Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

That new blue shirt and your black jeans– you look good in those."
    Jacob struggled upright in the bed and carefully slid his legs out. "Don't look good in anything," he muttered to himself. Daniel just laughed and headed out to the kitchen. Jacob watched him go. Sometimes it was just a little unfair that Daniel was still slim and active and only a little bent in the shoulders. Where Jacob had twenty pounds he knew he was never going to lose, and the damned cough, and the millstone of a cane he now was once more committed to trail with him everywhere.
    But then Jacob would think it through and be glad with all his heart that Daniel was so healthy for eighty-nine. Because it meant Jacob would go first. He was never going to have to wake up to a morning without those hazel eyes in it. He'd prayed a lot of prayers over the years, large and small, but for sixty-nine years now that had been first on his list– don't let me lose him.
    He struggled to the bathroom, leaning on the stupid cane, and took care of business. The shower had rails and a seat, and he hated, hated, that they were necessary. How many years had it been since he had put Daniel up against the tiles and pounded his ass? Way too many, anyway. Never happening again. Growing old seemed to be full of never-again moments. Although there had been that time in the plague years of the late eighties when even being young and beautiful had been no protection whatsoever.
    God, he was morbid this morning. He pulled his mind back to the business at hand. The water was nice and hot. He shampooed his hair carefully. At least he had Daniel beat there. Jacob's hair might be close to pure white now, but at least he still had all his hair. He rinsed carefully and got out. The towel he wrapped around himself was new and thick. Daniel had clearly been shopping again. The man did love his luxuries. Jacob sat carefully on the toilet to dry himself. Thank God all the years of working had given them a cushion that let Daniel indulge himself in small ways. Jacob wanted Daniel to have everything good.
    When he got to the kitchen Daniel was cooking oatmeal, singing softly to himself as he stirred the pot. Jacob went up behind him and wrapped an arm around his waist. Daniel leaned back for a moment against his chest, and that familiar weight was sweeter than the brown-sugar smell of breakfast. Jacob rubbed his cheek carefully against Daniel's thinning hair. Then Daniel bumped him away with his ass.
    "Go sit. It's almost ready."
    Jacob pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and eased his way into it. His hip was sore this morning, but his back was good. One never knew. He reached out and pulled the pillbox toward him, flipping open the lid for the compartment labeled SAT AM. Heart pill and water pill, arthritis med, and the vitamin and the fish-oil capsule that Daniel swore was good for him. And two more supplements besides, that friends had convinced Daniel would keep Jacob going strong. Jacob hated taking pills. It always felt like he was choking. But he never told Daniel that. He reached for the apple juice set at his place.
    "So are you up for going for a drive this morning?" Daniel asked.
    "Not if you're driving."
    "Please. I am still a great driver. But as it happens, Lori and her husband are taking us out for lunch and a boat ride."
    "They're getting you on a boat?"
    Daniel laughed a little ruefully. "I told them about our anniversary tomorrow. They thought it would be romantic."
    "What anniversary? We always celebrate in November." The day he has opened his front door and found Daniel, skinny and exhausted but dressed in civvies and  safe , on his front step.
    "I decided we should celebrate twice. Once on November twenty-first, and then July twenty-sixth. The day of that first kiss. Because you know, I was certain right then that you were the man for me, if we only lived through it all."
    Jacob had been too, but he had a reputation to uphold. "Hah. Complete nonsense. You thought I would be a good shag."
    "Well that too. You were a good kisser."
    "In your imagination." Jacob grunted. "Okay. Sure, we can celebrate twice." Get a few more in. "Whatever makes you happy. Don't expect a gift though, springing it on me like this."
    "Oh I don't. But it will be a nice day. Breakfast coming up."
    "Be careful with that hot pan." Daniel might seem ageless but his fingers were gnarled with arthritis.
    Daniel scooped oatmeal with a sunny smile, and brought over two plates topped with full