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

“Are we going to reach the cottage today, do you think?” Mother asked. “The drive generally takes us less than four hours.” She was always the one who seemed so fragile, the one who had to be shielded from the harsh realities of life, but now she sat with Father in her arms, murmuring words of comfort against his hair as he coughed.


“Not if this keeps up. It isn’t raining hard enough to defeat the windshield wipers’ purpose, but these roads are like an obstacle course. Laurie, are you familiar with any motels this far north of Laurel Hill?”


“I’m afraid not. We may have to spend the night in an abandoned house. Or maybe a convenience store if we can find one that hasn’t been looted.” Laurie leaned forward. “Why don’t you let me take the wheel for a few miles?”


Althea glanced at him through the rearview mirror.


“Thea?” Jo reached across and touched her girlfriend’s arm. “Please? You’ve been driving for so long.”


Chapter 53