Beauty from Ashes: Authors & Dancers Against Cancer Anthology

by Vera Quinn

  “So, tell me about Maisie,” she states. “She’s adorable, and I love how curious she is about everything.” I laugh because during the barbeque, she asked Micah question after question and while most people I know would’ve gotten aggravated, the woman walking by my side answered each one.

  “Well, she’s in kindergarten and if her teacher can be believed, she’s ready to graduate or something,” I admit. It’s still kind of freaky how smart my girl is, but because she’s on the younger side of five, both the teacher and I agreed that advancing her wouldn’t be a good idea. So, she does her classwork and to keep her from getting bored, her teacher gives her advanced things to work on and do. I’m sure at some point, she’ll be skipping grades but for right now, I want her to enjoy being a little girl.

  “I noticed that last weekend,” she says.

  “She’s not mine,” I admit as I help her over a fallen log. I see the startled look on her face and continue, “When I found out that Audrey was cheating on me, I went and had a full physical done complete with bloodwork. I found out then that the likelihood of me ever biologically fathering a child was slim and none.”

  “Does she know you know?” she asks.

  “Not a damn clue, to be honest, but I don’t care. In every way that matters, I’m Maisie’s father, and she means too much to me to pursue the matter,” I reply.

  “You’re a good man, Shane Benton,” she murmurs. Before I can say anything in response, I hear her gasp and as I turn to look at her, I see the most beautiful expression cross her face. “It’s stunning,” she whispers. “Waterfalls have always been my happy place and when I went through my cancer treatments and needed to escape from how I was physically feeling, I would imagine myself sitting next to one with the water trickling and the birds chirping.” She wipes a tear away and my heart aches for what she went through by herself, if the guys I work with can be believed.

  “Let’s set up over here and just enjoy it for a while, okay?” I inquire, leading her over to the side where countless others have obviously picnicked if the flattened grass is any indication. I grab the blanket I brought from the backpack and place it on the ground, then start pulling out the food we stopped and picked up.

  “I’m glad we came here today,” she says, taking the bottled water I hand her.

  “Me too, Micah, me too,” I admit.

  “I can’t have kids,” she states, looking me in the eye. “It’s one of the reasons I haven’t really dated since my divorce. Most men can’t handle that fact, or the worry that my cancer could return in another form. I’ve just passed the eighteen-month mark and have a long way to go, but my doctors are convinced that it was contained and that with the surgery plus the chemotherapy, they got it all.”

  “Not a deal breaker for me, half-pint,” I reply. “Besides, if what I think is happening happens, you’ll have a precocious little girl to help me raise.” Startled eyes look at me and I nod. “Yeah, Micah, it’s like that for me. It may be sudden, it may be too soon, but with what I do for a living, I know that it’s important to reach for the stars whenever they deign to come down close enough to reach.”

  “Shane.” Her voice is breathless, almost as if she can’t believe the truth behind my words. Deciding to show her instead, I pull her close and move her so she’s straddling my lap. While my dick throbs behind its denim prison, that’s not what this is about right now. Reaching up to cup her face in my hands, I lower my head until our foreheads meet.

  “Does it scare you that it feels like we’re going ninety to nothing?” I ask, looking in her eyes.

  “A little bit, but I know that I’m in capable hands,” she admits. I see the flush creep up her cheeks as I continue to stare. Leaning in, I touch my lips to hers.

  And I’m lost.

  The warmth of her lips against mine has me deepening the kiss until soon, our tongues are dueling as we learn one another. The cherry lip gloss she’s wearing is now my favorite taste and when a soft moan escapes, I find myself wishing this wasn’t our first date, but our tenth so that I could press the issue. When I can no longer kiss her without passing out, I pull back slightly and say, “You’re it, Micah. Doesn’t matter how long it takes, but you and me? We’re happening so I hope you’re okay with that.”

  “I’m happy to go along for the ride, Shane, as long as you’re by my side,” she replies.

