Page 85 of Callahan

“Oh, to get a Danish and a cup of coffee, then take you to see Dr. Williams. He’s got an opening at eleven this morning.”

“So, why didn’t he call me? I just left a message with his office.”

He shrugged. “Dunno. I was at the hospital, and he asked how you were doing and when you were coming back in for your follow-up appointment. Then he checked his calendar and suggested I bring you in at eleven.”

I locked the outside door and nodded toward the one leading to the bakery, then realized my wallet was in Lainey’s room on the nightstand, along with my phone.

Fuck.

“I’ll, uh, meet you downstairs. I gotta do something first.”

Brian narrowed his eyes.

“What?”

I let out an exasperated sigh.

“Jesus Christ, I have to take a shit but was trying to be polite.”

“Oh, do your thing, man. I’ll be downstairs.”

He closed the door behind him, and I raced into her bedroom and grabbed my phone from the charger, along with my wallet.

As I walked through the living room, I sat down in the chair to listen to the rest of a podcast I’d started on the bus to kill a few minutes before I headed downstairs.

~~~~

After I placed my order with the girl behind the counter, I approached where Brian was seated, enjoying his coffee and eating a croissant.

“How’s that croissant?” I asked with a grin as I pulled out the chair opposite him.

“Pretty fucking good.”

“I helped make it.”

He turned it over in his hand to examine it.

“No shit?”

“Yeah. I helped her bake last night.”

“It sounds like you two are getting close. You gave Conor his first bottle, you visited the O’Briens with her, and then you two made croissants together. What else are you doing for her?”

Fuck.

“Nothing; I’m just trying to be helpful.”

“I appreciate it, man. Really. We all worry about her, but she’ll only let us do so much. It’s good she’ll at least let you help her. I know Shawn would appreciate everything you’re doing for her.”

Probably not everything.

Lainey appeared with my éclair and cup of coffee. Brian nodded toward my pastry.

“Should I be worried you’re not eating a croissant?”

A smirk escaped her when she replied for me, “He ate his share last night.”

I made a chef’s kiss motion. “Delicioso.”

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