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 Tate is bitter and withdrawn after losing a leg while serving in the Marine Corps during the war in Afghanistan.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 backed out of the kiss and gave Julian a relieved smile. Then he pulled Julian into one that seemed to show his appreciation for Julian’s actions.


“We better take this next door,” Julian said. “Your mom will be home soon.”


Through the month of November the pattern of Julian and Tate’s lives remained the same—dinners and evenings with Tate and Mrs. Butler, occasional nights out for a movie or a meal, and the eagerly anticipated Sunday mornings at the cottage.


Whenever Julian had thoughts of his relationship with Tate being more open, he reminded himself of how lucky he was to have this man in his life at all. He would be patient and wait until Tate was ready to come out to his mother.


Thanksgiving was approaching. Mrs. Butler surprised Tate and Julian by suggesting they all go to New York for the Macy’s Parade. “It was something we did as a family every year,” she said. “Then we’ll come home for Thanksgiving dinner. It will be good to get back to our traditions.”


Chapter 32