Page 117 of 'Til All the Seas Run Dry

Callum shook his head, smiling as he climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door behind him.

In a thick twang, Robbie said, “My stars and garters! If it ain’t Marjory Mhara and Callum MacLeod!”

“Actually…” Jory said, hesitating. “It’s MacLeod. Marjory MacLeod.”

Callum turned his head so quickly that he felt his vertebrae click as he looked over his shoulder and into the backseat at Jory, who was biting her lip and blushing.

“I mean… if that’s okay? We haven’t talked about it, I know, but?—”

“Marjory MacLeod,” Callum breathed, wonderstruck by the sound of it.

The beauty of that name was only eclipsed by the brilliance of her smile as she grinned at him.

Robbie drove slowly out of the alley. “Jesus Lord, you two, you’ve been alone and gone for three weeks. How are you still the horniest damn couple I’ve ever taxied? Ugh. Save some for the rest of us,” he grumbled, but Callum saw him suppressing a smile all the while.

“Well? How is everyone? What did I miss?” Jory said, leaning as far forward as her seatbelt would allow.

“Well,” Robbie said, “Esther is a natural at running a store. She’s got the gift of gab, and I swear to god that girl could sell ketchup popsicles to people in white gloves.”

“Maybe I’ll convince her to work for me,” Callum said dryly, only half kidding.

“Don’t you dare,” Jory said with a light slap on his shoulder. “You don’t get to poach my business partner.”

At that moment, a faint buzzing sounded from the center console, and Walter drowsily bumbled up out of a paper to-go cup, clumsily flying up to land on Robbie’s shoulder.

“Somebody’s awake!” Robbie crooned. “I put some honey in the bottom of that cup and he fell asleep after eating it about an hour ago.”

Jory said, “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard,” at the same time Callum muttered, “Jesus Christ.”

Callum expected Walter to make an angry beeline directly for his face after that comment. Under ordinary circumstances, any time Callum was present, Walter was actively attacking him. He wasn’t successful, of course, as he was nothing more than a yellow cotton ball with wings, but he made a valiant, incessant attempt nonetheless, flying into Callum’s face like a tiny battering ram over and over.

But Walter hadn’t even looked in Callum’s direction. Instead, he was quietly snuggled tight against the collar of Robbie’s shirt.

“Is he alright?” Callum asked.

“Who? Walter? Yeah. Why?”

“He isnae trying to murder me.”

“He’s been sticking pretty close to me lately. Won’t let me out of his sight. But otherwise, I don’t know, he seems pretty normal.”

Callum narrowed his eyes but didn’t argue. Jory was texting in the backseat, and Robbie tapped the console screen, switching to a new playlist. As he did, his hand shook. Callum looked at him, really looked, and thought Robbie wore a content expression, there were dark circles under his eyes and he was fidgeting. Constantly readjusting his seat, rubbing a restless hand through his short hair, scratching his neck. He drove with a casual wrist draped over the steering wheel, but Callum could see small tremors in his hand as it dangled.

“Areyoualright?” Callum asked softly. “You look… strained.”

Robbie rubbed a hand over his mouth.

“I’ve been… I don’t know. More anxious?” he answered after a long moment. “I don’t know if that’s the word? But that what it feels like? I made an appointment with Hank’s therapist, though. I go at the end of the week.”

Callum said nothing, waiting. He knew Robbie well enough to know that if he left space, Robbie would keep talking.

“I don’t know, boss. I’m just… itchy. Like something bad is going to happen? But why would it? The internet calls them ‘intrusive thoughts.’ I just…” he trailed off.

“Are you sleeping?”

“Not at normal times? I go to work at the store, and then I come home and pass out. And then I’m up all night. No matter what. Esther gave me a tea blend for sleep. Hank sent me a link to a sleep story app. I just can’t settle down. I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m anxious because I’m tired.” He sighed. “Don’t worry about me, