere with me getting Evan back to New York with me, I will come into this house and blow your head off...do you understand?"
          Andrew nodded, tears streaming down his face.
          Grant continued, "Is he upstairs?"
          "No," Andrew lied, he wasn't sure if Evan being in the house would make things better or worse.
          "Good."
          Andrew nodded. The sweat had beaded up to the point that it ran into his left eye and stung like fire. Andrew blinked and tried to look away as his eye turned red from the irritation.
          Grant stood up and calmly walked out the front door. Andrew just laid there on the floor, crying. He sobbed into his arms.
          "What's going on?" Evan asked into the darkness from the top of the stairs, "Why were you screaming?"
          He heard Andrew sniffle. Evan turned on a light and ran down the stairs and found Andrew on the floor, shaking with a few tears making their way down his face.
          "What happened?" Evan asked, "Were you sleepwalking? I didn't know you did that."
          "I don't," Andrew said, trying to get up.
          "You were crying," Evan observed, helping Andrew off the floor.
          "Grant," Andrew said.
          "What about him?"
          "He was here."
          "What!" Evan's eyebrows shot up.
          "He pulled a gun on me and told me he'd kill me if I interfered with him taking you back to New York."
          "Andrew! Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Evan pulled Andrew close and hugged him tight, "I'm so sorry. I'm never leaving you. Not ever."
          "We need to call the police," Andrew said.
          "Yes. And first thing tomorrow we're getting a security system." Evan added.
          "Yes. I'll call someone. He scared me, Evan."
          "I know. But he's gone now and I'm here," Evan comforted.
          Andrew let himself sink into Evan's strong chest and wonderful heart.
          Andrew called the police. Grant had to be stopped. Andrew realized that what Grant had said before and tonight was not bluster. He was ready to take action to get Evan back. He got put on hold.
          "Is he crazy?" Andrew asked, while listening to the hold music.
          "Yes," Evan replied without hesitation, "Well, at least unstable."
          "Is that why you left him in the first place?"
          "Yes, it is. He has a terrible temper and is very possessive of me. I could barely talk to anyone without him blowing up at me. He was constantly accusing me of cheating. I just couldn't take it anymore."
          "That's terrible," Andrew said, stating the obvious but was interrupted by the dispatcher before he could say anything more.


          The dispatcher answered, "9-1-1, what's your emergency?"
          Andrew explained the situation to the dispatcher.
          "I see, Mr. Garrison. Do you know where he lives?"
          "No, but I have his name and I know he works at the bank on Cloverdale Avenue. That should be enough. He's a loan officer there." Andrew replied.
          "A loan officer at the bank broke into your house at gunpoint?" the dispatcher replied with great incredulity in her voice. Andrew suspected she was too young to get into a bar legally.
          "He's my boyfriend's ex. That's why he broke in." Andrew was irritated. It was the middle of the night and the dispatcher didn't seem too invested in keeping him safe.
          "You're boyfriend? Mr. Garrison?" She said with excess emphasis on the 'boyfriend' and 'mister.'
          "Yes? What about it?" Andrew said.
          "That's so cool," she gushed, "My friend Tony at school is gay and he's so nice."
          "I'm sure he's a peach, but I was just held up at gunpoint in my home."
          "Oh, yes, sorry. We'll send someone to his work tomorrow to talk to him."
          "You aren't going to arrest him?"
          "There isn't anyone with that name in our system. So we don't know where to find him until tomorrow and that's only because you know where he works. If you have an address, we can send someone now."
          "He just moved here. How long would it take for him to be in your system?"
          "I don't know. If he's renting, he might not ever.
          "Fine." Andrew said.
          "This is my first week. I finished my G.E.D. last spring and now I'm taking classes at the community college. I do this part time."
          "Good for you," Andrew said both hoping he did and hoping he did not sound rude. He wasn't sure which, since it was almost 4am and someone had just threatened to murder him.
          He ended the call. Evan was scowling.
          "That wasn't helpful," Evan said, "They're going to show up at his work? That's it?"
          Andrew shrugged, "I guess."
          They trudged back upstairs and laid down, but sleep eluded them.

Chapter 23

G
          rant was in a hurry. He was so sure he'd set an alarm, but it didn't go off. He was not late yet, but any more hindrances and he would be. He hadn't gotten a whole lot of sleep considering what he'd been up to the night before at Andrew and Evan's house. He was dressed in a navy-blue coat and a tie with cupcakes on it. He'd been trying to ingratiate himself to his coworkers and the new townspeople he had met. He wanted to get ahead of any negative press that Evan might put out about him. If he could make their first impression of him a positive one, then they would be less likely to believe what Evan said.
          He parked his car in the employee parking lot and was headed toward the entrance to the bank when he noticed two uniformed police officers get out of a squad car. He tried to school his features into a mask of calmness. Of course, that rat, Andrew, called the cops. Andrew would have to be punished so he never made that mistake again.
          The officers approached.
          "Can I help you?" Grant asked, trying to sound harried but kindly and helpful, "Are you here for the training about what to do during an armed robbery?"
          "No. We just have a few questions for Grant Kirkland."
          "I'm Grant. What's the matter? Would you rather talk in my office?"
          "That's fine." The older of the two officers replied.
          "I'm not in trouble, am I?" Grant said jovially, still trying to sound like an innocent civilian standing at the ready to help the police.
          "I don't think so," the younger of the two officers replied, "I'm Jimmy Behr and this is my partner Payson Flores. We're with the Deerfield police, which you probably already knew."
          Jimmy smiled, and the three men exchanged cordial handshakes. Jimmy was in his late 20s with Payson being the senior statesman of the group in his mid-40s with his Hispanic features changing from the young man he once was to the middle-aged man he was now becoming. Jimmy was a lively chatterbox of youth and excitement while Payson was clearly there to keep them on track and not have Jimmy give his whole life story to the suspect.
          "We should probably go to your office," Payson said calmly, "If it's not too much trouble."
          "No trouble at all. I am a big fan of your service to the public and, as a bank employee, we are in your debt for keeping us safe." Grant said, showing off his most friendly and charming smile.
          "Thank you!" Jimmy gushed, "We really appreciate your support."
          Payson nodded but did not say anything else. Grant ushered them into the bank. He told his supervisor that the police had a few questions, but they should be done before his first appointment of the day arrived. Once seated with Grant behind the desk, the two officers took the facing chairs where clients normally met.
          "I like your tie," Jimmy observed.
          "Thank you. I try to provide a pleasant experience for our customers. They're usually nervous enough when they get to those chairs. I try to put them at ease."
          "That's good, I..." Jimmy started, but Payson interrupted.
          "We only have a few questions and then we'll be on our way."
          "Perfect. What can I do to help you?"
          "Where were you last night around 4am?" Payson asked.
          "I was at home asleep."
          "Can anyone corroborate that?"
          "Unfortunately, no. I sleep alone every night." Grant said.
          "So, no roommates either?" Payson followed-up.
          "No, none of those."
          "Do you have a girlfriend?"
          "No. I don't have one of those either. I'm not on the market either."
          "Okay," Payson said, then shifted his line of questioning, "Do you know Andrew Garrison?"
          "We've met, yes. He seems like a really nice guy."
          "He is," Jimmy interjected, "I met him a couple of months ago. He works with my cousin Betty. She invited him over to a backyard barbeque. He's really cool."
          Grant tried to keep the scowl off his face. He decided he must have succeeded because neither officer seemed to notice his reaction.
          "I'm glad to hear he's a good guy." Grant said, "Is there something about him I should know?"
          "Well," Payson said, drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair, "I'm sure we can clear this up. I'll put all our cards on the table. I'm guessing he's got some issue with you. I don't think you did anything wrong, but he called the police this morning saying that you broke into his house and threatened him with a gun."
          Grant's jaw dropped, and he tried to look emotionally wounded, "I've never threatened anyone before, much less with a gun."
          "Then why would he say that?" Payson asked.
          "I have no idea. It could be he mistook me for someone else."
          "Where did you meet?" Jimmy asked, "You said you'd met him."
          Grant looked like he was thinking, "Do you know Evan Grayson?"
          "Yes," both officers replied, "Everyone knows Evan."
          "Well," Grant said, maintaining his facade of friendly helpfulness, "Since you put your cards on the table, I'll do the same. I knew Evan when he lived in New York. He always spoke so highly of Deerfield that, when I decided to leave the city and try something new, I came here. I met up with Evan and I was at his and Andrew's house a while back. Why Andrew would say something like that is beyond me. He seemed like a super nice guy."
          "That checks out," Jimmy said, "They're not just roommates either."
          "No, they aren't." Grant admitted, "Do you think it could be mistaken identity? You asked about 4am, so I assume that's when he called the police."
          "It is," Payson said.
          "That's so late it's practically early," Grant said with a smile, "Maybe he had a bad dream or someone who looks a little like me did it? I'm not sure what more information I can provide."
          "Thank you for your time," Payson said.
          They shook hands again and the officers departed.
          As they were approaching the squad car, Jimmy asked Payson, "Do you think he did it?"
          "I don't know. I've never been on a fishing expedition where the criminal just raised his hand and said 'Yup, I did it. Ya got me.'"
          "So, how do we prove it?"
          Jimmy unlocked the door and got into the driver's seat.
          "Well, he didn't shoot the gun, so we can't test for residue. I can ask Andrew if he has a security camera or anything."
          "Could we get a warrant to search Grant's place?"
          "Probably not. Besides, it would not prove anything. Even if he has a gun, that doesn't mean anything. This is South Carolina everyone from the cops to the minister to the florist has a gun."
          Jimmy was unsettled as he put the car in gear.
          "What are you thinking?" Payson asked, "To answer your question, no I don't think he did it."
          "I don't know if he did, but if he did and we let it slide, I'd feel terrible if something happened to Andrew. He really is a nice guy. Plus I've known Evan ever since middle school. I would want to make sure that we keep them both safe."
          "I want that too," Payson replied, "We're not letting it go."
          "I like the security camera idea." Jimmy said, "If they don't have one, we could ask the neighbors if they have anything or saw anything."
          "That's our next step." Payson replied as he was chauffeured along the streets of Deerfield.


