John Dornbrook is forty-nine years old. He's been doing the same job for fifteen years and hates it. But when he’s laid-off, it hits him hard and his world turns upside down. When he meets Hollis Lombard, his neighbor’s grandson, the unexpected happens.<br><br>Hollis Lombard is determined to get John out of his funk, so he offers to take him on a summer road trip. They head out west in search of adventure, but John is touchy and lashes out easily. Hollis, aware of the attraction between them, doesn’t want to take any chances which could hurt their budding friendship.<br><br>It's all a frightful muddle, and it remains to be seen if they can overcome their issues in time to reach their final destination. Will the journey be worth it?

Unexpected Journey

I finished breakfast and grabbed my toolbox before heading over to her place. Mrs. Lombard had five cats and bookshelves lined almost every wall. Cat hair was everywhere. Good thing I wasn’t allergic. While I fixed the leak, she told me about her grandson who would be coming to visit before he got bogged down with his Doctorate studies in Philosophy. Why would anyone want to study that? What the hell use was philosophy in real life, anyway? Admittedly, I couldn’t see the use in much of anything, right then.


This grandson, Hollis Lombard, was something of a genius, I was given to understand, and I heard all about his merits and brilliance as I worked. I’d be surprised if he couldn’t walk on water, the way she was hyping him up.


When I was done, she escorted me to the door. “You should come over for dinner on Friday night. It would give Hollis someone young to talk to.” I supposed in her eyes, I was a whippersnapper.


Chapter 2