Page 93 of Absolute Certainty
I’m so glad to hear she’s okay! And thank you for inviting me.
Jay thumbed at his sternum. He wanted to keep talking to her, but a part of him felt weird, guilty, and oddly nervous.
A text message from Patrick appeared just as he was about to type something to Sahar.
PATRICK
Yo, you up?
JAY
Yeah, what’s up?
Instead of answering the text, Jay’s phone buzzed with a call from Patrick. Stepping out of Eloise’s room, he went downstairs and out into their backyard. He shut the screen door only, so he’d still hear Ellie if she called out for him.
“I’m on my way home from the train station, so I thought I’d call. I read the new episode, and, man, this is your best work yet,” Patrick declared.
Jay let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah? All good on your end?”
“Hundred percent. I think I had like three small notes. I can’t wait to see what you do with the finale.”
“We’re still collaborating on that one, aren’t we?” Jay asked.
“Yeah, yeah, of course. But I’m not touching the Henry and Katherine bits. That’s all you. I’m almost done with my parts for Henry and George. Theirs is the arc I wanna nail down. You take us home with the very last scene.”
He fixed his eyes on the orange geraniums his mother had planted as he sat on the cushioned ivory bench, overlooking the garden she’d continuously honed. The automatic motion lights had turned on, and cicadas sang louder. Mosquitos would also start eating him alive any minute now. “Sounds good. I’m gonna try to finish this weekend when El’s in the city with Maya.”
“I can aim for this weekend, too. How wasFranklin Street?” Patrick asked from the other end of the line.
Leaning forward, Jay drew his fingers along the velvety petals. “Really solid. The final product is excellent.”
“Yeah? Shit, that’s awesome. Pete deserves it. And how was Sahar?”
He straightened himself, Sahar’s name drawing his attention away from the flowers. “Normal, how was she supposed to be?” Jay questioned.
Patrick barked out a laugh. “Bro, c’mon. I’ve known you since we were ten. Iknowwhen you’re into someone,” he emphasized.
Sighing, Jay opted for a different response. Another truth. “Ask me again when the only thought in my head isn’t my kid’s fever.”
“Aw, shit. Ellie’s sick? Give my angel goddaughter the biggest hug then.”
“Will do.”
“Alright. I just parked. Talk soon.”
“Night,” Jay replied.
He set the phone down beside him on the wooden deck and raked his hand through his hair.
Fuck.The night wasn’t supposed to end like this.
TUESDAY
SAHAR
Morning! I just wanted to check in and see how Eloise is doing.
JAY
