Denny and Alan were home in their living room enjoying each other's company. It was New Year's Eve and they had mutually decided that rather than ring in the New Year at Shirley's and Carl's house like last year, home was exactly where they wanted to be. Denny was, after all, ninety years old and though Alan is twenty – nine years younger, he was still sixty – one. They both had a "been there, done that" attitude about going out on the last day of the year. They had decided to spend the entire day binge watching movies and TV shows.
It was early afternoon and they were midway through "The Godfather, Part II" when Alan's phone rang. He picked it up to message "Can I call you later?" to whoever it was when he saw that it was Catherine Piper calling. "Well, hello and Happy New Year's Eve! Miss me already?"
"Alan?" a male voice replied. "This is Kevin, Catherine's nephew."
"I remember you," Alan said. "Why are you calling on her phone?" Alan began to have a feeling of dread growing in his chest.
"I'm going through my aunt's contact list calling all of her friends to let them know that she passed away."
"Oh my God! When?!"
"Her next door neighbor found her in bed. She has a key and when Aunt Catherine hadn't come over for their daily morning coffee klatch, she got worried and went to check on her. It looked like she had died peacefully in her sleep last night."
"Thank you for telling me and please accept my condolences. Could you let me know what the arrangements will be?"
"Of course. My aunt prepaid her cremation ages ago. We'll be having a memorial service and you will definitely be notified."
"Thank you. I'll let you go now. Goodbye."
Denny could only hear half the conversation, but had stopped the movie when he saw all the color drain from his husband's face. "Who died, Alan?"
"Catherine Piper. Last night or this morning in her sleep." He rubbed his hands across his face. "I can't believe it. I just spoke to her three days ago! She sounded fine!"
"I'm so sorry, Alan, but you can't be too surprised. I mean she was ninety – nine years old!"
"She was turning one hundred in eighteen days. She was so full of life that I had no doubt that she would make it." He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. "I hated that woman when I was a child and wasn't too keen on her when we reconnected, but somehow, Denny, in spite of our past, we became friends. Part of me thought she would live forever!" When his tears began to fall, Denny moved to sit next to him and put his arms around him to provide comfort. He was stunned when Alan began to cry harder. "How can she be gone, Denny!" he wailed. "Why does it feel like she's gone way too soon?"
Denny silently held his husband as he grieved for his friend. He had an idea why this was hitting Alan so hard. When Alan's crying slowed, he squeezed him tight for a moment before asking, "I'm part of the reason you're so upset, aren't I?"
The younger man straightened up and wiped his eyes. "Yes," he whispered. Louder he said, "Just like Catherine, you're so full of life. The medication to stave off the Alzheimer's has been working like a charm. You're an energetic ninety-year-old man and part of me thinks you're going to live forever!"
Denny rubbed his back. "And Catherine's death reminded you of my mortality?"
"Indeed. I can't imagine my life without you in it…"
"But you know that day is coming. I wish it could be different, but that's life. And death."
They sat silently together, each lost in his own thoughts. Finally, Alan stood up and got Scotch for both of them. He handed Denny his drink and said, "To Catherine."
"To Catherine," Denny repeated before clinking his glass against Alan's.
The two men drank to her memory. "Catherine wouldn't want us to sit around mourning her on New Year's Eve," Alan said. "I'm glad we decided to stay in; I don't think I could be very sociable." He sat back down and gave Denny a one – armed hug. "I love you, Denny."
"I love you, too, you sentimental girl." He bumped shoulders with the younger man and turned the movie back on; nothing like a little Mafia mayhem to put you in a better mood.