Page 46 of Prognosis Temporary

Callie spied Bree’s mother flicking through an ancient magazine in the central waiting area. She wandered over and sat opposite. ‘Hi, Anita. How’s it all going?’

Bree’s mother glanced up from her reading and smiled. ‘The bad days are getting fewer, thank goodness.’

Callie nodded. The smile couldn’t erase the extra years Bree had added to her mother’s life. Anita looked ten years older than when they’d first met two years ago after Bree’s diagnosis.

They both glanced over at the session, which was drawing to a close. ‘I can’t thank Sebastian enough. He’s just connected with her. Mind you...’ She fanned herself. ‘I can’t say I blame her. He’s very easy on the eye, isn’t he?’

Callie laughed as Anita openly ogled Sebastian. She quashed the urge to say, you should see him naked. ‘That he is.’

‘Seriously, though.’ Anita sobered, looking back at Bree. ‘Since her father left a few years ago she’s been lacking a strong male role model. Sebastian has been such a godsend. You should hear her at home — Sebastian said this, Sebastian said that.’

‘It’s good to see her coming out the other side,’ Callie said as she reached out and covered Anita’s hand with hers. ‘Don’t forget, though, she’s still got a way to go.’

Anita patted Callie’s hand. ‘I know. I know. It’s just been so nice to see. So nice to not feel so utterly helpless for a change.’

Callie nodded. ‘Of course.’ She looked back at the room, the session obviously over as the teens all stood. ‘Looks like they’re done. See you next week?’

Anita nodded and winked. ‘Wouldn’t miss it.’

Callie had a smile on her face as she wandered into the staffroom a couple of moments later. Sebastian had caught her eye as she’d passed and given her that have I got plans for you tonight look.

Their transition to spending their nights together had been a natural progression once the R word had come out into the open, and Callie felt a small trill of excitement every time she thought about sleeping with him.

‘Coffee’s here,’ Geraldine announced, walking past her with a laden four-cup cardboard tray from the coffee shop over the road.

Callie took hers and sat at the table. She removed the lid and inhaled the rich, earthy fragrance of her doubleshot espresso, waiting for the delicious buzz as it hit her olfactory system. It was a shock when a powerful surge of nausea took hold instead. Callie pushed the cup away violently, the liquid sloshing over the sides and onto the table.

‘Ugh.’ She clapped a hand to her mouth, relieved that it vanished as quickly as it appeared. ‘That smells awful.’

Geraldine raised an eyebrow and lifted the mug to her face. ‘Smells like coffee to me,’ she murmured.

Callie shuddered. ‘Must be that bout of food poisoning I had last week. I still feel a little delicate and things seem to taste different.’

Geraldine blew on her coffee, watching Callie over the rim. ‘You sure it was food poisoning?’

‘Yep.’ She nodded. ‘Sebastian was ill too. We think it must have been something in the take-away we’d had the night before. He got over his quicker than me, though.’

Geraldine took a sip. ‘Funnily enough, I couldn’t stand the smell of coffee when I was pregnant with Tahlia. The merest whiff and I was throwing up like there was no tomorrow.’

There was something in Geraldine’s voice that made Callie’s eyes narrow. ‘Geri,’ she warned.

Geri shrugged. ‘I’m just saying.’

‘Well, don’t.’

‘You and Seb being careful?’

Callie rolled her eyes. ‘Of course, Mother.’ Except that one time...

‘Hmm,’ Geri said, placing the cup on the table and crossing her arms over her ample bosom. ‘And you’ve had a period lately?’

Callie did not like the speculation in her friend’s eyes. ‘Yes. Last week.’

‘Yep, that can happen. I had my period until I was five months pregnant with Damon.’

‘Geri.’

‘Tired?’ she persisted, ignoring the note of warning in Callie’s voice. ‘Peeing a lot? Sore boobs?’

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