James Rockton is ready to die. In fact, he plans on it. Having lost his life partner to AIDS, he books the South Pacific cruise Richard didn't live to share. James will spread Richard's ashes at sea, and then slip overboard to join him forever. He’s too old and too heartbroken to continue on alone.<br><br>But James doesn’t count on meeting a young man whose parents constantly put him down. Then there’s the obviously gay young art dealer who ogles a crazy young photographer traveling with an older gay man about James’s own age.<br><br>James and Herb begin spending time together, trying not to laugh too hard or get too involved with these young men, who circle each other in rapidly shrinking orbits. After all, James and Herb are old, with gray hair and less stamina. With time, talk, and martinis, will love manage to find them, too?

Fade to Gray

“Savin, you’re like a ripe, juicy peach. Even straight men would find you attractive. But that doesn’t mean you should give it away to just anyone. Some of the people you meet will be assholes, pardon my French. Some won’t, and only time and their actions will show who is which. If Devon is for you, he’ll be back. Maybe his boss was watching. Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he’s a jerk. We don’t know yet, do we? And if you give up, you never will know. Besides, he’s not the only one. You’re barely even of a legal age yet, and maybe our boy Devon is wise enough to understand what kind of trouble that could bring him. And you, as well.”


“I’m eighteen,” Savin said stoutly.


Chapter 22