Schoolteacher Julian Reynolds is disillusioned with the seedier side of gay life in New York City with its self-absorption, vanity, and preoccupation with sex. When his long-time relationship with his high school sweetheart ends, he returns to his hometown and vows to live a simple life free of the extremes of the gay lifestyle and romantic entanglements. With that end in mind, he rents the carriage house next door to a large Tudor-style home.<br><br>Tate Butler, a former student of Julian’s, lives in the big house with his mother. Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan. Fearing rejection from his mother and blaming himself for his father’s death, Tate stays firmly in the closet and punishes himself by refusing to learn how to walk again.<br><br>Can Tate and Julian help heal each other’s pasts and forge a real and lasting future together? Or will the driveway that separates their houses prove too wide a gulf to cross?

The Marine Next Door

Tate began to move off along the drive. Julian walked alongside him.


“I’d really like to stay and walk with you, but my friends are throwing me this ridiculous welcome home party and I have to go. Maybe another time?”


“I know all about uncomfortable welcome homes,” Tate said. “Yeah, sure, maybe another time. See ya, Mister, ah, Julian.”


“Bye, Tate,” Julian said and watched as Tate wheeled himself off down the bumpy road. The questions of how and when, where and why came back. Julian turned and walked to his car, still wondering.


“Ah, here he is, the man of the hour!” Craig announced as Julian made his way into the living room. There was an immediate round of applause, and Julian was inundated with hugs and kisses from the assembled crowd. He did his best to be gracious, despite his underlying feelings of irritation.


Chapter 6