Page 43 of Callahan

“I told you I was thinking about it.”Although not very hard. “But religion doesn’t matter to me.”

“Me neither.”

With a sly grin, I asked, “So, you’re saying Molly Daugherty doesn’t do it for ya?”

He scowled as he took a long pull of his beer.

“Hell no. I think the only reason Shawn even dated her was because Granny saw them walk out of confirmation class together junior year and decided they’d be perfect for each other. They lasted maybe three months before he broke up with her, and it was only that long because he was nice and didn’t want to dump her before prom.”

“That was high school. Maybe she’s changed.”

Brian glared at me. “Yeah, for the worse. If you stick around long enough, I’m sure you’ll have the pleasure of meeting her.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s okay, I’ll take your word for it.”

Now it was Brian’s turn to tease.

“Come on. Wouldn’t your parents love it if you brought home a nice Catholic, Irish girl?”

“My parents would be thrilled if I brought homeanygirl. Nationality or religion wouldn’t matter.”

“What if she had a kid?”

I pulled my neck back. Why would he ask that?

“I’m sure if I loved her, they wouldn’t care.” I cocked my head at him. “What about your parents? Would they care?”

“If she was the one, it wouldn’t matter.”

I clarified, “But you haven’t found her yet?”

“Not yet… Have you?”

I knew my tone was wistful. “No.”

“Maybe you have, and you just haven’t realized it, yet.”

~~~~

I woke up the next morning with a slight headache. The doctor had said that was to be expected. Thankfully, I had some ibuprofen in my backpack.

But there was nothing I could do about the two black eyes I was now sporting, despite putting ice packs on my nose on and off all day yesterday and last night.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, it looked worse than it felt. So after Brian left for work, I debated about going to the diner for breakfast. Even though it was within walking distance from Brian’s house, as was pretty much everything else in Haven Springs.

In the end, my growling stomach, along with my lack of desire to cook anything to alleviate the rumblings, won out over my vanity. I figured since everyone had already seen me the day before last, maybe I wouldn’t be such a novelty, and they would ignore me.

I sure as hell wasn’t expecting the reception I received when I walked in. It was a far cry from the first time I came through the door.

Oh, everyone still stared, but this time it was because they all seemed to know me. It appeared word of my altercation had spread like wildfire. I guess almost getting blown up in combat and still being able to kick my assailant’s ass yesterday had elevated my status in town.

“Good to see you, Adam!” someone called as I walked to a vacant stool at the counter, while another yelled, “I heard you really held your own yesterday.” And still another chimed in, “We need someone like you protecting the town.”

Ah, it seemed Chief Shaughnessy was waging a campaign to make me stay, and he’d enlisted the town’s help.

Everyone in the diner was friendly and either smiled, waved, or called out a greeting. Everyone except one man in the corner with dark, beady eyes, and a combover that wasn’t fooling anyone. He glared every time he looked my way. Which was often once I sat down.

I noticed a bruise on the man’s face, and that he had one arm banded around his middle, like his ribs hurt as he slowly ate his breakfast.

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