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

“You’re not getting sick, are you?” That would be a horrible way to spend their first Christmas together, although of course Jason would take care of him. “I think we’d better get you inside. Thanks for coming over, Gabe, kids. Merry Christmas.”


“Merry Christmas, Jason. Merry Christmas, Ben.”


They watched to make sure Gabe got home and the other boys and girls made it safely across the street, then went around to the side door that led into the mudroom. They stripped off their snow-covered hats, gloves, coats, and boots and hung them up. “How are you feeling?” Jason asked as they went into the kitchen.


“I’m okay. Just cold and a little wet.”


“Why don’t you take a hot shower?”


Ben paused with his foot on the first step. “Do you plan to join me?”


“I might be persuaded…” He waggled his eyebrows.


“Never mind.” Ben came back and pulled him into a kiss that left him weak in the knees.


Chapter 56