Finding Armando (Found At Last Book 2) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  More from Joe Cosentino

  About the Author

  By Joe Cosentino

  Visit Dreamspinner Press

  Copyright

  Finding Armando

  By Joe Cosentino

  Found At Last: Book Two

  An investigative adventure in search of an elderly man’s first love brought Theo and Jamison together. Now they’re called to put their sleuthing skills to use once again and reunite Pocono resort manager Asher with his lost love, Armando. But the hunt through rural Pennsylvania won’t be easy with Jamison’s younger brother locking horns with the resort’s assistant manager and a shocking offer from the sous chef, Grace.

  To Fred for everything over all these years, the staff at Dreamspinner Press, the readers who begged for another Found At Last story, and to everyone seeking true love—at last.

  Chapter One

  AS WE stood between two oak trees, their emerald leaves parted, revealing a rippling turquoise lake cradling swimmers of all ages. I gazed at the sailboats shielded by the azure sky. Bathed by the late-morning sun, I said to my husband, “This is the spot where eighteen-year-old Nolan and Giorgio went sailing and proclaimed their love nearly six decades ago.”

  Jamison took my hand in his larger one. I breathed in his woodsy scent and felt safe and protected. “As I said in our wedding vows, we went on a journey to find Giorgio, and we found ourselves and each other.”

  We shared a lengthy kiss.

  “Theo.” Jamison pointed downward at a private cove.

  Our eyes met. We both knew that was the spot where we had buried Nolan and Giorgio’s ashes. I offered a silent prayer. Jamison joined me in quiet meditation.

  So much had happened in less than a year, since my local upstate New York LGBTQ center elder friend program partnered me with Nolan Downes. I granted Nolan’s dying request—to rejoin with his lost first love, Giorgio, at last—and in the process, I found true love with Jamison. Subsequently, Jamison and I had a big fat Greek wedding, moved into Nolan’s gorgeous four-bedroom home on the Hudson River, filled out myriads of forms and had numerous interviews with an adoption agency, and continued our careers. I’m a corporate tax accountant, and Jamison is the county’s infectious disease director. Our inheritance from Nolan enabled us to purchase the Poconos resort where Nolan and Giorgio first met—prior to their families separating them. So whenever Jamison and I can get joint vacation time, we visit the resort we renamed: Nolan Giorgio’s. Thanks to the very competent manager and assistant manager, Asher Hillel and Phoenix Brand, the resort is running smoothly and efficiently—and in the black! Even more importantly, it’s a place where everyone is welcome.

  Jamison and I, feeling like lords of the manor, continued strolling through our resort. We marveled at the majestic mountains and dancing waterfalls in the distance that shielded courageous hikers. When we paused to rest, I couldn’t help staring at Jamison. Courtesy of his Egyptian and Swedish heritage, his black hair, crystal blue eyes, and peaches-and-cream complexion glistened in the sunlight. His salmon polo shirt and tan slacks could barely contain his rippling muscles. More important than his terrific looks were Jamison’s honesty, integrity, and concern for others. His Egyptian last name, Radames, is appropriately translated as prince. Jamison—my anchor throughout our search for Giorgio—is my Prince Charming. My last name, Stratis, means warrior in Greek. After all Jamison and I went through to find Giorgio, the name seems to fit.

  Jamison glanced over at me. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t make me wrestle it out of you.”

  “Oww. Sounds like fun.”

  He slapped my behind playfully. “Are you miffed about not hearing from the adoption agency?”

  “Not at all.”

  “You would have made a terrible actor.”

  “Hey, I pretended I wasn’t interested in you when we first met.”

  His white teeth emerged in a sexy smile. “Like I said, you’re not a good actor.”

  I felt my cheeks match my ruby polo shirt. “Be nice. Remember, you’re older than me.”

  “Only two years!”

  “Twenty-eight will turn to ninety-eight before you know it, and I’ll be taking care of you in a nursing home. Don’t make me pull that plug early.”

  We shared a laugh. Both of our cell phones rang. We fished them out of our pockets and glanced at the screens.

  Jamison moaned. “More sales calls.”

  “Same here.”

  Since our ownership of the resort had been posted in various business news sources, we had been flooded with sales calls, texts, and emails.

  “Let’s turn off our phones this week.”

  Jamison’s idea was music to my ears. “How about sealing the pact with a kiss?”

  “I don’t know. My husband might get jealous.”

  I giggled. “Your husband is definitely the jealous type.”

  We turned off the phones and placed them back in our pockets. I rested my arms around his V-shaped back, and we shared a wet and wonderful kiss. In my peripheral vision, I noticed a tall middle-aged man in a business suit. He was sitting on a rock and gazing out at the lake. Upon closer inspection, I said to Jamison, “It’s Asher Hillel.”

  “Let’s say hello.”

  After moving a few steps closer, I stopped Jamison. “Let’s not bother him. He seems lost in his thoughts.”

  “What if something’s wrong?”

  Getting the sense that Asher needed his space, I said, “We can visit his office later.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  “Actually, we’re both the boss.”