          Andrew was at his office when his desk phone rang.
          "Andrew Garrison?"
          "Yes?"
          "This is Payson Flores with the Deerfield police. We are following-up on the 9-1-1 call you made this morning."
          "Thank you for calling, officer, what do you need to know?" Andrew asked.
          The others in the office spun their heads in his direction. Andrew had kept the news about the break in and the threats to himself. They'd been busy enough that morning that no one had asked him anything.
          "Do you have a security camera?"
          "No, I don't. Now Evan insists we get one."
          "Did Evan witness anything?"
          "No. He was asleep."
          "He didn't hear anything and come to check it out?"
          "No. By the time he woke up, Grant was gone. Grant asked if he was there, but I said no. Even if Grant killed me, I wanted Evan to survive."
          Amanda mouthed to Darcy, "What the Hell?"
          "Do you happen to know if any of your neighbors have a security camera? We questioned him this morning and he denies doing anything. That isn't surprising and doesn't really mean anything, we're just trying to collect information. If he did do it, we want to make sure we do everything we can to keep you and Evan safe."
          "Thank you, officer, I appreciate that."
          "You can call me Payson."
          "Thank you, Payson," Andrew said, "I'll ask my neighbors and if they have anything, I'll let you know. I don't want to panic anyone with the police showing up."
          Payson chuckled, "That makes sense. Yes, if you can find anything or think of anything, we'll keep going. My partner and I will also keep thinking."
          "Thank you."
          "Well," Payson said, "At the risk of sounding like Colombo, there is one more thing. It was dark and late. Is there any way that this was some sort of dream or is there any way it could have been someone who just looked kinda like him?"
          "No, absolutely not. I know for a 100% fact that it was Grant Kirkland."
          "What makes you so sure?"
          "Evan can tell you more, but what I know is this. Grant showed up at our house yesterday morning wanting Evan to dump me and take him back. Evan essentially told him to get lost. He sounded mad, but he left saying 'this isn't over.' Then that very night he breaks in and threatens to kill me if I interfere with him taking Evan back to New York with him."
          "God Almighty." Payson breathed into the phone, "Grant said he knew Evan from New York."
          "Talk to Evan," Andrew advised, "Anything else I tell you would be hearsay. Just know that Evan and Grant were boyfriends in New York and, according to Evan, Grant is unstable, jealous, and dangerous. Based on my experience last night, I would have to agree."
          "Damn," Payson said, "I had no idea. We'll definitely keep pursuing this. We'll give Evan a call next."
          "Okay." Andrew said, "If you need anything else, let me know."
          "Thank you." Payson replied before ending the call.
          Andrew looked at the astonished looks he was getting from his coworkers.
          Andrew said irritably, "And now you know as much as I do about what is going on."
          "He seriously threatened you?" Amanda was aghast, "To win Evan back?"
          "Yes." Andrew replied.
          "Andrew," Martin said, "You are a valued member of our team. If there is anything I can do, just let me know. I'm not sure what that might be, but I just wanted to offer."
          "Thank you." Andrew replied, "Right now, my work is the only stable piece of my life, so I'm happy to keep at it."
          "Good," Martin smiled, happy with that answer, "But if you need a few days off to rest or sort things out, just reschedule your clients and I'll back you up."
          "I will, but there really isn't anything else I can do as far as I know." Andrew said, "The police are investigating, and we can only hope that Grant doesn't do anything else. Evan's going to get a home security system on his way home from work. Other than that, I don't know there's anything else I or anyone else can do."
          As the workday was winding down, Andrew wasn't sure he wanted to go home. He didn't feel safe there after last night. Evan had texted that he'd read some Google reviews and succeeded in picking out an automated alarm system from the local home improvement store after he was done at the dry cleaner's, but needed a Garrison brain to figure out what to do with it.
          Amanda, whose desk was nearest the door and was the de facto receptionist, was packing up her things and preparing to log off for the day when a young man in athletic wear strolled into the firm with a canvas messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
          "May I help you?" Amanda asked.
          "I am here to see Andrew Garrison."
          "Do you have an appointment?"
          "It won't take long." the guy, little more than a boy, smiled.
          The entire office held their collective breath. Was there about to be an active shooter? Did they have a new client? What was in the messenger bag?
          Amanda smiled but swallowed nervously, "I'm sorry but there's been some threats against the company. May I see what's in the bag?"
          "Um." He replied, "I'm not supposed to."
          That answer made everyone even more tense.
          "What do you need with me?" Andrew spoke up, "I'm Andrew Garrison. Whatever you are here for has nothing to do with them."
          "I'm aware," the man-boy replied.
          "What can I do for you?" Andrew asked, as scared as everyone else combined.
          The guy straightened his back and reached into the bag. He looked around and realized how scared everyone looked.
          "Andrew Garrison," he said, pulling out an envelope, "You've been served."
          "I've been what?" Andrew asked, jangled nerves making him a bit dense.
          He tossed the envelope on Andrew's desk, "You're being sued."
          He cinched up the messenger bag, bid them good day and left McWilliams Investments. Andrew looked at the envelope like it was a tarantula.
          "Sued?" Amanda said, "What in the world?"
          Andrew opened the envelope and read for a few moments. Every eye in the office was glued to his face watching for any sort of reaction.
          "This guy is ridiculous." Andrew spat.
          "What?" Darcy asked.
          "Grant is suing me for 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.'"
          "What the actual...is he nuts?" Amanda huffed.
          "Yes." Andrew said, "Evan flat out told me that Grant is crazy. Until last night I thought he was just hurt over whatever led to their breakup, but no, Grant really is nuts."
          "Wait," Betty said, pointing to the paper that Andrew was holding, "There's something on the back."
          Andrew flipped the paper over. There was a handwritten note. Andrew wasn't sure how Grant could have put it there, but it was signed with his name. He read quickly, his eyes glistened a bit.
          "It must be bad," Amanda said, "I'm sorry Andrew."
          Andrew sniffled, "It says, 'You are a terrible person and no good for someone as great as Evan. I'm going to call immigration and get you deported back to whatever hellhole country you came from."
          "He can't do that," Amanda said.
          "I'm a US citizen. He's just a racist ass who took one look at me and decided I was trash."
          Betty motioned for Andrew to stand up. Andrew stood.
          All three other advisors plus Martin crowded around him and hugged him in one big pile of arms and sad faces.
          "It's going to be okay," Betty said, "He cannot and will not get away with this."
          They broke their embrace and stepped back.
          "What are you going to do?" Darcy asked.
          Andrew thought about it for a moment, "I really don't know. This is a stupid, frivolous lawsuit. I doubt it'll go anywhere."
          Martin spoke up, "Andrew, I highly suggest you get a restraining order. My brother is a judge. I can call him right now if you want."
          "I don't know if that's necessary."
          "Andrew," Martin continued, clearly fretting over this latest development, "I'm scared for you. This guy is a jealous ex. He showed up at your house. He broke into your house in the middle of the night with a gun and threatened to kill you. And now a lawsuit? Andrew, I'm calling my brother. I think you and Evan should stay with me for a few days until the police have enough evidence to arrest this guy."
          Andrew's throat visibly constricted as he tried to swallow but his throat was so dry he was afraid his tongue would get stuck and block his airway.
          "Okay," Andrew said.
          "Come to my office. I'll call him. The rest of you, go home. If Grant shows up here, I don't want any of you around."
          Andrew and Martin retired to his office while the others went home.
          "I'm so sorry about this," Andrew said.
          Martin waved his hand to dismiss, "I see no way in the world this is your fault. You are a sharp and capable person. I want you to be safe."
          "I appreciate that." Andrew replied as Martin inhaled to speak to the answerer of his call.
          "Darlene! I hope you are doing well. Uh-huh. And Walter? Oh great. Yes, I'm well. The investment firm is doing very well, thank you for asking. Say, is Chris around? Yes. I see. Well, have him give me a call. I have a friend who needs a restraining order. Yes. Uh-huh. I know that sounds dramatic, but the police are investigating and until the person threatening him is caught, my friend is in danger. Okay. Great! We'll be there in ten minutes. Thank you for staying late. I really appreciate it. Yes. Say hi to Walter for me. Okay. Yes, 10 minutes."
          Martin ended the phone call.
          "I can get the restraining order?"
          "Yes. Darlene is going to write up the paperwork while we walk over to the courthouse to pick it up. Chris isn't available, but they have an on-call judge we can talk to. Call the officer back and let him know. They'll be the ones to tell him. If he can meet us at the courthouse, even better. The judge will sign, but if the police are right with us saying to do it, there's no way the judge will say no."
          "You've done this before?" Andrew asked.
          "No, but he's been a judge for years, so you hear things. Plus, I watch a lot of cop shows on TV." Martin smiled.
          "I just hope we don't end up being the 'based on a true story,' narrative for one." Andrew said, casting a furtive glance at the door.
          "Me either." Martin replied.
          "A young, interracial gay couple murdered in a small southern town." Andrew mused.
          "Don't go writing the screenplay for them," Martin admonished, trying to sound light, but they both understood the gravity of the situation.
          Andrew picked up his phone as they walked out.
          "Payson? Yes, it's Andrew Garrison."
          "Andrew, is everything okay?"
          "Well, no. I got served with a lawsuit from Grant a few minutes ago. With everything going on, I'm going to go over to the courthouse and get a restraining order."
          "It's after 5, you might have to wait until tomorrow."
          "My boss' brother is a judge. He already called."
          "Fantastic! I'm busy with my kids, but Jimmy is on duty tonight. I'll call him and let him know to meet you there. Jimmy will go straight over to Grant's house before the ink is dry. We know his address now."
          "Great," Andrew replied.
          "Wait, a lawsuit?"
          "Yes, he's suing me for 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.'"
          "Ironic considering the accusations against him."
          "Ironic doesn't even begin to describe it." Andrew said, shaking his head.
          They ended the call. McWilliams Investments was only a few blocks from the county courthouse.
          Andrew walked alongside his boss who was only eight years older than him. Andrew and Martin got the restraining order signed by the on-call judge and, as planned, Jimmy took the police copy and Grant's copy and went immediately to serve the restraining order. Jimmy was decidedly on Andrew's side and assured him that they would do everything they could to stop Grant after what he did. The judge also ordered the lawsuit to the top of his docket for the next day. He looked over the papers and asked Andrew a few questions. The judge agreed with Andrew that the lawsuit seemed frivolous. The judge said that the hearing would take place over Skype so that they were not in violation of the restraining order.
          "I'm going to go home," Andrew said, "I'm exhausted, and Evan needs my help installing the security system."
          "Okay," Martin replied, "But I'll leave my phone on, so if you change your mind, just let me know."
          "I will, thank you."
          It was getting dark by the time Andrew and Martin parted ways and Andrew went home to find Evan at the kitchen table looking like he was trying to construct a bomb with instructions from a poorly coded AI translator.
          "Andrew, thank God you're home. I was about to call the police."
          "I was with them."
          "Oh, my God, what happened?"
          "I got a restraining order against Grant."
          "That's a great idea," Evan said, "I should have thought of that."
          "It was my boss' idea. He also said we could stay with him for a while until the police have enough evidence to arrest Grant."
          "That was nice of him," Evan said.
          "Yeah. He seems to really care about me."
          "I'm glad."
          "Jimmy is over at Grant's right now."
          "Jimmy, huh, who might Jimmy be?"
          "Jimmy Behr."
          "Wow, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. How is he?"
          "He's fine as far as I know. He and another officer named Payson Flores are investigating."
          "I'm glad they got on it. After your call with the dispatcher last night, I didn't have high hopes."
          "The police are definitely taking it seriously." Andrew said, "They questioned Grant this morning, asked me a few questions, and then showed up at the courthouse to take the restraining order directly to Grant."
          "I'm impressed."
          "I don't know what will happen with Grant, but we've definitely got the police on our side. Apparently, he was trying to lay on the charm this morning, but the officers weren't falling for it. Then he served me with a lawsuit."
          "Good. Yeah, Grant can be a smooth talker until he gets mad."
          "Well, he's likely good and pissed right now." Andrew said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
          "Yeah, the restraining order might help, but it might make him do something rash." Evan said.
          "I was worried about that. Should I call Martin back and take him up on his offer to stay with him?"
          "If we can't get this security system set up, then yes."
          "How long do you think it'll take?" Andrew asked.
          "That's your department." Evan said, "I'll cook dinner."
          "Look at you, being the happy homemaker."
          Evan grinned, "I am going to make our home the best I can. Now, doting husband, figure out this alarm system then take out the trash. Otherwise we're getting a pit bull from the pound."
          Evan took up his post at the stove making chipped beef with the leftover steak from the night before, Andrew set about deciphering the alarm system code. Little did they know who was watching them right that very moment.


