Page 98 of Callahan

Twelve minutes after seven.

I decided I’d give them until seven-twenty, then I was going over to their house.

I heard voices coming up the bakery stairs, and I threw open the door.

Be cool, Lainey.

“Hi, guys!” I exclaimed as I reached for my son. He was dressed in different clothes than he’d been wearing that morning. Adam was right, the O’Briens probably had a whole nursery set up for him.

Teresa handed him to me and declared, “We were getting ready to come around the back, when Adam opened the door for us!”

With my baby safe in my arms, it felt like a weight lifted off my chest, and I laid a kiss on his head. He smelled like he’d just had a bath.

I glanced over at Adam, who’d walked in behind Hugh. He smiled and held up Conor’s car seat as he said, “They were right there waiting.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I’ll know next time to meet you downstairs.”

Teresa and Hugh exchanged looks, then she said, “Oh, good. There will be a next time.”

I furrowed my brows. “Of course there will be.” A feeling of panic overtook me, and my gaze flew to my son’s little face as I felt his body. “Wait—did something happen?”

“No!” They both cried in unison. Teresa gave me a patient smile. “I remember the first time we left Shawn with Hugh’s parents, and it was only to go to dinner. I fretted the whole time and swore we would never go out again. Fortunately, Hugh talked me down and convinced me his parents would take good care of him.”

“But Shawn’s not here to do the same for us,” Hugh supplied with a sad smile.

“She never had a doubt,” Adam chimed in.

He had no idea the extent of insanity my thought process went through while he was downstairs.

“Of course not,” I said with a smile. “I appreciate the help, today. And thank you for giving him a bath.”

“It’s part of why we were a little late. He had… how should I put this?”

Hugh interjected for her. “A green diarrhea explosion.”

“Oh no! Yeah, those can be pretty gross.”

“I’m sure his little system is upset. He drank from a bottle all day, and he was with people who he’s not used to being with.”

I wasn’t sure if her intention was to make me feel bad about that, but I did. I hadn’t kept Conor from them, but I was certain they would have liked to have spent more time with him than they had so far.

Hugh imparted his wisdom. “Just goes to show, change is hard at any age.”

“Amen to that,” Adam agreed.

Teresa turned to him. “I guess you would know about that better than anyone, wouldn’t you? You left the Marines and are starting a new job and new life in a new town.”

“This was not on my bingo card when I got on the bus last Thursday, that’s for sure.”

She reached for his hand and clasped it between both of hers.

“Well, we’re glad you’re here.”

“We really are,” I murmured as I adjusted Conor in my arms.

“Thank you both for saying that. Everyone has made me feel very welcome.” He paused and pointed to his face, “Well, almost everyone.”

Hugh leaned against the counter.

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