  He placed a strong arm around my shoulders, and we continued walking. We made our way past the tennis courts, outdoor pool, and the new health spa building, which included a gym, aerobics and yoga studios, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, massage suites, salon, and juice bar. Next we passed the theater and gift shop. When we arrived at the log cabins for the guests, I was pleased to see people of all ages, races, and sexualities coming and going in July vacation mode.

  After we strolled by the log-cabin-like structure housing the full-time employees, we came upon the restaurant, featuring indoor and outdoor dining. A thin little girl with blond hair and eyes like green olives stood in front of us. She lifted her open palm toward us and displayed something yellow. “It’s a fish’s eye.”

  I glanced down. “Where’d you get it?”

  She pointed. “At the shore.”

  Jamison kneeled next to her and took a better look. “Where’s the rest of the fish?”

  She shrugged, crunching her marigold T-shirt. After placing the eye in her jeans’ pocket, she said, “I’m not allowed in the lake.”

  “How come?” I asked.

  She pointed to herself. “Little girl here. I could drown or get lost.” Gesturing to the employees’ housing unit, she said, “I live there.”

  “You must be special,” Jamison said.

  “My grandmother was a queen.”

  “That makes you a princess,” I said.

  She nodded. “Where do you live?”

  Jamison rose and gestured toward one of the guest cabins. “We’re staying there this week.”

  She pointed to my stomach. “The food’s good, huh?”

  I placed my arms over my post-marriage pounds. “I’
ve always had a stocky build.”

  After glancing at me skeptically, the girl turned toward Jamison. “Don’t you like the food?”

  Jamison giggled. “Not as much as Theo.”

  I glared at him.

  She came closer to me. “Theo. That’s a funny name.”

  “In Greek it means ‘like a god,’” I explained.

  “That Greek god must eat a lot.”

  Feeling my spine stiffen, I asked her, “What’s your name?”

  “Selah. My mom says it stands for ‘exclamation.’ That means I’m important.” She said to me, “You’d like my mom. She’s a good cook. We’ve lived here four years.”

  Jamison asked her, “How old are you?”

  “You shouldn’t ask a girl how old she is.”

  “Okay, how old were you when you moved here?”

  “Four.”

  “Which makes you eight.” He smiled. “Pretty clever of me, huh?”

  She slapped him a high five.

  A young woman looking like an older version of Selah raced out of the employees’ living quarters. A tan dress under a stained apron hung off her thin frame. “Selah, I told you to wait for me before coming out here.”

  Selah whispered to us, “She treats me like a child.” Then she chased after a butterfly.

  The woman offered us a wan smile. “I apologize.”

  “No need.” Jamison returned the smile. “Selah’s quite a little girl.”

  I glanced down at my stomach. “And very aware.”

  Jamison added, “She seems to like her fish eye.”

  “It’s a marble. Selah has quite an imagination. The older she gets, the harder it is to keep her in one place.” The woman offered her hand. “Grace Appleton. I’m a sous-chef at the resort’s restaurant.”

  He shook Grace’s hand. “Jamison Radames. My compliments. We enjoyed breakfast this morning.” He nudged me. “Theo especially liked it.”

  Selah was back. She and Jamison shared a giggle.

  “Theo Stratis.” I shook Grace’s hand. Sucking in my stomach, I said, “Breakfast was very good, especially the yogurt, granola, and fruit.”

  “Which he avoided for the omelet, waffles, and whole-wheat pancakes.”

  I nudged Jamison’s side, and Selah chuckled. Spotting a turtle, she was off again.

  Grace gasped at us. “You’re the new owners! Mr. Stratis and Mr. Radames.”

  “Guilty as charged. But call us Theo and Jamison.”

  He winked at her. “Or better yet, Jamison and Theo.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Nice to meet you too,” I countered.

  She explained, “I’m on my break.”

  Jamison nodded. “Thank you for your four years of service.”

  “How did you…?” Grace realized. “Selah told you.”

  “She also said her grandmother was a queen,” I added.

  Grace replied, “My mother managed a store.”

  “In queenly fashion, no doubt.” We shared a chortle. “And kudos to you for cutting food all day. It’s quite a task for me to get Jamison to make a salad.”

  Grace smiled. “Congratulations.”

  Jamison cocked his head. “For making a salad?”

  She explained, “For getting married and purchasing the resort.”

  “Good news travels fast around here.”

  Grace nodded. “You have no idea.”

  “It sounds like a tight-knit community.”

  Selah wandered off to follow a robin redbreast.

  I said, “Selah seems to enjoy the resort.”

  Grace’s face saddened. “She’s frustrated. How many games can she play on her tablet? All these fun things to do out here and nobody to do them with.”

  I asked, “Doesn’t Selah enjoy the day care center?”

  “The teachers don’t seem to enjoy her. She tends to boss around the other children. The last time Selah was there, they told me it was for resort guests only, and I took her home.”

  Jamison asked, “Don’t you get some time off?”

  “Sure.” She rubbed her forehead. “But being a single mom, there always seems to be something more important to do.”

  I offered, “There should always be time for fun.”

