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

“This used to be aired every Thanksgiving when I was a boy,” his dad told them as the credits rolled.


“It was better when they stopped trying to colorize it,” his mom called from the kitchen, where she was putting leftovers into plastic containers for them to take home. She handed Ben the packed bag and kissed them both. “Drive carefully, and call me when you get home.”


The temperature was dropping, and as soon as Jason had the engine running, he turned on the heater. It was a long drive home, especially with all the after-dinner traffic, but Jason had Sirius XM radio in his car, and he found the station that played Christmas music.


“We’re going to be so tired of this by the time Christmas rolls around,” Ben said.


“Maybe, but by next Christmas, we’ll be all set for it again.” Jason flashed him a grin and sang along with Mariah Carey.


Chapter 48