This dramatic conclusion to Desert Sons continues with the relationship between Scott Faraday and Ryan St. Charles. It’s Scott’s senior year of high school. Ryan’s grandmother, his long-time caregiver, dies. It sends him spiraling downward into depression and makes him pull away from Scott. The band Scott is in might break up. He discovers he has secret allies, a schoolmate who’s bent on having Scott be his no matter what, and a twisted foe. Will his secret admirer permanently ruin his now tenuous relationship with Ryan? Will Scott’s foe turn his seeming idyllic life into a living hell? Can Ryan lift himself from the depths of his emotional turmoil? When Crawford comes back into his life, can Ryan fend him off? Can the boys remove the bitterness that ensues as a rift between them develops and widens? Can they uncover the depth of their love for one another before it’s too late? When Ryan takes the ultimate inner journey a lot about his own past is revealed to him. Maybe that will make the difference. All of this and more is explored and concluded in this exciting sequel.
Excerpt
Ryan was upset again, like he sometimes was when he called. “The worst thing happened.”
Scott dragged the towel across his hair again with his free hand then tossed it over his shoulder. “Howard kicked your ass out, huh?” he asked playfully.
“Worse. Muh’s dead.”
He knew Muh as Ryan’s sweet grandmother. “That’s not even funny.”
“Chris came home from school and found her on the couch.” Chris was Ryan’s sixteen-year old brother who still lived with her in Crescent City.
He was sure Ryan was leading him on. “Why are you saying shit like that?”
“I’m not shitting you. We’re leaving tonight. This is awful.” His voice faded out at that last word.
“You’re serious.”
“Oh yeah, I’d just call you up and tell you something like that for fun.”
Yes, he was serious, alright. “How old was she?”
“Eighty-two.”
“Eighty-two? I thought she was like sixty or something.”
“She looked a lot younger than she was.”
“I am so sorry. How long will you be gone?”
“Don’t know yet. Howie says it might be next weekend before we get back.”
“That’s a long time for a funeral. Aw, man, you won’t be at the gig tomorrow night! Or here for Thanksgiving. That sucks.”
“I wouldn’t be in any mood to go see you guys even if I stayed here.”
Scott was well aware of Ryan’s ability to shift moods abruptly. Usually for the worse. “But why a week?”
“We have to pack stuff up for Chris.”
“He’s gonna live here, too?”
“He can’t live by himself, dumbass.”
Scott knew that Chris still wasn’t in on their relationship. If he came down to live with Howie and Ryan, the secret would be out sooner rather than later.
Ryan emitted a short moan. “She wasn’t supposed to die.”
Scott couldn’t think of anything profound to say. “She was old.”
“But she wasn’t supposed to die.”
Scott heard the desperation in his voice. Uh, oh, he’s gonna crack. “I’m coming over.”
Martin Powers wanted an ironing board for Christmas. Instead, he got . . . Matthew Kieler, a non-returnable gift, but a gift that kept on giving. A powerful tale of survival, compassion and unapologetic love in the time of AIDS.
