Daniel Greene is an artist with an exhibition coming up which he should be excited about, except he isn’t. He can’t sleep, he has no enthusiasm for social activities, and his constant tears and dark thoughts alarm him. When he’s finally diagnosed with depression, he starts the slow process of resisting the dark lure.<br><br>One day Oliver Campbell arrives at Daniel’s gate to deliver art supplies. He’s tall and muscular, and for the first time in a long while, Daniel feels there might be light at the end of the tunnel.<br><br>Yet Oliver has a secret. He has a son, five-year-old Cameron. When he reveals this to Daniel the morning after their first date, Daniel has the courage to reveal his own secret battle with depression. Will these two men be able to accept each other’s secrets and go forward together?

The Darkest Hour

I got out of my car and collected the painting from the back seat. When I was certain the car was secure, I walked towards Oliver’s place. It wasn’t hard to miss. The fence was festooned with balloons and the closer I got, the louder the party music grew.


Politely as ever, I knocked on the door, but the noise from the music and the children shouting and playing no doubt drowned out the sound of my knocking.


I entered. There were streamers and balloons everywhere. I knew immediately I was out of my element. Children ran by me in the middle of some game or other. I gripped the painting more tightly as though it had become some kind of security blanket.


The kitchen was a hub of activity. I spotted Oliver immediately. He was sliding a tray of mini sausage rolls into the oven.


“Hello, love,” he said when he turned around.


He wiped his hands on a tea towel then kissed me on the lips.


Chapter 24