Family Meal - Bryan Washington Kartoniert (TB)

Growing up TJ was Cam's boy next door. When Cam needed a home TJ's parents - Mae and Jin - took him in. Their family bakery became Cam's safe place. Until he left and it wasn't anymore. Years later Cam's world is falling apart. The love of his life Kai is gone: but his ghost keeps haunting Cam and won't let go. And Cam's not sure he wants to let go not sure he's ready. When he has a chance to return to his home town to work in a gay bar clinging on in a changing city landscape he takes it. Back in the same place as TJ they circle each other warily their banter electric with an und ercurrent of betrayal drawn together despite past and current drama. Family is family. But TJ is no longer the same person Cam left behind he's had his own struggles. The quiet low-key queer kid the one who stayed home TJ's not sure how to navigate Cam - utterly cool completely devastated and self-destructing - crashing back into his world. When things said - or left unsaid - become so insurmountable that they devour us from within hope and sustenance and friendship can come from the most unlikely source. Nourishment has many forms: eating croissants sitting together at a table with bowls of curry sharing history confronting demons growing flowers showing up. This is a story about how the people who know us the longest can hurt us the most but how they also set the standard for love and by their necessary presence create a family.