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. Alex ran a hand through his wavy black hair, then wiped bothhands across the top of his lap. Let me see.I m thankful for nearlyforty years of marriage to the most wonderful woman I know, for ourson, who makes me more proud with each passing day, and that he hasfinally found someone to share his life with. 218 Michael Rupured My turn. Thad turned to Philip and then to his parents. I mgrateful for my family and the unconditional way you have alwaysloved me. He nodded to Ed and Greg. I m thankful for my friendsthose I ve had for years and those I ve only just met. He turned toJosh. And I m grateful that Linda talked you into moving to DC, thatyou finally figured out Philip was not my lover, that you survived beingthe target of a serial killer, and that we ll have the rest of our lives tosort it all out. Thad sat back down in his chair.Josh felt Thad grab his handbeneath the table and squeeze.Tom Freeman cleared his throat.Joshwondered what his father would say and hoped he wouldn t beembarrassed.Like everyone else at the table, he looked at Tomexpectantly.Tom glanced up and down the table before settling his gaze onJosh. I m thankful for a son who has always been there for me, despitethe fact I wasn t always there for him.I love you, Josh. Thanks, Dad. Josh felt the emotion in his throat. I love youtoo. I m thankful to be part of this celebration, said Greg. I m alsothankful for good friends like Ed, Thad, and Josh, and for my mentor,Philip, whose rock-steady support and constant encouragement give mehope that I can one day do half as good a job as curator as he does. Thad squeezed Josh s hand again.He knew why no telling whatEd would say.They both turned to Ed. I guess it s my turn, Ed said.He looked around the table andsmiled. I m thankful for Philip and all he s done for me over the years.He s like a father to me, and I wouldn t be here without him.I m alsothankful for my friends, and am happy that Josh and Thad have endedup together.Finally I m grateful to Josh for making me a local hero andfor the impact celebrity has had on my love life. After the laughter died down, Rafael stood. I m thankful that lastnight, this beautiful woman agreed to be my wife. Applause andexclamations erupted around the table.Linda flashed the ring she now wore on her left hand. I mthankful that Rafael finally asked me to marry him, and that he s okay UNTIL THANKSGIVING 219with Josh being my maid of honor. Everyone laughed. I can timagine asking anyone else.Will you do it, Josh? Josh stroked his chin as he considered the question. As long as Idon t have to wear one of those ugly bridesmaid dresses, I d behonored. She put a hand on his shoulder. I m thankful that my best friendin the world has finally grown up, and along the way, found himself theperfect partner.I m so proud of you.And I m so grateful that Thadtook such good care of you when you were recovering, and for Philip sgenerosity in hosting us this weekend. Josh looked around and realized this was his family.The peoplehe loved most in the world were in this room, sitting around this table.He stood up and remained silent for a moment as he took it all in.Anexpectant silence filled the room as everyone focused their attention onJosh. Before moving here, I really thought the best years of my lifewere behind me.I was sure I would never find love again and felt like Ihad nothing to live for. He looked at Thad and smiled, then turned toLinda. I m thankful for Linda, my adopted sister.She s seen me do a lotof stupid things over the years and has never been shy about letting meknow when she thinks I ve made a mistake.It s because of her that Ihad the courage to move here.Take good care of her, Rafael. Rafael nodded solemnly and reached his arm protectively acrossher shoulder. I will. I m thankful for my father.For a lot of different reasons, we venever had an especially close relationship.That s changed now, andI m grateful.I love you, Dad. I m thankful for Ed and Greg.Next to Linda and Thad, you rethe best friends I ve ever had.I can t imagine how different thingswould have been here without you. I m thankful that Mr.and Mrs.Parker did such a good jobraising Thad.He s the finest man I ve ever met, and in just the past fewmonths, he s made me a better man too.Thank you for welcoming meinto your family like a long-lost son. 220 Michael Rupured Philip, I m thankful to be part of your family.You are, beyond adoubt, the most incredible man I ve ever met.Thad told me aboutJames and the trust fund, and all you ve done over the years for somany abandoned young men.I m especially grateful for the way youtook Thad under your wing when he came out. Josh looked at Thad. Finally I m thankful to have found Thad.He s shown me that there s a lot more to loving someone than sharing abed.Thanks for all you ve done for me over the past few weeks.Because of you, I feel alive like I never have before.I love you. Ohs and aws erupted around the table when Josh fell to one kneein front of Thad. Thad Parker, I would be honored if you d marry me. Green eyes gazed back at him above a smile that lit up the room. I can t imagine my life without you.I m yours for as long as you llhave me. Everyone applauded as Josh took his seat. I love you all.AndI m thankful there s nobody else at this table.I m starving! Now canwe eat? About the AuthorFor as long as he can remember, MICHAEL RUPURED has loved towrite.Before he learned the alphabet, he filled page after page withrows of tiny little circles he now believes were his first novels and hasbeen writing ever since.He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, where hecame out as a gay man at the age of twenty-one in the late 1970s.Heconsiders it a miracle that he survived his wild and reckless twenties.By day, Michael is an academic.He develops and evaluates financialliteracy programs for youth and adult audiences at the University ofGeorgia and is Assistant to the Dean for Family and ConsumerSciences Education.He s received numerous awards and honors overthe years and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Association for FinancialCounseling and Planning Education.Michael is also an avid gardener, arunner, and because he loves it and rarely misses a class, is knownlocally as the Zumba King.In 2010, he joined the Athens Writers Workshop, which he credits forhelping him transition from writing nonfiction to writing fiction.Michael writes gay romance thrillers that, in addition to entertaining thereader, highlight how far the gay rights movement has come in the lastfifty years.A serial monogamist who is currently betweenrelationships, Michael writes with his longhaired Chihuahua, Toodles,in his lap from his home in Athens, Georgia.To find out what Michael s up to now, visit his blog:http://rupured.com, follow him on Twitter: @crotchetyman, or send ane-mail to mrupured@gmail.com. Also from DREAMSPINNER PRESShttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com Also from DREAMSPINNER PRESShttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
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