After the death of their mother, Chris Bottoms adopted his little brother Ted, and Chris and his partner Mickey settle down to raise him. Through paperwork left by his mother, Chris learns his brother has a deeply troubled past.<br><br>During a Thanksgiving visit with Chris and Ted’s maternal grandparents, they find out Chris’s grandfather allowed his friends to abuse Ted, so Chris severs all ties with that side of his family.<br><br>Through his job at a hospital, Chris hears of a surgeon at the Mayo Clinic who has developed an ileostomy reversal technique that has proven successful in cases like his. When Chris enters the clinic for preliminary testing, he learns he is a good candidate for the procedure and schedules the first of two surgeries for the beginning of January. A visit from estranged relatives while he’s in the hospital leaves him wondering how many secrets one family can have.

Bottoms Out

“BUMMER,” CHRIS SAID as Mickey drove them away from the school.


“You can say that again… and you were so optimistic.”


“At least Ted is on a waiting list. Bear in mind that the headmaster told us there’s always a bit of confusion at the beginning of a school year. People change their minds; they change jobs at the last minute and move; things like that.”


“Meanwhile, we’re stuck with the public schools,” Mickey said.


“Unfortunately, and I’ll deal with it Monday or Tuesday.”


At Five Points, Mickey and Ted waited in the car while Chris went inside to purchase the wine. He finally returned to the car, carrying a full case.


“I thought you were only going to give Mike a couple of bottles,” Mickey said.


“That I am. The rest of this is for us.”


“Don’t be silly. When you buy a mixed case of twelve bottles, you get a ten percent discount.”


“That makes sense. What did you get?”


Chapter 12