Bill, a young gay man living in California, returns to Boston in the summer of 1987 to visit his old college roommate and briefly lover, David. He, David, and their buddy Lou drive to Provincetown for a week's gay vacation, where the old ties of friendship among them deepen. But their good time is threatened by increasingly volatile personalities and a growin AIDS epidemic encircling them in an ever tighter grasp.<br><br>Their emotions explode one evening with the unexpected arrival of George, whose added presence brings to a head the simmering anxieties, fears, and resentments these friends have long harbored but have not openly shared. Will their friendships fall apart? Or will they discover a deeper love that binds them together?

Maid Service

Lou could not hide his delight at this turn of events. “Stephen,” he consoled, “that one is really the evil stepmother. He talks to his own Tante the same way! Now give it back to him, teach him a lesson!” Lou got up to fill his glass with more gin.


Bill saw David and Stephen staring darts at each other.


“Bowen, I’m leaving. I’ll see you back home.” The Little Woman stood up, slammed his glass onto the table, adjusted the sweater tied on his shoulders, and marched out the door.


Bowen’s frown turned to giggles. Bill couldn’t tell if he was embarrassed or amused.


“Well, boys, I better go catch up with Stephen. Thanks for the drink, Lou. Nice meeting you again, Bill.” For the first time Bowen acknowledged having met Bill before. “And David—do get yourself a fresher tampon one of these days.”


Lou shrieked at Bowen’s farewell, but once he was out the door, he ran up to David and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.


Chapter 14