Lois and Carolyn, thanks for the beta...you’re the greatest! I would also like to thank everyone who previewed the chapters for me.
Author’s Comments: Okay, I know this isn’t quite what you were expecting. The sequel “And So Moving Forward” is still coming soon. I just needed some extra time because the research is taking longer than I expected. In the meantime, I wanted to share this sequel with you. I will admit this story is a little different than what I usually write. There is some angst, so I will be posting frequently, so it won’t be too painful. (smile)
Chapter 1 – Surprises All Around Wednesday Afternoon…(Day 52) Ben had moved out three days ago, taking a few suitcases and Hunter with him. Michael was left alone in the house, waiting and secretly hoping that Ben would come to his senses and return. Michael hoped that they had reached a point where all that had happened over the weekend, relating to the legal union of Brian and Justin, would be forgotten, and their lives would continue without interruptions. But it had been three days! Since Ben was not returning his phone calls, Michael opted to visit Ben in his office at Carnegie Mellon. He tried to pick a day when Ben had office hours with no scheduled classes immediately afterwards. Michael waited outside for Ben’s office hours to be over. When the last student finally left, Michael entered the office. “Hello, Ben,” he said quietly. “Michael,” Ben said with some surprise. “What are you doing here?” “I came to talk to you.” “I don’t feel that we have anything to talk about,” Ben pointed out. “But since you’re here, at least make yourself comfortable. Can I get you coffee or a soda?” “No, I’m fine. I just needed to talk to you,” Michael said, as he seated himself across from Ben. “As I said before, I’m not sure that we have anything to talk about,” Ben stressed again. “Obviously, you feel that way. On Sunday, you said what you wanted to say…packed your bags…and moved out. You didn’t give me a chance to say anything.” “I’m sorry about that, Michael,” Ben said with a sigh. “But you have to admit you and I had been talking for several days. I was tired of talking about things. You and I were never going to come to agreeable terms, so I thought the best course of action was to leave.” “I think that what you did…was a shitty thing to do!” Michael strongly pointed out. “How is that, Michael?” “You have known about my feelings for Brian since the beginning of our relationship. You have always said that you understood. You have always said that Brian and I had a history. Since you’ve known all these things for years, I can’t understand what happened with us.” “You’re right,” Ben said with a sigh. “I did know about your feelings for Brian since the beginning. I understand how you felt about Brian. Your feelings for Brian never interfered with our relationship before.” “Then why did you leave?” “I left because I was tired, Michael” Ben reiterated. “I was tired of watching you stamp your foot and demand that Brian come back to you. I just couldn’t watch that any more.” Michael became silent as he was shocked by what he’d just heard from Ben. It took a moment for it to all sink in. Michael had never wanted Brian to come back…he wanted him to be there in the future. He understood the difference…he couldn’t understand why Ben didn’t. “I just couldn’t stay with someone who is already planning their after-life…that time in the future when I’m no longer going to be there. I couldn’t stay with someone looking forward to that future with so much anticipation…that the present and the people here now, are so unimportant.” “How can you say that?” “For those last days you have been so focused on fighting for Brian that you have been unable to be present for Hunter, for JR, or for me. All your personal resources were so focused on fighting for the future of two old queens living in Palm Springs , that the present no longer mattered to you.” “But I told you I needed some time. You told me you understood, and you’d agreed to give it to me. What happened?” “I agreed to give you time to heal. I didn’t agree to give you time to continue to fight for your future with Brian. Once I realized that that was what you needed to do. Then I realized that I needed to give you the space in which to fight your battle. So I moved out.” “What about me? That leaves me alone. You know that I don’t want to be alone.” “This was a battle I couldn’t help you fight. So I did the only thing I knew to do, and that was leave, so you could focus all your energies on this pursuit.” “You could have helped me. You know that I love you, and my place is with you. We’re married for fuck sake. I would have thought that your commitment to me would have been stronger than this. I only asked you to put up with a few days of me coming to terms with things. I’ve put up with far worse from you in the course of this relationship. We’ve always been able to work things through. I can’t believe that you just walked out on me because I was upset for two fucking days,” Michael protested. “I did what I had to do,” Ben professed. “You really left me no choice. I told you that I wouldn’t play second fiddle to anyone. Two days was all that I could stand. I’m sure when you finally think about things, you’ll finally understand. I only hope that getting a chance to talk this out with me will make things easier for you to see the problem.” “So what are we going to do, Ben?” “We’re going to live apart,” Ben declared. “Isn’t that something that we should have worked out together?” You seem to have made this decision alone.” “I did what I needed to do to survive, Michael. Your focus is somewhere in the future. Your focus is making sure that the path to your dreams is maintained. I don’t really fit into that scheme. That wasn’t a joint decision either. So as I see it, you were emotionally unavailable to make plans for us, so I couldn’t plan things out with you. I also had to make things okay for Hunter, so I had to live in the present and act.” “What about Hunter?” “Michael, whatever issues going on between you and me have nothing to do with Hunter. He may live with me, but he is free to see you whenever he wants to. I don’t want him to have to choose sides between us. I don’t want the family to have to choose sides either. But, you and I…we just can’t be together right now.” “I thought that you loved me!” Michael stated to shout. “I do love you, Michael. That’s what makes this all so hard. I’ll even grant that you probably love me. In the circumstances that you and I live, loving each other just isn’t enough. I don’t have the energy to fight for us and fight my HIV at the same time. I’m focused very much in the here and now because that’s all that I have to work with. But with or without you, I’m planning to be around for a very long time.” “I want you to be around for a very long