Page 37 of Finding Ash

Merle cocked a brow, and I feared I’d overstepped. Offending him when he’d been so open with us wasn’t what I wanted. “What’s that?”

“You promise to spend the holidays with us and come by for dinner at least once a week.”

“Son,” he clapped my shoulder. “That’s a promise I can make. I’ll get my lawyer to draw up the papers and handle the transfer.”

There was no use seeing the rest, our minds were made up and touring it after we owned it felt like the right thing to do. I didn’t want Merle to think we were ungrateful because I can promise we weren’t. But we’d likely find things to fix and want to make changes and take notes and doing that in front of him felt disrespectful.

How a lonely man, wounds still fresh from burying his husband not only found a new family but got a second chance at love in a small, hidden, foggy town, remains a mystery to me. Foggy Basin was home now, surrounded by the men I loved, their families, and now our extended family all of which reminded me what a gift life truly was and that it was worth living.

Just remember, things won’t always be as they once were. Things will change, evolve even. Ups and downs are inevitable, but never give up. Continue to fight the fightand know that the good days will outweigh the bad, especially when you’re surrounded by love. Find your people, I promise you, they’re out there waiting with open arms.

Foggy Basin, a town filled with love and light where all are welcome. Won’t you stop by and say hi?