When Vincent takes shelter in a bookshop one stormy day, he happens upon a book of male nudes. One of them brings back memories of his first, and possibly greatest, love -- Daniel McClary. When a sales assistant tells him there’s a man who resembles the model in the picture that comes into the shop every week, Vincent wonders if it could be the same man who broke his heart twenty years ago.<br><br>He looks up Daniel’s Facebook page and is disappointed to discover Daniel is married and has two sons. Nevertheless, he starts to frequent the store, watching and waiting for the man he’s sure is Daniel. Finally, Daniel makes an appearance. Vincent approaches him and says hello, immediately realizing his love for Daniel is still strong. But what difference does it make? Daniel’s a family man.<br><br>However, the next time they meet, Daniel reveals something which gives Vincent a tiny spark of hope.

Down Memory Lane

Finally, Daniel replied. “Would you let me think about it?”


Vincent finished his toast, then got up from the table to give Daniel some space. He took his breakfast dishes into the kitchen and ran some water into the sink. As he did the dishes, his mind wandered to the possibility of moving to England. Would he really do it? They needed counsellors in England. Surely. He’d have to go online and check out the availability of jobs. He’d probably need a working visa, too. Another thing to check online. Accommodation. Winter clothes. Money.


Relocating to another country. It would be scary, but fun. And if it didn’t work out, he could always come back to Australia and start over. It might be difficult, yet nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the old adage went.


But none of these pie-in-the-sky plans could go ahead unless Daniel asked him to go to England with him. And the invitation hadto come from him. Only then could Vincent be sure he was truly wanted.


Chapter 14