          In the gathering darkness of the encroaching night, Grant stood near the back of Engrid's house facing the happy couple and watched them through the kitchen window. It was a beautiful house. Evan looked so happy cooking dinner for Andrew and himself. He could see him bustling around the kitchen. He couldn't quite see where Andrew was, but figured he was just out of sight since Evan kept pausing to talk to someone.
          Grant kept to the shadows and moved along the side of Engrid' house and walked up onto the porch and peered in through the windows. The light in the central hallway, living room, and kitchen were all on. He could see the comfortable furniture and the art prints hanging on the walls. He saw the organized bookshelves, lamps, the fireplace, and all the trappings of a lovely home they'd built for themselves. Grant realized how perfect it all looked. Everything Andrew owned was perfect. It was all neat, clean, organized and put away. He stepped back and looked up and down the length of the porch. The swing and the row of wicker rocking chairs set perfectly still in the moonlight.
          He was suddenly filled with revulsion and hatred. He hated the fact that Andrew gave Evan his heart's most precious and ardent desire- to have both roots and wings. Grant had the chance two years ago to give Evan that, but he blew it. He had failed when he let Evan leave and it cost him the love of a lifetime. He was determined not to fail again. Since Andrew was perfect, he needed to be destroyed. It was the only way to get Evan back - remove Andrew as an option. Grant suddenly had to fight the urge to burn that beautiful, century-old home to the ground. He saw the lights come on at Engrid's house. He stepped to the far side of the porch. He knew he was in violation of the restraining order. While he did not care one bit about the restraining order, he had no interest in being arrested.
          There was a war within his heart. He understood now that Evan was not going to take him back. Part of him wanted to torture Andrew by killing Evan. If he couldn't have Evan, there was no way that shrimpy, stupid, useless, foreign-born, brown-skinned bastard was getting him. Grant raged silently to himself, fingering the pistol in the holster attached to his belt.


