Wow - two chapters this evening! I hope the writing is proving to be a comforting distraction for you.
SPOILERS
Aww...Wayne. How sad. I did not see that coming, though, in retrospect, I probably should have. That scare should prove to be a wake-up call for all of them in many respects, not the least of which is putting things in the proper perspective. And I really didn't see this coming:
“Yer face don’t lie, Ellery. Now, I think I can go on.”
Uh oh. Let's hope this is a temporary delusion on Wayne's part. I'm glad Ellery has the means available to help - hard to think of all those men who didn't (and don't) have family or friends to provide that kind of assistance. Ellery told Colson once that he opened the bar to give the gay population in Tourmaline a safe harbor of sorts, but I'll bet even he never imagined just how much it would be needed and how important it would become.
A couple of very thoughtful and sobering chapters - really well done, Louise. Thanks.
Marie