Paladin

I don't live in USA, but if I'm reading this correctly George's dad lives in Tennessee which was spared, so George has a chance to reunite with his dad. I hope so. Am I right that Florida was spared. If so it's likely that a certain President wouldn't have been in Washington and would have survived. Just saying!

There are so many threads at this point in the story and I have a problem deciding which to follow and unravel. Some are suggested in the previous comments. We know that Luka doesn’t kiss from when we first meet him with a client. Mezenga knows that and also that Luka doesn’t get fucked. We are left to guess what else Mezenga knows about Luca and Devin and why he has been monitoring and gathering information about them in particular. What is really meant by “anything I ask you to do” and “anything I want”? To a couple of hustlers that would seem to be sexual activity, although it doesn’t limit itself to sexual service. The music chosen by Mezenga; A song about falling deeply in love and then that love dying. Has he chosen this because he sees himself in that song? And, do the boys play a part in “Mai pi? di amare mi sono rassegnata, Ma guardo su!"? I feel we have much more to learn about Luka and Devin’s relationship. I assumed they were sexually involved lovers but Luka’s response while watching Devin and Mezenga having sex left me wondering. Luka is a top and Devin a submissive and yet while Luka is mesmerised by what he is watching he is also surprised at how submissive Devin is. Do I have to say that I want more of this excellent story?

In Australia we have the term "grey nomads". It refers to retirees who either hitch up a caravan or drive a motorhome so they can be nomadic and set out to tour Australia. Often their intention is to drive all the way around Australia. I'd be interested to know if this term is current in other countries.

I've arrived late to this story and find I'm agreeing with the previous comments. I'm already invested in Luca and Devin so I finished the chapter with a mixture of optimism and dread. Obviously I want to see what this client wants and where this story goes.

STDs maybe but we do know she doesn't have ovarian cancer or any HPV induced cancers. Well not anymore.

I agree with everyone. The house is becoming very much part of the story. I suspect that Mike and Jess are also going to be part of the story. Fortunately Mike seems positive towards Aaron and Tony's relationship, and Jess should be very understanding. Lesbian with a girlfriend and pregnant! Sound like quite a story in itself. What's so important that Harry has to talk to Tony in person? Maybe he just wants a day out of the office and on the beach.

Inspector, Cottontail, Hearst, John. Any more names in his quest to be partners with Jamie? We all know who the John is and why he was keen to leave a certain venue before Rusty and Matty could see and recognise him. Of course this raises the question of why Hearst is enrolled in college as John. Was it just so he could be involved incognito in Xpress? That seems unlikely with Xpress being mainly Wen's illegitimate baby plaything. I think there is much more to be revealed regarding the mystery involving these two, so far, unnamed families.

A good start to renewing their relationship and full support from their friends. Tony still has to answer Tim's question about what is he going to do if he and Aaron become a couple again. The answer is critical for the relationship.

This is Christmas in summer in Australia @Philippe and lunch may be late and dried out a bit but it is intentionally cold, "cold meats and salads, and plenty of them". It is the way most of us like it.

Lunch is ready and it seems Keiran and Charlie have served up an appetizer. Open conversation during lunch will be much better than stony silence or forced uncomfortable comments. Kevin's reaction was interesting. He didn't make any comment and simply walked away. It's possible he will be supportive. So far they have all been following a family Christmas tradition. Where they are now isn't part of that tradition.

While I hate to question OED, my searching turned up grovel being used by Shakespeare in Henry IV Part 2, which was written prior to 1599. The reference came with an acknowledgement that Shakespeare used grovel by back forming from groveling, which as @Bill W has indicated, already existed in various spellings.

A neat short story of magic and good defeating evil. The combination of magic and tickles was very entertaining. Thanks.

Thanks to Scott's brilliant intervention, this meeting between Tony and Aaron got off to a better start than their first meeting. It also gave Tony a chance to say what he needed to say at the first meeting; "I can tell him how much I’ve missed him". And missed him Tony certainly has. The photo on his laptop and his password mean that Tony is reminded of Aaron every day. The house on the hill has been mentioned by a few readers and it could be a metaphor for Tony. The house was run down and surrounded by scrub that obscured its potential. It has been cleaned up and is now showing that potential. Sounds like Tony. Like @centexhairysub I feel the house is part of this story.

The Thompson's being involved with something like this would not surprise me but this investigation is much further north. Even further north than Stingray Heads.

Yes the investigation begins and Patrick wants to be involved but knows more resources are needed. @Doha and @Mark Ponyboy Peters and Mark, I couldn't call the Queensland cop "Pony". Apology: I wrote this and thought I had posted it but sadly it didn't go. Anyway here it is. Belated.

Thank you @Flip-Flop The towel has not been sent yet so not a problem at this stage. We know that after Adam's death he buried himself in study and work. You are right that the search for Daniel could bring Jordan back to surfing in Sydney. The meeting with Blackie indicates that Jordan hasn't been surfing locally for some time and surfing friends could be a valuable source of information.

Yes @Philippe working together on searching for Daniel is bonding the three of them into the solid optimistic family unit they need to be.

Thanks @pvtguy. Finding Daniel will potentially provide more evidence against the uncle, as well as bring Daniel into this new family. The sister was in Australia when the parents were killed. She had an Irish boyfriend and went with him when he returned to Ireland. Like many others she took the image of the uncle being a respectable community minded businessman who wouldn't engage in anything illegal at face value. She didn't believe Joshua when he tried to tell her.

Sorry @Summerabbacat, I should not have assumed readers would remember who Frank is. I'll do an edit to make it clear. There is no suggestion that the death of Joshua's parents was more than an unfortunate collision on a notorious stretch of highway. There is something else about their death that will come up later.

A gang of Captain Featherswords and a very ticklish security guard. What wonderful fun.

@Bill W, I didn't feel a need to be diplomatic. While I'm Australian, my family name is of North Italian origin.

Back home Jordan, Cameron and Joshua were all elated but exhausted. They ordered pizza and between themselves, debriefed about the interview at the Child Abuse Squad while eating and before retiring early to bed, or in Joshua's case a call to Olivia and then sleep. Saturday dawned with the three of them sound asleep. Cameron was the first to stir and after kissing Jordan gently on the cheek relieved himself and walked to the kitchen where he started the coffee machine. Jordan

And there are some studies that support this observation @Bill W. Greeks and Italians gesticulate while talking more than other European nationalities. That said, it seems appropriate that gesticulate has it's origin in Latin. All those Romans gesticulating in the Forum.