Chapter 4

His neighbors had tried to get him to decorate, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. If he had his way, he would hide out in his house until December 26 and then reemerge, fresh and ready for the start of the new year.

His family worried about him all alone at the holidays, and he knew he would have to put on a happy face and attend Christmas Eve at his parents’, but he wasn’t looking forward to it. Everything cheery was a reminder that he was alone. Every joyful face reminded him of how happy he had been once. Finding his boyfriend, who he’d thought would love him forever, with another man had cut him deeply. Yes, it was years ago, but something kept him from moving forward.

He grabbed his mail and headed inside, leaving the truck in the driveway rather than parking in the garage. He had a feeling his mom would be calling soon and asking him to help with something. Shaking his head, he wondered again why he purchased a house literally down the street from his parents…