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

Yesterday, three days after Davie’s passing, Bastian had read David’s last wishes to me. We’d met on English Bay Beach early in the morning, both of us red-eyed and pale, the cold wind blowing Davie’s last letter in Bastian’s hands, and the cool indigo blue water of the bay echoing David’s last words to me over and over with every wave lapping the pebbled beach.


I’d spend the rest of my life looking for what he’d seen. That what would be my quest.


David didn’t want me at his funeral. His funeral was to be arranged in Montreal, as per his mother’s desires, and he wouldn’t be there, either, he’d written in his elegant penmanship. They could do as they pleased. He’d had his last wishes fulfilled with me.


Chapter 21