          Engrid had been talking to Dora on the phone in the kitchen. She was still dressed in a powder blue pants suit, with a ruffled blouse, and matching flats that she had worn to church choir practice that evening. She decided now that it was dark out and the heat was letting up that she'd go out to the porch and chat from the swing. She shrugged off the blazer and draped it over the back of the kitchen chair, just leaving the ruffled blouse as her top. She shouldered the phone under her chin and grabbed her iced tea glass, opened her front door and stepped over to the swing. She'd never turned her swing around, so it still faced Andrew's house. She thought she saw movement on the front porch. She put the glass down on the floor of the porch and resumed her conversation.
          "So," Dora was saying into the phone at Engrid's ear, "Would you be willing to proofread the budget proposal to the state archives for the money they want us to manage for the adult literacy program?"
          "What use would I be?"
          "I just want to make sure the numbers are right, and you were a math teacher, were you not?"
          "I was. George always said I had a head for figures."
          "He figured it was the best way to get you to marry him. As it was for him then, so it is now, flattery will get me what I want from you too." Dora laughed.
          "I'll look at the budget. It's just arithmetic. I'm not going to have to co-sign a cosine, am I?" Engrid chuckled at her own pun.
          She leaned forward. She was sure she saw movement on the front porch of Andrew's house. She looked at the light coming from the kitchen window. She could see Evan at the pantry door and Andrew at the table, but she couldn't see what he was doing. Either way, she knew it wasn't Evan or Andrew on the porch as they were accounted for. She had a sinking feeling about the identity of the trespasser. She looked out to the street and saw the telltale red Outback parked far enough away she would never have noticed it if she hadn't been looking for it. That confirmed that it must be Grant on the porch.
          "Well that can't be good," Engrid said.
          "What?" Dora asked.
          "Grant is back."
          "What does he want?"
          "Probably the same thing he wanted yesterday." Engrid said, taking a sip of her tea.
          "Evan." Dora answered her own question.
          "I assume. Evan's a nice guy, and I love him dearly, but even I'm not sure he's worth all this fuss." Engrid groused.
          "Should you call Evan or Andrew?"
          "I probably should." Engrid said.
          Grant saw Engrid and hoped Engrid had not seen him. She was on the phone. The old biddy was probably calling the police, which meant he had to act fast. He knew it was now or never.
          He tried to open the door. Shockingly, they had not thought to lock it. He knew they were in the kitchen. Evan dropped a pot when he saw Grant. Andrew looked up from the scattered bits of their new alarm system and registered a mix of horror and surprise.
          "You really should lock that door," Grant said, "Anyone could walk in here."
          Evan's phone began vibrating in his pocket. The warning from Engrid came too late.
          "Grant, get out. I have a restraining order." Andrew said, standing up.
          "I know. You think some piddly piece of paper is going to stop me?"
          "Grant, go away. We're done." Evan said, getting a dish towel to clean up the mess he'd made when he dropped the pot.
          Andrew's phone sat on the table. Its screen lit up saying he was getting a call from Engrid Matthews.
          "I know." Grant replied.
          "Are you here to apologize?" Andrew asked.
          "No," Grant replied with a growl, "Never."
          "Grant, don't do anything stupid," Evan said, "We can still be friends."
          Andrew knew Evan was just trying to deescalate the situation, but he still felt the need to dry heave at the idea of being friends with such a mean-spirited person.
          "No, we can't. You are either my world or you are nothing to me."
          "Then I guess that makes me nothing to you," Evan said.
          Grant slid the pistol out of the holster and lifted it up.
          "Grant!" Andrew yelled, "Put the gun down now!"
          Grant looked calm, almost serene pointing the pistol at Evan.
          "Why are you doing this?" Evan asked, "I thought you loved me."
          "I do. But if I can't have you, no one can. No one else is good enough for you. I tried to make you see that, but I couldn't."
          "Grant," Andrew said, "Let's go to the living room and talk. There's no reason to hurt anyone."
          Grant took a step back into the central hallway. Evan and Andrew put their hands up like surrendered soldiers and went to the hall to go across to the living room. As they passed, Evan grabbed Grant's wrist but Grant was far too strong, even for Evan. He shoved Evan away and pointed the pistol back at him.
          "No!" Andrew screamed, and lunged toward Grant.
          Grant swung back toward Andrew. Andrew was fast and furious. He swept the gun hand out of the way and plowed into Grant at full speed, kicking his knee and tackling him to the ground. Grant crashed to the floor with Andrew landing on top of him. Grant kept the gun in his hand. Grant threw Andrew off and he rolled over and popped up off the floor to a standing position. Evan was too shocked to be impressed with Andrew's agility.
          "Grant, you don't have to do this!" Evan screamed, "It does not have to be like this."
          Grant's eye moved between his two possible targets. He raised the gun up. He pointed it at Evan. He slowly pulled the cockpin back to the distinctive metal click.
          "Don't do it," Evan said, "We've been through so much. Why must our final moments together be like this?
          In a blur, Andrew charged forward. He jumped in front of Evan just as a sharp crack shattered the night.
          Andrew landed on his feet, looking stunned. He looked down at the gaping bullet hole in his chest. His blood started flowing. Andrew stumbled backwards and collapsed in a heap on the floor. Grant ran from the house.
          Evan let out an animalistic scream and knelt beside Andrew's body. Andrew's eyes glassed over. Evan grabbed Andrew's arms and tried to pull him up as if that was all it would take to reanimate dead flesh.


