Living on the Coast

By Rob French

How does one go about coming out and come of age when they dont really know what their true identity is? Only with the help of friends and family can this happen. Along the way, the characters slowly discover their identities and understand the feelings they have inside them. As part of the process, secrets come out as well. Hoping that they will not have a negative impact on their life in regards to relationships, they share the secrets with the people they trust the most. They find that those that matter the most to them can be very understanding and realize that because they care so much that the secrets will never be a hinderance. Living on the Coast is a story of self-exploration, finding love and building relationships both romantic and platonic, all while discovering who each of them is and what they want in life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546256472

Rob French

A native of Massachusetts, Rob French began his writing career in the very early 2000s. After many attempts on his first manuscript, he put it away for about 10 years. He never felt his story contained a message he wanted to convey. He finally scrapped the entire manuscript and started from scratch. It took him almost a year to come up with a manuscript that met his approval. He went on to create a sequel to the first book and then the third to comprise a trilogy. His fourth book was geared to the generation of 20 to 30 somethings. He felt he finally found his niche. Recently he published his fifth book Guardian Angel on Window Lake adding a little bit of a twist from his usual style of writing. He continues to write in hopes that his readers can once again find the special message(s) he has tried to weave into his novels. Living on the Coast is his sixth novel.

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© 2018 Rob French. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/23/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-5648-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-5649-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-5647-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018909997

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

About The Author

Dedication

T his book is dedicated to all those who have had the courage to come out of the closet and live the life you were meant to live. You have endured the negative and positive aspects of this process. You understand what it is like. For some of us, this process has had a positive impact on another person’s life as well as our own as well as the secrets they have been hiding about their own sexuality. If just one person can read this novel and get something out of it and realize their journey has influenced someone or could influence another person in making their decision to come out and to help others having difficulty with the process, then my writing this story of love and self-awakening through the good times and the rough times will have served its purpose. So, with great pride and pleasure, I dedicate this to all those who take this journey through the pages of this story.

Introduction

C oming out and coming of age for teenagers and young adults happens at various times in their life and occurs in various ways. It is not always a matter of one day someone all of a sudden just decides that they are gay. It is an evolution within the brain and the heart. When someone comes to the realization that they are different than others there are sometimes struggles that the individual goes through. People are brought up one way but their minds and their hearts tell them otherwise. It is all in how one goes through the process and copes with the outcome and situations that arise as a result. For some, it is a stress-free time as they have known for some time about their sexuality but have not found the right time to come out to friends and family. For others it can be discouraging as well as depressing. Many realize they are gay but do not know how to deal with it or they are afraid of how their friends and families will react.

Some will respect the individual and others will ridicule and make claims that bad things will happen because they acted on their feelings. There are even some religions that will shun the person or even ex-communicate them from their church as their religion believes it to be a sin. This also includes regions in the world where it is considered against the law.

Although this journal [story] is fictitious; it is meant to open people’s eyes and realize that being gay, whether it is a female or a male is not a sin, it is not a disease. It is not something you can cure or in some instances trying to convert someone is not possible. It is something that is inside us. It makes us stop and think; is this how we choose to live our lives?

This is a journal written by Timothy McCormick Jr.[any resemblance to the character is purely coincidental] He writes of his life and the people already in it and about those who come into his life. It is about how bonds are formed and flourish. It is about love and how it is shared. Through good times and through trying times this bond stands strong and lasts the test of time.

1

P rescott is a very quaint, tiny town on the coast of Maine. Tiny little shops line the streets. The locals all know you and your family on a first name basis. I returned to Prescott right after college. I took a job in the family business. All the McCormick men in my family were in the accounting industry. It was only natural to take my place in the growing number of us that worked at McCormick and Sons accounting firm. Although it was just Dad and me now, it was still the family business.

It was mid-March and the weather was still on the cold side. It really didn’t warm up much until later in the spring closer to summer. Tourists were not that plentiful at this time of year. Businesses had to rely on the locals. Prescott was not a place many people if any, relocated to due to its size. I walked down the streets like I always did when I returned home to say hello to the local shop owners. Most of them were working on their end of season clearance to make way for the spring and summer lines of clothes and various other items. Everyone stopped to take time to say hello and ask how school was and tell me they were glad to see me back.

