Happily Ever After Isn't Easy by Jake C. Wallace

Author:Jake C. Wallace [Wallace, Jake C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63533-402-9
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-05-08T04:00:00+00:00

THE KIDS slept most of the trip, even missing when they pulled onto the large boat. Brandt reached over and held Gabe’s hand while they were parked on the ferry. “You’re quiet. What’re you thinking about?”

“Sorry. Just thinking about Karen. I hope her date day with Randy went okay. They’ve been having problems.”

“That’s too bad.”

Gabe mulled over just what to tell Brandt about Karen. Since he’d hinted he wasn’t going anywhere soon, he knew telling him about her illness was necessary, given her ups and downs.

“Karen has bipolar depression and was diagnosed after we were married.”

Brandt’s expression showed his sympathy. “I’ve known a few men and women in the Army who had bipolar depression. I’ve seen how rough it can be on a person. Most of them were eventually given medical discharges. The stress of combat, even the Army’s high standards, made them worse.”

Gabe turned toward Brandt in his seat. “Take the stress of having twins when you’re over forty after cheating on your closeted gay husband who could never show you the love and affection you needed or give you the family you wanted and add bipolar depression.”

“Damn.”

“In all the time we were together, Karen did pretty well. She went to therapy and took her meds even when she was doing okay. I think I was so diligent about making sure she did what she needed to do to stay healthy, she was able to stay well. If she didn’t take her meds, I brought them to her. If she missed a therapy appointment, I made her call and reschedule. Made her eat regularly, exercise. What I really became was a built-in support system that she doesn’t have now.”

“What about her husband?”

Just thinking of Randy raised his anger but also sympathy. “I don’t know. He’s a good guy. Doesn’t like me much, but I think he loves Karen and the kids. She thought he was cheating, but maybe they’re going to patch things up today. If they do, then maybe he will be there more for her. Mental illness is rough on relationships, which are hard enough all around.”

They were silent for a moment, and then Brandt said, “I used to have the wrong idea about people with a mental illness. If they just tried harder, worked harder, wanted to be better, then they would.” His face hardened and his brow furrowed. “I had this one guy in my platoon. Sam. He was nineteen and as green as they come. He was a go-getter, a bit gangly, couldn’t seem to get out of his own way, but a team player from the start.

“He never would have been accepted into the military if he had a diagnosed mental illness. He never would have made it past the entrance physical. Over time this spunky kid changed, became moodier, less social, sadder. Many of the guys get homesick, have a hard time adjusting. As instructors we’re supposed to push them past that. It can be… a bit brutal, but we are training soldiers, you know? There were times this kid had the energy of ten men.

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