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

I cleared my throat and stood up. “We’re out of here. Herb, get your things, and let’s leave the little love birds alone.”


The boys looked at each other. I knew what they were thinking because I knew myself at that age. Love? What the hell does that have to do with anything?


“That was exhausting,” I said, once we had dumped Herb’s things in my suite and gone down to the Sea Bar for a drink. “I must say, having a stiff one at this age is quite different from having a stiff one at that age.”


“We never did talk about our histories, careers, and things like that. Those boys…I don’t think I want to know what or who else will go on down there. Or in.”


“Your quick thinking saved the day for them. And possibly for us.” I toasted Herb with my drink.


Chapter 25