“Can you give us a statement?” Jet pulled out a notepad.
“We can go to the dining room.” Becca pointed to the door. “That way there will be seats for everyone.”
“Lemme call the ambulance for him.” The older deputy spoke into his radio, and a few minutes later a van came and two paramedics whisked Jeffrey away. Jet stayed behind to take their statements while the other officer left to accompany Jeffrey in the ambulance.
Becca carried in a coffeepot, Walter brought the cups on a tray, and they settled around the large wooden dining table. While Becca poured the coffee, Jet took out his pen and flipped open his pad.
“Becca, let’s start with you.”
While she spoke, Leo’s mind wandered. Becca had proudly told him the story of how Walter had carved the table and eight matching chairs of the dining-room set as a wedding present for her. Sunlight picked up the warm tones of the honey-gold wood and the rich colors on the flowered rug. Pictures of Morgan growing up filled the walls, and Leo had spent the previous evening looking at each one, from baby photos taken at a JC Penney to his gap-toothed smile at the lake with Walter helping him hold his first fish, happy moments unfolding all the way to his college graduation. Leo could feel the love in the room, and it made him miss his father, not with the blinding ache of pain, but with the sweetness of knowing he’d also had that kind of love for a short while. He rubbed his eyes, concentrating on the deputy, who was now gazing at Morgan with intent, probing eyes.
“That man is your husband?” Deputy Jet asked.
“Ex,” Leo snapped, and four sets of eyes stared at him. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
Morgan clasped his hands over the table. “We’ve been divorced for almost a year and a half, but it seems he can’t accept it. In September he was arrested for stalking and violating a court order of protection, but being a lawyer, he knew how to work the system and got out with community service and a few days in jail. He’s left us alone, but I don’t know…maybe he’s been watching us all along.” A shudder rippled through him, and Leo put his hand over Morgan’s, sliding up to his wrist to hold him.
On their prior visit upstate together, right after everything went down with Jeffrey, Morgan had finally told his parents the real reason for his divorce, and Leo thought he’d have to lock the doors to keep Becca and Walter from going to the city, finding Jeffrey, and doing him bodily harm. Their protective instinct was even stronger than his.
“Don’t worry,” Leo told him, “he’s not going to hurt you. I promise.”
Jet’s gaze flickered from their hands to his face. “And you are?”
“Morgan’s boyfriend.”
“So I’ve gathered,” the deputy said dryly. “Do you also have a name?”
“Leo DeLuca,” he gritted out. “I’m upset. Obviously.”
“Obviously. You’ve known Morgan long?”
“Since the spring.”
“Ah.”
Leo shot him a dark look but kept his temper in check. “You’re going to arrest Jeffrey, right?”
“That’s the plan.” Jet checked his notes. “Morgan, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about him any longer. We have him on a whole host of charges, and we’ll make sure he doesn’t get off as easy.” He tucked away his pad and stood. “It’s good to see you again, by the way. Been a while.”
“Yeah, I haven’t been up here too much since I left, but that’s going to change. Leo and I love it.”
“And we love having them.” Becca directed a smile toward him. “Leo has been such a help around the house, fixing things with Walter and taking the heavy loads of wood in from the back. It’s like having a second son.”
Heat rose in his face. “It was nothing. I’m happy to do it.” He ducked his head but not before seeing the resignation in Jet’s eyes. Satisfaction filled him.
That’s right. He’s mine, and it’s staying that way.
“I’ve got to go and meet Donald now at the hospital and see what’s going on. I’ll keep you posted. Have a good rest of the day.”
He left them at the table, and Becca collected the coffee cups. “Well, that was more excitement than I was willing to have on a Saturday. Walt, help me clean up.” With a wink, Walter picked up the coffeepot and followed her into the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind him.
“I didn’t realize Jet had come home and was a deputy here. Last I knew, he was playing football for Michigan State. There was talk of him making pro.”
“Figures,” Leo muttered.
“What?” Morgan nudged him. “Why do you say that?”
“Nothing.” He sounded like a jealous idiot but couldn’t help it. He was. “Were you two friends? Did you ever date?”
