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

“Don’t call me that ever again, Rick.” Ben walked out, feeling lighter than he had in more than a year.


November arrived, but instead of exchanging Thanksgiving cards, Jason had given him one that said “Every day it’s the same old thing…Breathe, breathe, breathe.”


But the best thing is knowing you’ll be home, breathing for me.


Wishing you a very happy Forget Me Not Day!


As Ben had hoped, his card to Jason got him thoroughly kissed. “I’m sorry I haven’t written you yet today,” with “written” crossed out and replaced with “kissed.”


So come and celebrate Kiss Me Day with me, not just today, but…


Thanksgiving was just ten days away, and they were having their first…well, not quarrel. More like a…difference of opinion?


“Look, it’s only a two hour drive, and your band is depending on you, Ben.” Why was Jason giving him such a hard time over this?


Chapter 47