Heart of the Pines

By Jon Keys

Christmas is the worst time of the year to find yourself alone. Chris Moss, owner of a tree farm, knows this down to his bones as he makes his way through his first holiday season after losing his wife to cancer. When Wade Hart, an annual customer at the farm, visits, they find common ground: Wade lost his own longtime lover to a parting of ways and is lonely too. The constant, gentle companionship provides fertile soil for an attraction neither expects, but nurturing a new relationship is a tough proposition. With the encouragement of family and friends, Chris and Wade may yet find that a second love later in life can be just as fulfilling as the first.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package "Heartwarming".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781627985901

Jon Keys

Jon Keys’ earliest memories revolve around books; with the first ones he can recall reading himself being “The Warlord of Mars” and anything with Tarzan. (The local library wasn’t particularly up to date.) But as puberty set in, he started sneaking his mother’s romance magazines and added the world of romance and erotica to his mix of science fiction, fantasy, Native American, westerns and comic books. A voracious reader for almost half a century, Jon has only recently begun creating his own flights of fiction for the entertainment of others. Born in the Southwest and now living in the Midwest, Jon has worked as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, roughneck, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy; with interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to painting and cooking, he draws from a wide range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story.

Book preview

Chapter 1

JETS OF steamy breath shot from Wade’s nostrils as he struggled to drag the enormous Christmas tree across the loose Michigan snow. The bells on Chris’s Santa hat jingled merrily as he hurried out to help his friend pull the tree up the final hillock to the barn.

Here, let me give you a hand. Stepping along the slowing tree, Chris wrapped a glove-covered hand around a branch and lent his strength to the effort.

Wade nodded and smiled. Thanks, it’s a little much by myself.

No problem, happy to help. Looks like you got a beaut, said Chris.

Wade pulled off his knit hat and wiped the perspiration from his head. It’s a good one. I think I’ve covered your whole farm, several times, to find the perfect tree.

They pulled the tree into the work area and hoisted it onto the sawbuck. Want me to trim it up for you?

Sure. One less thing I’ll have to do. Wade laid the handsaw he’d used on the table behind them, then tugged his thick cap on while Chris made a few quick cuts with the chainsaw to ready the tree for his stand. The roar of the saw faded, and Chris struggled for a few minutes as he tried to push the tree into the netting. As he began his second attempt, Wade woke from his stupor and grabbed the other side of the tree.

Sorry, I’m a little spacey today, said Wade.

With his help, Chris slid the tree into the tube of netting, getting it ready for Wade’s SUV. No problem. It’s a huge tree. I hope Jeff will be around to help you unload.

Wade folded his arms over his chest, a pained look on his face. Jeff moved out. Last week. I thought makin’ our annual trip to your farm for a tree would keep me from thinkin’ about it. Wade turned his head and let out a shuddering sigh. I guess it’s not ‘our’ trip anymore.

Chris gave Wade’s shoulder a squeeze. Sorry to hear that. You guys always seemed happy together. Jeff was always cutting up and flirting with Mary. I haven’t forgotten you attended her funeral.

It happens. I guess we lasted longer than a lot of couples. Ten years isn’t bad. Wade’s fingers ran over one of the fir boughs edging the barn windows. It was good in the beginning, like newlyweds. Jeff loved our loft in Chicago. But ever since we moved to Traverse City, the relationship has slowly gone downhill. Our business downtown was an attempt to find something to keep Jeff happy.

The pain in Wade’s eyes sparked a wave of bitter nostalgia for Chris. He missed Mary so desperately some days. She always was the caretaker of the family, even when they got the diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer; she still took care of everyone else until it was impossible for her to keep doing it. He turned to the barn behind them, pulled off the Santa hat, and held it tight in his hands as the frigid air gusted through his short white hair.

The farm was always beautiful this time of year, the ground covered with crystalline flakes in a white carpet that extended to the steps of the house, which he kept carefully swept. He hadn’t changed anything since Mary died. It had been more difficult in the summer when the beds that hugged the foundation of their house were ablaze with flowers Mary had planted and nursed through the years. The winter covering had been a blessed relief, but his heart still ached at the lack of holiday decorations. Mary had loved the season, and given half a chance, she covered everything within striking distance with lights. Without her, the trimmings just hadn’t mattered.

He shook himself and focused on finishing with Wade’s tree. He tied the bottom of the netting and turned to Wade. There you go. All bundled and ready to put in that great foyer you have.

Not so grand this year. It’s kind of tough to get into the spirit of the season.

Chris gave Wade a sympathetic smile. It could be worse….

Realization hit Wade. Oh my God! I can’t believe I’ve been such an ass. This is your first Christmas alone. I’m so sorry, Chris. I feel awful.

It’s not your fault. It’s been almost a year since her funeral. It’s ancient history to most people. Although it seems like yesterday to me. I can still feel her soft hand in mine as we picnicked on one of Lake Michigan’s sugar sand beaches on our first date, playing in the chilly crystal clear water. Even then, she’d taken care of everything

Reviews for Heart of the Pines

[schatzi_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm really on a kick when it comes to holiday stories this year! ;) Chris owns a holiday tree farm and lost his wife almost a year ago to cancer. He hasn't dated since her death, but when his friend, Wade, comes to visit and get his tree from the farm, Chris wants to change that. Wade, too, is lonely this holiday season; his partner of ten years has recently left him, his business is struggling, and he's feeling pretty miserable. They hang out together, realize there are sparks, and go from there.I liked that this wasn't "gay for you." Chris was an established bisexual and didn't give two shits about anyone who knew that fact. He was also faithful to his wife for thirty-six years, until her death, which I think is great because bisexual characters are often portrayed as being incapable of monogamy (and yes, I know that monogamy doesn't work for everyone, etc, etc, but I don't think it's fair that bisexuals are almost always portrayed as being unable to commit - bisexuality is an orientation, NOT indecisiveness!). I also liked that both Chris and Wade weren't young twenty-somethings. They've been through a few ringers; Chris is probably in his early- to mid-fifties, and Wade was in his forties. The older I get personally, the more I like to read about characters who aren't young bucks falling in love. ;) My only real complaint is that the ending felt really rushed. I know that this short story was originally part of an Advent series from Dreamspinner, so the author was rather confined to stylistic elements, including word count, but I really think that the story would have worked better if it was quite a bit longer - maybe not a fully developed novel, but at least another thirty plus pages. Altogether, however, I enjoyed this short story and would read more from this author.

[serenayates · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is hard enough to find love when you're young, but once you're over forty, it seems almost impossible.

Chris, a bi man who lost his wife to cancer a year ago, finds out how tough it is to admit he may be falling in love again when he least expected it. Guilt troubles him because it feels as if he's cheating on his wife, even though she is gone, and it muddies the waters considerably. Luckily, he is old enough to deal with it all!

Wade has recently dumped his cheating boyfriend and is as lonely as Chris. He may be younger, but he has no idea how to find someone to share his love with in the small town he has made his home. He does feel attracted to Chris, and what follows is a slow friendship merging into more that had me smiling.

If you like gentle love stories involving older men, if you enjoy reading about two men openly admitting what is holding them back and dealing with it together, and if you're looking for a warm and tender Christmas-themes story, then you will probably like this one.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.