Thirty-One
Once I finally arrived back at Mass General, I noticed I had three texts from Blake, two of which asked when I was coming back to the office. The third one just said:Helloooooo?
It was odd, considering he almost never texted me. He also knew I was busy—I’d let him know about both the shooting and my meeting with Rhonda as they were happening. From the front seat of my car, I called my office. Blake picked up quickly.
“Hey,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“So you had four new client queries,” Blake said. “Two calls and two emails to the website. You want to hear about them?” He sounded strange, his words running together. It was like someone had pressed his fast-forward button.
“Is that why you texted me?”
“I texted you?” He stopped talking for a brief moment. “Oh, right. I did.”
“Any replies to the emails you sent?”
“To the people on the list that Mrs. Welch gave you?”
“Yes.”
“No. Not a one. That’s kind of sad, isn’t it? You’d think more of them would care.”
I sighed. “So…can the queries wait, then? I’m back at the hospital. Sky pulled through. She’s going to make it, and—”
“She did? Oh, that is great.Amazing! Fuckin’ awesome!”
“Uh, yeah,” I said. “Anyway, I’m going in to see her, so I won’t be back at the office for at least an hour.”
“Okay. I’ll be here. Guess what? I waxed the floors. They looksick. Shit, I shouldn’t have told you. It was going to be a surprise.”
“Blake?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? What do you mean? I’m like…better than okay.”
“Can you do me a huge favor?”
“Anything,” he said. “Oh, wait. Oh, no. Do you need me to drive somewhere? Because I don’t have a car. I took the T to work today. I’m sor—”
“Blake, listen to me.” I said it slowly and, I hoped, soothingly. “I don’t need you to drive anywhere.”
“Good,” he said. “Awesome sauce.”
“All I need for you to do is this,” I said. “You listening?”
“Yep.”
“Take a deep breath—in for five counts. Then out for five counts.”
He did. I listened. He exhaled so loudly it was like sticking my ear in a wind tunnel.
“Okay,” I said when he was done. “The next thing I need for you to do is lay off the Gonzo.”
“Bruuuuh.”
“For the rest of the day,” I said. “Please. Promise me.”
