Jude Calohan has been keeping his head down for years. In the quiet town of Bower Bliss, Texas, he has tried to be a good man, a good father, tried not to think too much about his relationship with his own father ... and yet despite this, in the gentle autumn of an uneventful year, Jude Calohan soon finds his relationship with both his eldest child and his own identity as a father called into question.<br><br>Amidst the sleepy apple groves of small town America, will Jude Calohan be able to keep his family together while his eldest child Charlie discovers the confidence to make one of the biggest choices of their young life?

Love Among Strangers

“I’m not sure I’m qualified to make good on his musical requests,” the man returned.


“Allow me a moment or two to find out the reasoning behind his selection and we’ll get back to you,” the other replied, removing his wallet and placing a large bill down on the bar.


“Ahh, Mister Mo, you don’t have to pay for me,” Jude protested. “That makes me feel like a bad friend.”


The younger man clicked his fingers to engage Jude’s attention.


“Look at me, bud,” he said seriously, “what’s going on?”


Jude swayed, struggling to get himself together.


“My kid,” he said at last. “I think my kid is in a bad place and I don’t know how to help him. I don’t know what to say.”


He turned away, shaking his head, tears suddenly forming in his eyes.


“He’s going to get hurt; he’s going to get hurt so bad, and I have no idea how to protect him from this.”


Chapter 18