Page 8 of Prognosis Temporary

Callie glanced at herhands as she heard Sebastian suggesting that the man bring his best manners next time he came out. He was being amazing — calm and firm — but her palms were sweaty and her heart hammered and she felt ridiculously like bursting into tears. Pressure built in her chest and she suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

She stood. ‘I...I need some air.’

Geri inspected her face closely and then gave a brisk nod, handing over the doggy bag. Callie took the offering and slipped out of the restaurant, spying the hunched old man farther down the street and hurrying after him, pressing the leftover pizza into his hands when she caught up.

He avoided her gaze but Callie could see the tears shining in his eyes as he mumbled his thanks. She smiled at him and backed away, not wanting to humiliate the man any further by trite words or useless platitudes.

Sebastian, who must have followed her, walked towards her slowly as she retraced her steps to the restaurant. ‘You okay?’ he asked as he reached her side.

Callie stopped, too emotional to meet Sebastian’s eyes. She bit the inside of her cheek. She’d kept it together all day and she would not fall apart now. She would not let the memories take over.

Her brother. Years of not knowing where he was. Not knowing if he was alive or dead. The bridge. And Zack. So many memories.

But they would not break her. Not right now.

She cleared her throat. ‘Fine.’

He didn’t look like he believed her but he did seem okay with letting it go. ‘I think our coffees are getting cold,’ he murmured.

Callie heard the soft don’t-spook-the-horses note in his voice and braced her shoulders. She hated that he’d seen her like this – the opposite of how she’d been this morning. And she didn’t need his pity. ‘Well, now, we can’t have that,’ she quipped, raising her chin as she strode towards the restaurant.

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Geraldine rose whenthey arrived back at the table. She looked from one to the other, back and forth for a beat or two. ‘Everything okay?’

‘Fine,’ Callie said, uncaring how overly bright it sounded as she sat.

Still unable to look at Sebastian, she picked up her spoon and stirred the cappuccino that had arrived during the fracas. The others followed suit and for a few moments no one said anything as they contemplated their lukewarm coffees. But Callie could feel Sebastian’s intense gaze on her and she wondered how it would feel to wrap herself up in all that intenseness and just forget every detail of this horrible day.

Geraldine’s phone rang, breaking the silence. She spoke briefly then ended the call. ‘Sorry,’ she apologised, standing abruptly. ‘Tahlia thinks she’s in labour.’

Callie looked up from her coffee, her teaspoon clattering against the saucer, everything prior to the call disappearing in an instant. Tahlia was Geri’s daughter and this was the first grandchild. ‘Oh, my God, Geri!’

‘I have to go.’

‘Of course,’ Callie urged. ‘Go.’

Geri glanced at Sebastian. ‘Can you see she gets home?’

‘Don’t worry about me,’ Callie dismissed. ‘I’ll get an Uber.’

‘No need,’ Sebastian assured. Their eyes met for the first time since Callie had walked out of the restaurant. ‘I can give you a lift home.’

‘There, see?’ Geri nodded at Callie. ‘Sebastian can give you a lift home. All sorted.’

‘Geri.’ Callie tried really hard not to sound exasperated. ‘This isn’t important. Just go and meet that grandbaby already.’

Geri grinned but was clearly not going to leave without the last word. She turned to face Sebastian. ‘Ask her about the bridge.’

‘Geri.’

Callie really wished her boss hadn’t dobbed her in like that but oh now she was hoofing it out of the restaurant. Which just left her and Sebastian. And the bridge.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ he murmured.

‘I’m fine.’

‘Do you need to talk about the bridge?’

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