The Next Door Boys

By Jolene B. Perry

With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, physical frustrations, and spiritual dilemmas-- not to mention the ever expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her-- Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but delightful places.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
• Release date: Feb 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781462101276

Book preview

one

My parents joined us in the driveway. Dad looked calm, as always, and Mom tried really hard not to cry. I gave them both another final hug before climbing into my brother's overstuffed car.

You know to call— Mom started to say.

If I need anything or just want to talk. I resisted the temptation to roll my eyes.

And don't be afraid—

To ask Jaron for help or to call my new doctor, who I'll see later. I let my eyes find hers through the open window of the car. Love you, Mom.

Love you too, Leigh. She tried to smile.

Love you, Dad.

He nodded and waved once as Jaron and I pulled out of the driveway.

Jaron hit the gas before Mom could find another way to delay our departure. I laughed in excitement and relief.

My brother drove down the road with a wide smile on his face. So, I'm still amazed Mom let you go.

Me too.

You look a lot better than last time I saw you. He looked at me too carefully, like Mom did.

Well you should have been screaming that the whole time you were home. Anything that would help our parents realize I was healthy again was a good thing. I'd been officially in remission for three months and eighteen days. It would be several years before they called me cured. I hadn't paid attention to that. As soon as they told me the cancer was gone, I knew I'd be okay.

I would have said something, but any reminder gets Mom all upset, so I held my tongue. I'll email her in a day or two. Jaron started scrolling down songs on his iPod. You do look better though.

I saw you just a few months ago, between spring and summer semesters, remember? That short amount of time shouldn't make much difference.

Yeah, and you look… stronger now.

I looked out the window at the few scattered homes just north of St. George. Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that Mom looks so worried every time I'm about to do something that it stopped being worth the effort. She keeps me on a strict schedule of pool and stretching. She read somewhere that it helps both body and mind… I rolled my eyes. Jaron started to interrupt, but I cut him off. I know what you're going to say, and I know that she's scared and means well. But I've spent the whole summer doing practically nothing.

Jaron reached over, laughed, and ruffled my short hair with his hand. I still can't get used to the hair.

Hey! I ducked away and pushed his arm back. I know. It's short. And brown. It's still weird for me too. I checked my reflection in the mirror. It used to be the same baby blond as Jaron's. I ran my hands through it and shook it out, trying to undo the damage Jaron had just inflicted. It stopped just below my ears. I should consider myself lucky. I hated the super short fuzz when my hair had first started growing back. But anything was better than the bald girl with skinny cheeks and dark circles underneath her eyes.

We rode in silence for a while. It felt good to be with someone who didn't need to talk every minute of a drive. I stared out the window again. We were nearing Cedar City, and the scattered homes started to get closer together.

So, you excited? Jaron looked over at me, smiling, already knowing most of what my answer would be.

Excited for a fresh start and to not be hovered over every moment of the day. It would also be liberating to be rid of the labels that seemed to follow me around. The girl who sings, the girl who sews, and last year, the girl with cancer.

You know I'm supposed to drive you to school and that…

Don't worry, Jaron. I won't make you police me too hard. I kicked off my shoes and pulled my feet up onto the seat.

Yeah, right. He chuckled.

I didn't care what kind of restrictions I had. I was finally out on my own. I looked over at Jaron. Almost on my own.

We did our mandatory stop in Cedar City for pizza and continued heading north for Provo.

I can't wait for you to meet Brian, Jaron said through a mouthful of food.

Yeah, he's the convert you live with, right? That you met on your mission?

He changed my life, Leigh. Really. I feel very lucky we ended up in the same place.

That's great. I couldn't think about anything but my new-found independence.

When Jaron took our exit into Provo, I rolled down my window, hoping to take in some of the shady breeze from the neighborhood streets. I rested my chin on my arms to see out the window better. Almost there.

This is our street. He smiled, knowing how excited I was, but kept his eyes on the road in front of us, leaving the moment to me.

Our street was popular for students. There were too many cars for each house and few looked like the car of a responsible adult or homeowner. BYU stickers and banners showed in more windows than not.

