Lou is married, in the closet, and facing bankruptcy in Carmel, California. It’s Christmas Eve and he must sell his house to pay his debts while he tries to cope with the mysterious voice in his head telling him it's time to go home. He has no idea what that means, but he's pretty sure the voice is a symptom of stress. His wife has left him for her longtime lover and when he goes to his favorite bar on Christmas Eve, all he’s hoping for is a friendly face to help him forget his problems.<br><br>When George joins him at the bar, claiming to be an old college buddy, Lou doesn’t remember him, but he can’t deny the instant attraction that springs up between them. George knows about the voice in Lou’s head, and claims to be from another world where he and Lou were bonded partners. He’s come back to help Lou remember who he is so they can be reunited.<br><br>Lou doesn’t believe a word of George’s story, but takes him home for the night to ease his own pain. The sex is so good he decides to go along with George’s delusions even though he suspects the guy is crazy. On the Carmel beach on Christmas day at sunset, George insists that the way home is within their grasp if Lou will just trust him. Lou wants to believe this strange man, but to do that he has to let go of everything he knows about how the world works.

About Time

Lou wasn’t sure how to answer. Everything he called reality a few minutes ago had proved to be an illusion. He pulled back so he could see George’s face. “What was all that about living in LA and teaching college?”


George snorted. “It’s true. I’ve been down there for a year waiting for the timing of the portal to be right. Getting back is tricky. We need to arrive close to the same time we left. And at the same place.”


“Okay.” Lou let that slide. “And that bit about us knowing each other in college?”


George’s eyes crinkled. “That I made up. Needed a pickup line that would get you thinking.”


“It did. I couldn’t figure why I couldn’t remember you.”


“I could see those wheels turning. Could almost hear the gears creaking.”


“You went to a lot of trouble.” Lou still couldn’t grasp most of what was happening, but now he knew he could trust George.


Chapter 13