David Bennett is a widower. He had a wonderful relationship with his wife, but now she's gone. He decides he's done with relationships -- he has no sex drive and no interest in life in general. Andy Barnes is a homeless man who often stands at the end of an exit ramp begging for help. For some unfathomable reason, David is always tempted to pick him up on his way home. One wretched night in December, fate intervenes and David finds himself bringing the man home and into his life. Much to his surprise, he begins to fall in love with this down and out young man. As love returns, David realizes he does have a reason to go on with life after all. Over the next few years, the two face life as a partnered gay couple with humor and courage. Each year brings with it happiness, tragedy, joy, and sorrow; the stuff life is made of. Along the way, the love the two share for each other helps them to overcome all obstacles and face all challenges.

David and Andrew Book 1: One Night in December

When Mike and John arrived, they immediately swept us both into a hug. The dogs joined in the fray. Annie had been Mike’s dog before he moved to Boston, which he felt was no place for a dog between the long hours he kept at work and John being away so much as a flight attendant. Annie was overjoyed to see Mike and stayed glued to his side all afternoon. It all seemed so natural. I began to relax—until John asked what Andy did for a living. I hadn’t told Mike anything about Dr. Andrew Barnes. Andy handled it, though. He merely said he’d attended MSU, was a veterinarian, was between jobs and hoped to find something here in Ann Arbor.


The next questions made me hold my breath.


“So, how did you meet? How long have you known each other?” Mike asked.


I wasn’t prepared to say, Oh, I picked up this homeless guy, who has a drinking problem, was living under a bridge and got mugged by two other bums a week ago.


Chapter 13