Page 120 of Point of Contact

Trevor traced his fingers over the etched black letters and ran his palm over the top of the curved white stone. “You’re twenty-five today. How is that possible?”

He set up the folding chair he always borrowed from Linda during these birthday visits, and as he did he glanced over at her. She was busy decorating the gravestones nearby with her wreaths, chatting with another mom, who was sticking a candy cane in each one after Linda placed it. In fact, people were dotted all throughout Section Sixty, this section of Arlington reserved for those taken by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some family members were laughing and talking together as they reminisced, some silent as they grieved alone.

Indeed, Trevor noticed one man, cocooned in a thick down sleeping bag, lying motionless on the frozen ground, his hand resting on the base of the stone marker he was in front of. His heart aching for the man’s pain, Trevor said a quick silent prayer before turning his attention back to Riley.

“Let’s see. What did 2012 bring?”

Trevor leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out and lacing his fingers across his stomach, getting comfortable. He loved these yearly birthday pilgrimages he made each December, where he filled Riley in on his life and just spent some time with him.

“First, Jesse couldn’t come this year because he’s taking a group of veterans snowshoeing up near Breckenridge.”

“You understand, don’t you, Trev?” Jesse’s face was full of apprehension, his body tense. “Christmas is really hard on some of these guys who’ve lost their families, or those newly sober or fighting depression. It’s important to keep busy.”

Trevor rubbed his hand in soothing circles on Jesse’s stomach and kissed his bare shoulder. “Of course I understand,” he said quietly. “And I know Riley will, too.”

“So we’re going to have at least six guys staying with us over Christmas again. I’m planning to bake a ham and—”

He told Riley all about the elaborate dinner he was going to make for the veterans staying with them, those who would otherwise spend the holiday alone. There was nothing he and Jesse enjoyed more than having a house full of people on Christmas Day, and for the past three years they’d gladly opened their home to anyone who needed it. Trevor loved keeping his eye out during the year for unique gifts he could buy and stash away so everyone staying with them would have a little something under the tree.

“What else? Oh, Jesse and I went to New Zealand over the summer, and Riley, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than Milford Sound. We went on a cruise and there were waterfalls and caves, the most crystal clear water. Just gorgeous.”

Trevor kept up the one-sided conversation until he’d run out of news, at last lapsing into silence. The skies were a leaden gray and a brisk wind shushing through the nearby trees rattled the ornaments hanging from them. All around him people were ebbing and flowing as they conducted their own visits, and sometimes he waved at a familiar face passing by.

Finally Trevor got to his feet. “Okay, bud. I’m gonna head on out, try to catch that flight ahead of the storm they’re predicting.”

He stood and folded the lawn chair before carrying it over to Linda, where he thanked her with a hug and collected the wreath she’d set aside for Riley. He walked back to lay it gently against the stone, kissing his fingertips and touching them once to the top of the marker.

“Merry Christmas, Riley. See you next year.”

December 2015—Seven years after

“Hey, brother. Happy birthday.”

Trevor sat in his folding chair as Jesse brushed the fresh snow briskly from the top of the stone before dropping to the ground to sit at Trevor’s knee.

“Well, we did it, man.” Jesse lifted his left hand to display his shiny new wedding ring. “This past July, in our backyard next to the waterfall. The absolute happiest day of my life.”

He turned his face up to Trevor, asking for a kiss, and Trevor obliged him with a brief one, smiling against his lips.

“So it was this Hawaiian luau thing, Riles, super casual and amazing.”

Trevor listened as Jesse told Riley all about it, how both of them had been barefoot in the lush grass, wearing dark jeans and white T-shirts with real flower leis around their necks.

“Karen and her husband were there, and all the people from your dad’s TAPS support group. Bill came—he’s my boss at Hope Ranch—and this great guy I work with named Carey. Smitty, Watty, Silvera and their wives...”

It had been a beautiful, magical day, the wedding of Trevor’s dreams. He’d never forget the look in Jesse’s eyes as they said their emotional vows to each other, or the feeling of cupping Jesse’s face in his hands to kiss him while the people they loved most in the world hooted their congratulations and joy.

There’d been food, and dancing on the patio, lots and lots of sparkling cider toasts, gifts and hugs.

“Missed you, though, bud.” Jesse’s voice was husky, and Trevor put his hand lightly on the back of his neck. “I promise to take good care of your dad, okay?”

“He already does, Riles,” Trevor said softly, giving Jesse a gentle squeeze. “Best husband ever.”

Jesse smiled up at him, and Trevor couldn’t resist leaning down for another lingering kiss.

“Well, I’m gonna go say hi to the other guys, if that’s okay,” Jesse said, getting to his feet and brushing the snow off the seat of his pants. “Your dad can tell you all about the honeymoon.” He gave Trevor a wink full of pure wickedness.

Trevor choked, his face burning as the memories of those nights on the cruise ship washed over him, particularly the one where Jesse had leisurely fucked him over the railing of their balcony, his hand clapped to Trevor’s mouth, while a large group of people socialized in the next stateroom over, their sliding door open to the sea breeze.