It's been eleven years since Nick ran off with David for the West Coast. And though his life resembles a blue dream, after more than a decade of bar tending in resorts and cruise ships, Nick is finally thinking of heading home. First, he needs to go see about David in Vancouver ...<br><br>When he arrives, Nick finds a community of young men devastated by AIDS. Part of him wants to flee back to Montreal, but David is dying and Nick knows his place is by his best friend's side. In those four days and nights in David's apartment by the English Bay, Nick learns more about himself than he ever did before. When it's all over, he packs his bag and locks up his grief, determine to honor the promise he made to David of opening up his own restaurant.<br><br>Five years later, Nick is gaining a reputation in the industry as a chef, but has yet to have any meaningful relationships. Until Derek O'Reilly, that redheaded kid with the avocado-green eyes he used to know, walks into his dining room and ignites Nick's passion once more.

Blue Awakenings

“You got a good face, you know that? Real honest eyes. You healthy? Keeping healthy, I mean?”


She smiled. “Are you his lover? You don’t seem gay.”


“I’m gay enough.” I cleared my throat. “He’s more than a lover to me.”


“Look, Nick…I’ve been around this thing since eighty-three. I was a kid, fresh out of nursing school, when the epidemic hit Vancouver hard. I’ve seen…Well, sometimes I feel like a soldier, you know? Can’t really tell folks what I’ve seen. I keep those memories to myself, out of respect for those boys.”


I hung on her every word, forgetting my grief for a moment.


“They should have had a cure by now. They really should have.” She sighed out. “Anyway, he’s going, that’s what I wanna tell you. I know you’re strong enough to hear it. That’s why you’re here. That’s why they’ve all stopped coming. Davie’s special, I can see that.” She looked around the living room. “A real artist, huh? His friend Larry told me David was a ballet dancer?”


Chapter 15