Page 19 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

She’s beaming ear to ear with joy and excitement. Her long hair is dark again and floating on the wind with the fabric of her glittering gown. Her face is younger than he’s ever seen her.

“Bertie?” Nathan’s eyes gloss over and he smiles back. He sprints forward.

She stretches out her arm, draped in low hanging white satin. Inviting him into an embrace. Turquoise and silver beaded necklaces hang around her neck and cascade down to her chest. “My sweet darling.” Her voice whispers in his ear as they hold each other.

His head on her shoulder. His eyes follow Bertie’s arm that isn’t wrapped around him. She’s holding a man’s hand. The long arm meets a broad square shoulder. The sweet face of the cute sanctuary tryst, painted with confused expression and gently chewing a lip looks back at him.

Nathan steps back. “Hello.” He greets Jamie and then turns back to Bertie. She’s just smiling with adoration. The arm wrapped around him moves. Her fingers tracing down his sleeve, taking his hand and guiding it into Jamie’s. She wraps her hands over and under theirs. Closing her eyes and offering blessings, the way he’d seen her do many times.

She pulls back, squeezing each of the boy’s shoulders. Nodding at Nathan and turning to do the same to Jamie. She fades translucent. Then becoming a glowing light, expanding until she disappears.

The two men left holding hands and staring at each other.

A jarring sprint kick to the rib from Mabel jounces him awake in the quiet studio, dimly lit by the moon.

Chapter 10

Pieces

“Dammit!” Andrew groans from the kitchen as a crash shatters the morning silence. Cutting Jamie’s bizarre dream short.

“Dammit Dave!” He pulls himself up off the bed and slips into jeans and a t-shirt he’d left on the floor. Hurrying to check that Andrew is ok.

The catalog model is crouched. Scooping up pieces of his favorite yellow mug.

Jamie bends. “Are you alright?”

”Watch your toes. Pieces scattered everywhere.” Andrew warns. “I’m fine. Just clumsy today.” He’s still dressed in yesterday’s outfit and not freshly coiffed as usual.

The two stand. Jamie drops his broken bounty into the dustpan Andrew is holding out.

“Did I wake you?”

“No worries. You rescued me from a strange dream.” He gives Andrew an obvious outfit check. “Are we just getting in?” Grinning.

Andrew can’t hold back a guilty smirk of admission. “You clocked me.” He winks.

“Mystery man on the other end of your texts yesterday morning?”

“Coffee first.” Andrew reaches for the brown paper bag of ground beans. “What was your crazy dream about?”

Jamie scowls. “Coffee first.” He waves an index finger, signaling a pause in the conversation and scuffling off to the bathroom for a pee.

Andrew fills two mugs with steaming coffee and takes his seat.

Jamie returns, sweetens his brew and spins on one heel to face Andrew, who’s waiting patiently for the conversation to commence.

“Tell me about this new mystery man that has you googly eyed and staying out all night.” Jamie teases.

“It’s new, and probably just a fling.” Andrew shifts on the stool. “He’s actually from Montreal. Just here for a few weeks on business. He came into the shop the other day and we had a fun conversation about tacky Knick knacks. He asked me out and we had a great time yesterday.” His blue eyes sparkle.

“Will you see him again? Does he have a name?”

“Kurt. Yes. We’re getting together tonight.” His smile is glowing. “Now what’s going on with you?” Andrew turns the conversation back.

Jamie fills his lungs with air. “Since we’re both sharing dirt.” Jamie slurps a burning sip through pursed lips. “The other day. I met a guy.”

“Right.” Andrew sips. “The fucking asshole that blocked you.”

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