More Than This

By A.C. Stratford

Trying to adjust to their new lives, the men face unexpected challenges. Sergio feels like he’s on the right track with Akemi, but how will they manage while living in different countries? Marc’s show and books are extremely successful. Yet he struggles with trusting CJ to be faithful, assuming he even wants this relationship. Nate and Mitchell appear to have the ideal family, but the threat of Nate losing custody of his son brings up more issues between them. Ryan wants to be the perfect friend. Can money really buy everything or is he just paying down his guilty conscience? As Ryan’s feelings for Derrick intensify, how does he explain his chosen family?
Will they ever find comfort in their lives? Or at least a moment of peace in the storm?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796056761

A.C. Stratford

A.C. Stratford lives in Oakland, California, teaching community college by day and writing romance novels by night. A.C. also enjoys talking about these boys with friends, sharing yoga with others and traveling to new places. Family is very important and their support is an instrumental part of the process. Goat help keep A.C. company while writing, sometimes make edits to the pages.

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Copyright © 2019 by A.C. Stratford.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019913072

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-7960-5678-5

                 Softcover         978-1-7960-5677-8

                 eBook              978-1-7960-5676-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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.

Rev. date: 11/18/2019

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Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

1 - Whitechapel, London, England February 2012

2 - Silver Spring, Maryland, March 2012

3 - Chelsea District, New York, New York July 2012

4 - Potomac/Silver Spring, Maryland 2012

5 - Silver Spring, Maryland November 2012

6 - Bethesda, Maryland February 2013

7 - Silver Spring, Maryland – Boston, Massachusetts February 2013

8 - Boston, Massachusetts January 2013

9 - New York, New York February 2013

10 - Silver Spring, Maryland February 2013

11 - Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland February 2013

12 - New York, New York February 2013

13 - Walter Reed Medical Center Bethesda Maryland March 2013

14 - Potomac/Silver Spring, Maryland March 2013

15 - London, England March 2013

16 - Boston, Massachusetts April 2013

17 - Providence, Rhode Island -

Boston Massachusetts April 2013

18 - Bethesda, Maryland July 2013

19 - Bethesda Maryland July 2013

20 - Anacostia District, Washington D.C. July 2013

21 - Hollywood, California January 2014

22 - New York, New York February 2014

23 - Washington D.C. March 2014

24 - Washington D.C. April 2014

25 - Bethesda, Maryland August 2014

26 - Manhattan, New York October 2014

27 - Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia October 2014

28 - New York, New York – Bethesda, Maryland October 2014

29 - Silver Spring, Maryland October 2014

30 - Silver Spring, Maryland November 2014

31 - New York, New York November 2014

32 - Bethesda. Maryland November 2014

Dedication

For my wonderful friend Phillippa. I appreciate how we could talk about these guys like they were real. Your questions about their motivations, opinions, backgrounds, and what they were doing now, helped inspire me to not only write more, but expand my thoughts on their lives. I wonder what you were going to tell me about this one. Maybe I’ll find your notes. I will miss you and our conversations. I hope there are lots of cats and books where you are now.

Acknowledgments

So many friends have helped me with all of these books. But one friend really got me to reevaluate this book’s story and got me to explore areas I didn’t think I was ready to explore. Thank you, Steven. I needed a push and you did it respectfully and with support. I do need to thank my friend Joel for our conversation about having children and being a gay dad. Thanks for your openness and willingness to answer my questions. To Loni and Steve for always reading my drafts, helping me edit and being open to read things more than once. To my writing partner, Goat. Always helpful even late at night.

1

Whitechapel, London, England February 2012

The cold, rainy weather of a London winter meant that some days were the perfect day to stay inside and keep warm with your loved ones. The flat was warm and homey, even if the weather was cold and dreary. The smell of pancakes and syrup started to fill the space. It didn’t take long before the scent reached their bedroom and the two noses still under the covers. A hint of earl gray tea also meandered down the hall, just enough to wake the sleeping. As warm as the bed was, the breakfast and company in the kitchen was more appealing.

