Laurie Parkinson, who’s lived in Laurel Hills all his life, is a gay sheet metal worker who’d rather be a gay hairdresser. Wheat Dupuis, who’s also gay, is the scion of one of Laurel Hill’s wealthiest families. He’d rather grow grapes than become CFO of Dupuis International. Laurie wakes one morning to discover his family gone and his town decimated by a bacteria that has lain dormant for millennia, incased in ice. With the melting of the ice caps, the bacteria is released, and mankind faces a pandemic that could surpass the Black Plague. Wheat and his family are on their way to safety when the unthinkable happens and he’s left behind. Laurie knows of a bunker in the woods outside Laurel Hill, where he intends to take refuge. On the way there, Laurie finds and rescues Wheat. Can two such dissimilar men work together through a pandemic to find their families ... and possibly find love, as well?

Pandemic

“If you’re listening to this, make sure you wear face masks. At least that’s one thing those fuckers got right. This virus is spread through vapor droplets.”


“Uh…didn’t she first say it was a bacteria?”


Marilyn snapped off the radio. “We’ve heard all the pertinent information,” she explained. “This newest message will just keep repeating until someone from the FBI or Homeland Security track it down and stop it.” She sighed. “A sign you’ve caught this disease is confusion. You spike a temp—a really hightemp—your brain fries, and finally you become so confused you can’t tell people who are trying to help you from people who are trying to hurt you. You don’t react well once you’ve reached that point, and God help anyone you come into contact with.” And from her tone of voice, it was obvious she knew whereof she spoke.


Laurie thought of the two cops the mob had torn to shreds and felt sick.


Chapter 18