Hudson did, and saw his name and an ID number. Below that were the words “Certifying Instructor,” followed by Ben’s name. Hudson held the card up and moved it back and forth in the light. “I’m official,” he said proudly.

“It came this morning,” Ben said. “Just in time.”

He means just in time for me to leave, thought Hudson. It’s almost as if he’s rushing me out the door. He was hurt by the idea that this might be true. Did Ben want him gone for some reason, maybe so that he could start his new life without complications? Was he now regretting what had happened between them?

“Are there many places to dive on the East Coast?” he heard himself ask, the deliberate implication being that he would soon be living there again.

“Some,” Ben answered. “Mostly wreck diving, but that can be interesting. There’s a great book about some divers who found a German sub from the Second World War off the coast of New Jersey. You should read it.”

For Hudson, the magic seemed to have been leeched out of the room. He and Ben could be sitting in any living room in any house anywhere in the world. Whatever had been left of Ed Ricketts was gone now, and with it had gone the feeling of hope that Hudson had been carrying around with him, however uncertainly, that maybe Ben wanted something more from him.

He slipped the certification card into his pocket. “We should probably go,” he said. “Before it gets any later. Caddie’s probably wondering where you are.”

Ben stood, as did Hudson. They were facing one another, a space of less than a foot between them. Ben reached for the lamp to turn it off; paused; and, without looking at Hudson, said, “Do you think they were lovers?”

Hudson looked around the room. “I don’t know,” he said.

Ben, still not looking at him, said, “But what do you think?” he repeated.

“I think they were,” Hudson answered. “But I also think it doesn’t matter if I ever know for sure.”

Ben turned around. The lamp was still on. “Stay,” he said.

Hudson looked into his eyes. The light was reflected in them, and in the center of that light he saw himself, in miniature, as if he were on fire. “Stay,” he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.

“Stay,” said Ben. “With me.”

They stepped into one another’s arms. Hudson found Ben’s mouth, kissed him, shook from the sudden release of fear he’d been holding inside of him, as if he’d been holding his breath and had now reached the surface. Ben, too, was shaking, and Hudson clung to him, trying to stop it even as they stumbled, together, toward the waiting cot.