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

“I’m sorry we don’t have a more private room,” Wheat said as he folded the board.


“It’s okay.” They’d decided it would be a good idea for them all to stay on the main level for this night at least. Fortunately, the large sofa in the great room opened into a king-size bed, which Wheat had told him the family used when cousins had come to visit when they were all little.


“Not so much now,” he’d said. “We’re all busy with our own lives.”


And who even knew if any of their relatives were still alive?


Laurie pushed the morbid thoughts out of his mind. In the morning they’d consider what they were going to do in the long run. Wheat knew this area very well, and during breaks while they were playing, he’d mentioned scavenging for more supplies and possibly seeing if there were any survivors in town.


“I’m going to check on Mother,” Wheat murmured as Laurie pulled open the sleeper sofa.


“All right. I’ll make up the bed. Where are the blankets and pillows?”


Chapter 65