Two weeks after Philip d'Autremont is acquitted of his wife's murder, it's time for him and his partner and lawyer, Charles Barnett, to start building their life together. But it turns out that not everyone in Atlanta is as ready to leave the trial in the past as Charles and Philip, and a surprise attack leaves Charles in the hospital and Philip's arm in a sling.<br><br>With thoughts of their own mortality fresh in their minds, Charles and Philip make a decision that will change their lives forever. Future plans and home renovations take their minds off the attacks, but the danger isn't over yet: the people behind the attacks are still at large, and they weren't acting alone.

Tribulation

CHARLES WAS IN the bed, still unconscious, and there were tubes and things leading from his body in several places. I took charge of my wheelchair, rolled over to the bed awkwardly with one hand, and took Charles’ right hand, the one that didn’t have needles attached to tubes protruding from it. I kissed his hand, put it against my cheek, and found that I was silently crying.


Oh God, Charles,I thought, I can’t bear seeing you like this. Come back to us now. Please. The tears flowed down my cheeks, but no sound came out. Richard and Gran walked up behind me, and I said, “I’m sorry, but my background is French, and I don’t have Charles’ stiff upper lip tradition to fall back on. I’ve waited all my life to find someone to love like I love him, and to almost lose him is more than I can bear.”


Chapter 21