“How did you wage a battle for a man’s spirit when the man himself wasn’t sure he wanted you to win?”

“You haven't stopped smiling since you came in.""You want me to yell?""No, no," Buddy hastily assured him. "You just keep right on smiling." He picked delicately at the remaining pie. "You sure did sleep late today."Tate grinned at him. "Yep.""Didn't go fishing, either.""Nope.""Sure was a lot of tromping around going on upstairs a few minutes ago. What were you doing?""Just moving a few things." Tate took a drink of coffee."What things?"He was beginning to wish he'd strangled Buddy at birth. "My things.""Were you moving them somewhere in particular, or just dragging them up and down the hall for the exercise?"Tate ground his teeth together. "I was moving them to Abby's room.""Oh." Buddy gave a half grin. "Can I have some money?""No." Tate glared at him."Well, it was worth a shot. I should have asked while you were still smiling.”

“That was also the year I discovered Boys. Or maybe I should say they discovered me. By then I knew what they wanted and I wasn’t buying it.”

“Nick? Have you ever…” ”No.” He lifted his head again, studied me. “I’ve thought about it, but it never seemed right.” The idea of him making love to anyone else sent a shaft of pain straight through my middle. “You better wait on me, damn it.” ”I don’t think I have much choice.” He brushed my hair back. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Alix, the only one I’ll ever want. That’s a promise.”

“Mama wasn’t Mama anymore, she was Mother, usually followed by a “pallease!”

“Do you want to know the real reason I came back, Alix?” It was because of you. You’re my roots. Wherever you are would be home to me.”

“The idea of him making love to anyone else sent a shaft of pain straight through my middle. “You better wait on me, damn it.”“I don’t think I have much choice.” He brushed my hair back. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Alix, the only one I’ll ever want. That’s a promise.”