“A little,” Ben replied,“but a tour from the artist himself would be veryinformative.”
Tim guided him around thegallery, usually zigzagging from room to room and moving in acounterintuitive fashion. One painting would remind him of another,causing him to drag Ben off in a completely differentdirection.
Seeing Tim so enthusiasticabout his work was amazing. He wasn’t shy at all in front of thelarge number of people examining his art and listening in on hisexplanations. Occasionally a bystander would ask a question, whichTim would answer with gusto. This was a stark contrast to theself-depreciative artist who had once kept his paintings lockedaway in a garage.
“There’s one more pieceI’d like to show you,” Tim said. “Something really special tome.”
Ben was led through thegallery to a room not intended for the public, and out a door tothe parking lot. Spotting Tim’s car was easy enough. It was thenewest, shiniest car there.
“Have any idea what sortof car this is?” Tim asked as he opened a door for Ben.
“Nope.”
“Care to know?”
“Not really.”
Tim chuckled. “It’s aBentley. I figured it was the next best thing to the realdeal.”
Ben tried to roll his eyesbut ended up smiling instead.
As they began to drive, Benstarted to feel concerned. As happy as he was to see Tim again andas irrefutable as his feelings for him were, Ben was still married,even if only to a ghost in his heart. Going home with Tim tonightdidn’t feel right. It was all too soon, if there would ever be aright time at all. He was about to ask to be taken back to thegallery when the car turned into Ben’s subdivision. Could Timreally know where he lived? He kept silent, not giving anyindication, but still Tim managed to pull into the rightdriveway.
“What are we doing here?”Ben asked.
“I wanted to show you aspecial painting of mine,” Tim said.
“You mean the one you gaveme for my birthday,” Ben said, catching on. He couldn’t help butswoon a little at the romantic notion. “You can’t have it back youknow,” he said in mock seriousness.
Tim merely smiled andstepped out of the car. “Lead the way,” he said.
Well, at least Tim didn’thave a key to his house already! Ben led them to the living roomand turned on the light. Samson woke up from his favorite place onthe couch and blinked at them. He was getting on in years and was abit raggedy, but he still had a lot of spunk. Ben felt a momentarysurge of guilt and looked over at Jace in his frame. Perhaps thiswas a bad idea after all.
“Jace--” Benbegan.
“--was a good man,” Timcontinued for him. “The best, in fact. I would never dishonor hismemory and I will never, ever be able to replace him. No onecould.”
Samson meowed, jumped offthe couch, and went straight to Tim. He rubbed up against himaffectionately before doing the same to Ben. He looked at the pairof them, purred, and hopped back on the couch to continue hisnap.
Maybe it would beokay.
Ben turned to point out thepainting, but it wasn’t there. Something new hung in its place. Ina way, it was the very same piece of art that Tim had given him allthose years ago, but realized in his new style. Instead of twohearts, there were now two hands clutching at each other. One wasstrong with thick fingers, the digits of the other thin and fair.Ben raised his own hand in amazement, recognizing the second as hisown. Tim had captured its likeness perfectly.
The hands were bathed inradiant light, incorporating the exact colors of the old painting.This was a message perfected, an expression of what Tim felt forBen, but this time unhindered by fear and free of uncertainty. Benstared at it, feeling as though he had finally heard the words fromTim that he had so longed for.
Tim reached over and tookBen’s hand, positioning it in his own so that they matched thepainting. “I love you, Benjamin Bentley,” he said. “I should havetold you that twelve years ago. I’ve always loved you.”
All his doubts, every fear,even the smallest insecurity inside Ben gave way to theunstoppable, immutable, uncompromising force that islove.
“What now?” Benasked.
“Now we startover.”
Tim leaned forward for akiss, eyes dancing with hope and affection. Ben regarded him for amoment, seeing only the cocky teenager he had once dared to love,even though it had always been against the odds. Then Ben closedhis eyes and leaned forward.
And so they beganagain.
__________