Preparing Sunday breakfast was one of Sergio del Mundo’s favorite ways to spend his time. Getting up before his partner, Akemi Hashi, he had the music on low while cutting fruit very quietly after making the pancake mix. A year and a half had gone by since the car accident that almost killed him. That almost killed him and Akemi, yet Sergio’s physical injuries were much more severe. The extent of damage to the left side of his body was extreme and nearly kept him from ever walking again. His left hand was crushed and was still a source of pain and frustration. Over time, the feeling in his left leg had nearly returned completely and Sergio was getting around much better. His assistance dog, Gracie, had decided to stay in bed where it was warm and cozy. Gracie knew he’d be okay in the kitchen without her these days, so thought it was acceptable to sleep in. Plus, Akemi had his arm wrapped around her when Sergio sneaked out of bed. Cooking quietly in the kitchen with his family asleep in the bedroom, he thought about what to do the rest of day and the decisions that lie ahead. There were a lot of thoughts floating around in his mind. Talking about it was different than thinking about it.

A lick on the nose was the nudge Akemi needed to get up. Morning lady. Do you smell that too? Another lick from Gracie with a paw on the shoulder this time. Do you want to get up now?

Two kisses and quiet ‘woof’ meant yes.

Okay, let’s go. Grabbing his robe on the way out of their room, Gracie ran ahead to hopefully clean up the floor a little before Akemi came in. There was bound to be something that fell for her to eat and, lately, Sergio wasn’t one to pick stuff up right away.

Morning. Hungry? Sergio was cooking in his pajama pants and robe. No shirt underneath and the robe hung open just enough to see that he was getting his six-pack back. Swimming had become his new sport of choice, since not dealing with gravity was helpful. Though, having scars on his back from multiple surgeries exposed was difficult and took time before he could swim without a suit that covered his torso. To work on his balance, his physical therapist, James, had prescribed yoga classes. They would go together to make sure Sergio would go at all since he didn’t believe it counted as exercise. That was until the first class that kicked his butt. Learning to live within his limitations was more difficult than the poses. With the strength in his left hand weakened, he had to learn not to push. It was a lot of hard work, with a lot of success and some setbacks. He was getting stronger every day and starting to feel more like himself. The scars on his hand and forearm were slightly less visible, even if he didn’t have the grip he had before. That left one still cramped up sometimes, which kept him from going back to work as a surgeon. Though, he wasn’t sure he could do that again mentally. He had to find something.

Yeah, but I’ll settle for pancakes first. Akemi reached his arms around Sergio’s waist, sliding one hand down the front. His fingers wrapping around Sergio’s cock, leading to a deep sigh as Sergio leaned back against Akemi’s chest. Kissing Sergio’s neck, he rested his chin on Sergio’s shoulder. What got you up so early? I’d think you’d be tired from last night.

They were both tired from last night for very good reasons. They had returned about mid-day from a weekend in Paris where they visited with Sergio’s brother and his family. The kids were getting bigger and were now at an age where they talked to Sergio and Akemi about school and life’s problems for 8 and 10-year olds. It was a good opportunity for them both to practice their French and spend time with family. The relationship Francois and Sergio now had was stronger and more supportive than it had been. They shared stories about their personal lives and their relationships. It was comforting for Sergio to know that his brother and his wife had struggled in their marriage too. The trip was a nice re-connection with family. Saying good-bye was harder than it had been in years past, but they had things to get back to in London.

Once back in London, they did some grocery shopping and then headed home to celebrate Valentine’s Day. After getting take away at their favorite Indian restaurant, they enjoyed a late lunch on their living room floor in front of the fireplace. The late lunch ended with them spending the rest of the day naked, wrapped around each other for hours. A few breaks for snacks here and there, but their bodies were never far from each other. Getting their sex life back on track was a big step for them. The trust they had lost was reforming in a slightly different way. Akemi was more open to trying things they hadn’t tried in a while as long as Sergio was honest about how things really felt. No hiding pain that was injury related, physical or mental. Things were better between them, but still a struggle at times since neither of them were very open about their feelings. Talking wasn’t their strong suit.

I wanted to cook for you today. Have a seat while I finish. Sergio twisted enough to kiss Akemi before flipping the pancake onto a plate. Though, I kinda like your hand where it is.

My hand likes where it is too. Slowly pulling his hand out of Sergio’s pants, Akemi’s fingers lingered as they glided across his skin. His touch led to Sergio’s eyes closing and he leaned in for another kiss. Once there was no pancake on the pan, they could kiss for an extended period of time. Both robes fell to the floor allowing their skin could touch. Their hands spread out across each other’s backs, bringing their bodies closer together. No longer afraid of bringing attention to Sergio’s scars, Akemi’s fingers ran up his back to his neck where he could run them through Sergio’s long, silky, black hair.

