“You said on the phone that the school has been on the market for a while?”
“Yes. Had it been located in an up-and-coming neighborhood, the property would’ve been grabbed up long ago. As it is, a lot of looting and vandalism goes on down here. Drugs. Shootings. It isn’t the ideal location for enterprising new business owners.”
“Understandable.”
“You said your church is looking for a property to use for a… kind of group home for LGBTQ youths?”
“Something like that. Mainly, a sanctuary for kids who have nowhere else to go or need a safe place to stay.”
“That’s admirable,” Maria Lopez said. “But I don’t know that this area could be considered a safe location.”
“It isn’t our ideal choice,” Patrick admitted. “But we’re running out of options.”
She looked him over. “How old are you?”
“Almost twenty.”
“Are you a youth counselor?”
“At my church. I help head up our youth group. I’m going to college this fall and want to major in social work.”
“That’s a very selfless career choice.”
He smiled. “Thank you. I just want to help kids. Being part of the LGBTQ community, I know how tough it can be, howunacceptingand even abusive people can be toward us. Many kids are abused by their family members. They need a place to go, people to turn to who care about them.”
“I think that’s amazing,” the woman said, “that you want to create such a sanctuary for them. I have friends from your community, and I’ve heard the horror stories. It’s sad and terrifying what hate will do to people.”
“Yes,” Patrick whispered, “it is.”
Maria Lopez walked him through the expansive structure, listing the issues; broken water pipes, rat-eaten electrical wires, leaky roof on the north side of the structure, multiple busted windows. As the “problems” piled up, Patrick’s optimism went down. Not only would they need the down payment for the school—buta lotof added money for repairs, just to make the place livable.
“I’m sorry it isn’t more hopeful,” Maria said as they eventually came full circle to the entrance. “If you’re still considering the purchase, I would recommend a full inspection to know exactly what you’re up against. Projects like this have driven people into the hole—sometimes too deep to get out of. Unless you have a bottomless bank account.”
Patrick laughed short. “Nope. Don’t have that.” But he had aGodwho could doanything.
“Unless you’re ready to bail out now,” Maria Lopez said, handing over her card, “take some time to think about it, then let me know what you decide.”
“All right.”
Patrick hung around after the realty agent left. He took a seat on the hood of the Pontiac and looked at the school building. The size and setup were perfect. School rooms could be turned intodormsfor the kids. It was already equipped with a cafeteria, a gymnasium, an office.
It could work.
“Okay, Lord,” he whispered. “Can you give us some kind of a sign if this is the place for us?”
He slid off the hood and climbed in the car, replacing the earpiece. He started to call Brian and paused. Maybe he would wait and talk to him later. Patrick loved the guy, but Brian’s constant pressure about Derek was exhausting.Be honest—just a little bit frustrating, too.The thought didn’t sit well with him; Brian was his best friend, and they were rarely at odds with one another. Now, suddenly, Patrick wanted to tell him to back off and mind his own business.
And it made him sick at heart… because he knewwhyhe was experiencing these feelings toward his best friend; Brian had become hisconscience, shining a glaring light on the truths that Patrick didn’t want to admit.
Rather thanfacingthose truths—he was steadilyturning againsthis best friend.
. . .
Bailey hopped in the hammock with Derek. “Why don’t you come to town and hang out with me at my apartment for a couple days?”
Derek wrapped his arm around Bailey and smiled slyly. “The two of us, alone together.” He tsked. “Dirty things might happen.”
“Fuck, I hope so.”
