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

A quick glance to his right showed Wheat pale and gnawing his lower lip. He clenched his hand, then flattened it on the space between them. Laurie reached across and rested his own hand on Wheat’s.


“It’ll be okay. They’llbe okay.”


Wheat blew out a breath. “I know.” He turned his head and offered what he probably thought was a confident smile, but Laurie saw the tension behind it, and he loved his boyfriend for trying to boost their morale. “I know.” 14


The couple stood beside the lavender Rolls Royce. It had taken them longer than he’d expected to get here from the Laurel Hill Community Health Center, first driving until they ran out of gas, and then walking the rest of the way, dragging their suitcases behind them.


“I’m positive we left the doors open,” the man said as he peered into the empty backseat. He tugged down the mask he wore.


“Could…could he have still been alive?” His wife followed his action and drew in a deep breath.


Chapter 41