I would like this to continue, but I don’t want these to get cold. Let’s pick this up after, yeah? Although difficult to stop, Sergio had worked hard to make a perfect breakfast. The tea was ready, the pancakes were done, and the syrup was warm. It was time to eat. Once their plates were empty, their hands would be free to do whatever they pleased.

I guess so. It does smell delicious. Akemi walked over to their kitchen table where there were two plates set out. Do you want breakfast too Gracie? He grabbed her food from the cabinet and filled her bowl so she could eat with them.

Would you like some fruit with your pancakes sir? Sergio had a blueberry, dripping with syrup, in between his fingers.

Yes please. Opening his mouth with a smile, Akemi’s eyebrows moved up implying his mouth was open for much more.

Here you go love. Reaching across the table, the blueberry was placed lightly on Akemi’s tongue. That tongue was also able to grab one of the two fingers that gracefully gave him the blueberry. Choosing Sergio’s index finger as the lucky one, Akemi’s tongue pulled that finger into this mouth. The tip of his tongue lightly brushed the length of his finger, making sure to get all the syrup off his skin. His hand came up to hold Sergio’s in place while the flavors of Sergio’s skin were sampled by his tongue. That good, huh?

Yuuummm. Delicious. Akemi kept Sergio’s finger in his mouth a little longer. Then, he slowly pulled it out of his mouth as his eyes rolled. Keep the syrup warm, yeah?

Planning on it. Putting pancakes on their plates with lots of warm fruit and syrup, the breakfast was designed to be a little messy. Just enough syrup to spill here and there so they would have to lick it off each other’s lips or chin, or wherever else it landed. And somehow syrup ended up in some interesting places. As the number of pancakes decreased, so did the amount of the clothes they had on.

Moving their breakfast back into the bedroom, a small mug of syrup came with them. Kissing as they made their way to their bed, Sergio kept the small mug upright, so it didn’t spill. Laughing as they kissed, they carefully landed on the bed. Once there, Akemi laid back onto the pillows with his hands over his head.

Dipping one finger into the mug, Sergio swirled the syrup before slowly pulling his finger back out and then rolling it down the center of Akemi’s chest. Watching Sergio, Akemi licked his lips before lightly biting down. The warm syrup was followed by Sergio’s tongue sliding up the trail of sweetness. Then, he poured a little bit of syrup on the middle of Akemi’s chest before he spread it out, circling Akemi’s nipples one at a time, slowly, seductively, with his tongue following the trail again. Just as slowly. Just as seductively. His lips kissed the area around Akemi’s nipples, then moved down the center of his torso, down, past his belly button. The heat from their bodies had decreased the viscosity of the syrup, making it more of a liquid. Letting it slide more freely across his skin.

The anticipation was almost as exciting as the action. Akemi sighed as the warmth of Sergio’s lips mixed with syrup continued to move lower and lower. A little more syrup was poured onto his stomach as Sergio’s fingertips spread the syrup along the lines of his muscles. His light touch moved the syrup down the inside of Akemi’s thigh, then did the same on other side. Wet lips kissed his sticky skin, his tongue picking up what remained of the syrup. Each kiss getting closer to the goal. Still warm, Sergio took some into his mouth. Slowly, his lips moved to the tip of Akemi’s cock. The warm liquid spilling out in little droplets off his lips. The muscles of his cheeks pulled Akemi in with quiet sighs from the top of the bed. With his eyes closed, the intensity of stimulation was so overwhelming it led to Akemi’s eyes rolling backward.

With a smile, Sergio continued to caress the shaft of Akemi’s cock in his mouth with his tongue. Pulling more and more in, he watched Akemi’s eyebrows tighten with each sigh. Watching his chest expand with each deep breath, knowing that meant he was enjoying every moment. Keeping a steady pace, his mouth moved up and down Akemi’s shaft, his tongue rolling around the sides, spreading the syrup around. His hands moved up Akemi’s thighs, one continuing upward. Still coated with syrup, Sergio’s fingers made their way closer to Akemi’s lips, gingerly caressing them. Akemi’s tongue wrapped around those fingers and pulled him into his mouth, mimicking the actions of Sergio’s.

More and more heat between them meant more moans and sighs as they shared in each other’s pleasures. The amount of syrup in the mug slowly decreased, most of it ending up in their mouths or on the sheets. Licking as much of the syrup off each other’s skin, they pretended it was to try to spare their sheets, but it was enjoying each other.

