Tom Foster has his life planned out, and he's systematically pursuing his goals. At twenty-two, he's been organist and choirmaster at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for three years, he's working on his doctoral thesis, and he's beginning a secondary career performing in concert. There is no room in his schedule for romance ... until Noah Webster, a gorgeous green-eyed blond, walks into the church one evening to audition for the choir.<br><br>What starts as an arrangement of convenience -- Tom's usual page turner is unavailable, and Noah agrees to do the job-soon turns into a fast friendship. Then Noah, who is saddled with an obnoxious roommate, rents the spare bedroom in Tom's house, and ultimately the two men become lovers and partners in life.<br><br>But before they can ride off into the sunset together, they must face one major obstacle: Noah's violent, homophobic Southern Baptist father.

Love Turns the Page

“Excuse me just a minute,” Tom said.


He took his cell phone and punched a speed dial number. “Hello, Mrs. Walker,” he said. “This is Tom. … He’s okay, and he has a full load of summer classes to keep his mind off things. … Good. I’m sitting here in Father Cullen’s office, and he’s given me a recommendation. … He suggests that you talk to Steven Sandifer, the rector at Holy Trinity. He’s had a great deal of experience with this sort of thing. Maybe Bobby could persuade his mother to go to services there some Sunday. … Oh, you have? That’s even better. … Keep us posted. Bye.


“That’s interesting,” Tom said as he ended the call. “Noah’s brother is living with his grandparents while he goes to Florida. He liked our service, so I suggested he check out Holy Trinity, and he’s taken his grandmother to church there more than once. More to the point, she’s met Father Sandifer and likes him.”


“Perhaps she can persuade her daughter to talk to him,” John said.


Chapter 69