Stranger in a Foreign Land by Michael Murphy

Author:Michael Murphy [Murphy, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-250-6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen—Patrick?

WHILE Jack had a job to go to every night to keep his time and his mind occupied, Buddy was not so fortunate. He only occasionally worked at the cannery, so generally he had nothing constructive to do with his time while Jack worked.

At first, he had been so intimidated by the experience of being in a foreign land where he couldn’t read the street signs or speak the language that he lived as a hermit in Jack’s small house. He occupied himself by doing whatever Jack needed to have done, and he gladly ventured out with Jack, but he was unwilling to do so on his own.

But after several weeks of traipsing about the city with Jack while they searched for clues to his identity and did some sightseeing, Buddy was gaining familiarity with the place. Knowing his way around meant he was willing and able to leave the house to at least run some errands for Jack. When they ran out of something that could be carried home easily while walking, Jack left some money and Buddy went off to buy whatever they needed. There were stores open at all hours of the day or night, so finding places to shop during the night was not a problem.

The first time he successfully managed one of those trips thrilled him to no end. When Jack got home from work after that, Buddy was practically jumping up and down with excitement at what he had done all on his own. Since his friend was so happy, Jack was happy too. He was thrilled to be able to do something to help out for a change.

With a couple of shopping expeditions under his belt, Buddy was willing to go off to check out different things around the city. So long as he knew where he was going and had a plan, he was increasingly willing to venture forth. He felt much more comfortable in the city now he’d seen a lot more of it with Jack.

But one day Buddy got a scare that sent him fleeing from the market he’d been in, running flat-out all the way back to the house in fear. The second Jack stepped through the door that day after work, it was immediately obvious something had happened. Every other day when Jack got home, Buddy always greeted him with a big smile, a hug, and pure delight at having his friend home again.

But that day, Jack had to go hunt for Buddy. And there were simply not many places for anyone to hide in the tiny house they shared. Jack was almost convinced Buddy wasn’t home yet from his day of exploring. But then he opened the bathroom door and found the man huddled on the floor hugging himself tightly, rocking gently back and forth.

“Oh my God, what’s wrong?” Jack immediately asked, beyond worried about his friend’s unusual behavior.

But Buddy remained silent. He simply rocked and tucked his head low.

The bathroom was tiny, even by small-house standards, so it was far from an ideal setting for a conversation.

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