Page 8 of Back Where He Belongs

“So, what are you doin’ these days, for work?”

“What, you don’t know?” Douglas said, exasperated. “I run HR.”

“Human Resources?” Kier spluttered. He’d never thought his friend would end up working in administration.

“No, numpty. Highland Red—My cider brewery. I have a four-acre apple orchard out the back.” Douglas explained.

“Yer joking!” Kier was stunned.

“No joke,”

“So yer dreams came true then?”

Douglas laid two large bowls on the kitchen counter and served the beef stew from the crock pot. The meaty and flavorsome scent filled the kitchen.

“Some did, some didn’t. What about yerself?”

Kier sat expectantly at the table; he’d opened a bottle of red wine to let it breathe. Douglas delivered a breadboard with a fresh farmhouse loaf, bread knife and a side dish full of the butter his parents churned at their farm and sold to local shops. Kier cut two thick slices from the loaf. He slathered the pale yellow butter on a slice and then took a bite, moaned like he was coming.

Douglas let out a lazy laugh,“Good eh?” he said as he delivered the bowls of stew to the table and took his seat opposite Kier.

“Honest to God. I havenae tasted such good bread an’ butter fer years.” He dipped a crust in the stew and stuffed it into his mouth, and then picked up his spoon and ate enthusiastically.

Kier had forgotten how hungry he was, and the comfort food was just what he needed to push the last of the winter chill from his bones. The sounds Mac was making as he chased his metal dog bowl around the flagstone floor in the kitchen were comical, and between eating, watching the dog, and glancing at Douglas, Kier found he was fully entertained.

“So tell me,” Douglas reiterated between mouthfuls, “What have you been up to fer five years?”

Kier paused and laid his spoon down. “I did what I said I’d do too. I’ve done a fair bit of traveling, but I manage a sheep station in Queensland and…”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

Kier’s eyes met Douglas’s, and he laughed nervously. “Are you?” He retorted.

“I was, for three years, but that’s been over for a while now.”

“Oh,” The fact that Douglas had been in a long-term relationship with another man made Kier’s gut clench. His brows arched and he glared at Douglas imploring him to fill in the blanks.

“His name was Rob, we lived together, here,” Douglas informed succinctly. He picked up his glass of red wine and knocked it back as if he needed the courage to go on. “He ended it—said I was obsessed with work—left me for a younger man—left us.” He added, looking regretfully over at Mac, who was sitting at attention, his ears pricked. The dog padded over as if sensing his master needed some affection. He laid his head on Dougie’s lap, and Douglas absently stroked him.

“He didn’t understand just how much work establishing my new business would take. Course I work hard. I’ve put everything I have into Highland Red! “ Douglas justified. “I bought MacLeod when he was a pup. He was from a litter of eleven. They were chestnut, but he was the only one who had your rust-red coloring.” Douglas explained. “I knew he was the one for me. I bought him as a gift for Rob, but when he left he said Mac had always been mine, never his, and so he walked out on us both, didn’t he boy?” Dougie said, holding Mac’s head in his hand. “It seems to be a bit of a pattern in my love life,” Douglas continued in a self-mocking tone. It appeared Douglas felt more comfortable telling his woes to the dog instead of Kier.

Dougie’s last sentence cut Kier deeply, “Don’t say that.” He narrowed his eyes and grimaced guiltily. Hearing that another man had done the same stupid thing and walked away from Douglas smarted and made him feel like even more of a heartless bastard. Douglas was a good man with a big heart. He didn’t deserve to be abandoned once, let alone twice.

“I’m sorry that happened. Just show’s ye, there’s more than one blind feckin’ eejit in the world!”

Douglas turned his head from Mac to consider Kier. Kier held Douglas’s questioning gaze and then admitted, “I’m, eh, not seeing anyone. I haven’t—not for more than a couple of dates.”

“In FIVE YEARS?” Douglas was gobsmacked. “Jesus Freckle, that’s just not right… it’s…”

“What?”

“You’re a good lookin’ man. When we were together, you loved…sex. I thought that you’d at least be sowing yer wild oats.”

“You know I’ve always been the handy sort. I’ve survived.” Kier scoffed sheepishly and sat back in his chair.

The men observed one another like cowboys readying for a duel. “God, we are such a pair of fuck-ups!” Douglas exclaimed. Mac chuffed disgustedly then trotted off to his place by the fire.

“Even the dog agrees!”