Page 144 of Something Like Forever
“I’m trying to cheer youup!” Allison said defensively. “That’s my job!”
Ben laughed. “If that’syour job, maybe I should give you the day off.”
“No chance,” Allison said.“Best friends never call in sick. Ever. You know I love you.Right?”
He nodded. “I love youtoo.”
“Good.”She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I can’t say goodbye toyou. Not yet.”
“Iknow.” Ben shifted to put his arm around her. “Let’s just take itone day at a time.”
They sat together on thecouch, two old friends, and while they seemed to be in the midst ofa comfortable silence, their minds were filled with the songs theyhad sung, the memories they had made, and all the love they hadshared over the years.
* * * * *
The only downside tohaving a brave heart, Ben decided, is that it didn’t know when toquit. Four months had passed since Tim’s death, and Ben was stillalive and… healthy wasn’t the right word, although he didexperience moments of happiness. Having his son home again afterall these years felt good. They brought with them a dog and a cat,and it was almost like the final paintings that Tim had createdwere a prophecy. Their home was filled with life again—new memoriesbeing made, old stories continuing. He liked that. Perhaps a littletoo much or his body would have given up already. Maybe that’s whyhe found himself standing in the backyard one night, in the samespot where they had taken their vows, but it wasn’t the same. Timhadn’t painted Ben in the yard alone, staring up at the sky withtears in his eyes. No matter how happy Ben felt when talking withhis son, or while brushing a purring cat on his lap, he still felthomesick, despite spending all his time at home.
Ben returned indoors anddecided to call it a night. He paused halfway up the stairs, hisbreathing labored and his chest spiking with pain. He wanted to sitdown and take a break, but that was too complicated a maneuverwhile on the stairs. Even if he managed, he probably wouldn’t beable to get back up again. The last thing he wanted was for Jasonto install one of those motorized chairs to get him up and down thestairs, although itwouldbe amusing for the first day or so. But no, as heoften did these days, he stood there gripping the rail until he hadrecovered enough to continue.
He made it to his bedroomwithout having to stop again, taking his time getting undressed andtrying not to let sorrow seep into his soul. He wasn’t complete.Not without his dearest companion. Funny how Ben longed for Timmost when going to sleep each night. That was a feeling he knewwell. Now it had doubled.
He looked to the twophotos on the nightstand. One of Jace, the other of Tim, both atabout the same age. Ben sometimes took them and acted out littlescenes, usually making them fight over him. Just for old time’ssake. Tonight he kept it simple.
“Husbandnumber one, husband number two, I miss you both. Please send menice dreams. If you don’t, I’m putting myself back on the market.Do you really want a third guy to compete with?”
Ben chuckled to himself.Then he kissed his fingers and pressed them to Jace’s lips, beforedoing the same for Tim. It was his photo he looked at just beforeshutting off the light and slipping beneath the sheets. Hegrimaced, the pain in his chest more irritating than usual as hetried different positions to alleviate the discomfort. Ben wasfinally dozing off when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It grippedhim briefly, then took the blanket and pulled it higher so hewouldn’t be cold. Jason had come to check on him, worrying as he sooften did these days. Ben tried to gather the energy to open hiseyes and reassure him, but the gentle hum he heard was toosoothing.
Hum? Fearing something waswrong, he opened his eyes. In the limited light, he saw curvedplastic walls, oval windows, and stain-resistant carpet. Anairplane interior? Ben sat upright, which for once wasn’tdifficult. The hand on his shoulder pulled away as he did so. WhenBen looked up, he saw a tall man wearing a neatly ironed uniformand the sweetest smile he ever had the pleasure of pressing hislips against.
“Jace?” he said, voicealready quaking with emotion.
“In the flesh,” came theanswer. Then Jace cocked his head, eyes shining. “So tospeak.”
“Where are we going? Wait,is this a dream?”
“One you never have towake up from,” Jace said, offering his hand.
Then it all came back tohim, every time they had met like this, all the conversations theyhad shared over the decades—a relationship hidden in the twilighthours of the night. But this time, if the promise was true, thedream would last forever. Ben took hold of the hand, noticing thathis own was no longer wrinkled or covered in liver spots. He wasyoung again, thank goodness, because he had nearly forgotten justhow handsome Jace had been, and how all it took was a simple winkfrom him to make his heart flutter. Ben let himself be pulled intothose arms, enjoying the warm comfort there.
“I’vegot you,” Jace murmured. “You’re safe now. No more pain or hardtimes. From now on, it’s just us.” An appealing offer, but itwasn’t quite right. He pulled back, Jace noticing his concern andchuckling. “Don’t worry. Tim is part of that ‘us.’ So are yourfriends and family. Eventually we’ll all be together again. Ifthat’s not the perfect definition of Heaven, I don’t know whatis.”
“Is thatwhere we are?” Ben asked.
“Notquite yet,” Jace said. “We could be, but… Well, I’ve had to wait avery long time for this moment, and I don’t want to share it withanyone. I didn’t have to ask permission. Tim suggested that I bethe one to bring you here.” He reconsidered. “Okay, he made me playrock-paper-scissors for the honor, but I’m pretty sure he let mewin.”
Ben laughed, the tears inhis eyes happy. He didn’t expect to experience the sad kind everagain, not with the pain of separation having left his heart. Hekissed Jace, the experience just as perfect as it had been alifetime ago. There was no comparison, although he wouldn’t mindputting that to the test, and he would just as soon as he and Timwere reunited. Ben could scarcely comprehend the bliss of havingthe two greatest loves of his life at his side, secure in theknowledge that they would never again be lost to him. For now, hesat in one of the airline seats, pulled Jace down next him, anddelighted in the sound of his voice, the touch of his hand, and thejoy reflected in his eyes, all while slowly flying toward aneternity filled with promises of love.
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