Page 102 of Something Like Forever

“I’mserious! That would be the closest way you could have a biologicalchild together. It would be half Tim, and half your sister. Don’tlook at me like that! When you first came out of the closet, I wasscared you wouldn’t have a relationship or anything normal. Do youremember Marcy? I worked with her for years. She always gave yougum when she came to visit. Very into dental health. Anyway, herson is gay, and along with his husband, they just had twins from asurrogate. Now they’re going to try again, but with sperm fromwhoever didn’t get to go first. So all you need to do is haveTim—”

“Alldone!” Ben said, unplugging her phone and handing it back. “Youhave plenty of room now to take photos. Better getstarted!”

“Thinkabout it!” his mother said. “I can help babysit. Of course it wouldhelp if you moved back to The Woodlands so we could becloser.”

Ben laughed and shook hishead. “I need to finish getting dressed. Go check on Dad. Please.Last time I saw him, he was trying to sell a cable package to Tim’smother.”

“He better keep hispackage away from her!” June said, heading for thehallway.

Ben watched her go,shaking his head. Then he looked over at Jace’s photo. “I invitedyour parents too. They declined, for some reason. I can’t imaginewhy.” He stared at the photo longingly, then went to the masterbedroom, where he found another little piece of Jace. Two of them,actually.

“We’re not doing it inyour bed,” Michelle said. “I swear. We’re just lyinglow.”

“Until they start servingdrinks,” Greg added.

Jace’s sister and herhusband, Jace’s best friend. Ben loved having them around, since itmade him feel more complete. Greg was stretched out on the bed,Michelle lying sideways to him and using Greg’s thighs as apillow.

“Thewaiters are making the rounds,” Ben said. “I saw booze on my wayup.”

Greg tried to rise butMichelle shoved him back down. “Stay. I’m not ready to face themasses yet. Besides, your penis pillow is toocomfortable.”

Ben grimaced. “Unless he’sunnaturally gifted, you aren’t actually touching his— Never mind. Idon’t want to know.”

“There’s that blush!” Gregsaid with a cackle. “I haven’t seen it in ages.”

“I camein here to hide from family,” Ben said. “You’re contaminating mysanctuary. This is a relative-free zone, and you guyscount.”

“We weretrying to figure that out,” Greg said. “You’re our brother-in-law,so Jason is our nephew-in-law, right?”

“Wedon’t normally think of either of you as in-laws,” Michelle said.“That’s too technical and cold. We’re family.”

“Right,” Greg said, “butjust for the sake of argument, after the wedding, does that makeWilliam our in-law in-law? You know what I mean?”

Ben sat on the edge of thebed and thought about it. “Maybe it’s like a second cousin. Asecond nephew-in-law?”

“I’m just going to callhim William,” Michelle said wisely. “I’m also going to encourageour children to elope, because weddings are a circus. How are youholding up?”

“Fine,” Ben admitted. “Ilike having everyone here. When I was little, the holidays used tobe stuffed full of people. Now everyone has grown up, moved away,or died. It’s not the same anymore, but this reminds me of how itused to be.”

“Spokenlike someone who still knows what privacy feels like,” Greg teased.“Try raising three kids and then tell me about the good ol’days.”

“You’llchange your tune,” Michelle said. “Sylvester’s off to college nextyear, and I think Preston is finally serious about moving out.Pretty soon we’ll be on our own.” They considered this in silence,neither one looking too eager. “You promised me tenkids.”

“I did!” Greg said with asmile. “That was part of our wedding vows.”

“I wishI could have been there,” Ben said. “Couldn’t you have waited untilJace and I met?”

“Very thoughtless of us,”Michelle said. Then she sat upright. “I took a bunch of old photosand videos in to be digitized recently. I have a few on myphone.”

“Of the wedding?” Benasked, already leaning near.

“Yup!”

“I’m going to rejoin thecurrent wedding,” Greg said, sighing theatrically. “They couldprobably use my help.”

“Don’tdrink too much,” Michelle said as he went. She focused on herphone, swiping through images. “It’s more than just Greg and me inthese photos,” she said, her tone casual, but he understood thewarning.

“Ifigured,” Ben said in equally cool tones. Rarely did he stumbleupon an unexpected photo of Jace, or find anything significant thathe had left behind. The gut-wrenching surprises had dried up yearsago, so these days, even seeing an image from a slightly differentangle was exciting rather than upsetting. “Was his hair stilllong?”