But Mr. Baraschs earlier instinct had been right. Mr. Hammonds soul was in distress. In the summer of 2014, after he returned from a trip to India, where he became a Vedic meditation teacher, they broke up again, this time a mutual decision.
I was just unhappy, Mr. Hammond said. It was one of the most difficult years of my life. He had recently stepped down from his role at Friends of the High Line and was figuring out his next move. The trip to India was supposed to help. But he was still struggling.
At the end of 2014, when his replacement at Friends of the High Line quit after only a few months, Mr. Hammond resumed his job there. I had made a big deal about leaving, but my gut was telling me to stay, he said. The other thing my gut kept saying was, get back together with Dan.
The chances of Mr. Barasch risking heartbreak a third time seemed remote, but he went with his gut. In June 2015, Mr. Barasch agreed to have dinner with Mr. Hammond. At Gramercy Tavern, Mr. Hammond, who was so nervous his legs were jackhammering under the table, told Mr. Barasch he loved him.
I was sure he would reject me, he said. Mr. Barasch admits to major trepidation. My guard was up high, he said. But by the time they left the restaurant, he agreed to have dinner with Mr. Hammond once a week.
That fall, with the dinner routine holding steady, they increased the frequency of their together time at a house Mr. Hammond rented in Tivoli, N.Y. Its a magical little town, Mr. Hammond said. We connected up there. But toward the end of the year, trouble was brewing again. Robbie decided he wanted to have a baby, Mr. Barasch said. It wasnt something I wanted or was ready for.read more
A Slow Burn Through All the Highs and Lows
