Shakespeare-loving teacher Elliot Dunn has been unhappy living in the big city for a long time. He yearns for fresh air, visible stars, and stillness, but his relationship with divorce lawyer Mick Hudson keeps him from moving away. When a dramatic event occurs in Elliot’s class, he’s shaken to his core and suddenly can’t stay anymore. He leaves his partner of two years behind and returns to the tiny town in the mountains where he grew up. Living in a rented cabin in the woods, with only an owl for company, Elliot slowly regains his peace of mind. But being away from Mick is agonizing, and when a ghost from Elliot's past pays him a visit, everything comes to a head. Elliot is faced with a hard decision. Should he stay on the stress-free mountainside alone, or return to the hustle of the city and try to make a life with Mick?

Find His Way Home

But now that he was finally home, he was too tired to even unlock the door. Instead, he leaned his forehead against it, took a deep breath, and muttered, “What a nightmare.”


With sluggish movements, he put his hand in his pocket and rummaged around for the key. As he closed his fist around it, he heard the lock turn from inside. He straightened just as the door flung open.


Elliot couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen Mick look that disheveled before. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, and the normally immaculate white fabric was wrinkled and dingy-looking. The conservative tie was crooked and loosened, and his latte-colored hair was in wild disarray, as if he’d run his fingers through it repeatedly. The crease between his ocean-colored eyes deepened as he took in Elliot’s appearance.


“I was so worried!” He pulled Elliot inside and enveloped him in a tight embrace.


Chapter 5