Best Friend Forsaken by Dorothy Piper

Author:Dorothy Piper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, gay romance, history, friends to lovers, family drama, slow burn
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2022-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

WILL GOT UP late on Saturday morning, nursing sore feelings. While sitting at the kitchen table, he mulled over the events of the past week.

I shouldn’t have taken my sax. I’d still be in the band if I hadn’t. No, you wouldn’t. Al doesn’t want you around now you can’t foot the bills. I still shouldn’t have taken it. I’m not good enough. Don’t need him to tell me. I should jack it in. Concentrate on finding a regular job. Freelancing’s too hard. It’s only been a few days. Jerry will be disappointed. He said you’d lost your sparkle. You’re not good enough. That’s why he sacked you. Not because he’s queer. You’re a failure. No good at anything.

He was rinsing his plate when Tom and Fred came back from grocery shopping.

“Aha! Sleeping Beauty has awoken,” Tom exclaimed. “Who kissed you?”

“Fate. Gave me a right smacker. First, I lose my job; now I get dropped from the band. What’s next? Bad luck always comes in threes.”

“That’s awful, darling,” Fred said, “but this should cheer you up.” He’d been sorting the mail and handed over a letter. “From your best friend, I think.”

Will tore open the envelope. It contained a short note which took no time to read.

“Dear Bill, Just a quickie to let you know we’ve bought a house in Peterborough (straight up the A1, about 80 miles) and we’ll be moving in on Sat, June 19. It’s a real bargain and it’s got a long back garden. I’ve got to find a job, but they say I should get one easy. It’ll probably be in a factory. Got to go but I’ll write again soon. Love, Ted.”

The smile faded as Will read far more into Ted’s news than had been intended.

He’s bought a house. No, they’ve bought a house. He said he’d leave her as soon as he could, but you don’t leave houses in a hurry. Who paid the deposit? Her parents, or did he use my money? That was for him, not her. Why did he marry her? I know he’d made a promise and he always keeps his promises, but you don’t marry someone just like that. Is this his way of telling me he doesn’t really love me? That he loves her? And that baby. Whose is it?

“Well?” Both Tom and Fred were looking at him, expectantly.

“He’s bought a house. Miles away. With her. Told you bad news always comes in threes.”

“What changed about living with his parents? Bit sudden, old chap, isn’t it?”

“No. We’ve been drifting apart for a while now. When we met at Harringay, the week before he got married, he couldn’t leave me quick enough. I must’ve been blind.”

“Oh, you poor dear,” Fred said. “My heart bleeds for you. What will you do?”

“Don’t want to do anything. I’ll go back to bed. Play some records.”

Tom looked out of the window. “It’s a beautiful day, old chap. I heard Sonnenheim’s Music is closing down, and he’s having a sale. You could get Fred a new tin of needles and buck yourself up at the same time.

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