          Dora and Engrid both heard the gunshot and Evan's screaming.
          "Oh God," Dora said, "No, just please God no."
          Engrid said, "I'm calling the police. Dora. lock your door."
          She ended the call before Dora could respond. Engrid was so shaken that she nearly dropped her phone trying to dial 9-1-1.
          "Hello?" she lost it and sobbed into the phone.
          "I see your information on the screen; we'll send the police immediately."
          "Send an ambulance..." she managed to sputter.
          "Of course, Mrs. Matthews," The pleasant dispatcher said.
          She heard the front door open and a shadowy figure moved quickly down the front steps, down the concrete walkway. She realized she was a sitting duck on the front porch. She silently prayed that he was in too much of a hurry to notice her. She was wrong.
          Grant stopped. Engrid couldn't help but sniffle. She had heard the gunshot. She could still hear Evan wailing. She knew neither Evan nor Andrew had chased Grant. Engrid could only conclude that Andrew had just been brutally murdered. Grant heard the sniffle. He turned and walked toward her. He slowly moved soundlessly in her direction through the grass. She watched him approaching but was paralyzed with fear.


          He retrieved the gun from his waistband and pointed it at her. All Engrid could do was look at him pleadingly. She couldn't get her mouth to form any words. The phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor of the porch.
          "You say anything to anybody and you're next." He turned and ran back towards his car. He got in and drove off down the street. He passed the inbound police cars that came to a screeching halt, all lights and sirens full blast. Since she was calling on her phone, it was her house they came to since it was her address on their screen.
          Engrid got up, her eyes so teary she could barely make it down the steps.
          "Ma'am, are you okay? I'm officer Jimmy Behr of the Deerfield police. I'm here to help you."
          She pointed at Andrew's house with her hand and managed to sputter, "He's been shot."
          "Who?" Jimmy asked, panic rising as he was pretty sure he knew who it was and who did it. He'd delivered the restraining order himself just a few hours ago after meeting Andrew at the courthouse.
          "Andrew Garrison."
          "Oh shit," Jimmy said, pulling his gun and rushing over to the other house with a second officer in tow while the paramedics got the all clear from Jimmy.
          "Are you okay ma'am?" one of the paramedics asked her.
          She just shook her head.
          "Get her in the ambulance."
          She vigorously shook her head. She managed to stay up on her unsteady feet and walk as quickly as she could towards Andrew's house. The two paramedics followed. She was starting to get her mind back online after the horrific shock it had just had.
          "I'm okay. I'm not why I called." She said, "Someone's been shot. He's inside."
          She went up the steps. When she got to the top, she threw up over the porch railing when she looked through the opened doorway and saw Andrew's lifeless body lying on the floor, Evan kneeling beside him running his fingers through Andrew's blood-soaked black hair. She steadied herself by holding onto the porch railing. She turned around and watched as Jimmy and the other officer each grabbed one of Evan's arms and hauled him out of the pool of Andrew's blood.
          The paramedics started working to revive Andrew. Evan had blood all over himself. There was a massive pool of blood covering the hardwood floor. Evan had been in the middle of it, surrounded and covered in it. Andrew's Mediterranean complexion was ghostly pale as all his blood drained out onto the floor.
          "No!" Evan screamed as the officers pulled him to his feet.
          Evan's feet slipped in Andrew's blood. The officers lost their grip and Evan fell into the pool, getting more blood all over himself. The officers got another grip on him and hauled him up again.
          "Come on, Evan, we need to get you out of here." Jimmy said, "Let the paramedics do their work."
          Evan got one arm free and reached out, grasping in Andrew's direction. Evan had so much blood on him, he looked like he was the one who had been shot.
          Engrid was standing on the porch when Evan was dragged, literally kicking and screaming, from the house. He saw Engrid and wrapped his bloody arms around her and squeezed for all he was worth. She hugged him back and he put his head on her shoulder. He bawled into her collarbone.
          "This is all my fault," Evan cried, "I got Andrew killed. I'm so fucking stupid. Andrew is dead because of me."
          She petted him gently, "No, it isn't. None of this is your fault."
          They sat for a few moments before the paramedics hauled Andrew by on a gurney and down the steps to the waiting ambulance.
          "We need to get him to the hospital." a paramedic said.
          "He's not dead?" Engrid gushed.
          "He's in bad shape." the paramedic acknowledged, "He might not make it, but we'll do our best. Do you know how we can get in touch with his family?"
          Engrid just stared at them for a few seconds before responding, "I'll see that his parents are notified."
          "He's not dead?" Evan said with the faint traces of hope welling up behind the tortured pain in his eyes.
          "He is alive." Engrid said.
          She pulled him over and they sat together on the swing. She didn't say anything; she just held him and rocked him like a baby, cradling his head with her hand. Evan just cried and cried there on that swing. When Engrid had thrown up earlier, she hadn't leaned over quite in time, so she vomited all down the front of her blouse and was now covered with the blood that had smeared from Evan. They made quite a grisly sight.
          Jimmy dispatched the other officer to start putting up crime scene tape. Several neighbors heard the sirens and came to find out what had happened. Several officers were keeping them away. Engrid and Evan's eyes were so blurry from the tears, they couldn't see anything anyway. Dora was among the onlookers.
          Jimmy quietly approached, "Evan, I'm sorry."
          "For what?" Evan asked.
          "I was investigating Grant this morning after Andrew called. Then I was the one who served him with the restraining order. I'm sure I did something wrong that made him snap."
          "You didn't, Jimmy. Grant is just dangerous, and he needs to be stopped. We can talk later if you need a statement."
          "Then, say 'yes' if I'm right. Grant came here, gained entrance to the house, there was an altercation. Grant saw Andrew as competition for your affection and so shot him in cold blood."
          Evan nodded. That pretty much summed it up.
          "Okay. I'll have someone type that up in the morning and you can come by the police station to sign."
          "Mrs. Matthews, will you be able to go to the police station in the morning and file your witness statement? I would take it now, but we are shorthanded. The whole department is looking for Grant right now. There's quite a manhunt getting underway. We will do....I mean I will do whatever I can to bring Grant to justice."
          "Thank you," Engrid said incalculably spent, unsure how much more energy she had left in her aged bones.
          Jimmy pulled a business card out of his pocket, "I am going to leave you alone and let the crime scene folks do their thing. This has my number on it. Call me if you need anything that I can do."
          "I will." Evan managed to choke out past the phlegm.
          "I really wish I could have done more to keep you and Andrew safe," Jimmy said shaking his head in sad defeat before walking away to go work with the crime scene investigators.
          Engrid said, "Let's go to my house and get ourselves cleaned up. Then we'll go over to the hospital.
          He latched on tighter. Engrid knew that Evan was broken and needed healing. She really wished she knew how to help other than just be there. Engrid did not rush him, she let him hug her for as long as he wanted. The strength abated, and his arms flopped off to the sides.
          "Let's get us both cleaned up," Engrid suggested. They stood and made their way slowly the few dozen yards to Engrid's house.

