Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

glinted off the small swells, and the light motion of the boat moved through Jacob in a long-familiar way. For a moment the years rolled back. How often had he stood and watched the shore get smaller? Although never holding Daniel's hand in his. And usually he'd been too busy to moon about watching. He shook off the nostalgia.
    "So how is this going to work?"
    "The pilot's going to stop in the middle of the bay. That guy in the grey suit is a Quaker recorded minister. He's going to officiate. You say you do. I say I do. Sign the form and it's done."
    "How romantic."
    Daniel brushed a kiss against his cheek. "Just like you."
    Jacob snorted, and leaned a little closer to him.
    It took about twenty minutes to reach whatever spot the pilot had decided was appropriate. The motor shut off and there was silence. Jacob could hear the water against the hull and the high cries of the inevitable gulls wheeling overhead. The other guests had gone into the cabin, leaving the stern rail to him and Daniel.
    Daniel turned to him. "Out here or in there? Hannah did some decorating, but we can admire it while we eat lunch afterward."
    "Out here."
    "Be right back."
    ****
    Jacob leaned his elbows on the rail, standing askew to ease his hip, and looked out over the water. So many years ago, he had looked over the rail of a ship at the shoreline, with San Francisco rising behind the water, and wondered where his life was going to go. And how long it would be. Very short had looked like a distinct possibility back then. Then five minutes later he'd caught his first glimpse of Daniel, and fallen not into love but into intense humiliation. Now sixty-nine years later his life had been long and full, and that mocking guy with the dark hair had become the beat of Jacob's own heart. He would have never guessed it.
    He heard the movement of people coming to the open deck at the stern, but he kept looking out at the bay, until Daniel stepped up beside him and touched his arm. "Ready?"
    He was going to grump something, but at the last moment he changed his mind. He put a hand on Daniel's cheek, and just held it there. An old man's hand with gnarled knuckles and prominent veins, resting against the soft wrinkled face of another old man. Well, they had lived through enough to deserve their old age. Then Daniel turned towards him to lean into his hand, and Daniel's eyes hadn't changed at all. "I've been ready for sixty-nine years," Jacob said quietly.
    ****
    Daniel leaned into the warmth of Jacob's hand on his cheek. Those gestures from Jacob were still so rare in public, he treasured every one. He looked into Jacob's eyes, still dark and beautiful even with silver lashes and slack lids. That was still his Trip in there. Always would be.
    "So," he said. "Shall we finally end the suspense?"
    Jacob nodded. "Sounds good to me."
    Daniel put his hand over Jacob's for a moment and then stepped back and turned around. Jacob moved up beside him. Their friends and family stood in a rough semi-circle around the deck. In front of them the minister stood with his hands clasped together. Daniel said, "Hannah?"
    She came to him, her eyes sparkling, dressed up in one of those floaty bright-colored dresses she loved to wear. He pulled the little box out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Would you hold onto those for us, honey, until we need them?"
    "Sure, Uncle Daniel." She smiled happily.
    She looked like Lily in that moment. Daniel felt a brief pang of loss for the sweet girl who had been more sister to him than his own. But this was his Hannah, the closest he would ever come to his own child, and it was good to have her sharing this moment. "I'd give your Uncle Jake his to hold onto but he'd probably drop it."
    "You're the one who's butter-fingered lately," Jacob muttered. "And don't call me Jake."
    Daniel grinned at him. "Oh yeah, I remember now."
    The minister asked, "Are you gentlemen ready? Turn and face each other."
    Daniel turned, and then there was no one in the world but Jacob.
    The minister's voice floated around them. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of these two men in marriage. Through many long and full years, they have stayed true to one another. They have lived life side by side. Now before family and friends, and under the eyes of God, whose love for all his creation is surely infinite and unbounded, they will take their vows.
    "Daniel, take Jacob's hands."
    Daniel reached out. There was a moment's hesitation, as Jacob