Page 107 of Second Chance Fate

As Taylor said goodbye, Caleb took the opportunity to speak to Arthur.

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but thank you.”

Arthur shrugged and kept reading.

“I’m serious, Arthur. You’ve saved my life twice now.” Taylor and Owen were his life now. “Thank you.”

He looked up at Caleb, and his chin dipped. Caleb knew that was the most he’d ever get out of him in the way of acknowledgement.

Caleb leaned forward. “Are you ever going to tell me who you are? How do you know how to do that?”

Arthur paused… He put his book down and took his readers off.

Caleb’s heart actually started beating a little faster. He couldn’t believe it. Every other time he’d asked Arthur about his past, he’d just ignored him or given him a smart-ass answer. He’d told him he was a dog food tester, golf ball diver, Feng Shui consultant, manicurist, fortune cookie writer, or about a dozen other ridiculous things.

He turned to look at him. “When I was ten I?—”

“Arthur!” a woman shrieked.

Caleb spun around and saw Lydia Costas standing in the doorway with her granddaughter, Frankie. He realized then that he hadn’t been called out to her house since the first day Frankie was in town, which was weeks ago. He’d gone from being there almost every day to cold turkey. It seemed he was right, and she was just lonely since her granddaughter being in town had stopped the calls.

“You were shot!” Mrs. Costas ran to Arthur’s bedside.

Caleb noticed that Frankie, Adriana, and Taylor were all exchanging looks that silently communicated exactly what he was thinking. What is going on between these two?

Maybe she wasn’t lonely for another reason.

“Okayyyy,” Adriana held the vowel sound out. “Well, I’m gonna get these two out of here. Let me know if you guys need anything.”

"Thanks.” Caleb stood and grabbed Owen’s backpack, which was in the corner.

“Bye, Mom.” Owen leaned over and gave his mom a hug. “Love you.”

Caleb looked in the front of the bag where his fast-acting inhaler was supposed to be. It was there, but he didn’t see any candy in case he got low.

When he handed Owen the bag, he pulled out a few dollars from his pocket and gave them to him. “Grab some candy and soda for the ride home in case you get low. And I’ll call you when we know what’s going on here.”

Owen nodded and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Dad. Love you.”

Caleb’s jaw dropped when he heard him say the three-letter word that had ds as bookends for an ‘a’ sandwich. He hugged him back and tried not to have any reaction to the fact that he’d just called him ‘dad’ for the first time. He wasn’t sure when or even if he’d ever call him that. Emotion was clogging his throat and building up in his eyes, but he willed himself to just relax. He didn’t want to make a big deal about it.

“Bye!” Adriana waved as Jonah and Owen walked in front of her, and Caleb watched them leave.

As soon as they left through the side entrance of the emergency room, Taylor squeezed his hand. “He called you Dad.”

Caleb’s chest tightened as he sat back down beside her. “I know.”

“Knock, knock.”

A woman Caleb recognized from working in radiology knocked on the glass as she poked her head into the room. Every time he saw her, she was bubbly and full of joy, no matter how cranky or difficult her patients, families, or even doctors might be treating her. If he remembered correctly, her name was some sort of flower.

“Hi, Mr. Santino, I’m Poppy, and I need to take you for some more pictures.”

Poppy. Yep. That was it.

“I’ve already done that,” he grumbled.

“I know, but the doctor ordered more because he didn’t quite see every angle he needed to see.” She brought the wheelchair in and unfolded it.

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