Chapter 24

A
          t Engrid's house, Evan went to the bathroom to begin getting cleaned up. Engrid brought some fresh towels and left them outside of the door and went to get herself cleaned up in the master bathroom. She emptied her pockets, including her phone and put it on the edge of the bathroom sink.
          Her phone lit up with a message. It was a text from Dora, "I don't want to be a pest, but if you need anything let me know."
          Engrid responded, "Thank you. Could you go to the hospital and check on Andrew?"
          "He's alive?" Dora typed, "Hallelujah."
          "Barely, but yes." Engrid responded.
          Dora didn't respond, but Engrid knew she got the message when she heard the Explorer's engine roar down the street and off into the night.
          After she was tidied up, she went to the living room and sat in her happy place, the piano bench. She had to do something to get her mind off all that was swirling around her. She let the hymnal drop open wherever it wanted and started playing. Evan finished bathing, got dressed and sat on the stairs listening to her. She was known all over town for her skill at any sort of keyboard, but he was glad he got to hear her more than anyone. He got up and went to the living room doorway.
          She stopped when she sensed him behind her. Evan couldn't help but smile. He loved that old woman more than she could know. Engrid had been the one who convinced him to move to New York in the first place. She said it would be a good experience for him to get out of here and see what the rest of the world was like. He gained a lot of wisdom because of that move.
          "How are you feeling?" She asked.
          He shook his head.
          "I cannot begin to imagine," she said.
          "Do you mind playing some more?" He asked.
          "No, not at all," she said and turned back to the keyboard.
          He stretched out on the couch and listened. It wasn't a hymn he knew, but she knew them all. After another twenty minutes, she stopped again.
          "I can't believe Andrew tackled Grant." Evan said to the ceiling.
          "He what?" Engrid said, turning around on the bench.
          "He distracted Grant and then tackled him to the floor. Like some sort of ninja."
          Engrid shook her head, "He's brave and he loves you, Evan. I hope you know how special Andrew is."
          Evan nodded, his eyes glistening with unfallen tears. "He risked his life to save me. Grant was going to shoot me, not Andrew."
          Engrid wiped a tear from her eye.
          She had no idea what to say, so she just said the first thing that came to mind, "Do you want some breakfast? It's going to be light out soon. Another day."
          "No. I'm not hungry."
          "Good," she smiled, "I was only being polite. After what I saw tonight, I may never eat again."
          "Amen," Evan said, the faintest hint of a smile forming.
          "You just rest there," Engrid said, "I can at least get you a glass of tea."
          "I have to call Andrew's parents first." Evan said blankly.
          Engrid didn't speak, but her shoulders slumped. She knew he was right.
          "Do you want some privacy?" Engrid asked.
          Evan nodded.
          "Can I have her number? I know she called you." Evan said.
          "Sure. I assume she told you."
          Engrid brought up the contact information on her screen and handed him the phone.
          "I'll be in the kitchen." She said and left him with both phones.
          Marian answered on the second ring. She was already awake, dressed for the day, and sipping her coffee. She nearly dropped her mug when she saw Evan's face on the video call.
          "My God, what's happened?" Marian asked, putting her coffee mug down hard enough on the table that she spilled some.
          "What's going on?" Lewis asked and appeared in the frame.
          Evan sat silently, fighting tears.
          "Is Andrew okay?" Marian asked.
          Evan shook his head, large, hot tears started, making their way down his face.
          He took a ragged breath, "There was an intruder tonight. He had a gun."
          Lewis and Marian both gasped.
          "Andrew was shot. He's alive, but he's in bad shape. He's hurt so bad. He's at the hospital now in surgery. The paramedics said he might not survive."
          "We need to pray," Lewis said.
          Evan continued as if he hadn't heard, "Mr. and Mrs. Garrison, your son is a hero. He saved my life tonight. If it weren't for him, I would be dead right now."
          Evan collapsed in tears. The phone slipped from his hand and fell on the floor as he heard Marian and Lewis praying fervently in Portuguese. Engrid poked her head into the living room. She didn't know what was being said, but she understood the tone and cadence of a parent's desperate prayer. She waited until they were done.
          She stood over the phone and picked it up.
          "Amen," she added to whatever they had said, then continued, "Evan is right. Andrew is the bravest man I have ever met. He tackled the intruder to the floor and took a bullet to save Evan's life."
          Neither Evan nor Engrid cared to explain who the intruder was and how he came to be in Andrew's house in the first place. Lewis and Marian begged off the call and went to pray and hope and grieve.
          Evan sat on the couch as though he might drop dead of a broken heart if anything else happened to Andrew.
          "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
          "I'm going to the hospital. When the police are done with the scene, I'll clean up the mess. I can't let Andrew see the house like that. I don't want him to remember any of it." Evan spoke with the monotone of someone with no emotional energy left.
          "You can't do that by yourself. I can't have you cleaning up his blood and guts off the floor." Engrid said with conviction.
          "Someone has to."
          "I'll help." Engrid offered.
          "We also have to be careful." Evan warned.
          "Why?"
          "Grant got away. He's still out there." Evan explained, "If he did this, none of us are safe until he is in prison."
          Engrid took Evan's arm and looked straight into his eyes, "I know, but we need to get some rest and go check on Andrew. Dora is in the waiting room in case he gets out of surgery before we get there. Andrew is our priority right now. We'll let the police handle Grant."
          Evan nodded.          

Chapter 25

W
          hen Engrid woke up a few hours later, she was alone in the house. Evan's Cherokee was gone. Engrid got dressed in linen pants and a floral print blouse with hibiscus flowers that tied on the side with a small clip. She looked a little like a Caribbean tourist, but she wanted to dress in something bright. She didn't want to dress in church clothes or anything that looked remotely funerary. She made some toast in her ancient toaster oven. Fatigue and emotional trauma gave her a 1,000-yard stare that not even the smell of burnt toast could cut through until the last minute. As she had done many times before, she scraped the burnt bits off over the sink with a butter knife. After choking down her toast with a full glass of whole milk and drinking her coffee, she drove over to the police station.
          She went up the granite steps of the Deerfield Police Department and pulled open the double doors and went to the front desk.
          "I am looking for Jimmy Behr." Engrid said.
          "He's here, have a seat and I'll let him know you're here."
          The officer ushered the elderly woman to a plastic stackable waiting room chair. Engrid sat and adjusted the floral blouse to center the buttons down the front of her body rather than having them weave around like a drunk person.
          "Thank you for coming in, Mrs. Matthews," Jimmy said, "My partner, Payson Flores should be along shortly as well. He may or may not have more questions for you.
          "I don't really have much to tell." Engrid said, "I met Grant once in Andrew and Evan's front yard."
          "We know all of that," Jimmy said, "Last night, when Andrew was shot, what did you see? To the best of your recollection."
          Engrid considered her answer, "I was talking to my friend Dora on the phone. I was sitting on my front porch on my swing. I saw someone on their front porch who was neither Andrew nor Evan. I knew about the altercation in their front yard a day or so before. Then I called the police. I was afraid something would happen. I'm glad I did because had I waited until I heard the gunshot to call for an ambulance, Andrew would be dead.
          "I know," Jimmy said, "Here is a piece of paper. Please write down everything you can think of that might be relevant to this case and sign it."
          "What will you do with it?" Engrid asked.
          "We use it in our investigation. It's information that we can use and take into consideration."
          "Okay." Engrid was satisfied with that answer and began writing out her statement.
          She finished her business with the police and left for the hospital.