So, this is it. He pulled into a narrow driveway that ran between two nearly identical brick houses. Once we got into the backyard, the driveway split into two. The gravel turned slowly into grass on either side. I guessed it was sort of a free-for-all with parking.

We share a backyard then? I looked between the homes.

Yes, but I promise not to watch you too closely, he joked.

It's fine, Jaron. Really. Jaron watched me, but it wasn't like Mom's constant presence. I still had my own place and could hide anytime I liked.

I climbed out of his car just as two guys ran up the driveway. Both of them were a sweaty mess from the hot afternoon.

Jaron smiled and looked over the car at me as they approached. That's Brian, my roommate. We share the basement. The other guy is Stuart. He and his wife live upstairs and own the house I live in.

Brian looked like someone I'd probably avoid. He had tat-tooed arms and looked older than I did, I'd guess five years. He wasn't a huge guy, but next to my brother and Stuart, he was much broader. He had short, dark brown hair and brown eyes. He moved with a confidence I wasn't used to, and I found myself immediately intimidated by him. Stuart had a head full of shaggy brown hair that was wet from sweat and a wide smile for his narrow face.

Hey guys! Jaron waved. Leigh, I want you to meet Brian Wright and Stuart Riley.

They stopped next to Jaron's car, almost completely out of breath.

Nice to meet you guys. I waited for all the kid sister, little girl stuff, but to my great relief, it never came.

It'll be interesting getting to know someone who's put up with Jaron longer than we have. Brian grinned at my brother, and Jaron smiled back. I could see right away that they were as close as he'd said. I was glad for him. I hoped his relationship with Brian filled some of the gap left by our older brother, Joseph. Joseph left home when Jaron was about thirteen, and we didn't hear from him aside from a signed card for birthdays and Christmas.

Well, let's help you haul some of this stuff in, Stuart offered. Looks like you brought a few things. He peered into the backseat.

She sews, Jaron explained as he opened his bursting trunk. She had a hard time trying to decide what she couldn't live without.

My mom was a tailor. Brian picked up a bag of mine. If I remember right, they make a different machine for everything.

Yeah, they do. I followed Jaron down the concrete steps to my new apartment. It was unlocked, and my room was the only one unoccupied. The carpet looked worn and the furniture probably all came from DI. The small kitchen was right out of 1978—all dark wood and orange—but everything felt clean and tidy. If I stood on my tiptoes, I could see grass through the tiny windows. It took the boys only a few minutes to get everything hauled in.

Thanks, guys. I waved as they ran up the stairs, still high from their run.

Well, you know where to find me. I'll do my best to leave you alone. Jaron started to walk out. Oh, church is at nine a.m., and we usually hang out on the Rileys’ back porch afterward. You're not required to come, and you're not required to stay awake if you do come. He winked and left.

I looked around and smiled. My place. Jaron had found me a bed and a dresser and had stuffed my closet with all types of hangers and three shoe racks. He knew me well. I turned around and was wondering where to set my two sewing machines when I saw a large desk on the far side of my bed. Perfect. I'd have to thank him later.

Hey, our new girl must be here! I heard a girl's voice from my doorway.

Come on in. I turned to face her.

I'm Kim. She stuck out her hand and I took it. She was shorter than me. She had dark hair that fell just above her shoulders and a great body, which was completely on display. Her small running shorts and tank didn't cover much. I was embarrassed to look at her too closely. Mom would have never let me leave the house wearing so little.

I'm Megan, a girl behind her said. I reached out and shook her hand as well. Megan stood a little taller than me, with long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and freckles. Something about the way she moved made me like her immediately. I couldn't put my finger on it, but she reminded me of my brother.

I'm Leigh. I smiled.

Jaron's little sister, Kim said.

There it was: Jaron's little sister.

Yep. I held in my sigh and started pulling out the clothes that needed to hang.

Wow, you have some great stuff in there, Kim said, skimming over the clothes in my bag.

Thanks. I picked up the small pile in front of her. Seriously, who helps themselves to look through someone's bag? Even if it's open.

You sew, is that right? Megan asked.

Here we were. The girl who sews and Jaron's little sister. Brilliant. I lasted a whole five minutes.

