Looking Back
It's hard to believe sometimes, but it's been ten years since Preston knocked on my front door. In that time, I've written two more bestsellers and countless other novels. I'm still writing, but now I write mostly for fun. Aspects of our lives tend to find their way into my novels and short stories.
Preston and Dexter long ago finished medical school. They now work in different offices. Preston is a general practitioner at a local urgent care facility and Dexter is an internist working for a local HMO. They'd decided that working together, seeing each other around the clock, might have a negative effect on their power relationship which was more important to both of them than working together.
Jake and Robert live nearby. Jake is our accountant and Robert works for an investment firm. Having Jake handle our taxes was convenient. He stayed on top of all that stuff.
We never did move from the old house. I don't think we ever will. With our commitment to one another, we aren't likely to ever relocate and the emotional ties to this house were undeniable. We did give the place a makeover, giving it a new roof and siding. The whole place needed painting.
Leonard and Alex moved into the house next door about six years ago when the neighbors moved to Los Angeles. They still run their self-defense class, but now own the gym that Leonard once managed. Alex is a coach for body builders. Leonard seems to have his alcohol problems under control, but he still goes to his AA meetings.
When the house was complete, we invited Leonard and Alex for dinner along with Jake and Robert. Leonard said they had a guest and asked if he could come. We were only too happy to comply. Jake came over that day and he and Preston did it up right, serving rib eye steaks with all the trimmings.
When Leonard and Alex arrived, they brought their friend Tomas. He was a short Hispanic man. He talked like a cowboy but didn't look like one. He had black hair and rich brown eyes. He was masculine as hell, but treated Leonard in a way reminiscent of myself many years ago.
Leonard had an unusual sheepish look on his face. Preston and Dexter said later that they'd been studying Tomas. It didn't take long before Jake spotted a collar around his neck matching Alex's. The boys conferred a few seconds, then looking back and forth between Leonard, Alex and Tomas, the three of us said in unison, "Oh, my God, here we go again."
FIN
About the Author
Austin grew up, and then came out, in Phoenix, Arizona. He never considered writing as a reasonable possibility because his handwriting was so bad that it was always an issue with his teachers.
After years of bullying, he finally moved to a new school for his eighth grade year. It was here that he discovered the magic, and the pain, that love can bring to your life.
After a move from Arizona to Southern California in 1973 he met the man who has shared his life since.
Before retirement he worked with disabled children and adults. Once retired, he began to write. ‘An Extended Family’ is his sixth novel. ‘Scratch the Matchmaker’ is also available in both paperback and e-book.
You can reach Austin directly at [email protected], or check out his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012894404541
An Extended Family Page 19