Wayne Gray

Just wait. 😉 This one is very different for me. Keep that in mind as you go!

Hi, Clancy59. Thanks for the comment! Concerning the school year. Yeah, it was for a summer program they put on. But it just occurred to me that it's unlikely they'd need a lot of teachers for a summer program, as there just won't be as many kids. Hrm. Ah well. I'm glad you liked the ending! Rhett's brother is a bit of a wild child. He'd flirt with abandon with ALL of the men in Rhett's life now, and it's already established that Grant finds him attractive, so that could definitely throw sparks. 😄 Thanks for taking the time to read! It was a fun story to write, that's certain.

Thanks, alexlittel! Hehehe. Oopsie. Sorry about your loss of sleep. But thanks for spending the time to read the story. This one is a favorite of mine, and I'm very happy it spoke to you. Thanks again!

Thanks for the comment, Rupert. I wanted to send them off in a happy way. Well, mostly happy ... at least. Troy's feeling a bit bittersweet about losing John again, but ultimately he was ready and it really was time. For me, characters have to have something that makes them interesting and unique, and I need to write every one as if they are the star of their story (because they are). It's odd, but it helps. Thanks for reading!

Thank you, tim. It means a lot that you and others like it. 🙂

Thanks, Tom. It was fantastic to post this here, mainly for all of the feedback from readers. That alone makes it worthwhile to re-edit. See you at the campground. 🙂

Thank you for the nice words, Fae. I could see why it'd conjure those feelings for you. There was and is still a lot of you wrapped up in the memories of C. Your being with SP doesn't diminish that. I think C would want you to be happy, really. So long as you and SP are, then I think yes, he would approve. 🙂

Thanks, Parker. I still can't believe you guessed that John was a ghost, and not just a figment of Troy's mind. 😮

Brian was what Aaron needed him to be. 😛 And ... this is only a fever dream/fantasy. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hehehe. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for commenting, Hugsly! I'm really happy it was worth your second spin through. It means a lot for me to capture a reader at all, and twice is even better. 🙂

Thanks for the comments, kbois. Henry is a good boy, and really a perfect addition to our little crew. Then you've got Sandra and William (and even Gavin) tossed into the mix too. It's hard not to feel the pull we mostly associate with family in such a place and around such people. Yeah, all stories have to end. But ... that leaves space for more tales to tell later. Though I will say I had quite a few readers ask for updates to this one, and that's flattering. It's also tempting! I love these characters. Yet other projects await. Oh, A Silent Song is already written and just needs some polish. So we'll likely go to the same schedule as this tale (Thursdays and Sundays). Though, that may have to wait a week. I have ... something else I may post between stories. We'll see. Thanks again. 🙂

Thanks for the comment, droughtquake. He did wander far from home. Yet, the gravity exerted over a person by the place they were born can't be denied. He couldn't see joining with Troy in any other place. Maybe you're right about those short stories. Time will tell.

Thank you, Brokenbind. I'm really glad that you and others liked the story. There will be more down the line from me, and I hope to see you at the next one too.

Thanks, Butcher. I do like this one ... this story. I wrote it right after I finished the first section of Camp Refuge. I had learned a few things, and I wanted to see what I could do with just a little more experience under my belt. Like anything, we get better with practice, and we can always improve. For a while this was my best. Though, what's coming with A Silent Song will hopefully surpass this in the eyes of most readers. See you back in Camp Refuge, Butcher. 🙂

Aww. Well, thanks for reading and taking the time to comment, Etotsira. 🙂

Thanks, chris. I wanted to take care of all of the characters, and I think I did. Brian and Aaron even got their fever dream fantasy thanks to the demands of our lusting readers. See you next time at Camp Refuge, chris!

Thank you, MJC. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and the chapter too. 🙂 There's more to come from me down the line. I need to start editing the continuation to Camp Refuge, then that story will pick up once again. I hope to see you there too!

18 April 2019, Thursday 4:17 p.m. (Pacific Time) Brian watched the proposal happen. Seeing the way Grant looked at Troy made Brian understand that there wasn't another man who would love Troy more than Grant. When Troy said yes, Brian's voice rang out with the others - a choir of happiness, surprise, and support for these two, beautiful men. Natalie and Georgette both screamed in abject joy. They almost tackled Troy as he was down on his knees before Grant. Laughing, he patted their arms

I realized I missed replying to this. Yeah. What about Harlan? He is a hard ass, but does he deserve to be happy? I mean, really? He has done some pretty questionable things in his past. Is he allowed to move beyond that? Hell, how does Harlan feel about that? Maybe we'll find out, eh? Thanks for the comment. I apologize for my lag in responding, but I appreciate your time all the same!

Troy did it! Well, they both (or all three?) did it. The next chapter winds everything up for these guys and gals, as best as I could do. I hope you like what's coming. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for commenting, Geemeedee! That scene makes me tear up a little too. I can see it so vividly in my mind and feel it from both of their perspectives. It's hard not to cry with them. Everything ends ... but we've got a chapter to go. And I hope to send them off right.

Yes! Thanks, Clancy! I'm glad my work is worth looking forward to. 🙂

You're right. Dessert for lunch! 😄

Asking those important questions, I see. Thanks for reading and for the comments, Bft. This one is pretty special to me. There are many characters, but I enjoyed creating them and their journeys. But ... those journeys aren't over. And the story will continue in A Silent Song, the next installment of the Camp Refuge series. I'm nearly done posting Ash and Ember. Once that's done, we'll start on the next part of this story.

Thanks for the comment, Tom. We’re at a bit of an emotional peak, right? I mean, it can’t get much more emotional, can it? 😏