Everyone hopes his road to happily ever after will be carefree and smooth, but too often hair-pin turns and detours seem to get in the way. Having thought he was on the road to forever before, former Silicon Valley programmer Dan Lassiter is leery about pedaling down it again. His elderly companion Charlie urges him to get to know Rick Reardon whose bakery is across the street from Dan’s bicycle shop. Under the watchful eye of Charlie, Dan and Rick take tentative steps toward each other, all the while trying to avoid potholes such as exes, homophobes, and family problems. As summer turns to fall and then winter, they hope that the road will be smooth going from their first date and first kiss to having what Rick’s sister euphemistically calls their “sleepovers.” At each step, though, they are tripped up and wonder why there seem to be so many bumps in their road. Maybe Dan and Rick should heed some of Charlie’s sage advice, or maybe they should listen to their hearts instead of the ghosts from their pasts.

Heart of the Holidays

“Hello to you. I’m Andreas, the Andy of Andy/Lucy. My husband Lucien is off tonight. Otherwise he would love to meet you also.” He stood expectantly.


Before Rick could say anything, I grinned. “I’m Dan Lassiter. I own the bicycle shop across the street from Rick’s bakery.”


“Ah, yes, the bicycle place with the Osso and Ducati posters.” He glanced over at Geraldo, who was staring at me open-mouthed. “The young one has been pestering me to take him over to your shop.”


“It’s merely a garage.” I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression and think I had a showroom. I could import a bike, but I didn’t have one for him to test ride.


“So what seems to be…” He looked around, his eyes settling on the table in the corner. “Ah, that is definitely not your table tonight.”


His glare told Geraldo and anyone else watching they would be having words later.


Chapter 7