As the syrup cooled down, so did they. Starting to feel the syrup return to its original viscosity, so feeling a little sticky, Sergio stretched out and said, We should probably shower. You’re supposed to go to your office this afternoon.

Turning over with a big smile, Akemi replied, Well, love, if we shower together….

It will take twice as long, and you know it. Smiling back, Sergio was happy to have their lives seemingly back on track. You go. I’ll put these sheets in the wash. Then me. And Gracie and I will walk you to the train.

Alright. I guess. Akemi started to stand and realized there was more syrup on his stomach. Will you get this first? His eyes sparkled with mischief.

One long last lick cleaned all the syrup off Akemi’s stomach. Now get. Sergio slapped his ass to get him moving. It was a new position at work and he didn’t want Akemi to be late.

After they both showered and dressed, they walked toward the train. Gracie was happy to go out, even if it was cold and a little snowy. She liked the snow and the jacket she got to wear if it was raining. Walking hand in hand, they approached the station with a little hesitance. They said their good-byes with a long lingering kiss. And then Sergio and Gracie watched Akemi walk into the building with a last wave.

What are we going to do Gracie? She looked up at him with a smile. He looked back at her before saying, What do we tell Nate when he calls? I don’t know. You don’t have any advice, do you? She barked a reply but had no advice. She couldn’t help him with this. Okay. Let’s go home and figure out what to say.

Nathaniel Blake was not only the surgeon who reattached Sergio’s spine, saved his hand and his kidneys, but he was also Sergio’s best friend, Mitchell Davis’, boyfriend. Again. Nate and Mitchell had dated in college, broke up and went their separate ways, then ended up working in the same field. After they tried being just friends, they reconnected while reattaching Sergio’s spinal cord. They were both involved with other people at the time, which made things more difficult. But, now they had decided to try again, and Mitchell moved to Maryland to be with Nate. Nate had offered Sergio the opportunity to come work with him at the NIH in Bethesda, adding, no pressure. Sergio and Akemi planned to visit them in March for Nate’s 30th & Akemi’s 35th birthdays. They knew that they had to make this decision together and it might take some time. Along with the job offer, Nate and Sergio had regular phone calls to talk about his recovery. Even if they lived on different continents, Nate wanted to be sure Sergio knew he was there for him. If anything came up, any problem or concern, he could talk to him about it. They all talked more often anyway. Now that Mitchell and his best girl friend, Paola Munoz, had opened a health clinic in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington D.C., Sergio would Skype with them just to see their faces. Mitchell also travelled doing relief work around the world. Internet chatting was the best way to keep in touch. Sergio had considered tagging along, that seemed rewarding and something he could do. Being at home was horribly boring. He worked in a medical office a few days a week, checking in patients and doing preliminary evaluations, but it wasn’t the same as doing surgery.

Once back to the flat, Sergio cleaned up the kitchen. Gracie took her place at the window, looking outside, hoping a squirrel would run by. Their house was still warm and smelled like the delicious breakfast they had enjoyed. Thinking ahead, he had thrown the sheets in the wash before they left to walk Akemi to the train. Now, to choose which sheets to put on the bed, maybe the purple silky ones? Making the bed with new sheets, Gracie came in to help with the corners and to bring him the pillows.

The phone rang indicating it was time to tell Nate he still had yet to decide.

Hey man. How’s it going? That’s what you Americans say, yeah? Answering the phone, he knew it would come up, but was in no hurry to talk about.

Hey Serge. Why yes, it is. Things are going quite well. The usual; work is busy. Trying to finish this paper, but people keep coming in need of medical care. At home, there are temper tantrums about things I didn’t know would be a big deal. But enough about Mitch, how are you?

Laughing, Sergio knew Nate also had a young son named Seth who lived with his biological mom, April Lewis, next door. Of course it was a play on who was having the tantrums. You almost had me there. All kidding aside, how are things with you and our Dr. Davis?

You know, they’re good. He doesn’t really throw that many temper tantrums. Every once in a while, he gets upset about something and storms around. I just keep doing what I’m doing and figure he’ll come talk to me when he feels like it.

That seems the best. Sergio had usually done the same with Mitchell and would just watch Mitchell fidget until the words would eventually come out.

Once I said, ‘Is something wrong, Mitch?’ and he looked at me like I had two heads. So, from then on, I just let him shuffle around. I guess that works well enough. Otherwise, things are good. We took the fence down between the two houses so now Seth has one big yard. Just left the fence around the pool.

