“I believe…” He hesitated, then nodded. “I believe those people are your friends. I believe they love you.”
He cupped Colin’s face in his palms and lifted it gently. “And I believe you should tell them exactly what you just told me. That this offer is a dream come true—but that your heart is breaking at the thought of hurting them.”
He shrugged, soft and knowing. “This is one of those moments, my darling. You can’t control or predict their response.” He smiled and leaned in. “It’s one of those paths that Danny talked about, where you just have to stumble ahead blind. We’ve talked about faith. I have faith in Esther and Norm. Maybe it’s time you found that same faith in yourself… and just told them thetruth.” He kissed his husband, then kissed him again, tender and firm. “I honestly believe they deserve it.”
Colin knockedon Esther’s open door and stepped inside before she could answer. Norm was already seated across from her desk, legs crossed, face unreadable. Esther glanced up, eyes sharp as ever, and gestured him in with a slight nod.
“Close the door,” she said. That was never a good start. Colin obeyed and stayed standing.
“I assume this is regarding your lunch with Merritt,” Esther said, her tone giving nothing away.
“It is.”
She folded her hands on the desk. “And I assume he offered you more than the pleasure of his company.”
Colin gave a half-smile. “He offered me two classes. Criminal Procedure and Trial Advocacy.”
Norm gave a low whistle. “Damn. They’re not playing around.”
Colin turned to him, then back to Esther. “It’s an adjunct position. No tenure. But if I take both classes… I’d have to go part-time here.”
Esther didn’t blink. “Yes, you would.” The silence that followed felt dense, like the air had been thickened somehow.
“I haven’t made a decision,” Colin said. “I haven’t given Merritt an answer. I—I wanted to talk to you both first because this job meanseverythingto me. Becauseyoumean everything to me. You’re—you’re my family. Leaving the CAO would break my heart. But I also don’t want to walk away from this offer and regret it for the rest of my life.”
Esther’s eyes softened—just slightly. She stood, walked around the desk, and leaned back against it, arms crossed.
“We knew this was coming,” she said.
Colin blinked. “Youdid? I sure as hell didn’t. I damn near fainted when he said it.”
She nodded. “You don’t come back from what you went through and stay the same. You either shrink or you grow. And you, Counselor? You’re growing.”
“Plus,” Norm added with a knowing grin. “Merritt doesn’t take former students to lunch unless he’s got an offer up his sleeve.”
Colin swallowed hard.
“I’m not going to ask you to stay,” she continued. “That’s not what this is. But I’m also not going to let you crash and burn because you think you can outrun limits thatno onecould outrun.”
Norm spoke up, voice low but firm. “You’ve got the heart for both jobs, Colin. But you don’t have thehours! No one does.”
Colin nodded, mute.
Esther stepped forward, meeting his eyes. “Here’s my proposal: a trial run—three months, part-time at CAO. We’ll cut back on the major felonies on your caseload, though I’ll still want you second-chairing Jason now and then. Selected felony cases, pre-trial hearings, consults, mentoring junior staff, and helping me wrangle the mayor and the city council. We’ll ease your load, Colin, not erase it.”
Colin listened, motionless.
“But,” she added, holding up a finger, “if I see the signs—if you start unraveling, showing up late, missing deadlines, letting cases slip, or if I get a frantic call from Joshua—I pull the plug. No debate. Then you’ll have to make a choice.”
Colin nodded slowly. “Fair.” His jaw worked as he glanced up at Esther, trying not to wince. “Should I—should I pack up my office?”
She bowed her head, laughing softly while Norm barked out a sharp guffaw and slapped his shoulder.
“Of course not!” Esther snapped. “You’re still one of our heavy hitters. That’s your office.” She stepped closer, her hand settling lightly on his shoulder. “This isn’t a favor, Colin. You earned this. But I’m not giving you a crown—I’m handing you a balance beam. You fall off, that’s on you.”
Colin’s throat tightened, and he swallowed hard before answering. “Thank you, boss lady.”
Esther’s mouth curved in a small smile. “Don’t thank me yet. This may kick your ass.”
