Page 23 of Callahan

Chapter Eleven

Lainey

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun, and the only thing we’d done was hang out and eat pizza. Not only had I enjoyed talking to him, but it’d been nice to have a man notice me and flirt a little.

No one in Haven Springs flirted with me. I’d given birth to the son of the local hero who died in combat protecting our country—showing any interest in me would be considered bad form by everyone in town.

But I wasn’t even twenty-four years old. And Shawn and I hadn’t been married. Did people think I was never going to move on?

Apparently, if they had their way I wouldn’t.

Then there was the matter of the diamond ring.

I loved knowing Shawn had been serious about me and had wanted a future with me. I hadn’t been just a summer fling to him. But I was glad he hadn’t asked me to marry him, because I’m not sure what I would have said. Not because I didn’t care about him. But in addition to not being interested in converting to Catholicism, I’d been twenty-two last summer, getting ready for my senior year of college. Granted, my plans had been upended when I peed on a stick in the middle of October, but I hadn’t known before then.

So, was I supposed to wear the ring—now?

It didn’t feel right. Yet now that his family knew it existed, would they be upset to see me without it on? Would they think I wasn’t honoring him if I chose not to wear it?

In my defense, I didn’t wearanyjewelry at the bakery. Maybe that would give me a pass.

“How often do you have to feed him?”

Adam’s question brought me back to the present.

“Every few hours.”

“That must make getting a good night’s sleep hard.”

“I’ll be honest, most days, I come upstairs and collapse on my bed until he’s ready to eat.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve kept you up.”

I flashed him a smile. “I’m not. Tonight was nice.”

He mirrored my smile. “It was.”

Conor released his latch on my breast, indicating he was done. I pulled my bra and the top of my dress up, then transferred the blanket and baby to my shoulder to burp him.

Adam commented, “You make it look so easy.”

“I’ve had two months of practice.”

“Shawn would hate you’re doing this alone.”

“Let’s be honest, even if he were alive, he’d probably still be overseas, and I’d be doing it alone anyway.”

“You’re probably right,” he conceded. “Have you applied for survivor benefits for Conor?”

I cocked my head. “I’m not sure what you mean? His parents gave me the money they received from the government for him dying in the line of duty, plus his life insurance, and bank accounts.”

“No, you can get a monthly payment, too. Plus, health and dental insurance for Conor.”

“Oh wow. No, I had no idea.”

My little man chose that moment to burp/spit up. I felt the warmth on my shoulder and back and stood up quickly.

Turning so he could see my dilemma, I said, “I, uh, need to take care of this and put him to bed.”

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