Ah Seth. How’s he doing? Nate’s son had such a cool home life. The outside world might be more of challenge. Feeling safe at home was important and that was the environment Nate and April worked hard to create for Seth.

He’s adorable, smart, creative, but I might be a little biased. They went to visit April’s family for a week. It’s amazing how much I miss him when they leave.

That’s so sweet Nate. You seem to be fitting into this dad-thing pretty well, yeah?

Yeah. I like it. Plus, I know the kind of parent I don’t want to be.

I hear ya there. We were just in Paris to see Francois. It was a good trip. We talked to our dad while I was there. Skyped with the kids and all that. Sergio would share his feelings with Nate about being the younger sibling. Nate was working on being a better older brother to his little sister, Julie. They would talk about how sometimes being protective sounds condescending and other challenges of communicating with family.

Sounds like things are better with you two, too.

We are all getting along, which is good. How much time do you spend with Seth? Partially interested in understanding how this parenting thing worked for them, and partially not wanting to talk about work, Sergio thought of other things to talk about.

It depends. We don’t have any kind of agreement in writing. It’s more, when April and Gordon go out of town we have Seth. Or, I pick him up after school so he has dinner with us. I trust April, but sometimes I feel like we should write it out. Something more formal.

I could see that. Did she marry that guy who came to London? Knowing April’s choice in partner was also a person Nate didn’t get along with since medical school had to be challenging.

Gordon? Not yet, but they’ve been engaged since Christmas. They haven’t set a date. I don’t really like him, but I try to be civil. He wasn’t super excited when she decided to put my name on the birth certificate, much less tell Seth I was his biological father. Now that Seth decided to call me ‘Dad’, Gordon’s even more annoyed. But it was Seth’s decision, so, he didn’t really have a choice.

That’s gotta be frustrating for you.

Yeah. We’ll see how this works out. Speaking of, Ryan said Akemi’s sister is having a baby? That’s exciting.

It is! And, she’s not married, so he’s not the shame of the family anymore!

Ha! Well, that’s good for everyone.

Yes, it is. That was part of why he wanted to stay here for Christmas. I just didn’t want to say anything until he told everyone. You know, I’m really glad he and Ryan have become close friends. I think it’s good for ‘kem to have someone to talk about the accident and stuff. There is still a struggle in there, I know it. And he’s not talking to me about it. Sergio wasn’t really friends with any ex’s, mainly because he didn’t really date anyone for an extended length of time before Akemi. He was intrigued on how Nate and his ex, Ryan Stevens, were now such good friends. Nate and Ryan had met when Nate performed a similar surgery on Ryan’s boyfriend at the time. Ryan’s background provided a lot of privilege, old school New England money. Now, that money was partially what funded the clinic Mitchell and Paola opened.

Well, if anyone knows what that’s like, it’s Ryan. I know it took him a long time to deal with his car accident and everything that happened with Chad’s injuries. I’d think he’d be good to talk to. He’s a good friend to have for lots of reasons.

Spending some time talking about the clinic, Ryan’s money, their various Christmas events, everything else was going well. The conversation got to a point where Sergio had to put it out there. Which leads me to something else. Sergio knew he had to tell Nate what was going on. So, about the job….

It’s cool Serge, you don’t have to decide right now or if it’s ‘no’ that’s cool too.

That’s not it Nate. I can’t get ‘kem to talk about it. And now with his sister having a baby, I’m not sure what he’s thinking. I’m gonna try tonight.

Well, if he doesn’t want to talk about it tonight, I understand. The job is here if you want it.

Thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes.

No problem. It would be great if you two lived here. But, I know compromises can be a challenge. Speaking of challenges, how are you doing physically?

Well, now that you bring it up… Sergio knew Nate was changing the subject, but this was more interesting, and he could talk about things that made him feel like he was actually getting along better with Akemi instead of feeling like they couldn’t discuss difficult decisions.

After explaining some of the new/old stuff they had tried in their bedroom, Nate laughed. Those weren’t things he would ever have thought of, but he might try some of them now. There were questions about how things worked, or how does one get in that position at all. They went on to talk about the specific problems Sergio was having with his left hand. His left hand would cramp or get numb. They talked out some ideas of how to prevent that and decided that if it didn’t get better by March, they’d do some tests.