  “There are no other children living here right now, and Selah gets lonely.” She watched Selah and her shoulders drooped. “I should bring Selah to the lake. I don’t let her go there alone.”

  “So we heard.”

  “I’m sure.” Grace sighed. “It’s hard for me to find the time to take her.”

  “Then the new owners will have to do it,” Jamison said. “If it’s all right with you and Selah, Theo and I can take her swimming at the lake. We’ll make sure she doesn’t drown or get lost. Asher Hillel and Phoenix Brand can vouch for us.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” she said.

  “We’d like to.”

  Selah joined us. “That bird flew toward the lake. Can I follow it?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Grace replied.

  Selah groaned.

  Grace glanced at us. After we nodded, she asked Selah, “Would you like to go swimming at the lake with Theo and Jamison?”

  Selah nodded. She added in my direction, “Swimming is good exercise.”

  “Can we pick Selah up at three?” Jamison asked.

  “I’ll have Selah in her suit, loaded with sunblock, and towel ready,” Grace said.

  “I want to tell Juan I’m going to the lake!”

  After Selah disappeared into the restaurant, Grace explained, “Juan is a maintenance man at the restaurant. Selah talks the poor man’s ear off. I can keep an eye on her in the restaurant and make sure she eats well.”

  I sat on a large rock and motioned for Jamison and Grace to join me. “I don’t mean to pry—”

  “Famous last words.” Jamison pinched my cheek.

  “It’s all right.” Grace added, “I know Selah leads a far too solitary life in the summer when school is out.”

  I said, “If you don’t mind me asking—”

  “He’ll ask anyway,” Jamison interjected.

  Grace said, “What is it you’d like to know?”

  I replied, “Where is Selah’s father?”

  “And you don’t need to answer that,” Jamison added.

  Grace waved away his concern. “It’s fine. I had Selah when I was nineteen. Her father was a construction worker. He knew how to build everything… except a relationship. When I told him the news about expecting Selah, he took off. I never heard from him again.”

  “And your parents?” I asked.

  “My father had passed away two years prior. My mother, an evangelical Christian, disowned me.”

  “So much for not casting the first stone and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I cringed at my insensitivity. “Sorry.”

  “No worries. I thought the same thing. How can people profess to be Christian and behave so un-Christ-like?”

  “Good question.”

  Grace grimaced. “My mother did the same thing with my brother.”

  Sensing Grace wanted to talk about it, I asked, “What did your mom have against him?”

  “My brother and I were inseparable growing up. I always knew he was gay. So did he. When he came out at eighteen, my mother threw him out of the house.”

  “How horrible,” Jamison said.

  She nodded. “After I became pregnant with Selah, he invited us to live in his apartment. It was a one-bedroom, but we somehow managed. I named Selah after him. Her middle name, that is. Selah adored my brother, and he adored her right back. That’s probably why she is so comfortable with you two.” Grace put a hand over her mouth. “Stereotype much, Grace? Sorry.”

  “No problem.” Jamison asked, “Where is your brother now?”

  A tear laced her eye. “He died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.” Getting to her feet, Grace said, “
I apologize for going on about myself. I don’t usually do that.”

  “No apologies necessary,” I said, rising. “We asked.”

  “We?”

  I playfully hit Jamison’s shoulder.

  She asked, “Are you sure taking Selah to the lake isn’t an imposition?”

  Jamison stood. “We wouldn’t have offered if it were.”

  “Thank you. Very much. I know we’ve just met, but I feel I can trust you.”

  “You can.”

  She glanced at her watch. “I need to get back to work.” Pausing, she added, “I’m glad you bought the resort. And thank you again.” She hurried toward the restaurant and disappeared inside.

  Jamison and I moved on past the double-story community building, which housed fireplaces, sofas, and balconies for guests to enjoy. We finally reached the administrative building. After entering through the glass double doors, we headed up the wide staircase to the third floor. Feeling like Dorothy and her friends seeking the great Oz, we made our way down the long hallway, passing the receptionist and various administrative assistants. Toward the end of the hall, Phoenix Brand, the assistant manager, came out of his office to greet us. The twenty-seven-year-old tall, muscular man shook our hands and nearly broke our bones. “Theo, Jamison, welcome.” His dark skin glistened in the LED lighting.

  Jamison glanced at Phoenix’s pin-striped suit and designer shoes. “Didn’t you get the memo? There’s no need to dress up anymore.”

  Phoenix waved his large hands. “You can’t teach an old assistant manager new tricks.”

  I asked, “Is Asher in his office?”

  “Isn’t he always?”

  “We saw him earlier… at the lake. He seemed to be deep in thought.”

  Phoenix’s handsome face saddened. After he led us into his office, he said, “Asher has been doing that a lot lately.”

  Before Jamison could stop me, I asked, “Is something wrong?”

  “Definitely.”

  “What is it?”

  Jamison interjected, “Since it’s none of our business, you don’t need to—”

  “I’d tell you… if I knew.”

  I couldn’t resist asking Phoenix, “You and Asher are close friends and you don’t know what’s bothering him?”

  “Guilty as charged.”