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

“Hi, babe.” Bud’s quiet and unenthusiastic greeting only served to make David more determined. 


“Bud. Come sit with me in the den, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”


Bud nodded before following him into the room, which David considered to be the most comfortable and least formal space in the public part of the house. Sitting on the loveseat, David indicated to Bud to sit next to him.


“This…situation can’t go on. You’re unhappy, which makes me unhappy.”


Squeezing Bud’s hand in reassurance, David said, “I know.” Looking into the brown eyes that were usually so full of life and laughter, David only saw pain and unhappiness. “Bud, I’ve come to a decision. And oh, God, it’s the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make. But deep down I know it’s the right one.”


“Bud, I want to break up with you.”


Chapter 28