Chris Bottoms is glad to be home from undergoing the first of two surgeries that will free him from the ostomy bag he’s been wearing for more than a year. He’s anxious about the upcoming second surgery, but life is keeping him on his toes.<br><br>The bank hierarchy is clearly grooming Chris’s partner, Mickey O’Donovan, vice president of a megabank, for a promotion. That doesn’t help reconcile the family who turned their backs on Mickey for not going into the family business. To make matters worse, Chris's little brother's abusers are still out there, and that makes Chris angry. He and Mickey are raising Ted now. Between dealing with spiteful relatives and doing their best by a hurt ten-year-old boy, Chris and Mickey wonder how much more reality they can take.<br><br>Chris's second and final surgery can't come soon enough. Both men are looking forward its most important side-effect -- Chris will once again be able to enjoy prostate massage, but not until three months after the surgery.

Bottoms Away

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I need to see the child in question.”


“That isn’t going to happen. At least not until I’ve talked to my lawyer. I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t just come to someone’s house making outrageous demands.”


“I can come back and bring the police with me,” Hewell said.


“We’ll see about that,” Chris said. He sat in one of the chairs on the stoop and opened his cell phone. “I’m going to put this on the speaker, so you can hear both sides of the conversation.”


“Sheriff’s office,” a female voice said.


“Captain George Martin, please,” Chris said. “One moment, please.” There was a pause, and they heard, “Martin.”


“Hi, yourself, and what can I do for you, Chris?”


Chapter 8