When I was younger I used to work for the local newspaper. It wasn’t much, about four or five pages. When the weather was right, you would see people sitting on the benches that lined their way around the rotary or sitting at little bistro tables outside of a few small cafés in town reading the morning paper. The town was so small that there was not enough news to print a morning and an evening edition. The newspaper, according to my dad had been sold at the end of the past summer. The previous owners had been keeping the paper going until the new owners could find a home here and get settled in. The new owners agreed to keep the name of the paper which was the Prescott Chronicle.

I still had a couple of weeks to recoup from the bump and grind of college life before I settled into my job. I was already missing so many of my friends from the university. Most of all I missed Jason. He was my closest friend. I could tell him anything in confidence and he never would repeat a word. He was actually a little more than a best friend but that was neither here nor there at this point. He had always said he would follow me wherever life would lead us after college and then once we graduated he headed home in hopes of figuring out what he wanted to do in life. I always thought that whatever it would be was going to be with me at his side and him at my side. We were actually closer than just friends, at least from my point of view anyway.

I headed up to my room and began the unpacking process. Some of the odds and ends had their own special place, be it on my desk or my dresser. I took a photo out from one of my boxes and placed it on my desk. It was a picture of Jason and me on his last trip here with me for summer break. I turned to continue my work and suddenly stopped. I turned back, and laid the photo frame face down on my desk. I couldn’t bear to look at it and yet, I couldn’t bear to throw it out. He did me wrong. He couldn’t even say good-bye after graduation. He just up and disappeared. I still can’t figure out what happened. We were so happy together. Was it that he didn’t feel ready for any type of commitment? Whatever the reason, it was wrong to just fade off into the sunset the way he did.

Lunch will be ready in a few minutes I heard my mom call up to me. I called back down and told her I would be there in a few minutes and not to start without me. I continued putting clothes away in the closet and the dresser drawers. I was getting bored with the task at hand and decided to work on it again later in the day. I just wanted to go have lunch with mom and then take a walk into town. I came down the stairs and went directly into the kitchen. She had a platter of meats and cheese and the rest of the fixings to make sandwiches. We always made our own plates as we all liked our sandwiches made different ways. I walked over and kissed my mom and gave her a hug. What was that for she asked. I told her it was just for her being my mom. She smiled and finished putting the rest of the stuff on the island. I propped myself up onto a bar stool at the kitchen island and began to prepare my lunch.

I think after lunch, I am going to take a walk into town and say hi to the folks. I haven’t seen them since the end of last summer when Jason… well anyway, since last summer. She thought that it was a good idea. She always told me that fresh air always helped when you have things on your mind. I know what she meant by that without her saying it. It will help you get over Jason. That’s what she really wanted to say. I just brushed it aside and started in on lunch. It was about one o’clock when lunch was over and I started my walk into town. It wasn’t that far, maybe a mile and a half.

I got into town and made my way along the shops and cafés. Everyone was glad to see me and welcomed me home. No more back and forth to the college now eh one person called out. I just shook my head and walked on. I passed the office where I would be working. I could always stop in on the way home. I wanted to finish up my walk first. I got to the end of the street and crossed at the crosswalk. On the opposite side was the small building where the newspaper office was. I didn’t even notice the person on the park bench in front of the office until I left. While I was inside it was just like the old days. Harry, the former owner asked if I was looking to get my old job back. I laughed as he was not in a position anymore to hire me back. Besides, I had my new job in a couple weeks at Dad’s office. I finished my rounds of the old staff and got to meet some of the new staff that would be joining them. Harry had made sure the contract with the new owner stated that they would be kept on after the sale transfer. They knew the town so well and it would be in the new owner’s best interest.

As I was walking out the door I spotted a young man around my height and age with striking blonde hair. He was sitting on the bench and reading the morning edition of the paper. Good afternoon I muttered as I began to pass him. He stood up and greeted me back. I’m Sean O’Leary he told me. He said he was new in town. I had figured that as I knew everyone that lived here. My father just recently bought the newspaper. I’m going to work the front office for him after he and my mom get back with the moving truck. We just bought a place up on that hill he told me. I looked up the hill and asked which house was his. He pointed at a grey cottage style house. It just so happened that the house he pointed out was only a few houses away from mine. I remember it being for sale but never paid that much attention to notice it had sold.