time too, and I want us to be together.” “I just can’t live with you right now, Michael. I can’t bend far enough to stand-by while you fight YOUR battle for the future, while I try to fight mine…I have battles of my own to fight.” “It sounds like you’re telling me that your battles are more important than mine. What about me?” “You have to be on your own for a while.” “For how long is a while?” “I don’t know.” “Does this mean that you’re coming back?” “I don’t think so.” “So what are we going to do?” “In time you and I need to make some plans, but we don’t have to do that today.” Michael was silent again. Then Ben’s tone softened. “Are you doing all right? Do you need anything?” “All I really need is you…” Michael answered “I’m sorry, Michael,” Ben said softly, and he genuinely meant it. Both Michael and Ben knew that his meeting was now over. So Michael stood there for a moment and looked at the Ben…looked at the man he loved…the man he married. And then he slowly exited Ben’s office. Ben waited until Michael had gone before he let his own sadness about the situation take over. *** And in another part of town… There was a knock on Jennifer Taylor’s office door, and Amy, her office assistant, entered. “Jennifer, there’s a Daniel Devore to see you. He called earlier and made an appointment for 2 o’clock. He appears to have arrived a little early.” “No problem, Amy. I can see him now,” Jennifer said easily. She took a moment to clear her desk of the papers that she’d been working on. She nodded her head and indicated that she was now ready. When her client walked into her office, she immediately felt as if she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t place where. He just looked very familiar. Jennifer didn’t say anything, but she did make note of her impressions. Daniel was about 5’8”and average build. He had black hair and piercing dark eyes. Even casually dressed in slacks and a sport jacket, one could see that everything was impeccably tailored; yet Daniel moved with a certain economy of motion. This was someone who was very comfortable in his own skin. In some ways, Daniel’s manner reminded her of Brian…even though the two men were totally different physically. Amy made the introductions, and then Jennifer and Daniel relaxed and settled down to using a first name basis. Then Amy returned to her desk, closing Jennifer’s office door behind her. “So Daniel, what can I do for you?” Jennifer asked, once they were alone. “I’m interested in buying a place to live here in Pittsburgh. I’ve been traveling most of my life. Now it’s time for me to settle down in one place. You see, I’ve spent most of my professional life performing on stage.” “Oh, I see. Well, after the glare of the stage lights of New York and California, I’m sure that Pittsburgh is going to seem quite tame. What made you decide to settle here?” “I grew up here. I have family here that I’ve been estranged from because of my work. I’ve decided that it’s time to mend fences. After all, family is very important! I’m even pondering the prospect of a farewell tour. Once that’s over, I want here to be the place I ultimately return to.” “I think that’s an excellent idea. Are you married? Are there children?” “No Jennifer …I’m gay.” “I see. Well then, is there a partner or will you be living alone? I only ask, so that I can figure out what size house or condo you’re going to need.” “I think I’ve been married to my work for all these years. I never really took the time to form that lasting relationship, but I’m fortunate that I have friends. And my friends like to just drop in…no matter where I am. So I’m obviously going to need plenty of room.” “I see...that must keep life interesting.” “It does, believe me. My friends and I formed our own little family over the years. When you’re constantly traveling as much as we are…it can make all the difference,” Daniel pointed out. “I can understand that. I have a group of people that I’m close to in much the same way. We’ve formed our own little dysfunctional family unit too. We always get together for holidays and special occasions. We really look out for each other. Sometimes, we just get together for dinner…just dinner…nothing special. But I’m sure you can understand what I mean,” Jennifer said with a laugh. “Absolutely, we’re pretty much the same way.” “Is there a particular area of the city that you’re interested in?” Jennifer asked. “I’ve given it some thought. At first I was thinking about something out in the suburbs. But then I realized that I’m not planning to raise any children, so that didn’t really make to much sense. Then I considered a loft or a condo, but I think I would find that too confining. So I was thinking about a house within easy access of Liberty Avenue.” “I’m sure that you’ll make lots of friends here. And, the Liberty Avenue area is still a great place to live,” Jennifer pointed out. “Are you looking for a newly constructed house or something previously owned? There are quite a few properties available in both categories.” “I really haven’t thought things through that far,” Daniel admitted sadly. “Well, if you’ll give me some idea about the price range that you’re interested in, I’ll make a few selections. We can do a few private viewings and this weekend, if you like, we can scout a few open houses that are listed. How does that sound?’ “I was hoping that we could spend most of our time looking during the weekdays. You see, I seem to still have commitments for the weekends,” Daniel pointed out. “But, I must say it does feel good to be back in Pittsburgh again.” “I know, isn’t it funny how sometimes you spend so much time running away from a place, and then one day you stop running, and you wonder why you left in the first place,” Jennifer suggested with a smile. “That’s true. I came back to Pittsburgh about four years ago for a benefit performance. I wanted to stay here back then, but I had commitments to honor so that was impossible. Now though, it’s a much different story. I have a little more time on my hands to figure things out.” Jennifer and Daniel spent some time looking at few properties on the web, so that Daniel could get a feel for the range of housing prices in the Pittsburgh area. After taking the cyber-tour on a few sites, they settled on an initial target price range. “It’s been good to meet you, Daniel,” Jennifer said, “I’ll put together a list of properties for us to see this week, so you can gauge what you’re looking for. They will give us a true starting point for future selections. So give me a day or so to pull everything together.” Now that things were in motion, Daniel said goodbye to Jennifer and agreed to wait for her call. Daniel made sure to give Jennifer his phone numbers before he shook hands and said goodbye. Once he had gone, Jennifer began her search for possible properties for Daniel to consider.