Long_Way_Home

a relieved smile. “You’ll stay?”
    “I’ll have to go back and hand in my notice, but maybe they’ll let me telecommute. Think you can stand to support me if they don’t?”
    He grabbed me and pulled me down against him. He was always stronger than me. “You belong here, you know.”
    “I know.” And it was true, I’d missed living close to the land. And with my parents getting older, well, they’d always wanted me to move back and take over the farm. But most of all, I belonged here in Jake’s arms.

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    The Long Way Home / Catt Ford

    HE was nuzzling my shoulder blade when I woke up again, lying on my side with him behind me, one arm loosely draped over my waist, his body cuddled up to me. As it should be.
    “Merry Christmas,” he murmured.
    “Merry Christmas.”
    When I rifled through my bag for clean underwear, I found the gift my mother had left on my bed. “Hey, I guess I do have something to open.”
    Jake leaned up on one elbow, watching me unwrap it.
    “What is it?” he asked when I started to laugh.
    I showed it to him; my mother had framed a picture of Jake smiling, and attached a sticky note to the glass. In her bold hand, she’d written, “Kiss him already! Love, Mom.” There was also a brand new thermocouple for the furnace. I thought I smelled a rat about her “premonition”.
    And there was a sprig of mistletoe nestled at the bottom of the box.
    “I guess I wasn’t fooling her after all,” I said ruefully.
    Jake grabbed the mistletoe out of the box and held it over his head, his eyes twinkling as he regarded me expectantly. “Well?”
    Of course I kissed him.

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    The Long Way Home / Catt Ford

    It turned out to be some Christmas after all. I’d found my life partner in my best friend and I knew I would never be alone again.
    I could hardly wait till my mother got back from Florida so I could tell her–
    “Fuck!”
    “So soon?” Jake quipped. “You fiend!”
    “I forgot to call my mom and tell her I made it here safely.”
    “I bet she knows.” He knew about her special senses.
    “Why don’t you call her now? I’ll get dinner started.” He slipped on his jeans, and went to the kitchen, humming one of the hymns the choir had sung.
    I was grinning as I dialed. “Hello Mom, it’s me.” Of course, she knew that already.

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    The Long Way Home / Catt Ford

    CATT FORD lives in front of the computer monitor, in another world where her imaginary gay friends obey her every command.

    She likes cats, chocolate, swing dancing, sleeping, Monty Python, Aussie friends, being silly, spinning other realities with words, and sea glass. She dislikes caterpillars, cigarette smoke and rude people who think the F-word (as in faggot, or bundle of sticks) is acceptable.

    A frustrated perfectionist, she comforts herself with the legend about the weavers of Persian rugs always including one mistake so as not to anger the gods, although she has no need to include a mistake on purpose. One always slips through. Writing fiction has filled a need for clever conversations, only possible when one is in control of both sides, and erotic romances, where everything turns out happily ever after, for the most part.

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    The Long Way Home / Catt Ford

    Other titles from Catt…

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    The Long Way Home / Catt Ford

    ©Copyright Catt Ford, 2008

    Published by
    Dreamspinner Press

4760 Preston Road
Suite 244-149
    Frisco, TX 75034
    http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

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

    Cover Design by Catt Ford

    This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

    Released in the United States of America December, 2008

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