Page 93 of Something Like Summer
Allison suggested aposition at the hospital where she now worked. A part-time job as aspeech therapist had opened there. Allison had enough influencethat he didn’t even need to interview. Ben took the position to getaway from menial temp work, and almost instantly found the jobrewarding.
His clients were varied, tosay the least. Some were accident victims who had lost theirability to speak due to physical or mental traumas. Others werestroke survivors, and occasionally he worked with children bornwith speech impediments. Ben enjoyed breaking the words apart toreshape and customize for each individual to say. For the firsttime in his life, he felt like he was doing somethingworthwhile.
Never one to leave thingshalf-done, Allison found him another job to occupy the rest of histime. Brian, who by now had been sober for almost two years, wasalso part-owner of a dinner theater. There, a play featuring a fewmusical numbers was scheduled. Unlike speech therapy, Ben did noteasily warm to this idea. He had no dramatic training and littleurge to perform for an audience he imagined as a sea of bald andblue-haired heads.
He was certain he wouldturn down the opportunity, but then Jace switched to theinternational routes he had always wanted. Ben was happy for himbut knew this meant even more time spent apart. Deciding it wouldhelp keep him occupied, Ben accepted a small role at the dinnertheater. His first part only had a few speaking lines and one song;he was playing a poor street urchin who loses his life to the cold,harsh winter.
Everything changed thefirst night he stepped out onto stage. The magic of theater turnedhim into that urchin, and he sang with his entire soul. He receiveda standing ovation, and continued to with every performance. Henever would have thought it possible, but he had fallen in lovewith theater and eagerly took on larger roles.
In what would have beenspring break if he was still in college, four years after they hadmet, Ben and Jace went to Paris. They both knew what this meant,and the air was thick with anticipation as they both waited for theproposal. The moment came when Jace proposed to Ben during abreakfast in bed. He had hidden the ring in a French croissant,which made Ben laugh so hard that he almost couldn’t sayyes.
Now the big day had come,and so far it was nothing like Ben had pictured it. Movies werefull of grooms with cold feet, but Ben couldn’t be more ready.Choosing to spend the rest of his life with Jace was the easy part.Getting the wedding party organized while juggling the needs ofguests wasn’t. Right now Ben was most worried about thetablecloths. Wind was picking up across the lake and threatening tosend the table decorations flying through the park.
“I think we’re going toneed some rocks,” Ben said.
“I know the caterers arerunning late,” Allison said drolly, “but I don’t think that’s agood solution.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. Doyou think I should run to the grocery store and pick up some veggieplatters? Or a fun pack of Snickers at least?”
“Everyone is fine,”Allison said. “The food isn’t supposed to be served until after theceremony anyway. If they’re still not here by then, we’ll orderpizza.”
Ben looked to the pagodathey had reserved. White roses covered every inch of the woodensurface that wasn’t already awash in ribbons and balloons. Againstthe odds, he and Allison had managed to bring a garish amount ofdecorations together into a beautiful display. The thought of whatwas about to take place there distracted Ben momentarily from allthat needed to be done.
He scanned the crowd untilhe found the only person dressed in a white tuxedo. More handsomethan ever, Jace was surrounded by a gaggle of aunts and cousins,nodding pleasantly and smiling since they wouldn’t let him get aword in. He caught Ben staring and gave a helpless little shake ofhis head. Ben would have to extract him from his family if theywere to ever get started.
“There’s the cateringvan,” Allison said. “No, you stay here. Brian!”
As usual, whenever Allisoncalled, Brian responded. She may have found someone even morepatient than Jace, because Brian seemed to be always running anerrand for her or performing some task. The poor man was runragged, but Brian had nothing but love in his eyes forAllison.
The wedding DJ’s speakersblared into life. Ben’s jaw dropped at the song that was beingplayed. “That’s our wedding march! The idiot is playing itearly.”
The next thing Ben knew,Jace was at his side and guiding him to the pagoda. The guests werescrambling for their seats, while Ben kept trying to protest thatthis was all in conflict with the schedule.
Then they were standing infront of everyone. Neither Ben nor Jace were particularlyreligious, so they had chosen to be married at a lake-side parkrather than a church. The idea of having any sort of priestpresiding over their ceremony didn’t suit them either, at least notat the time. Now Ben wished more than anything there was someone toguide their actions.
The song came to an end,and Jace began his speech. Ben only heard some of it, words likecommitment and laughter, and something about growing old together,but the word that stood out the most was forever. No moreuncertainty or wavering, no more lonely nights or pain. Justforever, with Jace.
At that moment Ben wantednothing more. Ben had written a speech, and it was a good one too,but he didn’t have the patience for it now. He grabbed the ringsset on a pedestal before them, shoved one into Jace’s hand, andkissed him.
After a surprised silence,the guests broke into applause and the DJ cued the next song. Benhad no idea what to do next, since he hadn’t planned this part, butJace took him in his arms and began to sway to themusic.
“So we’re married?” Benasked, still not believing it.
“Yup,” Jacesaid.
“Simple asthat?”
“Simple as that,” Jacelaughed. “Just a promise and nothing more. Hard to believe thatanyone makes a big deal out of it.”
“It is a big deal!” Benprotested, but this only made Jace laugh more.
As they danced, food wasunloaded from vans, corks popped out of champagne bottles, andmusic was played, but it was some time before the newly marriedcouple ended their embrace and walked hand in hand into a crowd ofpeople who loved them.
* * * * *
The summer evening sky wasclear, a gentle breeze keeping the temperature mild. On nights likethis the theater was never filled to capacity. Ticket sales didn’tgo down, but attendance did since not as many people showed up. Benimagined audience members becoming distracted on their way to thetheater, lured away by parks and riverside strolls.
Ben wanted to escape backinto that summer night as well. He had already performed all buthis final scene. He was playing the suitor of a powerful olderwoman. His character intended to marry the woman for her money buthad inadvertently fallen in love with her, evidence of hisonce-greedy intentions coming to light just before the wedding.Ben’s last appearance in the play was a song to his lover, beggingher forgiveness.
