Page 14 of The Fault Next Door

Nolan almost burst out laughing. The joke was on her. She’d been an asshole when Andrew had been alive. He actually had to take out a restraining order on her because she kept showing up at the base to harass him about their marriage.

“I don’t live in Virginia.”

"Liar. You answered the phone. I'm pulling up. You'd better answer the door, or I'm calling the cops. We'll see what they have to say about you stealing his ashes."

“I didn’t steal his ashes. I’m his next of kin.”

“Bullshit. You’re some fairy who should be dead. My Andrew was a good man until you ruined him.”

This time, Nolan did snort. "That's not the story Andrew tells. He made me swear I'd never let you get close to him if he was injured or dead. You aren't getting the ashes. Don't call again."

Nolan ended the call, hoping the people who were living in their old place didn’t get too pissed about Sherrie showing up on their doorstep.

The phone rang again, and he clicked the button, silencing the noise. Two seconds passed before the phone rang again and again and again. He blocked her number, but that didn't stop her. Another number called, interrupting him. He couldn't take it anymore. Pain and pressure built. They'd had enough trouble with Sherrie when Andrew had been alive. After his death, she'd been a total nightmare.

He opened the door and stepped outside, releasing all the frustration and anger with a yell at the top of his lungs.

He felt better until he heard someone beside him. Ryder either was already back from church or hadn’t gone this weekend.

“You okay?” Ryder asked.

Nolan lifted his hand and held it up, not trusting his voice. His phone rang again, and he turned the volume down so hecouldn’t hear it. He would have to get a new number. He should have changed it before, but he’d wanted to have the connection to Andrew. It was silly, but Andrew had memorized his number so he could call from anywhere in the world if he got the chance. But Andrew would never call again. Keeping his number was one of the last vestiges of hope he’d held onto, not that Andrew would come back from the dead, but he had to have something to hold on to.

“Nolan?” Ryder asked hesitantly.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m having a…thing.” He didn’t know how to explain the situation. He didn’t want to tell Ryder that his mother-in-law, who was more like an outlaw instead of family, was harassing him.

“It’s okay. You haven’t met my mom, but I’m sure once you do, you’ll understand if I ever come outside and yell like that.”

“I hope I didn’t disturb you.” Nolan turned and met Ryder’s gaze. He shouldn’t have looked at the man because now he wanted to pull him close and hug him.

“Everything’s fine. Mavis might have been stunned, but it’s all good.”

Nolan blew out a breath. He wanted to say he was sorry again, but he needed to drop the subject. He couldn’t tell Ryder the reason he had yelled was because his dead husband’s mother had called wanting his ashes. And he certainly wouldn’t lie and say he’d been married to a woman. No way would he ever disrespect Andrew that way.

“Would you like to come over for dinner?”

Nolan let go a sigh. "I would, but there's a new doctor at the clinic, and tonight is the welcome dinner."

“Oh, I didn’t know the town was getting a new doctor.”

"Yeah, the other doctor retired a few months ago. The place has been running short-staffed. It will take some of the burden off me, and my hours should be better."

“Cool. I hope it goes well with the new doctor.”

Though disappointment slid through him, he tried to keep it from showing. "So do I. Sorry again. I didn't mean to disturb you."

"Honest, I'm sure I'll be out here yelling about something my mom does at some point. I love her, but she keeps trying to set me up, and I'm nowhere close to wanting to date, much less get married. I don't have any desire to tie myself down again. Not that my marriage to Amy felt like I was tied down." Ryder blew out a breath. "I'm going to stop. I loved her, but I'm making it sound like I didn't. I just can't."

Nolan nodded, not wanting to talk about personal stuff. Knowing Ryder had lost someone sucked, but he didn’t want to commiserate. Losing Andrew had been the worst thing he’d ever gone through, and he didn’t want to keep reliving the pain. “I understand. And don’t worry about saying what you think is the wrong thing in front of me. I won’t judge you.”

Ryder nodded, then turned and walked away. He watched the man, then remembered he couldn't let on that he was gay and turned to go inside.

He checked his phone, seeing he had fifteen voicemails. He didn’t want to change his number, but it was looking more and more like he was going to have to. After blocking every number Sherrie had called from, he cleaned his house and when to the grocery store. Later that afternoon, he showered and dressed for the evening events.

The dinner would include himself, the other nurses, and the doctor. It was at a restaurant at the edge of town that had a private dining room at the back. He was the last to arrive, other than the new doctor, and greeted everyone before grabbing a glass of wine from the waiter taking care of the room.

The door opened, and the doctor stepped in. He was good looking. Late thirties, maybe forty, with dark hair and browneyes. He worked out, which was obvious, and he looked like he had veneers.

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