Timothy M.

LOL, I'll try. I've started writing the next chapter, but got distracted by reading today. Thanks for staying with the story.

It would be nice for Burt to have some family, and he'll be a better father figure than his brother.

Sigh, now I'm all caught up. Paul should stop his silly fritter about money. The important thing is that each gift showed thoughtfulness and consideration for his needs. He'll do a better job as a vet with a good car and up-to.date equipment, so gifting him is also gifting the community which Joe will soon be the Major of. Same with the watch, it's the intent which counts, not the monetary value. Soon, he'll be making his own money, and since he has no cost for rent and other day-to-day stuff, he can spend the money spoiling Jeff right back, if he wants to. And anyway, Paul already gave Jeff the greatest gifts of all: his love and the joint fatherhood of his daughter, something no money can buy. Finally, giving gifts are much easier then receiving, so if he can accept them gracefully he's showing himself to be the better man.

I know Jeff and Paul are the primary couple in this story, but my favorite is Raymond/Daniel. I like their dynamic, and they both deserve to make up for all the lonely years. And the ranch hands sidekick act is great.

The anti-vac movement is one of the most stupid and dangerous fads in modern history. There has been discussions in Denmark about not allowing unvaccinated kids in kindergardens (unless they're exempt by doctor's orders). And since 90%+ kids attend kindergarden here, it would be very effective, but they've decided to use campaigns. Italy just passed a law saying kids have to have MFR and other basic vacs before entering school. The most recent idiocy in Denmark is young teen girls refusing the new HPV vaccine which will prevent many future cases of cervical cancer. The fuss and refusals are due to a social media created hysteria about unproven side effects like tiredness or depression. Thankfully, no other European country has caught this bug.

LOL, poor Daniel, he keeps getting blindsided. But I guess his parents' love and approval was a great Christmas present. And having the three bad guys neatly booked and wrapped made my day too.

I'm almost sorry the romantic exploration of the historical room was in a chapter featuring the nasty confrontation with the Fire Chief. Oh well, the connection between the love stories of both couples made me smile and want to you.

Good to see Raymond and Daniel progress in their relationship, and I like the plans for improving the situation for the town with jobs etc. Perfect timing on the ranch too, although I can understand the frustration over Julie's meddling.

Thanks, Jim, you're absolutely right. Patrick has built walls around his heart for years, but meeting Peter shattered them. If you want to read a fun (alternative and 'supernatural') explanation for how it happened, read my three A.I. team stories. I'm glad you're still enjoying the story.

LOL, welcome to the LEGO club. I don't think it will ever go out of fashion.

Of course, they'll want another kid, and It's good to know Maria approves of the idea, even if she's not too keen on a baby brother. twins maybe?

I hope this was Jeff (or Paul?) speaking, since no six-year-old, no matter how mature, could come up with this sentimental drivel, lol. But it's OK for an adult to say to Maria, I guess. I'll leave a proper comment, once I'm done with the chapter. Oh, and I think you mean Paul not Jeff here:

LOL, Jim, you're the first of my readers who want to wait for the next chapter. I usually get 'threats' of pitchforks and torches, or being tied to my laptop. Not to worry, you can always come back and leave a comment, I'll find them eventually, even though I can't get notifications to work. I'm so pleased you like Patrick and Peter - and yes I agree about him being a catch. I tend to write about the guys I'd like to meet and Hope the 'dynamite' is satisfying when you get to it, I'm enjoying your efforts in Change of Heart.

Thanks, Jim, I'm happy you're giving my stories a chance. If you want, I can suggest some of my favorites to you - or you can see the list in my blog. You should definitely check out the stories of AC Benus and Headstall, if you're not already reading them. There's a good reason this story is dedicated to them and my editor Kitt. And you don't need to apologize for not finding my stories before this, after all only just found yours. Also, I don't advertise them much because I post so slowly it's not fair to try and snare new readers. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the story.

Well, this chapter will send me to sleep with a satisfied smile on my lips, once I've taken care of certain matters.

Yay, I've been waiting for Raymond and Dan to have this conversation. Now they're finally on an equal footing.

The Sheriff was probably more devious before, but became unhinged, when things began to go wrong. A fast death was too good for him, although a tidy solution.

Well now, bare-backing already, they really are committed to each other, eh? Luckily, I haven't seen Forrest Gump, so I could ignore the joke.

oops, sorry Cia, I forgot Renee is on a well-deserved vacation. Oh, and I guess that first line yells Rob, right?

Thanks for the feature, Renee Cia. And @JohnAR has already sent me the next MetaPrompt for #578, so I better start editing to feed the hungry Meta fans.

Now I'm glad I'm coming late to this story. Was the civilian car chasing the sheriff the Suburban or the Tesla? And I hope they stopped recording before the reached Ilya.

yes you can - so please tell me which story and chapter you found that mistake in.

LOL, it's no good searching for they're, because that's the correct term. I was referring to the Adams Family song: “fingersnap… fingersnap… there creepy and their kooky. Mysterious and spooky, their altogether ooky, the Adams fammillyy… fingersnap… fingersnap.” It should be “fingersnap… fingersnap… they're creepy and they're kooky. Mysterious and spooky, they're altogether ooky, the Adams fammillyy… fingersnap… fingersnap.” You're doing very well on the writing, I'm just a bossy old editor.

Uh oh, Raymond just got taken down and deservedly so. He'll have to do a lot of grovelling to get Dan to forgive him. I loved Dan's reaction and also the way the sheriff was put in his place. (re the new GA: remember not to have an extra line between paragraphs. As long as you have a hard carriage return, GA will put in spaces, when the chapter posts, even if it looks all scrunched up in the story editor.)

I'm not sure I understand the above, but whatever you do, never have two carriage returns in text posted in the story editor from Word.