Hotel owner and part-time musician Zeke Bandy is too busy for love. His plate is full running the historic Bandy Hotel and upholding his family’s tradition of offering refuge to strays and runaways. For fun two nights a week, Zeke also plays and sings traditional folk music with his rewritten gay lyrics at the Stonewall Saloon and for occasional celebrations. Then at a gay wedding, Zeke meets Victor Longbow, who just might be the man of his dreams. However, Vic isn’t looking for love either. In fact, because of his upbringing in a strict, white foster family, Vic’s not sure he believes in love. He’s in Stone Acres to open a branch office of a national brokerage firm. He also hopes to track down a vintage photo of what might be his Native American ancestor. After their paths cross, they become friends. Connected by their experiences as orphans raised by flawed fathers, Zeke and Vic wonder if their future could possibly hold love and family or if they are destined only to be lifelong friends.

Relative Best

I shrugged. “I hope Calvin’s sleeping and safe wherever he is.”


They didn’t push it, and Vic breathed a sigh of relief in my ear.


I knew exactly where Calvin was. In room 305 on the third floor of the Bandy being watched over by Raynetta and Justine.


Once again, Bandy’s Finest Hotel had folded another victim into its arms and was singing its lullaby. Calvin’s crisis was averted for the time being.  8


The morning of the wedding dawned pristine and bright. If I ever got married, I’d want a day like the one shining outside my window. Considering I’d barely reconciled myself to being Vic’s boyfriend, though neither of us had cemented the relationship by naming it, thoughts of a wedding and marriage seemed so future file as to be only a dream right now.


Chapter 20