Free Wings of Love by Scotty Cade

flew them back and forth to the lake when they were building the lodge, and when it was finally finished, they offered me a job flying their guests exclusively.”
    Brad nodded.
    “So I rented a plane for the first year, and then, when I’d saved up enough money, finally bought my own, and here we are.” Mac sat on the hearth, very relieved to have the story come to an end.
    “Mac, I’m sincerely impressed. You overcame some very difficult obstacles. I know a lot of people who have had many more advantages in life and did a lot less with them. You should be very proud of yourself.”
    “Yeah, well. You do what you have to do to survive.”
    Brad stood, walked over, and sat next to Mac on the hearth. He put his arm around Mac’s shoulder and said, “Your life could have gone in a completely different direction and the outcome could have been a hell of a lot different. You’re a hell of a man, Mac.”
    For a brief second, Mac rested his head on Brad’s shoulder. When he realized what he’d done, he quickly stood and said, “Now your turn.”
    “My story is not nearly as compelling as yours,” Brad admitted. “I think it’s pretty boring, actually, but with a couple of small similarities.”
    Mac plopped back onto the couch and said, “I’m all ears.”
    It was now Brad’s turn to pace.
    “Okay. I’m an only child and grew up in San Francisco. My mother was a pediatrician, and my father was an attorney. When I was born, my mother became a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled me until the seventh grade. We traveled a good bit, and learning came pretty easy to me. I graduated from Stanford two years early and took a year off to travel alone. That’s how I found Hiline Lake. After my year off, I started medical school and specialized in oncology. When I started college, my mother bought a small clinic and went back to work. When I graduated from medical school, she offered me an office in her building, and that’s how I started my practice.”
    Mac smiled and Brad paused and blushed. Suddenly he felt very guilty telling his story. Mac had worked so hard for everything he’d achieved, and here he was, handed everything on a silver platter.
    Mac sensed that Brad was struggling with something and he thought he knew what.
    “I know what you’re thinking Brad,” Mac said. “And that’s nonsense. We did things differently, all out of our control. We don’t pick our parents, and in most cases, they don’t pick us. You came from money and I didn’t. And you’re a doctor and I’m a pilot, not easily comparable,” Mac said through a smile. “Tell me more.”
    “My practice started taking off, and I needed more space. After a year, my mother and I decided to add on to the clinic and that’s how I met Jeff. He was the architect we hired to do the plans for the building.”
    “I was about to ask where Jeff came into the picture.” Mac said. “Now it makes sense.”
    “We instantly fell in love and were almost inseparable,” Brad continued. “My parents were always supportive of my lifestyle, and they adored Jeff. And unlike you, Jeff had a family, but they disowned him when they found out he was gay. They never spoke again.”
    “Are you serious?” Mac asked. “It’s stories like this that make me glad I didn’t have a family.”
    “Very serious. In fact, when I called to tell them that he had passed away, they hung up on me.”
    “Assholes!” Mac said.
    “So, like you, my family became his, and life was really good for so many years. One Christmas, my parents took us to Switzerland on a skiing trip, and Jeff and I decided to stay in town and do a little holiday shopping while Mom and Dad skied for the day. There was an avalanche, and they were both killed, along with fifteen other skiers. Needless to say, Jeff and I were devastated. Three years later, Jeff was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer, and the rest you know.”
    They sat in silence for several moments, and Mac finally broke the