Meeting Adam, recent widower

Perplexed and annoyed, Nick locked his car doors remotely as the group walked a few houses down the street.

The wife, Megan, regarded him suspiciously the entire way. It made Nick feel like some sort of outcast, a stark contrast to the warm welcome he'd felt thus far in Stepford.

Jack explained as they walked. "It's actually really lucky, Nicky, that this is happening. See, one of your neighbors, Adam, just lost his wife a couple months ago. Tragic accident. He took it really hard. But the worst part for poor Adam is that he's facing eviction because, as you're learning, no one lives alone in Stepford. So he's going to get kicked out."

Nick scrunched his face at being called Nicky. What a weird guy. "Woah, you're telling me that this guy's wife dies, and as punishment, he gets kicked out of his house? That's messed up. There's no way that's legal."

"It's how we do things in Stepford," Megan offered. "Can't have anyone upsetting the delicate balance."

Jack chimed in as the group climbed the steps to the front door of a home. "That's right. You think a perfect place like this just happens? No, we have to fight for it, and that means sometimes we have to make hard choices. Sacrifices, even. Ah, here we are." He knocked on the door and waited.

Nick didn't get it. "Okay, so what does any of this have to do with me?"

Jack laughed and clapped a hand on Nick's shoulder. "Oh, I thought that was obvious. You're going to move in with Adam."

Megan followed his words immediately with, "Can't live alone."

Nick looked from Jack to Megan and back to Jack. "Seriously? You guys are serious right now. Shit."

Megan tsk'ed softly and Jack shook his head. "Watch your language, please. This is Stepford."

Nick's jaw dropped. But he didn't have a lot of choices. His divorce had left him with few options and precious little cash. He didn't have a house to go back to, and after his dad went to the trouble to cosign for him on the paperwork to life here in the first place, it'd be humiliating to try to move in with him. His dad already saw him as a failure. He sighed. "I guess I'll at least meet the guy." Having a roommate might actually be better with Nick's already strained finances.

The front door opened. "Oh, hey Jack. Megan." A slight pause while Adam looked at Nick, then back to Jack. "What can I do for you?" Adam, like the other men in Stepford, was tall and fit. It seemed every single dude in the whole town was somewhere between 6'1" and 6'5" while Nick was barely 5'10". It was starting to make him a little self conscious.

"Adam, this is Nick." Jack made the introduction.

Adam reached out and shook Nick's hand, muttering a "Good to meet'cha." as Jack continued.

"Nick has come to move in, arrived just now, but he's all by himself."

Adam made a face. "In Stepford? Can't have that."

Nick couldn't believe it. Did everyone in this town have the same exact views on this? What sort of crazy utopia was this?

Jack nodded. "That's right. So, we were thinking he could live here. Maybe you won't need to finish packing your things after all."

Adam frowned for a moment, then seemed to suddenly realize something. "Oh! You mean..."

Jack nodded. "That's right. You know how we do things in Stepford, so I'm sure you'll be alright."

Adam let out a big breath, running a hand through his hair. "Wow, okay. If that's how it's gotta be." He looked to Nick. "Nick, was it? Come on in, I guess. Have a look around."

Before Nick moved, Megan pressed the brightly colored gift basket into his hands with an uncharacteristically warm smile. "Here. This is for you. Welcome to Stepford. I'm sure we'll be good friends."