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 Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan.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

“He’s not giving it a chance,” she said in a dejected tone. “I know it’s hard, but he doesn’t seem to even want to try.”


“Oh dear,” Mrs. Butler said, looking down the hall where Tate had disappeared.


Julian stood, feeling uncomfortable. The young woman looked at him.


“Oh, I’m Mary, Tate’s physical therapist,” she said.


“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Butler said as if realizing Julian was still there. “Mary, this is Julian Reynolds. He’s renting the carriage house.”


“I’m sorry you had to see Tate in this state. He’s been struggling with accepting this whole situation,” Mrs. Butler said.


“Don’t worry,” Julian said sympathetically. “I can imagine it’s difficult for him…and you.”


Mrs. Butler took a deep breath. “You might as well know what happened as you’ll be living here. Tate lost his leg in Afghanistan. He was in the Marines. He and a group of men from his platoon were on patrol. He stepped on a land mine.” She began to tear up.


Chapter 10