Let Go of Loneliness

By Edward Kendrick

When Byron Randall -- in his mid-fifties, single and alone -- moves into a new condo complex, he meets another resident, fifty-five year old realtor Jonah Hyland -- also single since his breakup with his much younger lover. The two middle-aged men become friends, sharing common interests in gardening and hiking.

As their friendship deepens, each man wonders if he has found someone he could learn to care for. Then Jonah's ex reappears in his life, much to Byron's dismay. Will this end Byron and Jonah's budding romance? Or will they discover that, together, they can let go of loneliness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Sep 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611528237

Edward Kendrick

Born and bred Cleveland, I earned a degree in technical theater, later switched to costuming, and headed to NYC. Finally seeing the futility of trying to become rich and famous in the Big Apple, I joined VISTA—Volunteers in Service to America—ending up in Chicago for three years. Then it was on to Denver where I put down roots and worked as a costume designer until I retired in 2007.I began writing a few years ago after joining an on-line fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers, where they could post any story they wished no matter the genre or content. Since then, for the last six years, I've been writing for publication—my first book came out in February of 2011. Most, but not all, of my work is M/M, either mildly erotic or purely 'romantic'. More often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure, and is sometimes paranormal to boot.

Book preview

Let Go of Loneliness

By Edward Kendrick

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2015 Edward Kendrick

ISBN 9781611528237

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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For anyone who believes, when it comes to love, age doesn't matter.

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Let Go of Loneliness

By Edward Kendrick

Chapter 1

Jonah leaned on the railing of his balcony, watching the moving van pull into the parking lot below him. A dark sedan, in desperate need of washing, drew up beside it as the men from the van got out. One went behind the van, raising the door. While he took out a dolly, the second man walked to the car.

From his viewpoint, six stories up, all Jonah could really tell about the car’s owner was the fact his hair was going gray, and in desperate need of cutting. He appeared to be on the tall side—at least compared to the mover he was talking with.

New blood for the ladies, Jonah murmured when the man walked toward the back entrance of the building. From where he stood, he lost track of the man at that point, but suspected he’d unlocked the door and then put the doorstop under it to keep it open. Meanwhile, the movers began taking furniture from the van.

The first items were a dark blue sofa, two chairs sitting on it, and an armchair that matched the sofa, all of which were placed on the dolly and rolled into the building. A good ten minutes later, the movers returned. After watching them put a dining table, its top wrapped in bunting, on the dolly, along with several boxes, Jonah decided he had better things to do than stand there observing the whole van being emptied and went inside.

When he got to his desk he turned on his computer to go online. His email was, as usual, half spam, which he deleted. Then he opened the mail from his sister, Sophie, to catch up on what was going on with family—hers and theirs—since she was the only one of his siblings who kept in touch. She had taken over doing so after their mother had died two years before, soon after the death of their father.

She couldn’t live without him, Sophie said at the time, and Jonah knew it was true. His parents had adored each other. He often wondered if he would ever find that kind of love. Not likely, he whispered, while replying to her mail.

He wouldn’t be thinking about it at all except the next piece of email was from his ex, Collin, who was fifteen years his junior. They had broken up over a year ago when Jonah decided—among other things—their age difference was too great. Collin, at thirty-nine, had not wanted to admit he was getting older and spent much of his free time at the gym, Keeping the body in shape, as he put it. Jonah had gone with him on occasion and was somewhat appalled at how Collin had shown off in front of the other patrons. When he commented about it, Collin shrugged, telling Jonah he could get the same admiring looks if he’d take better care of himself.

I did take care of myself. I still do, damn it. Jonah ran his hand through his gray-brown hair—another bone of contention