Page 97 of Heart

“Perfect,” said Demarco, heading that way with a shoulder bag, Wilson close behind.

Alec went to join them, and Mikey stood, holding Tommy. “I probably need to help them with the audio, Tommy. You want to assist?”

Tommy nodded, and Mikey set him down. “Good deal.”

“If you want to put a few more candles at the bar,” George said, “we could kill the overhead lights—better atmosphere, don’t you think?”

“On it,” said Mikey.

As they left, there was movement and laughter from behind them—Zac, Ginger, Rachel, and May had shifted to join Abigail and Jack.

“How are drinks back there?”

May answered George. “We’re good, sweetie. Just moving closer for the show.”

George lifted a bottle of Cabernet and split the remains of its contents between Tyler and himself. They raised their glasses and toasted. “To the new year,” Tyler said.

George gave him a half-hearted smile. “New year,” he echoed.

Tyler set his glass down. “Christmas is always the hardest.”

George looked at him, questioning.

“According to Jack, we have something in common, you and I.”

“How so?”

Tyler looked at him, his gaze soft, yet strong. “I lost my Brett—my husband—too.”

The room went away. George was no longer seeing Mikey and Tommy at the bar lighting candles in the periphery. He no longer heard the din of laughter behind them... there was only Tyler. He felt lightheaded and a little dizzy, but it wasn’t from the wine.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” George said. “Don’t you hate that? People always say that.”

Tyler chuckled, “Yeah. I don’t hear it as much as I used to. How long has it been since you lost—?”

“—David? His name was David. Going on three years now. You?”

“Seven.”

“Does it ever get any easier?”

Tyler took a sip of his wine. “I won’t tell you it goes away because it doesn’t. Six years ago, I was in a very dark place. If it hadn’t been for my horses, I don’t know that I’d be here now. They gave me a reason to get up every morning.”

“When did you meet Alec?”

“A little over two years ago. By then, I was existing... you know, more normal. But I had no plans for getting involved with a man ever again. Couldn’t even conceive of it. But then Alec... he just dropped in out of nowhere. A light.”

“A light?”

“Yeah, a light in my darkness.” Tyler sat up, leaning closer in. “You forget, George. You forget you have love inside because it feels like it abandons you... like it goes away with the person you lost. I was resigned to never having it back.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know that feeling.”

“Well, I’m here to tell you it’s still there,” Tyler said. He reached out and tapped at George’s chest. “It’s just asleep until someone strong enough to wake it up comes along. My days have been bright ever since Alec came into my life. So, yeah—he’s my light.”

George looked at Mikey over by the bar. He was giving Tommy a tour. Guiding him, teaching him. He felt overwhelmed with emotion watching Mikey play mentor.

“Mikey seems pretty strong,” Tyler observed.