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

We took some more sun and then had a light lunch. After lunch, we went out to the deck and more or less replayed the events of the morning.


John and Joe joined us for a late afternoon walk on the beach, and when we returned and had Lance bathed and dried, we cleaned ourselves up and went into the kitchen. I’d left potatoes baking in the oven while we were walking, and Charles grilled steaks the minute we were out of the shower. Soon, we were sitting around the table devouring the steaks, enjoying the wine and each other’s company.


Joe said, “Can I ask you guys a really personal question?”


“Jesus, Joe,” Charles said. “You guys watched us masturbate each other to produce the sperm to begin our future children. How could it get any more personal than that?”


Chapter 81