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talked to him first. How could he do this? How could he be so
damn selfish? Luis should have trusted him enough to know
he'd help him work it out. Jase didn't care about Luis's past.
Was Luis worried about the soft-core porn film he'd made?
Though Luis done a few things some people would consider
questionable, Jase knew for certain Luis had never done
anything seriously wrong. All this was part of the reason Jase
loved and respected him. If he'd been boring Jase never
would have been interested in him in the first place. It was
the quirky little things that made Jade's heart pound
whenever Luis walked into a room.
And he'd always admired Luis's quiet strength. Luis had
figured out a way to not only survive in a place like New York
City on his own, he'd figured out ways to thrive there without
doing anything that would seriously compromise his integrity.
Jase didn't care what people thought. The last thing Jase
cared about was tabloids and reporters. Even if Luis's nude
photos or his soft-core film did surface in public, Jase would
have turned his head and ignored them.
He stormed into their bedroom with his fists clenched and
his jaw locked. He was prepared to really give it to Luis this
time. But all he found in the bedroom was an empty armoire
and a short note on the bed. The note was folded in half. And
on top of the note was Luis's engagement ring.
Jase picked up the ring and put it in his pocket. He lifted
the note slowly and read aloud. You're the most wonderful
man I've ever known. I want you to be happy and have all
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the things you deserve in life. I wish I had a father who loved
me as much as your father loves you. Don't be too hard on
him. I truly believe he means well. Love, Luis
While he read the note again, Trey stepped into the
bedroom. He seemed to appear from nowhere to offer Jase
comfort. "You certainly do know how to upstage me. I
thought everyone would be shocked when I moved back to
Alaska and they found out the new pediatrician in town is
gay. But this wedding is something they'll be telling their
grandchildren about for years to come."
Jase knew Trey only wanted to help. Trey was trying to
make him smile, but it wasn't working. He lifted the note and
shook it. "How dare he leave me this way, without even as
much as an explanation? Oh, I should have known. He's
always been this way: flighty and carefree and breezy. Does
whatever he wants and goes wherever he pleases. He's like a
feather that just floats off in the direction of the wind and
doesn't care which way it's blowing. Did you know he once
almost left New York to live with this old guy in Vancouver?
Did you know he didn't name his dog until last year? He just
called him 'doggie.' Now what kind of a person, I ask you,
lives his life this way? He's one of the smartest people I've
ever known, yet he has no common sense sometimes when it
comes to practical things. He's been driving me insane since
the first day I met him." Jase wasn't shouting anymore. If
anything, he sounded ready to surrender, because these were
the very things he loved most about Luis. "After all we've
been through together I can't believe he'd just run off and
leave me standing at the altar."
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Trey shrugged. He crossed the room, put his arms around
Jase, and kissed him on the cheek. "Are you willing to just let
him go?" Then he patted his back and smiled, as if he knew
an amusing secret Jase hadn't quite figured out yet.
Jase stepped back and shoved the note into his pocket. He
slapped Trey on the back and ran downstairs to the back of
the house where all the tables had been set up for the
reception. When he stepped outside, heads turned and people
stared. He didn't care. He jogged to where his family was
standing and reached for his mother's arm. "I have to go
after him. I'll be back later."
His mother called his name. But he just kept walking.
Barry slammed his drink on a table and said, "You've got
to be joking. After all this and you're still going to run after
him?"
Jase didn't look back. "Leave me alone, Dad. I know what
I'm doing."
Barry followed. "This is insane. Think about what you're
doing. He's an escort. He's half your age. Be realistic."
Jase was about to turn and grab his father by the throat.
But he stopped short when he heard his grandmother's voice.
"I think it's a heart attack."
Then Mary shouted, "Mom."
By the time Barry and Jase turned, Mary had a hold of
Isabelle's arm. Isabelle's knees were buckling and she was
slowly sinking to the grass. She clutched the middle of her
sweatshirt with both hands. Her face was red and her lips
were scrunched up as if she were in pain.
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When Jase reached her, he helped his mother lower her
onto the grass. He kneeled behind her and held her head in
his palms. Then someone shouted, "I just called an
ambulance."
* * * *
When the sea plane pulled up to the dock, a group of well-
trained paramedics jumped out and placed Isabelle on a
gurney. They hooked her up to oxygen and loaded her onto
the plane. Barry, Mary, and Jase jumped into the plane to be
with her. Though Jase and Barry still wouldn't look each other
in the eye, they were civil. Everyone's main concern was
getting Isabelle to a hospital and making sure she got the
care she needed. But she was ninety years old. If this was a
serious heart attack, Jase knew there wasn't much hope.
Mary reached down for Isabelle's hand and held it tightly.
Isabelle's eyes were closed and she wasn't responding to
anyone. "You're going to be fine, Mom," she kept repeating
over and over, as if trying to reassure herself.
While all the guests stood back and watched, the plane
took off and headed to the hospital. Jase frowned and stared
down at his grandmother's face. Though she had more
wrinkles than he'd remembered from the last time he'd been
to Alaska, she wasn't pale and she didn't have that ashen
look most sick people get. He figured it was because she was
wearing more make-up than usual. But when she opened her
eyes and looked up at him, his body jerked and he pressed
his palm to his chest.
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She pulled the oxygen mask down to her chin and cleared
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