Sometimes you have to face the past to heal old wounds.
Craig Donaldson has been through a lot in his life. There’s one good thing that has come from it—his son. Owning his own business is hard but he’s making it work. Landing in the hospital after a car accident brings into his life someone he wasn’t sure he needed. The problem is, Craig isn’t positive he’s willing to expose himself to more wounds.
Dr. Hobert ‘Bobby’ Pearson loves his job at the hospital. Being the disappointment of his family isn’t something he is happy with. It seems as though when he gets close to someone he feels he could start a real relationship with, the past shows up and he’s again left alone. His family leaves fresh wounds in their wake. This new patient he has, however, hits all kinds of emotions inside him.
Will they be able to heal together? Or will past pain keep them apart?
General Release Date: 29th March 2022
Craig leaned forward, his heart caught in his throat. Perspiration dripped down his face, and he shuddered as excitement thrummed through him. So close. Oh God, he was close. So close.
He tensed, words lodged in the back of his throat, almost ready to be released but Not. Quite. Yet. Fingers curved, digging for purchase on something, anything, around him.
A few more seconds. He could hold out. He wouldn’t let go until he was sure. That strain on his body didn’t matter two seconds later.
He erupted, launching up from the hard bleacher seat he’d been on as he watched his son and his team compete in the semi-finals of the Little League World Series.
“Yes!”
All around the parents and friends of the team were cheering beside him. His son, Cody, was twelve this year, and it was his last year to participate. And Cody’s double had allowed his teammate to get that winning run.
Craig’s legs were weak as he continued cheering. He wanted to sink back down to the seat, but wouldn’t. Tears burned his eyes as he watched all of his son’s teammates gather and cheer to celebrate their win.
“Congrats, Craig.”
He accepted the hug from the father of another player, Christopher.
“Same to you. This is great for them.”
The man crossed his arms and nodded. “Sure will help line up the women.”
Craig frowned. “They’re twelve.”
Christopher smirked. “Never too young to start.”
Craig disagreed. “Yeah, they are. And it’s not happening with my boy.”
The man’s wife dropped between them with a squeal. “What are you two talking about? Colleges that will come after them?”
“Something like that,” Christopher said.
Emily kissed Craig’s cheek. “Congratulations, Craig.”
“You too, Emily.”
The blonde bounced down a few more bleacher steps to continue chatting it up with other families. Their son was one of the pitchers on the team.
“I just mean,” Christopher continued, “I need him to know he should have a bitch on his arm, not be sucking dick, isn’t that right?”
Holding Christopher’s blue eyes, Craig clamped his mouth down on his initial response and weighed his words. The last thing he wanted to do was make the year difficult for his son.
“Right now? Right now, I’m going to be the supportive and very fucking proud father of my son. I’m not thinking of his choice in a partner, because he’s twelve.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’ll support my son regardless, because it’s not only his choice but as his parent, it’s mine to support and love him unconditionally.”
Leaving before he put his fist in the man’s face, he walked to the steps and made his way down, progress hampered by all the celebrating. Not that he minded.
* * * *
It was late when they got home, and he looked at the sleeping body of his son in the passenger seat. Cody was exhausted. His son didn’t have sole ownership on that, but he was used to long hours. The day had been so much for them to take.
There was one thing that had cut him deep. All the mothers that had been there, supporting their sons. Not Cody’s. What had made it worse was it wasn’t because she’d died, but she had made the conscious decision that she wanted nothing to do with them. At all.
And all because I’m gay.
Life could be such a bitch.
After making sure Cody went to bed, he paused in the doorway of his son’s room.
“I’m heading out to grab a few things from Home Depot, Cody. I’ll be back.”
Cody’s response came as a mumbled muffle. Patting the doorjamb, Craig shook his head, walked out into the night then climbed in his truck. He and Cody had been at odds as of late, so he’d enjoyed today so much because there had been no fighting, no arguing. Just him watching his son win their game in the semi-finals.
Craig’s good mood stuck with him until he got back to his truck after shopping when his phone began ringing. The number on his phone, he recognized but didn’t want to answer. The day had been a good one and he had no wish to sully it with the venom that would come the moment he picked up the call. He climbed behind the wheel and finally swiped to accept the call.
“What?”
“How dare you make me wait until you pick up the phone!”
Craig ground his jaw. “Mind your fucking tone, Angela, or I’m hanging up.”
“I want to see my son.”
There didn’t exist a force on earth that could have stopped the unamused bark of laughter that came from him. “Excuse me? Your son? The one you abandoned and stated you wanted nothing to do with? That son? The one I’ve spent twelve years raising on my own without any help from you either in person or financially? Fuck you.”
He shook he was so furious.
“Mom mentioned he made it to the finals of the Little League World Series. They will be going on television, and I want to be there to share this with him.”
Anger roared inside him. “No.”
“What do you mean no? I’m his mother!”
Craig couldn’t do this. Not now. Not when today had been such a great day. So he hung up on her and stabbed the key into the ignition. His truck rumbled to life, and he shifted it into gear, pulling out of his spot and heading home.
Coming to a light, he slowed to stop but then took his foot off the brake when it turned to green. He followed the car before him into the intersection and the glare of lights in his face was all the split-second warning he had.
A vehicle plowed into the side of his car, and his world went black. Craig’s last thought was of Cody.
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