Page 53 of Callahan

“I already got his prints for his background check, so we’ll compare those, too.”

I was pretty sure I already knew the answer, but I asked, “Why are you doing a background check on him?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Dad hired him to be our newest officer.”

So, he really is staying.

I knew that should not make my stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies. He didn’t want to get involved with me, and I’d told him we couldn’t even be friends. The best I could offer was a friendly acquaintance, and that sounded dreadful.

“Oh, yeah. He told me, but I thought he was just joking.”

It was a lame excuse. Why would anyone joke about something like that?

“Nope. He’s staying in Haven Springs.”

“That’s great. Mrs. Cahill will be so excited to learn the rumors were true. I’m sure she’ll have dates lined up for him by the end of the week.” I already hated whoever he was going to get involved with. “Fair warning—now that she believes you’ll have more free time with Adam on the force, she’s going to ask you to join her church’s singles’ group.”

“She goes to St. Mark’s. My mother’s been trying to get me to one of those mixers for years. I will have no trouble telling Mrs. Cahill no, just like I do my mom.”

“Wow, you’re hardcore. My parents asked me to go back to school, and I couldn’t even tell them no about something that big and time consuming. If they asked me to simply go to a social gathering, I’d probably be inclined to volunteer to host it.”

He laughed. “You should go to one.”

“Um, I’m pretty sure I’d have to be Catholic to be invited.”

“Nah, not for the first one. Those Catholic matchmakers are like drug dealers—the first event’s free. But if you want to come back, they want to see you in church. That’s how they get ya.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Good to know.”

“You realize by letting Conor get baptized, they’ll be coming for him in twenty years, too.”

“I’m not worried. They’ll forget about him by then.”

Brian chuckled. “Oh, you sweet, naïve woman. First it’s baptism. Then when he’s in about second grade, Teresa orGranny will innocently suggest he go to catechism classes every Wednesday after school. And you’ll take them up on the idea because, let’s face it, free babysitting. Plus, they’ll present it like it’s no big deal. Like it’ll be good for his moral compass. Next thing you know, we’ll all be sitting in the front pew at St. Mark’s one Sunday in the spring watching Conor take his first communion.”

“Doesn’t he have to have his first confession before he can take first communion?”

“Pffft, Granny O’Brien will have that knocked out of the way without you even knowing about it.”

“Yeah, I am a little worried about that. Although, I guess there are worse things she could do than take her great grandson to church.”

“I have to say, for not wanting to convert, you’re being pretty open-minded about letting Conor become Catholic.”

“I think it connects him to his dad. I know Shawn’s faith was important to him, and he would want to share that with his son. Plus, it makes Teresa and Hugh happy.”

“They’re good people. I love that you want them in Conor’s life.”

“Like you said, they’re good people. Of course I want them in his life.”

“Speaking ofnotgood people… The camera I ordered arrived. Can Adam and I come over and install it? We’ll bring dinner.”

My heart felt like it was in my throat.