  Epilogue

  Shane

  Six Months Later

  “Shane, are you ready to say your vows now?” the preacher asks. I’m still trying to grasp what Micah said; the words are resonating within me, but I nod.

  “Micah, you are my beautiful world. You are my life and the very balm for my soul. You are my last love, my present, and my future and will always be mine. Loving you is easy because I can’t imagine where I end and you begin. I love you, half-pint, now and forever.”

  Her tears are flowing but they’re doing so through a smile so radiant it’s as if the sun reached down and touched her face. I reach out and swipe my thumb across her cheek before leaning in and kissing her forehead. “I love you, Shane,” she whispers.

  “I love you more,” I reply. The preacher coughs and I hear our friends and family chuckling.

  Before he can finish up the ceremony, Maisie pipes up and says, “My new mommy is the cupcake lady!” Even the preacher can’t help but laugh.

  When he finally gets himself under control, he finishes the ceremony and finally, finally says, “You may kiss your bride.”

  “My pleasure,” I whisper as I draw her close and kiss her for the first time as my wife.

  Who knew that miracles would beget cupcakes that would give me kisses that I’ll never tire of?

  Four Days

  CJ Warrant

  Chapter One

  Max

  “Come on, Max. You’ll have a great time. Four days of sun, and peace and quiet away from the city.” Jarrod jams his skinny ass into my chair that I’m still sitting in and wraps an arm around my shoulders, thinking he’s cute, but all he’s doing is pissing me off. “Let me get you out of Chicago and enjoying the nature of Wisconsin.”

  I peel away from his side to grab some space. “Jar, there’s so much to do before my surgery. I have a heap of bids to go through for next month. I have to meet with my lawyer, and I have an appointment with my oncologist next week—aside from donating…” I quickly turn away from my friend from embarrassment, that I can’t even finish my own damn sentence. The idea of jacking-off in a room to save my sperm for future little Max’s or Maxine’s has me shuddering at the thought. “Thanks, but I can’t,” I say, and head to the kitchen to avoid his overly analyzing gaze. “I’m making some coffee. Want some?”

  “No skating out of this one, boyfriend. I already talked to Lee, and your brother thinks it’s a great idea too,” Jarrod says with a serious tone. “Besides, I’ve seen your office. You always have a stack of bids to work on. Waiting a week isn’t going to bankrupt your family’s business. And I know for a fact that your doctor’s appointment is in three weeks. So, no excuses.” He hitches a hip next to me, giving me one of his infamous puppy dog eyes and pouty-lipped faces. “You need this, Max. Let me whisk you away for a few days of fun and sun.”

  “Didn’t you hear me?” I shout in frustration. “I have testicular cancer, damn it. I might die from this, Jar. I can’t focus on anything else. No fun or sun. I have cancer. Don’t you fucking hear me?” I let loose the pent-up anger I’ve been harboring for almost a month. I’m like an erupting volcano of raw emotions, and I instantly regret my outrage. Jarrod doesn’t deserve my anger. “Sorry,” I admit. Hot tears wetting my cheeks. To center myself, I refocus on filling the water in the coffee pot.

  “You’re not dead or dying, Max,” Jarrod says with a bit of haughtiness I deserve. He then brings his five-ten height over to me and grabs my hands. “Honey, look at me.”

  I turn to my friend, who also has tears in his eyes. “I hear you. But if you had to get cancer, this one is the best
one to get. It’s curable with proper treatment. And as your best friend, I have a sworn duty to make sure you have a smooth journey to a clean bill of health. So think of this getaway as a retreat to get your mind in a healthy-tuned way before you have to battle with the big bad C.” The sincerity in his voice nearly undoes me. I suck back the gnawing lump at the back of my throat and swallow it down hard.

  “Your sworn duty?” I ask with a forced chuckle.

  “Well, since I passed my CNA state certification, I think I know what’s best for you.” Jarrod hugs me tight and almost causes me to break down in tears again. “You need this, Max. I need this. So, let’s do this together,” he singsongs the last part, moving our bodies in rhythm, which has me laughing and crying at the same time.

