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

“We had to make sure the rooms were empty.”


“Where’s Laurie?” his sister asked.


Just then Laurie entered the room with blankets piled high in his arms. “Sorry it took so long. I wanted to make sure we had plenty of blankets.” He dropped them on the bed. “I assume you and Mrs. Dupuis will take the bed?” he asked Wheat’s father.


That was kind of his boyfriend, and it made sense. His parents were older and wouldn’t fare well on the floor, which was hard, even though it was covered by thick carpeting.


Father seemed taken aback by Laurie’s thoughtfulness, but Mother smiled at him and touched his arm. “Thank you.”


“Jo, take some blankets and make up a bed for us,” Althea said.


Us? Wheat and Laurie exchanged glances. Going by his boyfriend’s surprised expression, he obviously didn’t know anything about it, but whether it was the fact his sister was a lesbian or that her partner was the well-known radio personality Wheat couldn’t tell.


Chapter 50