When Dennis Irvine finally arrives at the pearly gates, St. Peter tells him he's late. This is nothing new for Dennis, who's always had a poor sense of timekeeping. On being admitted into Heaven, Dennis is assigned to Brett, a handsome college football player, who will be his guide. Heaven is not what Dennis expects. It's a college campus, Dennis sleeps in a dorm room with Brett, it's always football season, and why are there so many corners? Dennis and Brett forge a close platonic father and son friendship as they both wait for their lovers to pass over. Each time the Archangel Gabriel comes to tell them of new arrivals, Dennis hopes he'll have news of Colton, his beloved firefighter. But the wait is a long one.

Waiting for Colton

“What corners?”Barry looked around again.


Dennis just smiled.He couldn’t wait any longer and asked if Barry had news of Colton.Dennis hoped he’d be able to deal with the answer if Barry…


Brett tapped Dennis on his elbow;the guy knew where Dennis was going.


“Colt’s retired from the fire department now,of course,”Barry added.


Had so much time passed?“How is he?”


At first Dennis was pleased,and then sadness began to creep in.He hated the idea that Colt had been in mourning all these years.


“I tried to bring him out of himself,but he wasn’t interested.”


“I bet!”Dennis had known since the first day Barry and Colton met that Barry lusted over Colt.Though while Dennis had been alive,Barry had had the decency to keep his desires to himself.


Brett kicked Dennis’s shin.“We’ve gotta go,”he said,pulling at Dennis’s arm.“Roxanne needs her walk.”


Chapter 6