Joshua sucked in a quick breath and nodded, holding tight to Colin’s hand. “OK,” he murmured. “I’m OK.”
“How about audio books,” David suggested. “Can he listen to those?”
Casey shrugged. “Those should be OK. But not for long periods. No more than an hour.”
“How long do I have to live like this?” Joshua asked.
“Until you’re no longer symptomatic, Josh,” Casey told him. “You know damned well that this kind of injury heals faster for some people than it does for others. You’re going to have to be patient.”
Joshua stared down at the sheets. “Damnit,” he muttered, his voice wavering.
Colin felt his heart ache in his chest. Joshua looked so forlorn, and coupled with the brace on his arm and his bruised and swollen features, he resembled a lost and forsaken child. He gathered Joshua into his arms and rocked him gently. “Listen to me,” he whispered. “If you can’t read, I’ll readtoyou. If you can’t watch TV, we’ll go for short walks or I’ll take you for a drive. We’ll figure it out, sweetie. I promise you. We’ll figure it out.”
Chapter 22
Recovery
The following morning, Joshua bounced with excitement as Dr. Casey gave him his final instructions. “Josh, I know it’s going to be hard on you to give up the reading, and TV, and tech that you’re used to using every day, but please believe me it’s necessary. You know what can happen if you don’t. You could prolong your recovery or even bring on more severe side effects like seizures.” He rested his hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Rest! And behave yourself!”
Joshua nodded and covered Adam’s hand with his. “I will, Adam. I promise.”
Adam shot Colin a quick look, but he was staring down at the floor as he stood beside Joshua’s wheelchair, his face twisted in a scowl.
“I’ll see you next week,” Casey told them, then watched as Colin wheeled Joshua to the elevator and disappeared inside.
* * *
Twenty minuteslater Colin’s car pulled into the driveway. “Now take it easy, bud,” he cautioned, as Joshua leapt from the car and limped to the front door. “Wait for me.”
Joshua pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door, then walked inside and stopped. “Oh my god,” he breathed out. “I’m home!”
Colin entered behind him then moved to the living room and sat the small bag holding Joshua’s few hospital items on the first step leading up to their bedroom. “Remember what Adam said,” Colin reminded him. He jerked off his jacket and hung it over a dining room chair, then turned to look at his husband.
Joshua stood behind the couch, both hands resting on its back. His eyes swung from one part of the room to the other, taking it all in, his face radiant with joy. “Oh god, Colin, I’mhome!” His eyes sparkling with tears as he turned to face his husband. “You’ll never know,” Joshua said in a choked whisper. “All those hours lying in that dark, filthy church,thiswas what I thought of again and again. This! Our home! Our beautiful home! Oh, god, how I ached to be here!”
Colin reached him and wrapped both arms around his waist. “Well, you’re here now, bud. But I want you to take it easy. Now park your ass on the couch and let me wait on you.”
“I love this place, Colin,” Joshua breathed out, then pressed his face to Colin’s chest. “I love it so much. And I was terrified I’d never see it again.”
“We should buy it,” Colin replied. “We’ve talked about it for almost three years. Time to pull the trigger.”
“Oh, Colin,couldwe?” Joshua asked, looking into his eyes. “God, darling, I’d love that.”
“I’ll look into getting the paperwork started tomorrow,” Colin murmured against Joshua’s ear. “But right now...” He took Joshua’s hand and led him to the front of the couch, then lowered him onto it. “You hungry?” Colin asked, swinging Joshua’s legs onto the couch, and propping a pillow behind his head. “Thirsty?”
Joshua took his hand and pulled him down until Colin sat on the couch next to him. “I have all I want right here.” He drew Colin close and kissed him.
Colin’s eyes met his and his fingers moved to stroke Joshua’s hair, taking care not to disturb the bandage covering his head wound. “I’m going to go check on what food we have and try to figure out what I can make for dinner. YOU,” he said, tapping Joshua’s chest with his index finger, “are to close your eyes and take a nap.” He bent forward and kissed him softly...briefly. “Got it?”
“Got it.”
Colin nuzzled against Joshua’s cheek, then got up and wandered into the kitchen.
* * *
That night,he helped Joshua up the stairs and half-carried him into their bedroom. After setting him down on the bed, he stripped off his own clothes and hurled them into the hamper. “Need some help?” he asked, turning back to his husband.
Joshua gave a soft laugh. “Yeah. Would you pull my shoes off for me please? It’s hard for me to bend over with these damned cracked ribs.”
