FanLit

Way to go Don!!!! The Child Service inspectors were treating them like felons, instead of the qualified candidates they were that passed their background check with flying colors. Good on Don for checking them on their methods, 👏 surprise inspections are one thing, disrespect is another. As much as we hope differently, relationships are rarely a 50/50 split; In a perfect world you might get 51/49 but more often than not, the disparity in the ratio is much more than that. I think what keeps any relationship alive and thriving is when both partners acknowledge and show appreciation for each other; Whatever the balance, you can’t have 2 without 1+1, right? Obviously, I loved that Don articulated what he has doubtlessly always felt for Louis and what he brings to their marriage; Sometimes you just need to hear the words. ❤️ I’m also glad that Louis will be able to transition to a small business owner while retaining a good relationship with his former employers. Tho Alex was a small mention in this chapter in that Louis texted him to check in and say “Hi”, he loomed large throughout, as all these changes are being made to accommodate Alex becoming a permanent part of their lives. A good, full chapter, tim; I feel as satisfied as Don did in the Tupperware dessert bin. 😊 😉

“Yes, it is. I forgive you. Sometimes it can be just that simple.” I cried reading that line. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to do, Gary showed the strength of his character in that selfless act. Does Shaun feel sorry about what he set in motion now? I wonder as to his motive for betraying his best friend-Is he a true homophobe or a scared, self hating closet case?

This is an utterly engrossing tale. There is so much to digest, as so many things go on simultaneously in each chapter. Nate was competition Richard never anticipated in his predatory pursuits; Was it Greg's love for Nate that drove Richard to try to destroy him? Did Greg’s blind spot make him transfer his feelings for Nate to Richard? What did Greg think would happen with his attraction to Richard? (By the way, “Richard” is the perfect name for “the fiend”, he’s a true dick, a total prick in every way.) Is Nate truly heterosexual? I guess I wonder if there can be a chance between he and Greg because of the deep love that already exists between them; It is so much more than family, so much more than best friends. Kyle and Keigan are interesting additions to their lives, each serving as catalysts for change. Unrequited crushes or love are always devastating, it feels even more so when you’re a teen. I hope Kyle is mature enough to see the genuine care Greg does have for him but something tells me Kyle won’t be giving up that easy. I both look forward to and dread new chapters because the horror of what happened to Greg has yet to be revealed in full and we already know it’s really bad. With that said, I look forward more than dread each development in this tale. You are a masterful storyteller.

I love Greg, I wish he were my friend.

What an epilogue!! It was lovely; At first I thought the day was about them having a baby, then I realized it was them getting married and was so thrilled to see all the steps that lead up to it. I felt you made the right choice with Mommie Dearest; I just did not see her doing an about face given how homophobic she was before (Her reaction to walking through the gay friendly area of Toronto is still a sobering memory, smh). It does make sense that her stupid bitch ass would blame Jordan for “turning her son gay”. One of the readers previously commented that her extreme reaction could be from hiding in her own closet, that idea intrigued me and made me think-some studies theorize that homosexuality is hereditary, it would serve Cruella de Ville right if that came from her side of the genetic pool. It hurt to see how Noah still tried to keep the peace in his family so that his mother wasn’t ostracized and she could care less; Really though, what quality of a marriage or relationship with her other children can exist with the battle lines drawn and everyone knowing which side they are on? She already isn’t a part of the family, I don’t see what difference making the break official would make. Thank the heavens for Jordan’s mom. Thank you for marrying Aiden and Jenn!! I don’t care how obvious or cliched that development might be, it was absolutely right!! Yay!! There’s so much more I could touch upon but I should end this book of a comment already, lol. Noah and Jordan love each other truly and deeply and have people who love them, truly and deeply. They are blessed and this story is a blessing. Thabk you so much for sharing.

Life does indeed go on and the loss of a loved one becomes part of the fabric of life; A tolerated part but not something ever truly gotten over. Don touching upon that with Max in the restaurant will go a long way in comforting and justifying whatever feelings Max experiences in his grief. “The darkness was complete, and I was glad I was here with Don.” That line jumped out at me because while I might be able to do that on the rare occasion, my grown ass still sleeps with a nightlight, lol!! My fear of the dark is one of the oldest I have and while it is not as debilitating as it was, it’s still there. The seeds to the relationship between Don, Louis and Max was planted in fertile soil; It took time to take hold and now the root is evident and growing. I think there will still be more watering and pruning to come but I foresee a beautiful spring blooming from their respective winters.

Interesting. I think It’s Nate. Even tho they are in two different sexual zones (more or less), the relationship he has with Nate gives him everything he’s looking for in his Mr. Right.

