Love Of My Life

Time Waits For No One -July 12-16

Tyler and Benjamin at sunrise. West Coast Trail.

Benjamin's POV

Benjamin's favorite time of the day was sunrise. He loved the beginning of the day, when the sun peaked over the mountains and made it's way with glorious color across the sky. The sunrise on the hike was absolutely stunning. Sometimes Tyler would wake with him and they would sit on a log, sipping their coffee and watch it together. Usually Tyler was still nestled in the sleeping bag and Benjamin would watch it alone.

Benjamin was always up early, even when he was a young child. He would waken to the noise of  his grandma in the kitchen and it would get him out of bed quicker than anything. He would help her make breakfast and they would carry on a lively conversation about anything and everything.

He had always loved the quiet of mornings, his jogs through his neighborhood with little traffic and the mood was just peaceful for him. Benjamin sat on the log, sipping his coffee and contemplated his life, as he had done every morning on the hike. For the first time in his life he felt overwhelmingly happy, joyful, excited for his future and completely at peace.

He knew the time had come for him to buy a home. He would miss Doris but he knew it was time. He had noticed Doris's health declining in the past few years and she would soon be needing more care than just him helping around the house and with errands. She had desperately wanted to stay in her home before but he suspected that she knew it was time to move somewhere where she could receive better care.

Real estate in Vancouver was ridiculously high and even with his savings he could not afford a house in a neighborhood that he wanted. A condo was a feasible option and it was a sound investment. He wanted to move in with Tyler right away and planned to ask him that day.

It was the last day of their hike and if they got going by 9 they could catch the shuttle back to their car and be on the 6pm ferry. He looked forward to a hot shower and sleeping in his bed. He would miss Tyler in his arms every night and waking up next to him. His heart hurt at the thought of spending nights away from each other. Yes, he thought I will ask him today to move in with me.

They hadn't set a date for the wedding as they were planning on sitting with his mom and Tyler's family and making arrangements together.

Together they packed up their backpacks and headed down the trail. They were quiet, the trail was particularly challenging and they needed to focus. The trail  weaved in between the rain forest and the beach. Sea lions and whales could be seen feeding not to far from shore and they stopped to watch them for a while.

The trail descended slowly towards the ocean over the next few kilometres.  The last kilometre they caught sight of the ocean through the trees and heard the waves. Finally they came to the top of a very tall and VERY steep ladder, the  steepest ladder on the entire trail. climbing down The ladder they landed on the beach.
Benjamin raised the buoy attached to the ladder and it signalled the ferry for a pickup. The ferry crossed the Gordon River and they met up with the shuttle bus to take them back to the first basecamp. They still had to drive to Victoria, catch the ferry then drive home.

The ferry provided much needed cuddling time for them as they sat in the lounge at the bow of the ferry. Tyler put his head on Benjamin's shoulder and they laced their fingers together.

"Tyler...." Benjamin began. "I want to talk to you about something".

"Yes?" He turned to give Benjamin his full attention.

"I want to buy a condo, somewhere close to your parents, the university, my job. I can't bear the thought of not spending each night going to bed with you and waking up with you. I want our future to start now. Please move in with me".

Tyler answered "yes!" Just as Benjamin finished his last word.

"Wow. That was fast!" Benjamin laughed, he hadn't expected an answer that quick.

"Well I kinda knew you were going to ask me. I had a couple of days to think about it."

"How did you know?" Benjamin asked surprised.

"You talk in your sleep. A lot". Tyler laughed and bopped him gently on his nose.

"No I don't". Benjamin insisted.

"Oh you totally do. Sometimes you even sing. You talk about muffins a lot, I didn't think you even really liked muffins, you start most sentences with "babe" so I know it's about me. Sometimes it's super cute, sometimes it's really sexy of what you want to do to me". Tyler giggled at Benjamin's reaction- shock and embarrassment.

"Oh my God. I had no idea" Benjamin covered his face.

"I love it. It's cute. When do you plan to move?" Tyler changed the subject to spare Benjamin further embarrassment.

"Very soon. I have to talk to Doris. I don't want her thinking that I'm letting her down, ya know?" He looked at Tyler guiltily.

"She won't think anything like that. She will be happy for you and for us. She would actually be mad that you think that."

"You are right" Benjamin nodded.

"Of course" Tyler said cheekily. "Let's go to the gift shop and pick out some gifts for the boys."

Once they docked and drove off the highway they made good time back to Tyler's home. After a week together it was hard to say goodbye even though they would see each other the next day. Not spending the night in each other's arms was going to be difficult for both of them but with their plan to buy a condo and move in together and a wedding to plan they both knew it would just be for a short time. They had their goal and they knew they would be just fine. They made out in the car until they heard tapping on the window and saw Jeff and Kevin waving excitedly at them.

"Goodnight love" Benjamin said giving him a final quick kiss. "We will go to Kamloops the day after tomorrow. I will call Bob and Sheila tomorrow and let them know we are coming".

"Sounds good. Goodnight. I love you" Tyler said wrapping his arms around him. "See you tomorrow".

Tyler closed the door and Benjamin sighed, missing him already. He was going to call a realtor the next day and hopefully find something soon. He smiled as he saved to the family now gathered to greet Tyler.