Ben Haggerty is devastated when he returns home from work to discover his lover of eight years has gone off to complete his master's degree at another college -- and left no forwarding address. Not only has Ben chosen Rick over his beloved family, but he's supported his boyfriend both financially and emotionally the entire time. Unable to remain in their shared apartment, Ben moves and spends a miserable holiday season alone. With the New Year, however, he's determined to make a fresh start, so he manages to obtain Rick's address and sends him a card asking if Rick ever plans to return. Somehow, the card winds up in the wrong mailbox.<br><br>Jason Prescott is a genius, having obtained his first master's degree at twenty-one and now working on his second. When he receives a card in error, he returns both the card and a card of his own to be courteous, expressing his hopes Ben can get in touch with his boyfriend. This begins a correspondence that leads to friendship, and ... the start of something more? Jason introduces Ben to his family and reunites him with his own.<br><br>But will Jason, who's even smarter than Rick, be satisfied with someone as ordinary as blue-collar Ben feels himself to be? Or will Rick, realizing what he's let slip through his fingers, manage to persuade Ben to take him back?

Always, Ben

Jason stared after her. Hadn’t he just said he was going to do that?


“That girl.” Mom shook her head. “You’d think she was still sixteen.” She turned back to Ben’s mom. “Why don’t you join me in the living room while the men deal with the after-dinner mess? We can listen to music on the iPad the kids gave me. Or we can binge watch The Walking Dead.”


“Excellent.” Mom linked her arm with Mrs. Haggerty’s and they strolled into the living room.


Jason stared after them wistfully. He’d like to watch The Walking Dead, but he knew that would have to wait for another time.


“I’ll help you clear off the table, Mr. Prescott,” Ben volunteered.


“Me, too, Dad.” Jason might as well be of some use if Jen was going to hog the dogs’ attention.


“Thanks, boys. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we’ll have dessert. There’s a rocky road dreams cake in the fridge with our names on it.”


Chapter 38