Yep. I slid a few skirts onto my arm and turned back to the closet.

You made these? Kim started looking closer at the clothes I was trying to hang up.

A lot of them. I slid another skirt onto a hanger.

Well, Kim said, straightening up, We're going to have to get to know each other. She smiled at me. Okay, I'm off! I need to shower before my date tonight! She bounded out of the room.

Don't mind her, Megan said quietly. She's nice; you'll get used to her. We're all going to have a lot of fun together.

Okay. I wasn't convinced.

Do you need any help? Megan stepped forward.

Um… no thanks. How do you tell someone where to put things when you don't know where they'll be going?

When did you get here? I asked.

Oh, I've been in this place for almost two years. Megan leaned against the door. I hoped to get my nursing degree done before my missionary comes home, but I'll fall short one semester.

Wow, so you've been waiting for someone for almost two years? I couldn't imagine.

Yep. She stood a little taller, pleased with herself. He comes home just before Thanksgiving. I can't wait!

That's great.

And your brother said you were working your way into the architecture program? She looked unsure.

Yeah. I nodded. I'm looking forward to it.

You're crazy. She shook her head. Too much math for me.

I like it. I grabbed a few more hangers from the closet.

Well, I guess we'll see you later then. Let me know if you need anything, okay? She turned back out of my room.

Thanks, Megan. She seemed nice, easy to get along with.

I had packed carefully; it didn't take me too long to get everything in order. My sewing boxes were already sorted and labeled. Everything sat in its place in no time, and I stood there, completely satisfied, looking at my own room in my own place. I loved it.

My phone rang in my pocket, pulling me from my train of thought. I glanced down. Mom. My stomach sank—I forgot to call.

Sorry, Mom. We're here, we're fine. I didn't mean to get off to a bad start, I was just excited to move in, that's all.

There was a pause at the other end. I could tell Mom knew I felt bad, and she was regrouping. She'd probably planned some sort of speech that I'd just saved myself from.

Glad you're having fun. How was the drive?

Fine. We stopped for pizza like always and made it in no time at all. Jaron and the other guys from next door helped me get my stuff in. Jaron did a great job getting me the basics, so I'm pretty set. I sat on the edge of my bed.

Well, good. Are you excited about going to your new ward?

Yeah. It'll be weird though. I've never been to a college ward, and Jaron's the ward clerk, so I might not get to sit next to him.

What about your roommates? Mom asked.

Yeah, I'll probably sit with them. I had no idea if I would or not, but I knew it would make Mom feel better. They're nice.

Well, I'm going to try not to bother you too often, but that means you need to call your mom once in a while and let me know how you are, okay? She was trying, but I found it hard to be patient with her.

Okay, Mom.

Love you, Leigh.

Love you too, Mom.

I sighed. I wondered if she'd ever believe that I'd be okay.

two

I set my alarm for seven in the morning. I wanted to look nice for my first Sunday in my new ward. I picked out one of my favorite pencil skirts, a pair of black platform heels, and a cute little short-sleeved turtleneck. My hair was still shorter than I'd like, but I tried to have fun with it just the same, curling the back tightly and bringing up the sides in pins. I stepped out of the bathroom very pleased with myself.

Megan and Kim stood ready and waiting. Megan dressed simply, with a plain khaki skirt, half-sleeved T-shirt, and flat shoes. Kim wore a tight black dress that fell just above her knees and had super tiny sleeves. She had on not just high heels, but stilettos. It was barely appropriate for a date. BYU dress standards were strict, and it seemed like a little much for a Sunday, though it was my first college ward. I grabbed my scriptures, and Megan, Kim, and I walked out into the yard. The boys waited on the Rileys’ porch.

There you are, finally, Jaron said.

What do you mean, finally? I felt proud of myself for being ready early. We still had ten minutes before the start of sacrament meeting.

Is that church appropriate? Jaron pointed at me.

What are you talking about? I looked down at my outfit. My skirt was at least six inches longer than Kim's.

I would guess that it means you're looking entirely more grown up than Jaron would like you to look. Brian laughed, hopped over the Rileys’ back porch handrail, and started walking down the driveway. Jaron shrugged as if that might be the case, and we all started after Brian together.

