Page 106 of Something Like Forever
Jason and William nodded in unison.
“Good. Spend time apartevery year. That way you see what life is like alone. Then you willremember how good it is to be with your husband. Always take a stepback so you can see your own luck, and also find new ways to makethe other person happy. Stay healthy for you and for him. Have sexone time every week, maybe more if you want. This help you stayconnected. Let the other person have bad moods and good moods.Don’t let anger make you act too fastly. Walk away until anger getsbored and leaves. Then you can talk again.” Nana unfolded a pieceof paper. “This next part is hard,” she said. “I need to cheat.”She took her time putting on a pair of reading glasses. “The onlyrules in marriage are those that you both agree to. None of themare permanent. Reassess and renegotiate as the years go by. Youwill change. So will he. The marriage must change with you or itwill no longer fit as it once did. Keep love at the center of itall. That is the one constant. As long as you nurture that love andallow it to grow, you will be fine.”
Nana took off her glasses.Then she considered everyone. “Are we done?”
The audience burst intoapplause.
“Onemore thing!” Nana said over the noise. “Remember to visit yourgreat-grandma. That’s very important. Or come live with me. That’sfine too. Okay. Bye bye.”
Marcello helped her stepdown from the box. Jason and William each hugged Nana before Timrose to guide her back to her seat. Then they all took their placesagain.
“You’veheard from your elders,” Marcello said, “and now you should hearfrom each other. Just pretend you are alone together. We promisenot to listen, don’t we, everyone?”
Murmured laughter andnodding heads preceded a perfect silence, one especially surprisinggiven how many people were present. Only chairs creaked as everyoneleaned forward to listen.
William took Jason’s hand,body angled toward their friends and families. “I met thistroublemaker once,” he said. “I swear I was minding my own businesswhen he barged into my life, and I did my best to ignore him, butJason kept showing up. At my work, at the gay youth group Iattended, and during my morning swims. He was always around. Butthere was one place in particular, no matter how late it was, oreven if I was behind locked doors, that Jason kept appearing. In mythoughts. Even when I tried forcing him out, because I had thesedreams… I wanted more than anything to rescue people. What I didn’trealize is that I needed rescuing from myself. I had forgotten thatlove doesn’t mean giving until you’ve got nothing left. It alsomeans opening your heart and letting others give back, and Jasonhas given me so much! Confidence in myself especially. It’s hardnot to feel that when you’re loved by someone who is so amazing. Healso gave me time when I needed it, and freedom, and a reason tocome back home again.” William turned toward Jason fully, takinghis other hand. “Do you remember what you said at the verybeginning? I think it might have been the first words you spoke tome. You said ‘Have we met before?’ You know what? I think we did.Maybe in another life. But after that, you said you felt like youknew me already, and that was true too. From the very beginning,you knew exactly what I needed and you gave it to me, but I alsoknew you, well enough to understand the sacrifices you made so Icould be happy. Today I’m promising to give it all back. Whatever Ican do to make you feel happy and loved, I will. I’ll never lie.I’ll never betray you. I’ll never abandon you, no matter thecircumstances. I’ll let you go whenever you need it and welcome youback whenever you’re ready again, but this will go on forever. Youand I started a long time ago, and now it’s going to continue,through this life and whatever follows. My love for you is eternal,Jason Grant. Our hearts belong together.”
They kissed again, Benlaughing when Marcello wagged a finger sternly. The speech wasmoving, but more than that, Ben found it reassuring. William lethis sense of duty define him, so it made sense that he loved in asimilar fashion. Jason would be cared for. Even if something shouldhappen to Tim and himself, Ben knew that William would always be atJason’s side, stalwart and protective.
“I neverfelt like I belonged anywhere,” Jason said, still holding William’shands as they faced each other. “Maybe when I was little, but weall start that way. That’s what the Garden of Eden is really about,I think. We get to be with our creator and feel lovedunconditionally. We’re protected and everything is perfect. Or soit seems. Eventually, one way or another, we’re all cast out andtold that what we had is lost. There’s no going back. I wasted alot of time learning that lesson. There were places I wanted tostay and people I wanted to be with, but none of them were for me,so I pressed on. I kept looking forward, and that’s what made itpossible to see you. Maybe that’s what I recognized when we firstmet. I saw that same garden, my home, but this one really wasperfect. I wouldn’t be cast out this time, because there’s noseparating us. We’ve spent years apart, but that’s just thephysical. You’ve always found a way to reach me. Even when wedidn’t see each other. Even when we didn’t talk, you were stillright there with me. I hear your voice in my thoughts and feel yourpresence when I’m scared. You’ve even made it possible for me tolet go of the anger and hurt, because I’m glad now. Had I stayed inthat first garden, I never would have found you, so maybe it’s anact of love when we are cast out. Or maybe life is just random andit was pure luck that brought us together. Either way, I’ve foundmy way to paradise. I know marriages are supposed to be beginnings,but this feels more like an ending to me. The hard times are over,no matter what we have to face, because now you’re with me. Nothingcan take that away. Not even death. You’ll always be in my heart,and I’ll always be in yours. I love you.”
“I love you too!” Williamsaid, moving in for another kiss.
“Therings, gentlemen!” Marcello interrupted. “First the rings, then thefireworks. Now then, after hearing what you’ve both had to say,making you take any sort of vows would be tedious if not insulting.You both seem determined to make this arrangement permanent, am Iright? You wouldn’t like to play the field just a little longer tobe sure?”
“I’m sure!” William saidwhile laughing.
“I’m pretty sure,” Jasonteased. “Close enough, anyway.”
Marcello nodded as ifsatisfied. “That’s all anyone could ask for. Who has therings?”
“Right here,” Emma said,passing one to Jason.
“I’m tempted to keep thisfor myself,” Christie said as she handed hers to William. “Sobeautiful! Can we trade?”
“Maybe later,” Williamstage whispered. “To be honest, I was hoping for atiara.”
The audience laughed, thengrew somber again.
“JasonGrant,” Marcello boomed. “William Townson. Before you place therings on each other’s fingers, recognize that the circular shaperepresents an infinite loop, a promise of forever. Search yourbody, mind, and soul for any doubt, and only proceed if—well, thatwas quick!” The rings had already been exchanged, the groomslooking to Marcello for confirmation. Marcello opened his mouth,his chins trembling. Then he placed a hand to his chest. “Mygoodness. You’ll have to pardon me. I didn’t realize how moving itwould be to speak these words.” He cleared his throat. “By thepower vested in me, I now declare you husband and husband. You maynow—well, I think you know what to do!”
Jason and William kissed.People clapped, blew noses, and whistled. Then the laughterstarted, because the kissstillhadn’t ended.
“I thinkwe might need to give them privacy,” Marcello said. “Perhapssomeone could set up a curtain around them? Or a dressingscreen?”
Jason finally pulled awaywhile wearing a giant grin. “Or how about somechampagne?”
“I thought you’d neverask!” Marcello said, signaling the waiters, who sprang intoaction.
Ben also hopped to hisfeet but was stopped from moving forward when an arm grabbedhis.
“Iwouldn’t mind one of those myself,” Tim said.
Ben turned around. “Aglass of champagne?”
“I was thinking ofsomething sweeter.”
Ben grinned, the weddingand everything else forgotten as he was pulled into Tim’s arms andreminded just how good the gardens of paradise could be.