  I push him away before he breaks out into a song and dance. Wiping the few loose tears that escape my eyes, I stare into Jarrod’s pleading face. “Fine, I’ll go,” I relent, but quickly stare at him hard. “Just fun and relaxation, right? No matchmaking with the boys.”

  “Cross my heart,” Jarrod promises with a sparkle in his eyes. “We’re there to relax.”

  “Jarrod?” I warn. “I know you all too well. Swear it on the soul of your dead grandmother.” If I’m going to get myself ready for what’s coming, I don’t want any distractions. Especially, if the distraction has a nice ass, a handsome face and big… I shake off that thought and give Jarrod a pointed look.

  He lifts up three fingers in a Boy Scout salute. “Dirty trick bringing up my grandmother, but I promise you there’s no set up of any kind. Just a bunch of gay boys loving nature, the lake and maybe some hot tubbing. Okay?”

  “Okay-okay,” I laugh in agreement. Going to Jarrod’s lake house up in Eagle River is supposed to be a relaxing long weekend in the woods. But who knows how many men Jarrod has invited? I push those thoughts out of my head and start packing for the coming four days.

  Chapter Two

  Luke

  The second I pull up to the massive wrought-iron gate, a bubble of laughter escapes from my mouth as I stare up at the name scrolled above the entrance. Yellow Brick Road Estate.

  Whoever decided the name of the place has a weird sense of humor. Though, I’m curious what’s behind the acres of trees that hide the house and Yellow Birch Lake that sits adjacent to it.

  Creeping up to the security panel, I punch in the code Tim sent me earlier this morning. The gate opens wide, hinges creaking like an old man’s joints.

  Damn. Excitement crawls through my veins as the landscaper in me sees various plants that edge the meandering private driveway. From variegated hostas, to creeping phlox and Mexican sage to lavender, whoever landscaped did a fantastic job picking the right plants to showcase the driveway.

  I approach the house that looks more like a cabin on steroids. The three-story home sticks out prominently amongst the acres of heavy greenery and surely can be seen from the waters in the distance.

  As I park my truck between Tim’s blue Corolla and a 2020 metallic white BMX X7, I take in the view. The log house is massive. The base is set in stone and trimmed with copper and wood. The six-car garage is similarly built, matching the house. Yet, the pole barn is the typical red with white trim. It’s as big as the house I grew up in.

  I’m glad Tim talked me into coming. With my mother’s memorial next week, I need this getaway to clear my head. Grabbing my duffle from the passenger side, I slide out of the truck and take in the air around me. The smell of pine, lake and earth fills my lungs, settling my taut nerves. It’s what I’m familiar with, ever since my siblings and I took over the family landscaping business a couple of years ago.

  Admiring the lush greenery and plantings around the house, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to leave this majestic place. Hell, I’d be happy to sleep in their pole barn just to keep nature around me.

  With each step toward the front door; I gaze over the well-manicured lawn, the trimmed boxwood hedges and the vast array of blooming summer flowers.

  My eyes travel up to the third floor and I wonder what the lake looks like from that vantage point.

  The second I reach the double doors, Tim rushes out to greet me. “You’re finally here.” He gives me a hard hug before another beefier arm wrenches Tim out of my grasp.

  James. Tim’s boyfriend. He gives me a wry grin before wrapping a possessive arm around Tim, snuggling him against his broad chest. “Let go of my man, or I’ll drown your ass in the lake,” he growls out in mock anger. Well, I hope he’s joking, because the man could crush me like a bug. Not kidding.

  “Just hugging my friend,” I say with a laugh.

  “How the hell are you, Keller?” James reaches out a hand, with one arm still protectively around Tim’s waist. Tim wiggles tight against James’s body and leans up to kiss his scruffy cheek. Christ, I don’t know if I can handle the lovefest these two will bring to the weekend.

  “Living,” I say nonchalantly. Tim narrows his eyes and gifts me a glare. “What?”

  “You know what. None of that crap while we’re here, Lucas Adam Keller. We’re here to have fun. Now come in before all the mosquitoes storm us and bite at our balls—James, did we bring the bug spray?”

