When Byron Randall -- in his mid-fifties, single and alone -- moves into a new condo complex, he meets another resident, fifty-five year old realtor Jonah Hyland -- also single since his breakup with his much younger lover. The two middle-aged men become friends, sharing common interests in gardening and hiking.<br><br>As their friendship deepens, each man wonders if he has found someone he could learn to care for. Then Jonah's ex reappears in his life, much to Byron's dismay. Will this end Byron and Jonah's budding romance? Or will they discover that, together, they can let go of loneliness?

Let Go of Loneliness

“Going shopping?” Jonah asked, adding with a grin, “I see you found the carwash.”


“I did, and the grocery store. Now I’m off to the garden shop I saw while I was out.”


“Don’t tell me. You’re going to do what you told meto and get planters or what have you for your balconies.”


“Just the front one. And some sort of something to fill the space by my bookshelves, since I seem to have put them not quite where I wanted them.”


“Ouch.” Jonah hesitated momentarily. “Mind if I tag along? To see what’s available?”


“Not at all. We can both drive and meet there.”


Twenty minutes later, Byron said, “Here we go,” pointing to the redwood planters stacked along one wall of the container gardening area of the store.


Jonah pursed his lips, nodding. “Those would work, and—” he shuddered, “—they aren’t plastic.”


“What about these?” Byron asked when he got to the deck rail planters.


Chapter 6