Page 52 of The Gift
I blinked. This was the second time I’d spoken to Theo after first meeting him at the bakery, and he’d been friendly enough up tonow.
“There aproblem?”
“I dunno,” Theo returned. “Isthere?”
I looked questioningly at Sam, who rolled her eyes. “Theo’s just pissy because the whole town is wondering what’s going on with you and DocRoss.”
I frowned. Had Julian said something about lying? Had he told them we brokeup?
Why was I sodisappointed?
“What’s going on with us?” I hedged, taking a sip of mycoffee.
She shrugged. “You haven’t been around, and he hasn’t been outhere.”
I blinked. “I hardly ever come to town.” And I couldn’t believe anyone would notice that I hadn’t. “Are people keeping tabs on me now? Onhim?”
Sam snorted. “Uh, it’s not personal. Honestly, you’re not that interesting, Daniel.” She shrugged. “Just everyone minding everyone else’s business, asalways.”
“Things have gone missing around town,” Theo said. “We got a bunch of amateur detectives trying to crack the case.” Sam shot him a look, but Theo shrugged expansively. “Sam and I are, like, the only ones who don’t give a shit. Ms. Semple from Pearl’s Antiques has been peering out the window and writing down times and descriptions for everyone who walks past the store.Ten o’clock - Theodore Ross walks toward the bakery. Ten thirty - Ross leaves bakery. Must follow up with Caelan James to see why Ross spent half an houreating.”
I laughed and Sam smiled reluctantly,too.
“Who’s on the suspect list?” Iasked.
“Besides you?” Theo asked blandly. “I mean, you are fairlysketchy.”
I lifted my chin. “Wow.Sketchy. That’s a newone.”
“Are you and Jules still together?” hedemanded.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Theo! Tone down the caveman. I told you, it’stheirbusiness.” Sam shoved Theo’sarm.
But Theo’s expression didn’t change. “I’m looking out for mybrother.”
Sam sighed. “He’s been cranky,” she explained tome.
“Who?Theo?”
“Nah. DocRoss.”
Theo pursed his lips and admitted, “He had a run-in with a patient over abird.”
“It was more than that,” Sam argued. “You’re not telling it right. See, Lina Davenport has this cockatoo she loves more than life itself? Like, this cockatoo eats better than Ido.”
“Not saying much,” Theomuttered.
She elbowed him in the ribs. “Anyway, last week she brought the bird in twice because it’s been shedding feathers, and I guess Julian kept explaining to her that it was normal, and when she called a third time, he said he didn’t have time to see her. She saw him inFanaillelater and yelled at him.If my bird dies, it’s on your head, JulianRoss!”
“Are youserious?”
Sam and Theo nodded. “And,” Sam continued. “Jules told her that her constant yelling was more stressful to the bird than a normal annual molting. She swore she was gonna start taking her bird to the vet in Rushton from nowon.”
“Sounds like she was being ridiculous,” I said, annoyed on Julian’s behalf. “Julian’s the most dedicated vet I know, and if he thought the bird was sick, he wouldn’t hesitate to treat it. The woman needs tochill.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Well, yeah,” she agreed. “Obviously. But the point is, it’s way out of character. Doctor Ross is always patient. Like,alwayspatient.”
“No one isalwayspatient,” I told her. “Just like no one is always having a good day, or always happy. Shithappens.”