Once he finished his check in with Nate, Sergio had some time to get to the pool and swim. That helped him clear his head, which was way too full today. When he had completed the number of laps he had planned on, plus 6 more, he got out showered, and headed home. Being the one at home, he would cook dinner and do house stuff. It wasn’t his life goal, but it gave him something to do. Each night he tried new recipes, or worked to perfect old ones, trying to find excitement in domestic adventures. Once he decided on aloo gobi and homemade naan, he passed the time preparing a meal for his family. Timed perfectly, the bread was just about ready when Akemi came through the door.

Smells wonderful in here. What are we having? Akemi put his bag down and took off his coat as he smiled watching Sergio walk down the hall wiping his hands with a towel.

Indian. I even made naan. Leaning over to give Akemi a kiss, How was your day?

Good. It was good. He reached out to take Sergio in his arms and kiss him. Our morning helped get me through it.

Sitting down to eat, they chatted about Akemi’s new position and his schedule for the upcoming weeks. As a locum, Akemi travelled to different hospitals for work to fill in for people. This position was close, so he would be home more often.

A lull in the conversation meant that Sergio could bring up the thing he really wanted to talk about. It was going to be difficult to get Akemi to talk, but he had to try. I talked to Nate today.

Oh, yeah. How is he doing? Just eating, he figured that didn’t necessarily mean they had to talk jobs.

He’s good. Sounds like things are going well with them. Somehow Mitchell has figured out a way to avoid going to any event with Nate’s parents, says he had to be at the clinic or happens to be out of the country for different holidays. Trying to keep it casual, he talked relationships.

With a look of sympathy, Akemi asked, Does he not get along with Nate’s parents?

Nate’s mother never approved of Mitchell. Ryan was more to her liking in terms of social standing considering his family’s money and everything. Somehow Mitchell has avoided seeing Nate’s parents since he moved back to the States.

Well, that’s skill.

I told Nate I would try to talk to you about his offer….

Akemi was almost done, but somehow seemed to be finishing up quickly. Okay. Maybe we can talk about it after dinner.

Putting his hand on Akemi’s wrist, he asked, Why can’t we talk about it now?

Because we are having a lovely dinner. Let’s just finish this first. Did he say how Seth was doing?

’Yes. Seth is good. Smart and adorable. Seems tense with Gordon, April’s boyfriend. Finishing the last bite on his plate, I would like to have something to tell him about the job.

Picking up his dish, Akemi walked into their kitchen. Since it was open to the dining room, he could still talk without speaking too loudly, he just didn’t.

’kem please come back here and talk to me about this. I know you don’t want to, I get that. But we need to talk and decide together. Their communication skills were never that great but had been better right after the accident. They saw a therapist to help. After a while they couldn’t seem to find the time. Lately, it seemed like they had fallen into their old patterns of not discussing difficult things, just moving on, making things hard. Not always the fun kind of things either.

Walking back into the room, What do you want me to say Sergio? I don’t know what to tell you.

I’m not asking you to tell me anything, I want to talk about it and weigh the options. What if we did move there? I mean, I could see you not wanting to leave with your new position and your sister’s new baby. But I can’t sit around anymore. It’s driving me crazy. I need to do something. More importantly, I want us to figure out how to talk about this stuff.

With a sigh, Akemi sat back down at the table. Can’t we talk about it later, it has been such a great weekend and a wonderful morning today. Do we have to have this conversation now?

Putting his elbows on the table. Why does us having a conversation about this mean it ruins the day?

There was no answer from Akemi, he just looked down at the table.

Reaching over to Akemi’s hand, Sergio tried to ask a different way. I know it’s tough to talk about it, but we have figured out how to talk about other things. We can talk about this. I know we can.

I don’t like it when we don’t agree. Looking up with uncertainty. I know you want to go. But I don’t know that I want to leave. I know sitting at home is killing you. I thought working in the office would help, but it seems like it hasn’t. I thought maybe if I made more money….

It’s not the….

No. I know it’s not the money. I thought maybe you’d find a volunteer thing or something. I don’t know.

As difficult as it was for Sergio to keep quiet, he knew Akemi had more to say.

I know you’re not happy Serge and I know you miss your friends. But I don’t want to leave, so I don’t know what to do.

That’s why we need to talk about it and try to go over the options. Listen, I’m glad things are better with us. Things are better, that’s true. Maybe we can find a compromise. We’ve done it before.

It would be a long night and they might not find the answer right away, but at least they were talking.

2

Silver Spring, Maryland, March 2012

Heading back to their house after a long run, Mitchell had time to contemplate the last years events. He decided to walk the