Page 47 of Something Like Forever

“Yeah.” Ben resisted theurge to turn around in his seat for one last look.“You?”

Tim was quiet a moment. “The last time I wasthis heartbroken was when Eric died.”

Ben grasped the hand onhis leg, squeezing it tight. “They’ll be okay. Right?”

“Absolutely,” Tim said.“Are you kidding? He couldn’t be in safer hands. A rescue swimmer!William is the nicest guy I’ve ever met too. He’ll be there to makeJason feel better when things get rough.”

William was only thesecond-nicest guy Ben had ever met, and yes, he still rememberedhow comforting it was to be with someone like that. Wild andelusive also had its perks, even if Tim was a lot more settledthese days. “Thank you,” Ben said. “For the trip and everythingelse. You’ve got this parenting thing down.”

Tim slid his hand free toplace it over Ben’s. “You’re pretty amazing too.”

Then they grew silent, Timno doubt doing the same thing as Ben—entertaining worries betweenrevisiting happy memories. They were half an hour into their tripwhen Tim broke the silence.

“William is a fathernow.”

Ben snorted. “You justnoticed?”

Tim wasn’t finished. “Thatmeans when Jason and William get married, we legally becomegrandparents.”

He mentally tried on thetitle for size. Grandpa Ben? Or maybe Grandfather Benjamin, notthat it was any better. “Do you think it’s too late to sabotagetheir relationship so they break up?”

Tim nodded. “Yeah. Probably.”

“Then until that daycomes,” Ben said with a theatrical shudder, “let us never speak ofit again.”

Chapter Seven

“Sneak attack!”

A magazine of some sortthwacked the script Ben had been reading. Not that he cared. Everycharacter in the upcoming play was a child, and yet each role wasto be played by an adult. That was weird. Ben wasn’t lookingforward to dressing up like and pretending to be a kid. Even musiccouldn’t save this production, since the songs consisted ofcompelling lyrics like,Gumdrop gals andlollipop lads sure are sweet, but ladies and gentlemen, they’re notfor you to eat!He had already beensearching for any excuse to bail, so he didn’t mind theinterruption. He looked up at Tim, noticing the shit-eatinggrin.

“Are you in the mood?” Benasked. “You can’t wait until later? It’s fine. Let’sgo!”

“Iamin the mood,” Tim said, sliding out a kitchen chair to joinhim. “In the mood to discuss your future! A blowjob would be goodtoo. But only after.”

Ben laughed and focused onthe magazine, or as it turned out, a catalogue from the Universityof Texas detailing its graduate program. “Tim—”

“Just hear me out! I knowneither of us is eager to go back to school, but you could reallybenefit from this. I’ve done the research. If you become a fullspeech pathologist, the sky is the limit. You’ll be able to dowhatever you want. I can tell you’re getting restless. I know you.And before you shoot me down, think about this: You and I have,what? Thirty or forty more years of work ahead of us? I’m okay withthat. I help artists get their work shown in galleries and earnscholarships so they can go to school. I know Eric is up therewatching me and proud of what I’m doing. I’m sure Jace is proud ofyou too but—”

“I can do more,” Ben said,already nodding. “I like the idea. I really do, but I’ve also donethe research. Here.” He flipped through the catalog, finding thesection that estimated cost. Then he turned it for Tim to see.“Eight thousand dollars per semester. Probably more. By the timeI’m finished, it’ll be over thirty thousand! I can’t afford that. Iknow you have lots of money—”

“Wehave lots of money,” Tim said.“When are you going to get that through your head?”

“Okay, we have a lot, butnot enough to take a risk. What if, after the first semester ortwo, I decide graduate work isn’t for me?”

“You’ll stick with it,”Tim said. “I know you will.”

“You believe in me, andI’m grateful, but that’s no guarantee. I might not have what ittakes.”

“You do,” Tim said easily.“You’ve already been doing this kind of thing for years now. You’llbreeze through these classes while picking up a few new tricks.Easy.”

“Money is just oneconcern. Time is an issue too.”

“Quit your jobs so you canstudy more. It’s just for two years. We’ll make itwork.”

Ben shook his head. “I’mnot quitting my job at the hospital. I won’t abandon any of mypatients.”

“We can find a way aroundthat too. You might have to give up your theater work. Just for alittle while.”