Middle-aged teacher David Grover is traveling home from a conference, but fatigue and bad weather force him to stop at a motel for the night. Unfortunately, the Marine ahead of him at the counter snags the last available room. But despair soon turns to elation when the studly Master Sergeant Bud Williams offers to share. Sharing a room also means sharing a bed, and their one night together turns into much more. Only later does David discover Bud is keeping secrets from him. Once these secrets come to light, their regular weekend trysts end, and David finds it hard to move on. Then David learns Bud volunteered for a tour in Iraq, only to be returned stateside after suffering extensive injuries caused by a roadside bomb. Forgiveness and healing doesn't come easily, but just as things start looking up, Bud's past threatens to pull them apart again. Both men face painful decisions if they hope to find a life together. It's a rough road to happiness -- as much as the rest of the world struggles to keep them apart, all Bud and David can do is battle to get back together since neither is complete without the other.

Rough Road to Happiness

Things weren’t as bad as David had feared. As soon as he’d entered the house, Bud treated him to a firm bear hug, which David worried would be injurious to Bud’s health.


“I love you, babe. Seeing that bitch today only confirmed to me how much.”


“Thanks. You’ve made, and still make my life complete.” David wanted so much to know what had gone on during his absence, but decided to wait until Bud was ready to tell him. Fortunately he didn’t have to wait long.


“As you saw, Lisa’s pregnant. She says the kid is mine, but I don’t believe her. That bitch has told so many lies to get what she wants, I can’t trust anything that comes out of her slut mouth.”


David led Bud to the loveseat in the den. They both sat and held hands, David silently praying that all would be okay. 


“Lisa said she got pregnant when we went to Palm Springs.”


Chapter 26