Page 8 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
“Excuse us.” Mr. Reevesworth pushed back in his seat. “Collin and I will be outside for just a moment. Please don’t let us stop your conversation.”
Collin followed him out of the building onto the wide sidewalk.
“You safe signaled.”
“I need to use the bathroom, sir. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Relief flooded Mr. Reevesworth’s face. He reached into his pocket and drew out the key. “Are you saying you need to pause any of our current practices, or is the bathroom all?”
“Just the bathroom, sir. Maybe we need another signal for that? Also, I think I can get it back in myself this time.”
“If you can’t, put it in your pocket, and we’ll resume when we’re home. There’s no privacy here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Collin ducked back into the diner. The bathroom was tiny, a closet of a space just off the dining area. If Mr. Reevesworth had helped him, his mother would certainly have seen it, as would have everyone else.
He did his business, succeeded in getting everything back in place, and went back outside. Ellisandre and Dr. Ryker were still talking. Mr. Reevesworth was on the phone.
He finished up a moment later. “Do you want to spend time with your mother, or would you like to go home?”
Collin smiled, muscles in his back loosening. “Home. You shouldn’t be exerting yourself either.”
Mr. Reevesworth chuckled. “I will admit, sitting in that chair has been somewhat uncomfortable.”
“You’re covered in bruises.” Collin glanced at his dom, blushed, and looked away.
Mr. Reevesworth chuckled, a full, happy sound. “So is Émeric. Which reminds me, I promised him I’d get rid of that bed.”
Collin laughed. “You mean the rubble?”
“Apt description. You can choose a better one since it’s going to be yours anyway.”
“Won’t other subs use it too, like Damian?”
“Damian doesn’t have the need to stay that close, at least not these past few years.”
“He’s going to graduate, isn’t he? Like Matthew.”
Mr. Reevesworth looked away. “As much as I would like to answer you, that’s Damian’s path. I’m very proud of the man he’s become.”
Collin nodded. “I’m going to go make our excuses. I think those two are going to talk all day.”
“If your mother stays until tomorrow, I’m happy to invite her to lunch. But we will be unavailable the rest of today.”
Collin paused, then sighed. “I should make sure she has a place to stay.”
“Ask Ellisandre to put her up in the hotel next to Linda’s office.”
Ellisandre and Ryker were looking at spreadsheets on Ellisandre’s tablet when Collin walked back to the table.
“I had to sign an NDA before you showed me spreadsheets. What makes her special?”
Ellisandre sniffed. “These aren’t proprietary.”
Collin leaned over Ellisandre’s shoulder. “I’m pretty sure that’s not publicly available information.”
“Well, it’s not exactly information that we can publish ourselves.”
