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 ain’t going anywhere, Jackie boy. The blizzard. You forgot? Anyone have any cigarettes? Maybe I’ll go see if Mama Ledbetter has an extra vape pen.”


Mack sauntered off, and I felt such bright hatred in my heart that I was rather stunned. I was not one to think murderous thoughts, though God knew I had good reason with some of the people in my life. But at that moment I would have gladly followed that bastard and throttled him.


I sat down on the ledge next to Tony, the strength gone out of me.


Tony looked after the departing Mack, pursed his lips.


“Wiley, I’m sorry,” Jackson said. “He’s had a lot to drink.”


“You better keep him away from me, Jack, or we’re going to go round and round and round.”17: Moving On


Tony was tired, so we went upstairs to lie down for an afternoon nap. He snuggled underneath the quilt on his bed, and we stared at the large windows, which featured a mesmerizing display of snow falling and swirling about like it never intended to stop.


Chapter 26