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

As the words spilled out of Elliot’s mouth, Mick stiffened behind his back, and after a few moments, he started trembling. Elliot slid his hand on top of Mick’s and weaved their fingers together, giving them a squeeze, wanting to calm him down.


“I’m fine,” he said, amazed to realize it was true.


Mick nodded, but his grip on Elliot’s waist tightened. “Then what happened?”


Elliot told Mick about the relief he’d felt when all the kids were safe. Kenny’s creepy smile had vanished when the other students had evacuated the classroom, but he’d kept spinning the knife in tight frantic circles. He hadn’t said anything, not even answered when Elliot had tried to reason with him. Elliot had kept his distance, but hadn’t taken his eyes off the boy.


Kenny, on the other hand, had looked everywhere but in Elliot’s direction.


Chapter 6