Handyman Series #7
by
- The Handyman's Dream
- The Handyman's Reality
- The Handyman's Promise
- The Handyman's History
- The Handyman's Summer
- The Handyman's Storm
- The Handyman's Happily-Ever-After
It’s a wedding thirty-four years in the making.
You are cordially invited to attend
THE HANDYMAN’S HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
In the winter of 2015 handyman Ed Stephens and his life partner Rick, now in their sixties, are living a quiet life at Penfield Manor with their cat Dwight. Rick is retired. Ed is thinking about it. And they both are gingerly dealing with the unpleasant realities of getting older. Most of their friends have moved away, but Ed and Rick are always ready to go into innkeeper mode when a phone call or text message alerts them to air out a guest room or two for visitors at what they jokingly refer to as The Hotel Penfield Manor.
Their son Rex and his husband are frequent guests, and stun Ed and Rick when they announce they are adopting a son, leaving Ed and Rick to adapt to the idea of becoming grandfathers. Ed’s great niece also seeks shelter under their roof when she is need of respite from a mean girls campaign.
Although same-sex marriage has been legal in Indiana for several months, it isn’t until the state’s governor signs into law legislation that could be used as way to discriminate against the LGBT community that Ed and Rick actually consider making vows of their own. That, combined with several unpleasant incidents of bigotry in Porterfield, lead Ed and Rick to take the matrimonial plunge when same-sex marriage becomes legal nationwide. When President Obama calls it a victory for America, Ed and Rick decide it’s time they join the celebration.
Their plans for a quiet ceremony quickly collapse as friends and family insist on a grand wedding as a way to honor their thirty-four year commitment. Ed and Rick are on the verge of eloping when an old and dear friend swoops in and takes charge to make sure they have the wedding they want. Pulling together, their friends and family plan a joyous day for the grooms, and stage a wedding Porterfield, Indiana, won’t soon forget.
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 1
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Ed was on his way home for lunch after a computer job Friday morning when his phone began to blow up. Now what? He wondered. When he reached the driveway he grabbed his phone and saw text messages from Rex and Gordy. Aw geez, what did that putz of a governor do now? As he sat debating whether to read them or not, texts came in from Paul, Muriel, and even Phil Sturgis. There was a news alert attached to Phil’s so he opened that one first. Same-Sex Marriage: Supreme Court Rules in Favor, President Obama Calls It 'Victory for America.’
Ed shook his head in disbelief. He’d had absolutely no faith in a favorable ruling from the court and had done his best to ignore the whole thing. But now, suddenly, something he never thought he’d see in his lifetime had happened. He and Rick had the right to marry, not only in Indiana, but anywhere in the United States. I’ll be damned, he thought.
He looked at the ring on his left hand, the one Rick had put on his finger thirty-four years earlier, the one he’d been half afraid to wear at first as he worried about what people might say. But now, but now…
That evening Ed and Rick sat in front of the computer in the study reading every article, every reaction, and seeing in the photos every bit of joy coming from people like them all across the country. Then one image stopped their scrolling, the sight of the White House glowing in rainbow colored lights. They stared at it until the screen saver kicked in and replaced it with a photo of Dwight.
“Even back in ’08 I knew Obama was the president we had been waiting for,” Ed said, breaking the silence.
“I still can’t completely wrap my head around it,” Rick said softly. He shook the mouse and the White House came back into view. “The president of the United States is happy for us. He calls this a victory. For the first time in my life I feel like a first class citizen of this country. We belong. We matter.” He whooped joyously. “How ‘bout that!”
Ed laughed at Rick’s exuberance. “How ‘bout that,” he repeated.
Rick turned to Ed, his eyes bright. “So what do you think, babe?”
“Huh? Think about what?”
“You wanna get married?”
Ed swallowed a smile and said as seriously as he could: “Are you sure you want to enter into an archaic heterosexual tradition?”
Rick shrugged. “Why the hell not?” He took Ed’s hand. “I didn’t want to when it became legal in our state because I didn’t think it would last. I was sure the decision would get overturned. I mean, it still might. I’m sure there are people out there right now shitting their pants in horror and planning its downfall. Fuck ‘em. Let’s enjoy this moment while it lasts. The president,” he added, “would approve.”
“Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“What?”
“I seem to recall,” Rick said, hands on hips, “that I did what proposing there was to do the first time.”
“Oh! It’s my turn.”
“You betcha, mister.”
Ed took a deep breath. “Well, in that case.” He got to his knee beside Rick. He reached for his hand and said solemnly, “Richard John Benton, will you marry me?”
Rick’s warm and tender smile spread across his face. “Yes.”
They reached for each and sealed the deal with a kiss.
