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

“Thanks,” Elliot called after it and burst out into laughter. He laughed so hard, tears leaked from his eyes and his stomach started cramping.


After a while, he didn’t know if the wetness on his face was tears of joy or sadness, and if his howls echoing through the woods were laughter or distress.


It took a long time for him to calm down.


He was in a weird mood the rest of the day, feeling disheartened with the outcome of his experiment. What should have been the first step toward moving back had failed miserably, and he was even more reluctant to return than before.


Chapter 16