“Yeah. He wants you in this week for grand jury prep, and he wants to impanel the jurors next week.”
Joshua sat in silence with his eyes fixed on the fireplace. Watching him, Colin could tell that he was breathing in slow, deliberate pulls and controlling his reaction.
“Josh, we knew this was coming.”
“I know.”
“And your testimony is vital to our case.”
“I know that too.” He spun to face his husband. “Can we eat dinner andthendiscuss this?”
Colin tilted his head; his honeyed-green eyes were brilliant beneath deeply furrowed brows.
“I just need to sit with it for a minute.”
Colin nodded and got to his feet, drawing Joshua up with him. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“No reason. Like you said, we knew this was coming.” He took two steps toward the kitchen, then wheeled to face Colin. “Will Page be there?”
“No. Just the grand jury and Norm.”
“Youcan’t come in with me?”
Colin wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “I’ll find out. I should be allowed in. I’m an officer of the court so...” He smiled and gave his husband an ironic wink. “And uh, I thought you wanted to sit with the news for a minute before we talked about it.” He squeezed Joshua’s shoulder. “Don’t fret over your grand jury testimony. Norm said he’d try to take it easy on you.”
Frowning, Joshua moved to the stove and began to fill their plates. After a moment his movements slowed…then stopped. He stared down at their food in complete silence, then spun to face his husband who was leaning on the counter watching him. “I don’t want that,” he snapped. “Youtellhim, Colin! Make sure he knows! I don’twanthim to be easy on me! I know this won’t be a walk on the beach, and I don’t care! I want him to ask whatever the hell he has to ask that’ll put Page away for-fucking-ever!”
“OK, baby,” Colin soothed, reaching to run his fingers through Joshua’s raggedy hair. “How about you take it easy on my dinner, huh?”
“I’m serious, Colin.”
“I know you are. And believe me, even if I begged him to, Norm wouldn’t soft-pedal your questioning. He’ll go over all of it with you in the office. You’ll be prepped, Josh. And I’ll be there to help you.”
Joshua stood staring down at the kitchen floor. His breath was a noisy, rapid hissing through clenched teeth, and the serving spoon trembled in his fist. Colin took the spoon from his hand and drew him into his arms. “It’s gonna be OK, baby,” he murmured, holding Joshua close. “I promise you.”
Joshua drew in a ragged breath. “Ifyourtwo favorite words are ‘I’m sorry’,minehave to be ‘I promise you’.”
Colin laughed and pressed a kiss to Joshua’s cheek, then pushed him back and lifted his chin until their eyes met. “Are you going to be all right with this? Because wecanget a medical exemption if we need to.”
“Absolutely fucking not! I’m doing this.” He took the spoon from Colin’s hand and filled both their plates. “C’mon,” he muttered, handing Colin his food. “Let’s eat.”
* * *
Joshua spoke little during dinner,and Colin left him to his thoughts. When they finished, Joshua began to clear the table, but Colin stood and took his hand and led him away from the dining room. “Leave it,” he muttered, pulling Joshua down beside himself on the couch. “Leave it, and talk to me a bit.”
Joshua turned in his arms and nestled close to him, his face pressed to Colin’s shoulder.
“Sweetie, maybe I can—”
“Stop,” Joshua blurted out. “You’re not my wingman on this, Colin. I don’t want you running any kind of interference for me. Let Norm do his job.”
“You’re the only one who heard Page confess to raping those kids,” Colin said, his voice low. “And he threatened to rapeandmurder you! That’s a huge deal, baby. That’s what’ll put him away for life.”
“You tell Norm I’m ready,” Joshua muttered against Colin’s shoulder.
“Josh, are you sure you—”
“Tell him!”