Jaron stepped next to me and held his arm out for me to take. We'd walked like that since we were little.

Have you heard anything from Joseph? Jaron asked cautiously. Joseph had moved out before I turned 10; he was 18 at the time and done with high school. I didn't know what the whole story was. Jaron didn't either. I did know that Mom and Dad never heard from him. Jaron told me just after he moved out that Joseph and Dad were always arguing, but he didn't know anything more. I knew it had something to do with church and disagreements. I had no idea if he was active or not. I really didn't know anything about him. I probably wouldn't be able to pick him out of a crowd.

Got my signed birthday card, I said. He's still in Oregon, and I owe him another letter. I'd been sending Joseph sporadic letters since he left home.

You're still doing that?

Yep. I knew if I kept it up, something would come of it eventually.

How do you know he's reading them?

I don't, I said, but when we moved with Mom and Dad from Seattle, he started sending our cards to St. George, so he had to at least be looking at the return address.

Guess you're right. He smiled a little.

The Rileys’ porch was set up like an outdoor living room. There were two couches, several chairs, a hammock up and off to the side, and a table in the middle.

Another friend of Jaron's, Evan, came for dinner Sunday night on the Rileys’ porch. He was tall, taller than all of the boys who lived next door to me. He had an easy smile and a friendly demeanor. Kim sat next to him and listened intently to everything he said. She glanced over at him often, even when he wasn't the one speaking. I guessed they liked each other.

Brian stood up when Stuart came onto the porch followed by a beautiful woman with dark skin and straight hair, almost black. You already know Stuart, but this is his wife, Julie. Brian caught my eyes as he spoke. Stuart and I were in the military together for a short while. Brian elbowed Stuart with a smile.

I was still afraid to hold Brian's gaze for too long. His shirt-sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the first of his tat-toos. I stole glances at him a few times, wondering how he got from a tattooed military man to a church member, especially one who got along with someone as straight-arrow as Jaron.

A short while? Stuart laughed. A year in Iraq together feels like a lot longer than a short while.

I guess so. Brian chuckled in agreement.

Julie sat down next to me, and everything about her felt warm: her smile, her eyes, the way she looked at me. She wasn't afraid to sit close, and her gaze didn't waver when she turned her head to speak.

Wow, Leigh. It's really nice to meet you finally. She rested her arm around my shoulders. Oh! I made cookies. I forgot. I'll be right back. I was going to make bread, but I'm a disaster at making bread.

I can help you with that, I offered. With the bread. We always had fresh bread in the house when we were growing up. Mom did amazing things with food. I didn't know if I'd actually inherited any talent, but I'd learned a lot while watching her over the years.

That'd be great, but no hurry. You know, your brother has been singing your praises since he got here last January. She glanced at what I wore. I like your skirt.

Thanks, I looked down. Jaron must have told her I sewed, and I shot him another look. I wanted a clean slate. Guess that was impossible. He had promised that no one knew I'd been sick. He'd mentioned something to Brian, but even he didn't have the whole story. Jaron said it was my story to tell, and I could tell it when and if I wanted to.

I wonder why Evan showed up today, Kim mused with a smile as we walked into our apartment.

Oh, I thought you two were… I didn't know how to finish.

I wish. Kim pronounced each word carefully. She must really like him.

Megan chuckled once. I can guess why he was here.

What? I asked when I realized she looked my direction.

She shrugged. He's just not one of our regulars. He finally decided to come over the first Sunday you were here, that's all. Jaron's invited him a few times. That, and I saw him steal more than one glance your way.

Well, I didn't see him looking at me. I didn't want anyone to like me. Not when I was finally out on my own. I wanted to concentrate on school, and I wanted to enjoy my free time by myself.

Leigh, he's not like, straight out of the mission field. He's older, ready to settle down. Not only is he gorgeous, but he's nearly done with his master's degree. He's going to be an accountant, Kim said.

Okay. I was not interested in getting involved with anyone, no matter how cute he was or how much money he was potentially going to make.

Kim rolled her eyes.

I'm just not looking to date anyone right now, that's all. I didn't see how that would be a big deal.

