Dario Russo grew up on the road. The son of itinerant workers in California, he had no friends, no stability, and no concept of a normal life. Until the age of sixteen, when he meets Reverend Waters’ son, Billy Ray. The relationship is short lived, but it haunts Dario for the next thirty years. At the age of forty-six, he has the opportunity to return to Crows Landing, California, and the chance to track down the man who had meant so much to him.<br><br>But what he finds in Crows Landing is the last thing he expects. So wrapped up in his hopes for a second chance, he almost misses the very real interest from a local, Shawn Pederson. Shawn might not have the past working in his favor, but he’s willing to offer the future Dario always wanted.

Son of a Preacher Man

His pace was slow, torturously so. When he stopped in front of Dario, the distance yawned between them, especially when Shawn shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “Good sermon today,” he commented, his voice oddly neutral.


“It was,” Dario agreed, though he couldn’t even remember the topic of the sermon. “Are you heading over to the Blue Goose?”


“No, I was going to do some gardening today.” He glanced up at the wisps of cloud streaked across the sky. “It’s a good day to be outside.”


“It is. Not too hot, especially for the time of year. Well, maybe I can buy you a beer later tonight after you’re done?”


Shawn opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again as someone passed behind him. He watched some of the other congregation drift out to the parking lot, his hands fidgeting in his pockets


“You don’t have to do that,” he said, still not meeting Dario’s eyes. “It’s okay. I understand.”


“You…understand? I don’t…let me buy you a beer, okay? Please?”


Chapter 22