LIFE WE LIVE (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 1

Tim sat next to the window, sadly staring out at two squirrels playing in the yard. He slowly turns his wedding band as he closes his eyes.

"God, I miss you so much." He whispers as he thinks about his husband.

So much had happened this past year. Some good, some bad. Their wedding. Rob finding love. Rob and Kelsey soon would be welcoming their baby girl into the world. Avi getting his degree and getting a good paying job at the bank.

Things were looking up until that night three months ago when Tim's husband, Chris, passed away in his sleep from an apparent heart attack. Tim's world came crashing down. 

Adam had always thought that his big brother would always be around. Avi had been a great support for Adam and has eased the pain for the younger Rupp. But his calm actions so soon after his brother's death seem to have everyone confused.

"Tim?" Kelsey calls softly as she walks into the living room.

"What?" Tim answers as he quickly wipes a tear and turns his attention back to the squirrels.

"You hungry?" She asks as she walks over to his chair.

She only receives a slight head shake for an answer.

"Sweetie, you have to eat something. When was the last time you've eaten?" Kelsey asks as she sits down on a footstool that was near Tim's wheelchair.

"I don't know." Tim answers with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"You really need to eat. You've already lost so much weight." Kelsey says sweetly as she brushes his hair back. "Used to, people couldn't tell who was pregnant, me or you."

He turns his head slowly to look at the smiling lady and raises a brow.

"Are you sassing me, Mr. Timothy?" Kelsey asks.

"I never said a word." Tim replies.

"You didn't have to." She smiles as she gets up and walks around behind his chair.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tim asks, looking around at her.

"I don't think, I know." Kelsey says as she starts to push his chair. "I'm taking you in the kitchen so you can eat."

"You don't need to be trying to push me in your condition. I'm totally capable of moving my chair myself." Tim argues as he stops his chair.

Kelsey walks around and stoops down by the wheelchair.

"Well, are you going to the kitchen on your own or do I have to push you?" She asks with raised brows. "Either way, you ARE going to the kitchen and you ARE going to eat."

"You're mean." Tim says as they stare into each other's eyes in a face-off.

"I have to be. I live in a house with six men." Kelsey says.

"Actually, you live with three men and three immature weirdos." Tim says as he rolls up to the table.

"I beg your pardon. Rob is not a weirdo." Kelsey says as she fixes Tim a bowl of home-made beef stew that she had just made.

"Really?" Tim asks with a slight smile.

Kelsey smiles as she sets the stew in front of him. It made her feel good that she was actually able to get him to smile a little. He had been so depressed after Chris's death and she totally understood. She just missed his sassiness and his smile, which since losing Chris, he has done neither.

"What smells so good in here?" Adam asks as he and Austin walk into the kitchen.

"Home-made beef stew. What some?" Kelsey smiles as she gets extra bowls down from the cabinet.

Austin quickly sits down and Adam goes to the refrigerator to get everyone some tea.

"How'd you manage to get him in here to eat?" Austin asks as he watches Tim quietly eating his stew.

"I hogtied him." Kelsey smiles as she sets a bowl down in front of Austin.

"I don't think I even remember the last time I've seen him eat anything." Austin says with a sad tone.

"He doesn't remember the last time he's ate either." Kelsey says, sitting down.

Tim calmly wipes his mouth with a napkin.

"Y'all, I'm sitting right here. You don't have to talk about me in the third person." Tim says before turning his eyes to the two.

"We just didn't want to interrupt your eating." Austin says.

"Kelsey, what's going to happen if you go into labor?" Adam asks as he takes a sip of tea.

"I'll go to the hospital." She answers, not fully understanding his question.

"How are you gonna get there?" Tim asks. "We can't drive and you definitely wouldn't be able to drive yourself."

"Wait. None of you know how to drive?" Kelsey asks, realizing that she might have a problem.

"Obviously." Tim answers.

"They don't give crazy people driver's licenses." Austin comments as he shovels stew in his mouth.

"Well, there's a lot of crazy people driving but that's beside the point." Tim replies.

"Whoa, wait a minute." Austin says, suddenly looking up from his bowl. "Adam, you don't see anything, do you? Like babies floating around her or something?"

"No." Adam laughs. 

Austin's question even got a chuckle from Tim.

As they finished their lunch, Kelsey, Adam and Austin laughed and talked. Tim, more or less, just watched and listened. Something weighed heavy and his mind that was really bothering him.

"Adam? Could you help me to the bathroom?" Tim asks, just out of the blue.

"Yeah, sure." Adam giggles at something Austin had been saying as he stands up.

Once in the bathroom, he gets Tim up and gets him situated on the toilet. He then hops up on the sink to wait, still wearing a smile from what Austin was telling them.

"Austin's nuts." Adam chuckles.

Tim nods but stays quiet.

"Uh, Adam, can I ask you something?" Tim finally speaks as he stares at the floor.

"Sure, what's up?" Adam asks as he leans back against the wall.

"Uh, please, don't take this in a wrong way..." Tim says slightly shaking his head.

"Okay?" Adam says with a questionable smile.

"Don't you still miss Chris?" Tim asks, looking up at the blond with sad eyes. "I mean, you seem happy. I don't mean to sound like I'm not happy that you're handling it so well. It's just.... all I seem to do is cry and think about him."

"Of course I do." Adam sighs. "But can I tell you something that's going to sound crazy?"

"Yeah, sure." Tim answers with a nod.

"I haven't said anything to anyone about this because I'm afraid they may make jokes about it." Adam says as he runs a hand through his blond hair. "Just like Austin did about the babies. Or it's just because I'm mourning Chris's death too much."

"I, for one, know that your visions and the feelings you get are nothing to laugh at." Tim says.

"Tim." Adam gets down from the counter and sits down on the side of the tub next to the toilet. He takes Tim by the hand and gently squeezes it. "I truly believe in my heart that Chris's spirit is here. His body may be gone but his spirit remains in this house. I have felt his presence."

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Y'all might want to take another look at the book cover. You may have missed the cowboy hat. LOL

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