Well-known artist Ellis Williams is in a slump and feeling all his fifty-three years. He's lost the joy which used to permeate his painting and despairs of ever regaining it. It doesn't help when he runs into a young man who comes on to him to win a bet, thus destroying more of Ellis's confidence.<br><br>Then, at a party, Ellis meets Martin Lovell, a man his age whose partner died soon after they adopted their son. Will these two middle-aged men learn they should never let go of hope? Or is it too late for men their age to open themselves to the possibility of love and being loved?

Never Let Go of Hope

On the other hand, it would mean that Ellis wouldn’t be able to see Martin on a daily basis.Not as if three days was a daily basis. And there’s always the weekends. But still.


Martin pretty obviously picked up on Ellis’s indecisive feelings because he said, “It’s not like we won’t ever see each other again, you know. As a matter of fact, what are you doing Saturday night?”


“Painting?” Ellis replied with a small smile.


“Can it wait? I’d like to take you to dinner and maybe a movie? Just the two of us. I’ll arrange for my friends to watch Todd, or hire a sitter if they can’t.”


“I’d love to,” Ellis told him, wondering if he came off a bit too enthusiastic in his reply.


Apparently Martin didn’t think so because he said, “Fantastic!” and hugged Ellis.


“Da-a-d.” The two men turned to see Todd standing at the bottom of the stairs and quickly broke apart. Todd stood silent for a moment then broke into a grin. “Are you going to kiss him too?”


Chapter 29