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

He stared at the three stairs leading up to the porch. How would he be able to lift his legs to get up there? Would it be undignified to get to his hands and knees and crawl the rest of the way?


Grabbing his right thigh with both hands, he helped lift the leg up on the first step, ignoring how his entire body screamed at him to stay still. Then he leaned forward and took hold of the rail post and pulled himself up.


He took a deep breath and flexed his muscles, willing them to carry him the last few inches.


Elliot was too tired to cheer when he finally stood with both feet on the deck. Instead, he shuffled to the door and put his hand in the pocket to fish out the keys.


A big hand slapped his back, but he didn’t have time to wonder who it was before the person shoved him hard. He was too tired and unprepared to try to catch himself, so he stumbled forward and smashed his face into the door.


Chapter 18