I told him how it was only a few houses from mine. Guess I will be seeing you around the neighborhood then. I waved as I started to walk away. Hey, you didn’t tell me your name I heard from behind me. Timothy, Timothy McCormick" I replied as I continued walking. I finally made my way back up the hill to my house. I walked past Sean’s house but it did not appear that his parents had returned as yet. It must be lonely being there all by himself, if he was alone that is, thinking to myself. I made my way back up to my room and finished unpacking and getting things put away. All the while, I kept thinking of this Sean kid. Is he, or did it show that I was. Knowing nothing about him, anything I thought was pure speculation. My mom came up and said that we were having lasagna for dinner that night. I thought of this new kid Sean, who I told my mom about. I asked her if he could come for dinner as his parents had not arrived as yet and he seemed to be all alone. She said there was plenty and I could at least ask him.

I decided to take the chance. I walked down the hill a few houses and rang the doorbell to his house. He came to the door in just a pair of sweatpants. He apologized, he had been working around the house and hadn’t yet put his shirt on. He had a great body and a lot of fluffy blond hair on his chest. His arms were even covered with the same fluffy blond hair. I wondered to myself if the rest of his body was covered with it. I quickly told myself to put it out of my head. I didn’t know anything about him so I didn’t want to give him any reason to back away in case he was straight. I told him why I was there and that my mom had said he was welcome to join us for dinner. He quickly jumped at the invitation. He was going to just throw a tv dinner into the microwave but the lasagna sounded better.

He thanked me for the invitation and asked what time he should be there. I told him and he thanked me and said he would be there on time. As I walked away I thought to myself that I had to somehow find out which side of the fence he played on. It wasn’t like I wanted to throw him down on the bed and ravage his body but I couldn’t deny that I wondered how he would react if I did. All the while, I was also thinking about Jason. What was he doing? Where was he? Mom said I should stop thinking about it. He made his choice and if he wanted contact with me he would have given me a way to reach him. He had my cell number so he could call or text if he wanted to. Was I wrong to be thinking of this new kid or was it because it was time to move on from Jason. I didn’t want to find someone and jump into a rebound relationship. I had to take my time getting to know Sean and let him take the lead in regards to his sexuality. All this had gone through my head while I stood at his door basking in the sight of his hairy chest and the gorgeous head of blond hair with a hint of natural curl to it. I finished walking back home. I told my mother that he would be here. She had not even met him and worried as to whether he was living off of TV dinners while he waited for his parent’s arrival. I whisked myself off to my room trying to find something to wear to impress Sean. I didn’t want to be in something grungy or something too dressy. I had to find something casual that looked good.

I searched through the closet for something clean to wear. I had not done laundry as yet since I got home. I found a pair of light tan khakis and a medium brown pullover. That should be good enough. I grabbed a quick shower and got myself dressed. I did my best to make my hair look presentable. Soon Sean would be here and I was trying to think of what to talk about over dinner. I figured that things like where he was from, where he went to college (if he had), and stuff like that were safe topics. I would steer clear of things like girlfriends before he moved here and such. I would leave it to him to come out to me if he was gay or straight.

The doorbell rang and I yelled to my mom that I would get the door. I bolted down the stairs and yanked the door open. Hi Sean, glad you could make it. He acknowledged with another thank you for inviting him. I took him to the kitchen and introduced him to my mom. Dad would not be home for about an hour. He was running a tad bit late today. Mom had already called ahead to let him know we had company for dinner tonight. I led him to the living room and we sat. It was tough to figure out where to start a conversation so I relied on my preplanned conversation. I asked where his family moved here from and other frivolous things. In turn, Sean asked a bunch of questions about Prescott, like what there was to do around town in the off season and such. I informed him there was not a lot to do around here. People just worked and hung out at home. From time to time there would be craft fairs when certain holidays were approaching and there was a park at the opposite end of town that people went to and walked or jogged.

He asked if I jogged or if I was one of the ones that just hung out at home. I explained that I had just graduated from college and moved back home a few days ago. I told him that I would be working at my dad’s accounting firm downtown. He offered in return the fact that he had also graduated from college. He studied journalism but was only going to work the front office at the paper for a while before he actually put his schooling to use and do articles for the paper. He suggested I join him sometime for a jog down at the park. He felt he would be more motivated if he had someone to jog with. I told him that would be fine and to just let me know when he wanted to go. He asked for my number so he could call. I asked him for his cell phone. I punched in my number and hit the send button. When my phone rang I connected to his call and saved it to my contacts. He did the same.

Dad finally got home and dinner was ready. After