          When she arrived, she quickly found Andrew's room. He wasn't alone. Dora and Evan were sitting in dun-colored hospital chairs. Dora's chair was by the window while Evan's chair was as close to the bed as he could be without being in the bed with Andrew. Andrew was asleep.
          "How is he?" She whispered to Dora.
          Dora motioned for them to step outside into the hallway.
          Dora and Engrid went into the hallway, while Evan held Andrew's hand gently.
          "He'll be fine," Dora said, "The doctor said that the bullet did hit him in an artery, but your quick 9-1-1 call saved his life. Any longer, and Andrew would be dead. He's gotten multiple pints of blood."
          "I'm so glad that he's going to be fine. I'm glad the doctors talked to you." Engrid said, breathing a sigh of relief.
          "If anyone asks, I'm his grandmother." Dora said.
          "Noted." Engrid replied.
          "The bullet missed all of the major organs. So, he got a transfusion and he'll have to rest for a while, but he'll be good as new soon."
          "That is amazing. I can't believe it." Engrid said, fighting tears of joy.
          "Yes, it is and neither can I. How did it go with the police?" Dora asked.
          "I don't know. I told them what little I know."
          When they came back in, Andrew was awake.
          "Hey, Andrew," Engrid said softly, "I hear you're going to be okay."
          Andrew smiled, "You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily did you?"
          "No. You're like a bad penny," she laughed.
          Andrew laughed, then winced, "No jokes, just yet."
          "Sorry."
          "So," Andrew said, "What'd I miss?"
          "Nothing you need to be concerned about," Engrid answered.
          The three sat in silence and thought of something to say.
          "Well," Evan started, "I've been offered a job teaching high school English."
          "I didn't know you'd applied." Engrid said.
          "They've been trying to get me to do it since I got back from New York. I didn't want to leave Mom alone to run the store, so I didn't do it. But, now I feel like the time has come for me to do something different. I called Principal Whitehurst and I said I would do it."
          "That's a lot of work." Andrew said.
          "It is," Evan admitted, "They asked if I would teach the advanced placement class for English Literature this upcoming fall. The woman who usually teaches it said she didn't want to anymore. They're going to fast track a provisional license for me until I pass the Praxis exams."
          "Maybe you could start taking some Master's classes at the university in Columbia. Then you could be a professor." Engrid said.
          "That's what I said," Andrew smiled.
          "See, even your boyfriend agrees that you should continue your education." Engrid said, gesturing to Andrew.
          "Maybe," Evan said noncommittally. He sat quietly for a moment.
          "Do you want some food?" Engrid asked Andrew.
          "Yes. A bacon double cheeseburger." Andrew replied without hesitation.
          "I can do that." Engrid said.
          "I doubt a hospital kitchen is set up for that." Evan said.
          "I'll go buy one, hand deliver it here, and Heaven help the fool who tries to stop me." Engrid said.
          They laughed as Engrid left the hospital room.

Chapter 26

T
          hat night, Evan and Dora were at Engrid's house sitting at the small table in her kitchen. She'd taken Andrew the bacon double cheeseburger and then got food for everyone else. None of them felt like cooking. Engrid munched on her burger, listening to the wrappers crinkling.
          Evan finished eating his fast food burger meal and balled up the wrappings. He walked them over to the trash. Dora just picked at her food while Engrid stared blankly at the wall.
          "I think I'm going for a walk." Evan said, rinsing his hands off in the sink.
          "Okay," Engrid said absently, "I'll put fresh towels in the bathroom for you."
          "No need." Evan said.
          "Why not?" Engrid asked, then realized what Evan intended, "You are not going over there and mopping up all that blood by yourself."
         "Unless you're offering to help, yes I am." Evan responded in a tone that allowed no argument.
         Engrid sighed heavily, "I know if I don't, you'll do it anyway. I hope Andrew realizes what a stubborn mule of a man you can be."
         "I just want it over. Andrew will be home in a few days and I don't want the house to smell like that. I want that house to look like nothing ever happened. Plus, you puked in the front yard."
         "I think I can be forgiven for that," Engrid said, somewhat testily.
         "I agree," Evan said.
         Dora watched the conversation like it was a tennis match.
          "Well," Dora said, "Many hands make light work, so let's all get to it."
          "I'll get some buckets out of the tool shed and meet you there," Evan said.
          He went out the back door and descended the steps. Engrid and Dora went out the front door. Engrid froze in her tracks. She still had her car keys in her pocket from her trip to the hospital earlier.
         Dora took a breath to speak, but Engrid shushed her with a sharp gesture. Dora looked at her, confused.
         "Get in my car," Engrid whispered, "Hurry."
         They hurried through the shadowy darkness towards Engrid's Town Car. Grant saw them. They knew he saw them when a bullet flew through the night. Engrid jumped in the car. Grant ran toward his car to get away.
         "Call the police," Engrid instructed Dora, cranking her car and throwing it into reverse.
         Evan heard the gunshot. He threw down the buckets and came running, his heart pounding in his chest. He saw Grant running toward the little Subaru. Evan was lightning fast, and adrenaline fueled as he sprinted full tilt across the grass. He and Grant had unfinished business. Engrid switched the car from reverse to drive, floored the accelerator and the land yacht Town Car flew forward. She honked her car horn to startle Grant. Her gambit worked. He paused for just a moment, his surprised expression illuminated by her car headlights. Both women screamed and Engrid slammed on the brakes as Evan's form materialized out of the darkness and slammed Grant up against the side of the Subaru. Engrid swerved as the car skidded to a stop, inches from the curb, narrowly missing running over Evan.
         Dora dialed 9-1-1 and told the police to hurry because there was a prowler with a gun. Engrid popped the trunk and grabbed a set of jumper cables. She hurried as quickly as her legs would take her while Dora kept the dispatcher apprised of the situation.
          Evan grabbed Grant's wrists and slammed him against the roof of the car repeatedly until he dropped the gun. When it hit the ground, the pistol discharged a second round, but that bullet harmlessly embedded itself into a nearby tree. Dora and Engrid both yelped when the gun fired again. Evan pulled Grant forward and slammed him face first onto the ground.
          "Evan, what are you doing? I love you Evan!" Grant cried out, the blood staining his teeth a vampiric red, "Don't do this to me, Evan. I love you so much!"
          Evan did not even pause. He pulled Grant's wrists back as Engrid arrived with the jumper cables from her trunk. Evan tied up Grant while the sound of sirens rose in the distance. Payson was back on duty so he and Jimmy responded to the 9-1-1 distress call.


