Blue Skies by Robyn Carr

course, it had.
    Nikki and Dixie knew that Robert was an asshole, but of course they didn’t know all of it. It was Carlisle’s dirty little secret. He couldn’t stand the thought of being some sissy queer who couldn’t… wouldn’t fight back. It was killing him. Even Dixie had struck out at injustice. Why couldn’t he? It wasn’t as though Robert was so much bigger and stronger.
    He folded up the last of his laundry, packed his bag, put it in the trunk of his car and drove out of the neighborhood. Thirty minutes later he was parked at the curb of an elegant neighborhood with large, expensive homes and tall, mature trees. He looked at the house, remembering every room, especially the huge gourmet kitchen. It was nearly five.
    Alex’s small silver sports car came down the street and turned into the drive. Even after traveling across town, Carlisle still wasn’t sure he intended to talk to Alex, but when Alex stepped out of the car, briefcase in hand, he looked directly across the street at his former partner. As if he could sense his presence.
    â€œOh, well,” Carlisle said to himself, getting out of the car. Hands in pockets, he slowly crossed the street.
    Alex looked well. At five foot eight, he wasn’t a big man, but he was well built and distinguished-looking, with a salt-and-pepper beard that set off his deep, penetrating aqua eyes. Had Carlisle really been worried about the age difference? Alex was fifty-three and appeared to be robust, in the peak of health. He nodded once toward Carlisle, holding his briefcase against his chest with both hands.
    â€œHi, Alex. I’m sorry to just show up without calling first.”
    Alex shrugged.
    â€œI won’t stay or get in the way. I wanted to say I’m sorry. For what I did to you.”
    Alex simply lifted his brows and cocked his head to one side, as if asking without asking.
    â€œI realized before much time had passed what a terrible…no, tragic mistake I had made. But I couldn’t do anything about it by the time I knew.”
    â€œWhy not?” Alex asked.
    Carlisle just shook his head in a helpless way. “I just couldn’t. But it has become important to me that you know I’m very sorry. Think you might ever forgive me?”
    â€œIt’s not a matter of—”
    â€œHey,” a voice called.
    Both men turned. Standing in the doorway of the house was a slender young man with what appeared to be a dish towel in his hands. He was very young. Alex was robbing the cradle for sure this time. “Would you like me to open a bottle of wine and put out some cheese and crackers?” the young man asked.
    â€œNo—No, thank you,” Carlisle called over to him quickly. “I have to run.” And to Alex he said, “Take care, okay?”
    â€œYou, too. You don’t have to be a stranger, you know.”
    â€œThanks. That’s decent. You always were so…classy.” Carlisle went back to his car and drove to his own neighborhood, but instead of going to Dixie’s house, he went to the one he had shared with Robert for the past three years.
    Accepting his fate.
    The next evening when Dixie came home from her trip, Carlisle wasn’t there. She checked around for his belongings. And she knew.
    She called Nikki. “He’s gone. Again.”
    â€œDamn,” Nikki said. “You’d think one of us would escape bad love before total humiliation forced it.”
    â€œHe didn’t even leave a note.”
    â€œHe’s embarrassed. He’s right around the corner.”
    â€œWell, too bad. If he can’t even tell me he’s going back to Robert, he can just kiss my—”
    â€œDon’t be mad,” Nikki begged. “Give yourself a little time, then call him. See if he’s okay.”
    â€œI don’t care if he’s okay.” Dixie sighed. “He’s given up. But I’m not going to. I don’t care