Page 69 of Callahan

“I’m happy to help you with that.”

I liked that she wasn’t shy when she looked me in the eye and said, “Good.”

I heard my phone ding from the other room, alerting me that I’d received a message.

There was only one person I could imagine who would be texting me this early.

“I think Brian sent me a text. He probably wants to get the camera installed before his shift starts.”

“Make sure you set the air mattress up on the living room floor. You can find sheets and blankets in the linen closet in the hall.”

“Let me see what he wants, then I’ll take care of it.”

I found my phone on the nightstand by her bed. When I looked at the screen, sure enough, it was Sergeant O’Shaughnessy.

Brian: You awake?

Me: I am. You want to get started on the camera?

Brian: Yeah. But let’s have breakfast first. I can bring over eggs and bacon to cook, and a loaf of bread to make toast.

Me: Lainey is feeding Conor right now, but I’m sure she’d like something to eat when she’s done.

Brian: I’ll be there soon.

I appeared in the nursery’s doorway.

“Do you have a toaster? Brian is bringing over eggs, bacon, and bread to make breakfast.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “You do remember I run a bakery, right? There are croissants in the bread box. But if you’d rather have plain toast… the toaster’s on the counter.”

“Heck yeah, I’m having a croissant! Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

“I told you to help yourself to anything you could find to eat or drink.”

“You’re right, you did. That’s on me.”

I moved to back out of the doorway when she called, “Don’t forget about the air mat—”

I poked my head around the corner and cut her off. “I’m on it.”

“Thanks, Adam. I appreciate it.”

“I won’t let you down, princess.”

And I found I meant that with every fiber of my being.

****

Lainey

Seeing Adam hold Conor had made a spot in the center of my chest ache. I didn’t know if it was with longing for a dad for Conor or a partner for me. I suppose they’d be one in the same.

I took Conor into the shower with me, since the kitchen was now occupied with Brian and Adam attempting to make breakfast, and I couldn’t bathe him there. After quickly washing my son’s chubby little body and downy-soft hair, I wrapped him in a towel, then placed him in his bouncy seat while I quickly shaved and washed my face and hair. Before becoming a mom, I’d never imagined I could shower in less than four minutes, but I’d become a pro at it in the last few months.

After we were both dressed, I pulled my wet hair into a high ponytail and ventured into the living area of the apartment. I noticed the air mattress standing upright against the wall with a stack of folded sheets and blankets on the floor next to it, like Adam had cleaned up once he got out of bed.Iknew that wasn’t the case, but Brian didn’t need to.

“Oh, my goodness, something smells good,” I declared when I walked in and found the two men hard at work in the kitchen.

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