Page 11 of Both Sides Now

Alice leans across the desk, squeezing my arm. “Your father was a shit for abandoning you and your mother. But you are not him, Keegan. You’re a good man. You deserve more out of life and I swear, you’ll enjoy it. Love isn’t some terrible concept to be avoided, but so long as you refuse to acknowledge the possibility, you’ll remain in this cycle.”

Except for my mother, Alice is the only woman who can get away with speaking to me so bluntly, and only then because she has the best of intentions.

But she’s right about one thing: my father is a shit.

“Maybe if I met the right woman, but in all my years, that hasn’t happened. And no, I don’t want to be introduced to anyone you know. Or their daughters, or their sisters, or whoever. I’m too busy for that nonsense.”

It’s my go-to excuse, my unofficial end to the conversation.

Alice rolls her eyes, which ishersignal that she’s dropping the topic. For now. “This is Mrs. Webster’s file. Her former physician sent over her health history.”

I glance at the folder. For some reason, that petite woman has floated through my mind all afternoon. “I’ll take a look. Thank you.”

“Why can’t you date someone like her?” Seems my office manager is not quite finished with me.

“Like who?”

“Mrs. Webster.”

I raise my hands in mock surrender. “Because Callista is unavailable and desperately wanting a child? Those are but two of the roadblocks I see.”

“Heaven forbid you dated a woman who wanted a future.”

“Alice, she’s not single. I’m not sure what her deal is, to be honest. She was quite evasive about her partner.”

“Her paperwork states she’s a widow.” With a final tap on the folder, she walks to the door. “Have a good evening.”

I snatch Callista’s folder from my desk before the door closes, flipping through the pages to her history. Sure enough, she’s a widow. A young widow.

Suddenly this case, one that seemed so cut and dried, has taken a turn into interesting territory.

No wonder she didn’t mention a partner. She doesn’t have one.

I’m not sure why my mind is hung up on that fact. It doesn’t change a damn thing.

My phone buzzes, interrupting my reading. It’s Megan.Again. With a grunt, I flip the folder closed before answering her call.

But as Megan prattles on about some inane topic, Alice’s words hover in the forefront of my mind.

Maybe I should start looking for a woman who’s more than the wrapping paper. Someone who’s the complete package.

Someone like Mrs. Webster. Callista.

I jerk in my chair as the sentence flashes across my brain.

No. Just no. On so many levels. Don’t even go there, Keegan. She is untouchable.

Chapter

Three

CALLISTA

"Well, what did you think of Dr. Russo?” Suzanne inquires, and I bite back a laugh.

I can almost see her on the other end of the line, perched on the edge of her sofa, desperate for some juicy gossip.

Who am I to let my friend down?

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