Callahan's Fate Read Online Free Page B

Station, closest to his walk-up apartment, the crowds had thinned enough
to give them seats.   The rain had slacked
to a fine mist by the time they reached street level, but dark skies loomed
overhead.   “How far is it to your
apartment?”
    “Five blocks,” Cal said. “But if you’re
cooking, we need to go to the market first.”
      “So let’s go.”
    At the supermarket, they dashed through
the aisles, gathering the makings for a home-cooked dinner.   As they entered, she asked, “What would you
like?”
    “Give me cook’s choice,” he replied with
a grin. “I’ll eat whatever you fix, and I’ll like it.”
       Raine considered his request.   “Okay, but don’t wait by the checkouts so
it’ll be a surprise.”
       Cal cocked his head, then shook it. “ Naw , I’m staying with you.”
        Exasperated but pleased, too, she nodded.
“Suit yourself.”
       He enjoyed watching her shop and loved the changing expressions on her
face as she made her choices. She selected a nice cut of tenderized round
steak, bought a small bag of golden potatoes, a large white onion, fresh
mushrooms, baby carrots, and some carefully chosen seasonings.   Raine added a tub
of butter, a small bag of flour, and a carton of brownie mix.   She also bought a package of tea bags and a
canister of sugar.  
    He helped load everything onto the belt
at the checkout and reached for his wallet when the cashier asked for $58.94.
    She tried to grab his hand. “I’m going
to pay.”
    “C’mon, Raine ,”
he said. “I asked you out to dinner.   I
would’ve paid for that, and it would’ve cost more.”
    “You gave me the best day since I came
to New York,” she told him. “It’s my treat.   Let me give you something back.”
    Her expression softened as she spoke, and
his protest died. “ Awright , already,” he said. “Let’s
go home before we get soaked.”
    Although he schooled his voice to keep
the tone light, fatigue dogged him.   His
recent work schedule, sleepless nights, and dark thoughts weighed hard and
heavy.   The damp weather brought a deep
ache to his bad shoulder, but he didn’t want Raine to
notice his pain.   Cal didn’t want
anything to mar their day together or to see pity in her pretty eyes.   He shifted the shopping bags to his right
hand to ease the strain on the opposite side.  
    “How far is it?” Raine asked as a light shower began to fall.
    “Couple more blocks.”
    The rain intensified, and by the time
they entered his building, it had become a downpour.   They were both drenched and their shoes
squeaked as they crossed the lobby to the elevators.  
    “Why do I smell donuts?” Raine asked as the elevator doors shut.
    Callahan laughed. “There’s a bakery on
the first floor, other side of the lobby.   You can’t get to it from here, you have to go outside and around to the
entrance.   The first three floors have a
variety of offices and stuff, like a dance studio and a couple of shops.   One sells vintage clothes, if you’re
interested.”
    Raine glanced down at
her wet clothing. “Normally, no, I’m not.   Right now, though, I might take a look for anything dry.”
    He laughed. “We’ll take care of that,
doll, once we get to my place.”
    They stepped out onto the sixteenth
floor, into the familiar drab corridor.   Cal wondered how it appeared to her eyes.   He led her down the hall and around the
corner, then unlocked his door.   With a wave of his hand, he stepped back. “Go
on in.”
    His door opened into the kitchen, and he
sighed with relief to see the sink, situated at the end of a strip of
countertop to the left, empty of any dirty dishes.   The cupboards above were closed, and straight
ahead the stove and fridge appeared clean.   An empty coffee mug rested atop the microwave oven, but he didn’t think
anyone would call the single infraction messy.   The dinky table with two chairs behind the door held salt and pepper
shakers, yesterday’s mail,