Wayne Gray

Thanks for the comments, Rigel. Avery finally let Bill and Anna love him. More ... he allowed himself to love them back. That has to be one of the scariest things he has ever done, but he took that leap. And they are all better for it. Joseph's partner and his coworkers accept who he is. They've known for a while, and they value him regardless. They are there to see their brother marry. It is that simple, and that sublime at once. Harlan is a complex little piece of quartz, isn't he? I can't call him a gem; he'd roll his eyes at that. Smoky quartz. Yeah. Let's go with that. But yes ... even Harlan has a heart. And he recognized the deep need Lee had to prove himself - which is why he was so specific with Mamma G. It was her choice ... and she chose Lee. I love the journey both Avery and Lee took in their process. Both needed Camp Refuge. Both grew beyond needing it. One had to be pushed from the nest, while the other flew, maybe a touch early ... but he flew all the same. Now, they get a chance at that happy-ever-after ending. What will they do with a chance? We'll have to see. If you ever find yourself headed this way, let me know. I'd love an excuse to book a campsite on the Smith, show off our trees, and beautiful river, and have some rum by a fire. That sounds like a great weekend to me.

Thanks, Michael. I appreciate that. 🙂

Thank you. I really tried to add more, but it wasn’t working at all. I know it could have been done better, but ... for now, it’s a little beyond me. As for Mamma G and her story. Honestly, I’d rather tell that moving forward from this point in time. I’d like to do it in a way where anyone could read it without having previous experience with the series too. Bits of the past would be revealed, and background filled in, but from this point in time. I need to think about it. Thanks for the comments and for reading. 🙂

You're right. Lee needed to move on. He'd been "kept" for so long, he didn't know if he was capable of living on his own. He and Avery needed to meet again. It's one of those things that just had to happen. Whatever comes now, things will be as they're meant to - finally. Thanks for reading and for the comments. I appreciate them.

I think you and Mamma G would get along. 😛

That’s so very sad. It will take time for hearts to change. It will happen, but yes ... it’ll take time. As people find their courage and empathy for others, the conversation will shift. This requires more people to be freely out, because without that, families don’t even know their loved ones are gay. They’ve no idea their friends or brothers are wounded by their words. I hope things get better soon. People deserve that.

Great to hear, alexlittel! I’m going to take a little break, then I’ll plot another story of some kind. We’ll have to see where inspiration leads. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment.

Thanks! I hope you enjoy this one, Nana!

My beta readers were all surprised at that ending. So ... that was fun! 😄 Everything doesn't have to be a twist, or a surprise. I am not necessarily out to confuse the ending of a story. But sometimes it happens, and things go together in a way where I can see a way forward that maybe others won't. And that can be fun - so long as the characters all behave how they should. I think it worked this time. Thanks, Tom. There's more coming down the line.

Thanks for commenting and reading, Jeffrey. Lee and Avery are able to connect in any way they might desire now. What that might be, that's up to them. They both seem to have grown into their own lives, and that's due in large part to that love and support you mentioned above. Dialogue and characterization are my favorite things. They're both my strengths, and I love anytime I can use them. I need to do better with description. Oh well. We can always improve. Thanks again. 🙂

You're very welcome. I'm happy you enjoyed the story. This one ... I like this one myself. 🙂

Thank you, Tony. Greg did have to learn to let Lee go and be his own man. And there were moments when Clay noticed the paternal way Greg began to care for Lee. It was a quiet sort of realization - one Clay didn't say. He just saw, and he hoped that Greg would be better for the connection in the end. I do think that worked out for the best. And Clay is proud of him. As you say, it's a success to be able to let go when it's time. I try to improve a little here and a little there. I've a long way to go, but thanks for tagging along on this journey.

So ... I'm a geek. I love patterns and little secrets. I put one in Broken, and now that all chapters are posted, it's discoverable. That's the one and only hint I'll give. If you find it, post here. 🙂

Thank you, Parker. I love the crew there. I truly enjoyed showing Greg to be a passionate, flawed man. One who felt torment over his failure to protect Lee, but did everything in his power to fix what his reaction caused in the heat of the moment. I think allowing them to mess up and be human adds something. Yes, they're imperfect. But as you said, they're good too.

Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter and the story. No, I won't make you wait for Lee & Avery reuniting. That'd have been rude! And they deserved it, I think. They both waited plenty long enough, and they deserved it. Thanks again. 🙂

Well, in this case I'm happy to disappoint you. All things have to end, and I'm glad the conclusion of this story conjures a feeling of loss. Yeah, telling a year and a half of story doesn't work well. But all you mentioned happened. They both grew up a lot. They both gained confidence, and independence. They both continued to wonder about the other. And, something not mentioned ... at some point, a certain new truck driver got an anonymous tip that Lee was working a diner in Colorado Springs. 😉 And yes! Sun, glorious SUN! It does happen. Occasionally. lol I love Harlan. I'll admit it. I have to be careful not to overuse him. But ... he did stick to his character, and that's the most important bit. Thanks for the nice comments. We'll see about how long that wait is.

It's always risky to introduce new characters right at the end of a story. You've got to hit the ground running, and get the essence of who they are "out there" immediately. I think I got that right with Mamma G, at a minimum. I'm leaning more and more toward something additional with them. A writer needs a few things to write a story. Those include: memorable characters (okay, that one is handled), a struggle of some sort and resolution of that struggle. That's extremely high-level, non-detailed plotting. From there, the story can grow and go from struggle to resolution however it makes sense for the characters to get there. Therein is the fun, and the difficulty all at once. Thanks for the comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the new additions. 🙂

Hahaha. Yes. I made her too memorable, didn't I? She's sorta screaming for her time in the sun now, damn it. 😄 Thank you for the great comment, Clancy. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and the chapter!

I spoke some to your first paragraph in another response. I'll just add: Mamma G and her motley crew really are begging for a more expansive tale. There are untold plots, secrets, and a day in the life in the back kitchen and on the floor of Mamma's House just waiting to be revealed. So ... stand by. I'm happy you liked how things worked, structurally, in terms of the writing. I always do loose outlines, and recurring themes wound through this story. We had Avery's persistence. Lee's doubt and self-sabotage. Greg's fears surrounding his acceptance of Lee, then finally his realization that they were killing Lee (literally). "Omelet" "Apron" "Scary Movie" all were there ... all serving to drive points in the story. All symbols. I do think it worked. I am in a weird place concerning my skill, where I can tell things could be better, but I'm not quite able to REACH it. It's both frustrating and encouraging ... Thank you for the great comments, Bryan. 🙂

Thanks, Michael. I had no idea how easily it'd be to continue spinning off of the original story. I like that I can focus on a few characters and allow them to shine, while also showing snapshots of the others too. It can be tricky to balance, and I'm not quite happy with how I did this time around (we needed more Elias and Rayne, and I just couldn't figure out a way to make it work well), but I'll get better at it. Till then. 🙂

I'm going to give you a little of the backstory. "Sweetie". A bit of a non-respectful way some of the rougher men referred to Mamma G's server. What most don't know is she REVELS in the name, and took it as her own. Yes, she asked to be called that when Mamma G had asked her. What is even less known ... Sweetie is also the bouncer. A slip of a woman, 5'5", 135 lbs, blonde, beautiful. And she teaches women's self defense at the local colleges in town. There are so many stories wrapped up in that eclectic little crew just begging to be told. And I'll have to get to them. Thanks for the comment, and for reading along.

Thank you, Mike. I like beauty hidden in rough, ugly things. Lee had some harsh edges, and he still does. But within him there's a gem - one Greg could see. One Avery could see too. 🙂

Thank you. "Perfect" is a tremendous word, and I appreciate the sentiment. It was the best I could do in this moment of my progression as a writer. I'm on the cusp of having the skill to show it just a bit better. But ... next time. I'll get better at portraying things elegantly yet completely. Thanks for the comment and for reading. It's appreciated.

Succinctly stated. You're right. The campground did exactly what Greg had always intended. It was a refuge for a Broken Boy, until he could stand. Until he could walk. Until he could run. Thanks for reading, and for the comment.

Both parts you mentioned made me emotional too. Greg's emotions upon opening that box and reading Lee's note were such a complex mess. This young man he'd sheltered and helped, he stepped out into the world with only the skills he'd learned from Greg. He leapt into a void, desperate to prove he could be more than he'd ever been before. Greg understood that. It was a moment that both hurt and gave him such a thrill of pride too. Avery and Lee, right at the end, when it looked as if it'd never happen. Each thought of the other, every day. Each avoided contact for their own reasons. Avery because he harbored guilt over what happened to Lee. Lee because he wanted Avery to have a chance at a normal life (and yes ... guilt over Avery almost dying). But both have grown a lot. Even if Avery hadn't done what he did, Lee would have tried to find him. Some pairings have a gravity that can only be postponed. Such it is with them. Thanks for the comments and for reading, Fae.