The mid-40s are that time in a gay man's life when his major paradigm shifts from sexy to Sansabelts. But when Barry Grooms's partner of twenty years is killed on Barry's forty-fifth birthday, his world doesn't so much evolve as it does explode.<br><br>After navigating through the surreal conveyor belt of friends and family, he can't eat another casserole or swallow much more advice on what constitutes grief. Still numb, he leaves his homestore and design business in the care of others as he escapes to Key West, then New York. There he gets a thankless new job working for a crazy lady in a poncho, then has too many drinks with a narcissistic Broadway actor. Next it's a nude exercise class that redefines flop sweat, and from there he's on to a relationship with a man twenty years his junior.<br><br>Yet no matter how great the retreat from the man he used to be, life's gravity spins Barry back to the small town where he grew up for one more ironic twist that teaches him how to say goodbye with grace.

The Cool Part of His Pillow

I read aloud from a profile that catches my interest.


“I’m free of the 3 D’s: disease, drugs, and drama.” Alliterative, balanced, very nice. “I’m determined without being dumb.” I scroll down. “I love dogs, Dewar’s and David Sedaris.” I click to the next window.


Andy’s face fills the monitor to announce “Here’s the damn dilemma: I’m dead.”


My dream pixilates into the collapse at ColonyScape. 14: Fast Friends


I hear Dee’s screams of laughter from the bathroom. She and Potsy just arrived and she has seen her foggy portrait on the toilet tank. I called in sick, knowing that Marjorie will probably ask me to submit to a saliva swab. Dee emerges from the bathroom, struggling with her jeggings.


I don’t so much give a tour as I have them turn their heads side to side. What a comedown, their body language seems to impart. He probably eats leftovers. Six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and now he lives in Harry Potter’s cupboard.


Chapter 65