          Jimmy and Payson arrested Grant, unceremoniously shoving him into the back of his squad car. After taking their three statements, Jimmy and Payson left with Grant safely in the backseat of their squad car. After the sounds of the police car died away and they were greeted with the crickets that lived in the shrubbery and chirped their happy songs every night when the weather was warm and balmy.
          "Are gay people's lives always this off the rails?" Engrid asked.
          "No," Evan said flatly, and walked back toward the shed.
          "Where are you going?" Engrid asked.
          "To get the buckets."
          Engrid and Dora both sighed and met him on the porch.
          Engrid almost tossed her cookies again when Evan unlocked and opened the door. She didn't really know what blood smelled like, but it was breathtakingly foul.
          "I think our first task," Dora said, "Is opening every window in the house.
          "I'll get us some VapoRub to put under our noses to help block the smell." Evan offered. It was a small kindness, but it was all he was able to provide.
          Evan let each take a gob of the VapoRub on their fingers and smear it under their noses. After that was done, he and Dora set about opening the windows while Engrid started filling buckets with warm water from the sink. The buckets were too big for the sink, so she filled a medium sized pot and then poured that into the buckets on the floor. The floor would be relatively easy, though she was unsure how to get blood spatter off of plaster and drywall. She could only tackle one conundrum at a time.

Chapter 27

O
          ver the next few hours, the three of them managed to get the house decently clean and aired out. It wasn't perfect, but Evan planned to call a cleaning service in the morning to get the rest done.
          "Are you ready to go back to my house?" Engrid asked.
          "I'm going back over to the hospital." Evan replied.
          "I don't know if that's such a good idea. I'm sure Andrew will be tired."
          "I'm bringing things to sleep there."
          Dora put her hand on Evan's shoulder, "I know you feel guilty about what happened to Andrew, but you shouldn't. None of this is your fault."
          Evan shook his head, "It's not about that. I'm going because I love him, and I can't stand the idea of him waking up alone, well, ever again."
          Both women smiled.
          "I see Andrew has officially melted the heart of the local Ice King." Dora said.
          Evan smiled.
          "Well, remember, be careful, those hospital doors don't have locks." Engrid said.
          "And no sponge baths without the patient's consent." Dora added, wagging her finger at him.
          "Sooo," Evan said, "I'm sure he'll consent. I can be very persuasive, plus, it wouldn't be the first time I wedged a chair under a door handle."
          Engrid stifled a cough.
          Dora started laughing, "I guess you can be persuasive."
          They all descended into hysterics. The weight of all that had happened crashed down on them. After several minutes. they dabbed their eyes and tried to regain their composure.
          "I think we all needed a good laugh." Engrid said, trying to take a deep breath to calm herself.
          After the ladies left, Evan packed a bag, grabbed an army surplus cot out of the closet, and headed back to the hospital so that he would be there when Andrew woke up.


          Evan had to slip past the nurses' station since visiting hours were long over. He slowly, quietly opened the door and peeked in. Andrew was sound asleep. Evan slipped quietly into the room and set up the cot and pulled out a few things he'd brought from home. Once he bedded down, he lay on the cot looking up at Andrew. Andrew looked so small and frail. Slowly, Evan was overcome by the exhaustion of the day and sleep came quickly in the quiet room.
          Evan awoke to see Andrew watching him. Evan smiled and sat up quickly.
          "You're awake!" Evan said.
          "I should say that to you." Andrew teased with a weak smile, "I've been awake for two hours. You must be exhausted, you didn't budge."
          "I'm here." Evan said, moving to a chair in the room.
          "I was about to yank one of these cords out to get the cavalry in here to check on you." Andrew teased.
          "No need."
          "I'm glad you are here," Andrew said, "You are the only person I want to see right now."
          Evan stood up and gently petted Andrew's hair, "I love you Andrew. I know I've told you that, but I want you to hear it again."
          "I love you too, Evan. When I saw him point that gun at you, something primal snapped. I could have killed him with my bare hands if I had to. I would have done absolutely anything to protect you," Andrew said.
          "I know. You are a hero, Andrew Garrison."
          "What?"
          "You saved my life. You took a bullet for me. You are a hero." Evan said, gently stroking Andrew's forearm, being careful to avoid the IV.
          Andrew looked uncomfortable, "No. It just happened."
          "Well, a hero deserves a hero's reward," Evan said, his voice shifting to indicate the serious topic was over.
          "Huh?" Andrew said, "What did you have in mind?"
          Evan took one of the chairs and moved it to the door. He tipped the chair back slightly and wedged the back of the chair under the door handle. Andrew watched him with curious interest.
          Evan dug around his satchel and brought out a sponge, a dishtowel, and a bowl. He filled the bowl with warm water from the tap in the bathroom and brought it back.
          "Now, Andrew, Dora insisted that I had to get the patient's consent for a sponge bath."
          "Okay."
          "Now, I'm going to need a verbal yes. Do you, Andrew James Garrison, consent to a sponge bath from me, Evan Robert Grayson?"
          "Yes." Andrew said, grinning like an idiot.
          As Evan was wringing out the sponge in the bowl, the chair slid back as the door opened. Evan quickly hid the sponge behind his back. The nurse entered and looked at them both.
          "Evan?" she said, dressed in blue scrub pants and a nurse's smock with teddy bears on it.
          "Kathy?" Evan said, "It's been a while."
          "Yes, it has." She replied.
          Evan said casually, "How long have you worked here?"
          "About five years now. I'm glad you are back." Kathy said, "How do you two know each other?"
          "Kathy," Evan said, proudly puffing up his chest, "This is my boyfriend, Andrew."
          "You can't be serious?" she gasped, almost dropping Andrew's chart.
          "I am." Evan said confidently.
          "That's wonderful!" she said, "But you can't stay in here like that."
          "What?" Evan said, his face falling.
          "The cot. You can sleep in here. You can use the chair or curl up at his feet like a cat, just get rid of the cot. It's a tripping hazard."
          "I like the cat idea," Andrew said.
          "I saw you come in here with it last night. Andrea said that I should stop you. She's one of the traveling nurses. I said, 'That's Evan, he pretty much comes and goes as he pleases.' She said, 'like a stray cat?' I said, 'Basically."
          "So, now I'm a stray cat?" Evan said, only mildly amused.
          "Just be careful," Andrew warned, "If you feed him, he'll show up every day at mealtime."
          Kathy laughed.
          "So, we're sticking with the 'Evan is a stray cat' metaphor?" Evan said, smiling, "Fine, then. Which one of you is feeding me tonight?"
          "Me-ow!" Kathy joked, doing a clawing motion with her hand.
          Evan and Andrew both laughed.
          "Well," Kathy said, "I do have a question for you, Andrew. Do you consent to a sponge bath from this guy?"
          Andrew nodded, "Definitely."
          "How did you know?" Evan asked.
          "The water, the soap, the towel, and I assume you have a wet sponge pressed up against your back."
          "You're pretty smart," Andrew said.
          "People hate stupid nurses," Kathy replied, "I'll tell Diego that you're covered."
          "Diego?" Andrew said, sitting up a bit and grinning.
          Evan very gently bopped Andrew's shoulder, "You're off the market."
          "Well, I'll come back in about 20 minutes to check on you and take vitals." Kathy laughed.
          Kathy exited, and Andrew got his first sponge bath.
         







         

The End

         

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