Kim started toward her room. Well, I'm off to bed. First day of classes always wipes me out.

Night. I walked back to my room. I couldn't imagine my four little classes wiping me out. But it was better than being at home.

For our first official FHE, Jaron thought it would be cool if we all shared a favorite scripture. Apparently, ever since he arrived, he'd pulled the two basement apartments together like we would have done if we were all living in the BYU dorms. Stuart and Julie were always welcome because they lived there, and I guess Evan just tagged along.

Jaron set his scriptures on the table. So, there are kind of a lot of us tonight. Hopefully I'm not always such a tyrant about home evenings. We laughed a little with him. I'll start since this was my idea. I thought it would help us get to know one another better. He took a deep breath. This is the most quoted scripture in general conference, but I think it's because it gives us hope and a small understanding of the love of our Father in Heaven. ‘For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’

We'd all heard that one before, but it was nice to hear it again, just the same. I sat next to him, but he started around the circle in the opposite direction. I exhaled in relief. I wanted to hear what everyone else had to say first.

Stuart shared the story of the stripling warriors. I used to read those chapters over and over, he said. It helped me get through day after day after day in Iraq. Monotony followed by moments of terror was a hard way to live.

Brian stared at his lap. I wondered what was going through his head.

Julie shared from 1 Kings 19, verse 12, something about the still, small voice.

It's just hard to hear sometimes, and I think without realizing it, we look for the Lord in the big things, not in the small things.

Stuart reached out and touched her cheek, his eyes full of soft admiration.

I'm also glad that I didn't know Stuart when he was off fighting in a war. She turned to him and swallowed. I can't imagine listening for a quiet voice when I was worried for his life day after day. He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. Julie closed her eyes.

I got chills.

There's a part in Isaiah I wanted to share, Evan started. My brain turned off with those words. I knew there was good stuff in Isaiah, but it was like wading through Jell-O for me.

Brian? Jaron asked after Evan finished speaking. My head snapped toward Brian.

Brian held his scriptures in one hand and rested his other hand over the open pages. I'd heard about people having these great experiences on their baptism day, of turning to some profound scripture, and I really wanted one of those experiences. He laughed a little at himself. It took me like four tries before I found one that made sense for me and for the day. It's in Third Nephi. ‘There were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.’ I knew then I wanted to make sure people around me knew I believed in Jesus Christ and that I really wanted to live my life accordingly.

He completely took me in by what he said. It suddenly felt like such a great advantage—being baptized when you're

Reviews for The Next Door Boys

[l_manning · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Leigh is ready to move on with her life. Having been declared in remission for cancer, she can't wait for things to get back to normal. When Leigh goes back to school, things don't run as smoothly as she plans. As frustrating as this can be, Leigh gets some small amount of comfort from her "next door boys," the boys living in the house next door to her house. Leigh's brother and his roommate are amazing guys who help her out even when she doesn't want them to. As Leigh experiences the ups and downs of college life, her next door boys help her see things in a whole new way.I really enjoyed this book. There are a couple interesting aspects to this story, making it stand out from your typical romance-type book. The first involves Leigh's healing process, both physical and mental. This puts her in a unique position in a couple ways. She doesn't want people to know about her run-in with cancer, because she doesn't want them to see her as frail or weak. Of course, this is an issue with her family as well. On the other hand, she actually does have to take it easy as she is still healing. Trying to find a balance between what she wants and what her body can take is hard for Leigh, and I found this very interesting to read. I also enjoyed Leigh's gradual friendship with her neighbor. Watching her learn to be supportive and supported by others was great.Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. I thought it was sweet and romantic without being overly cheesy. It was also interesting to see Leigh's perspective as a slightly "older" student at BYU. I thought this book was very fun. It didn't really surprise me plot-wise; you'll basically know where this is going from the start. That doesn't make it any less interesting. The journey to the end is where all the enjoyment is. Leigh is one of those characters that helps to pull you into her story and make you care all of those around her too.Galley provided for review.

[jumpintobooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an excellent book from start to finish in which I received from netGalley and the publisher. I jumped right into the book and didn't even realize that it was a Christian book right away.This book has good Christian and family values and touches on those moments very frequently throughout the novel. As for myself, coming from a Christian background, I could relate quite easily with some of the family closeness and traditions. This book made me want to pull out my Bible again and start reading it.The author did some amazing research into ovarian cancer, touching some of the feelings Leigh was going through and what she had to go through with the cancer and the challenges she could still face.I loved Leigh. Her self struggles to overcome what she went through and to get to where she was. Her stubbornness and independence very likeable, even the little knowledge she had for guys, made this leading character amazing.Leigh's brother, Jaron, was simply one of the best brothers someone could ask for. Very understanding and a rock for his little sister, but also very protective.The story dealt with a lot of social situations from dating to love, marriage and children. It had touched on many good points. Some of the situations had brought me to tears, not at all bawling like a baby tears, just slight tears because of either experiences I went through myself or the sympathy I felt for the character.This is again, a very excellent book. Even if you aren't a Christian, I still recommend the book. I recommend this book to any young adult 16 and over, Christians and non-Christians alike. I had to give this book 5 of 5 stars for the great writing, research and how this story comes to life with the great emotion put into this wonderful story.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book took my breathe away. If anything bad were to happen to me, I would want faith like this. To hold on to something and not loose sight of it. To just be comfortable with how I am and where I am going is something I adore. I love that Leigh's faith didn't waver. She is beyond her years and I can learn so much from that.I am going to start with the ending. Yes, I am going backwards. I loved the ending. Not because it was a happily ever after, but a new beginning. Hope after something greatly lost. I loved that the ending gave a great defining that if you keep your faith, pray consistently, what you pray for will come to pass.The love in this book gave me many happy tears. I loved that it not only grew over time, but became so much more than what is expected. Leigh knows wants what she can't have, yet God answers her prayers to something better. Something more. I love that Leigh learn a great lesson in faith and in love.The plot line gave me such great chills that I just wanted to start from the first page and read again. I just can't explain how much this book really touched my heart. I adore everything in it. Plus, really I am this type of person. I love to see happy endings and dreams come true.I recommend you read this book if you love a book with a tragedy but a hopeful ending. Ms. Perry did a great job in capturing the characters feelings and letting the reader feel them. This is a book of a kind of faith I want to have. Read it. You'll love it.

[zoey_talbon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Okay. So this usually isn't the type of book I read, and the beginning had a fair bit of religion - nothing too intense, but a lot of you know I'm not a fan of reading about religion in books.However, for some reason I was okay with it here. It seemed like it was necessary for the plot but it wasn't being shoved in my face. And while I'm not going to say I loved it, after the beginning it didn't come up as often so it was rather easy for me to pretend there was no religion involved :P Leigh is recovering from ovarian cancer and finally moving out of her parent's house and going to college. Of course, her family won't let her be on her own completely, so she ends up living right next door to her brother. I loved the relationship between Leigh and her brother, Jaron, but at the same time, I feel like he wasn't developed enough. I know next to nothing about him other than he worries about Leigh, and sometimes I found myself waiting to find out more about what he likes to do and then being cut short.The relationship between Leigh and Brian, though, was awesome. I love how you get to watch their relationship grow and change through the book - first Leigh is intimidated by him, then he becomes basically her best friend, and then something more. And Brian was a well-developed character to me =)And then there was Leigh's relationship with herself. She wants to be independent so badly, to forget that she was "The Sick Girl," that sometimes she forgets that she still needs to take care of herself, that her body is still recovering. I thought that was very realistic; I feel like a lot of people would have done the same thing. Actually, Leigh herself was a very realistic character, and all her emotions in the book came through so clear. AND SHE HAD A HOBBY. She sewed. That made me ridiculously happy, since YA authors seem to forget that their characters do other things besides stare at pretty boys. I think the only real complaint I have is the ending. It felt too abrupt to me, like maybe there should have been another chapter or two before it really ended.Overall: The Next Door Boys is a realistic, enjoyable novel about a girl recovering and realizing that she's still alive. The secondary characters are just as interesting, and I loved reading from Leigh's perspective. The relationships were fun to read, the emotions rang through loud and clear, and I honestly finished this in one night. 4 stars.