While both Noah and Jordan went through major changes in this story, Noah’s was the most transformative. He went through a painful chrysalis, one he had to to become the best man he could be and he has truly lived up to that potential. Along the way, he got support he didn’t even know he would have; His siblings and father surprised him by showing they loved him, not who they thought he should be. Mommy Dearest proved true to form in the way she’s been portrayed in the story. She has been controlling and judgmental. I want to believe she would accept Noah in the end but I feel at best, she would tolerate him only to not lose the rest of her family. The impression I get of her is that she is too close minded and dictated by her religion and society to truly accept Noah. I do not see a true reconciliation between them at first. It is possible that exposure to Noah would show her he is still the loving, dutiful son she raised and might “love the sinner and not the sin” but idk; I’ll be interested to see which way you let that wind blow, Ethan. I enjoyed reading about the journey these two have taken to their HEA and I’ll be sorry for it to end but you’ve left them at a good place; The only thing you need to fix is Aiden and Jenn getting together. 😉

I danced around this story for weeks. I’m glad I gave it a chance.

Every journey starts with that first step and Greg’s first step to reclaim his life from Richard was bold and decisive. Good for him.

You take on a unique challenge, including the predator’s perspective among the push and pull between the past and present. As distasteful reading his mindset is, it sheds light on how easy it can be to overlook evil because it is attractive and educated. I get the impression in previous chapters that Richard is no longer in the picture, I’m thinking either incarcerated or dead. I hope he is dead and I hope Yvonne killed him but it seems like Greg became an obsession he couldn’t shake and tried to destroy, in the process destroying himself. Whatever his fate, I hope he suffered, he deserves to suffer A LOT.

“Another weird mother is Nates mum, Greg's surrogate mother, also intuitive and loves to call people out, but the weird bit is she was married to the fiend and none of her intuitive nature saw what her own husband was up to.” I don’t thing Yvonne was married to Richard. I get the impression that with Richard being Nate’s dad he got close to Greg and his family through the boys’ friendship, obviously closer than he should have, as that’s how he groomed Greg into a sexual relationship.

And I also love Ms. Teresa’s tangential conversation style, it’s much like my own, 😂

"Assuming you're right about Kyle, there's absolutely no difference in what he's feeling and what you feel—or felt, rather, back then as a kid. Those feelings are universal, so you know them as well as you know yourself. "Maybe you don't understand the target of those feelings, but if that's the case it's not a lack of understanding of the feelings themselves. "To say otherwise is to dehumanize him and what he feels. It's to make him other, 'less than' to borrow your own phrase. And that's wrong on so many levels, especially coming from his parent.” These are some of the most compassionate, equalizing words I’ve ever read in defense of gay children, gay people. I love it.

Nice start.

Hmm, intriguing. Looking forward to more.

I admire you very much, tim. Continue holding on to your hope for the future; You have already risen up from much that have fallen many. I don’t know if it’s weird to say I love you, but I have love for you, tim. You bare your heart and your soul and they are beautiful, scars and all. There is strength in your vulnerability that defies the biggest muscles. When the rest of the journey seems exhausting, focus on one step at a time, one day at a time. Michael and you are in my thoughts and hopes for the best.

😘 🍻

Happy Birthday to your Mom. 🎉🎁🎂🎈 Your Mom was a survivor, that alone speaks to her strength; Her beauty and truth are reflected in her son and I thank her for what she has gifted to you in both nature and nurture. Am I to surmise from reading this another grandchild is on the way? If so, congratulations. I know you’ve had your own journey of struggle, yet I just know your children sing your praises the way you sing your Mom’s; Yet another way her legacy lives on in you. 🍻

Josh definitely has more character than Shaun, smh. I wasn’t to wish bad things to happen to him but won’t, story dictated or not, Karma is a bitch and she always collects.

Count me among the ones who are happy with this choice. There has to be certain situations in place for Jordan to consider reconciling with Noah. Jordan wouldn’t go back to Noah to be hurt again and the bottom line is, the heart wants what it wants. Jordan’s mom was true to wonderful form, Noah already has a family in Jordan and his mother no matter what. Brody’s reaction to this will be interesting, as long as he’s not another Sebastian. Good chapter, good choice.

In this chapter, tim, you managed to capture the beauty that can surround life when dealing with death. It was sad for those who loved Gavin Taylor to lose him but with evidence of a life well lived and well loved, his family was able to let him go in peace so that he wouldn’t suffer anymore. I love Louis, his heart and his humanity; This chapter showed where that came from; Tho he was raised in Toronto, his foundation is the “Rock” and you’ve done your usual excellent job with your vivid portrayal of those inhabitants. From their local accent, to the dishes and desserts native to their heritage (Jam jams and snowballs?...yum), you beautifully painted these people as salt of the earth, unassuming in manner but with their own rough hewn strength and dignity. It was a hoot that Louis didn’t realize his Aunt Laura also shared his sexual orientation, and clear that it made no difference in his family, given his parents’ acceptance of him. That Gavin let Louis know how proud he was of him as a man and that his coming out made him the most proud was truly a gift, one that is not always given before we shuck this mortal coil. Robert and Rena coming to pay their respects to the Taylors show how far Rena has come in her thinking and how they are truly a united family. This is now another new normal Louis will have to adjust to, as he and Don are still getting accustomed to Max and vice versa; While Don and Max have their disability to bond them, this loss may serve as common ground for Louis and Max. Once again, tim, this was beautiful work.

I doubt he will, Timothy but one can hope....