  “Yes, love.” He leans in and pecks a kiss on Tim’s temple before leading him inside.

  “Hey, wait a minute. No using my full name, Timothy Andrew Henry Scott,” I counter. Tim promptly spins out of his boyfriend’s arms like one of those toys kids used to play with.

  Eyes blazing with fire, he points at me in a warning. “Never speak of those,” he hisses, then his lips tip up. “Shake on it that no matter what, we will not be using middle names.” We shake, and then he turns back into James’s arms. “By the way, Jarrod’s here.”

  “I figured,” I say, following the couple inside. “Am I last to arrive?” I ask, gawking at the inner workings of the massive entrance way. “Je-sus.” As big as the house is, the place has a homey feel, like a cozy blanket you want to wrap yourself in.

  “Impressive, right?” Tim says with admiration. “There’s eight thousand square feet, with a gigantic pool out back, a hot tub and a firepit ready for us at night, and of course the lake. Do you think you can handle all the fun?”

  “I will try,” I say in a cheeky tone.

  “Well, Jarrod is down the hall in his suite, while his friend Max is claiming one of the rooms upstairs. So, if I were you, go stake a claim on a room before the others show up.” Tim’s eyes are lit with excitement as he reaches for James.

  “So, I can take any room, because the third floor has my name all over it,” I say with enthusiasm.

  Both Tim and James nod emphatically. “Except for the first master bedroom to the right on the second level. That’s ours,” James replies.

  With a wide grin, I take the stairs two at a time until I reach the third floor. The second I step foot into the massive room, I stumble to a stop. There’s a man, lean and beautifully naked, standing in front of the huge picture window that overlooks the lake. The brightness coming in from the glass shadows the man’s face and form so that I can only see his silhouette. And what a gorgeous profile it is.

  I don’t know how long I stand there gawking at him, but I’m mesmerized by his sinewy stature. Though the moment he turns around and eyes me, I jerk out of my stupor. “Holy shit—I’m sorry,” I blurt out, but I don’t take my eyes off the outline of his handsome face.

  He quickly snags a throw from the bed and covers himself. “This room is taken.” The sharp tone in his voice has a raspy quality that scrapes right down to my dick. I shiver in reaction.

  “Sorry again,” I say with regret—but not, and back out of the space slowly.

  Finding myself back on the second floor, I reflect on the image of that man’s delicious body, which I’ll use in my spank bank later. Then, I trudge down the hall looking for a room.

  Chapter Three

  Max

  I stay rooted to the floor as I watch my gorgeous intruder back out of the room. My eyes z
ero in on his handsome face, strong jaw line and broad shoulders. Dark eyes, the color of chocolate, assess me right back.

  Umm. Just as he turns to head down the stairs, I snatch a quick glance at his ass and my mouth waters. Perfect denim-clad butt.

  Jesus. I promised myself no fucking around this weekend, but apparently the fates have it in for me and decided to drop Mr. Tall Dark and Gorgeous into my prime view.

  I debate if I should head downstairs and find out who my interloper is. Looking into the small square mirror by the door, I cringe at what’s looking back at me. No doubt a quick shower and fresh clothes will do the trick.

  As I head downstairs, loud chattering from the kitchen has me shaking my head. Like a schoolgirl, Jarrod’s calling Tim out on some bullshit.

  “You’re such an asshole,” Jarrod says as he chucks a slice of orange in the direction of Tim. To my surprise, James snatches the piece in midair and pops it into his mouth.

  James gives Tim a wink and then glares at Jarrod. “Stop being a diva.”

  “Me?” Jarrod squeals with outrage. “Your man invited Lidia here. It’s supposed to be a weekend with the boys. Not boys and a girl. She’s welcome any other time. But. Not. This. Weekend.”

  I walk around the kitchen island and drape an arm around Jarrod’s shoulders. “Like James said, stop being a brat. She was invited, so we will welcome her, right?” I eye Jarrod with a prudent stare. “Even girls need love too.”