Chapter 37

Lexie immediately came to him and laid her head on his knee. Derrick put his hands on Cooper’s shoulders and massaged them as the man he loved let his grief pour forth.

“Coop, Coop I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I shoulda stayed here that night. I never would have put you through this had I known what was gonna happen.”

Cooper cried quietly for a long time. He reached down and stroked the dog’s head and smiled through his tears. “Damn, Lexie, how am I gonna get through this…I miss him so much already.”

Derrick sat on the piano bench facing him. “You’re gonna get through this, damn it. I’m gonna make sure you do…somehow.” Derrick hadn’t the faintest idea of how. He wasn’t in any position to help his lover. He knew that at times Cooper seemed to be aware of something when he touched him or spoke to him. Would that be enough to support him in his grieving?

Cooper smiled through his tears. “You know, Lexie, it’s funny, but I almost feel like Rick is here with us. Crazy, isn’t it?”