Years have gone by since the death of Noah his special needs son, and Wiley Cantrell realizes it’s time to move on. He and his husband Jackson try to adopt little Tony Gorzola, a deaf boy with HIV who is emotionally traumatized.<br><br>Difficulties quickly set in. Tony is a sweet boy but very damaged by abuse and neglect. And Tony’s mother, in prison, is unwilling to relinquish her parental rights. No sooner do they get the go ahead to foster Tony when another child they had considered becomes available -- the daughter Jackson always wanted.<br><br>With two children on their hands, life is complicated -- wonderfully so. But just as things begin to settle down, Tony, his immune system compromised, falls ill with pneumonia ... and Wiley and Jackson find their little family faced with crisis once again.

Go Tell It on the Mountains

“I had to use the blow dryer this morning to unthaw my privates.”


“Those things are ever so handy, aren’t they? Coats and boots over there, if you please. Lunch is almost ready. Stephen? You can tell Lydia to put the lunch out now! I don’t know where that man is. Jackie, do collect your little friend and let’s go eat.”


Jackson leaned down to touch Tony’s shoulder to get his attention. Tony grunted and flinched away from the touch as though Jackson had tasered him. In his haste—his terror—Tony wound up sprawled on his backside.


He bit at his lip, lowered his eyes. I crouched down, slowly put my hand out to touch his knee. I made a “come on” gesture. He got to his feet but kept his head lowered. Foo Foo scampered about at his feet, but he ignored her.


“What in the world was that?” Mrs. Ledbetter asked.


“He doesn’t like to be touched,” I said softly.


Chapter 6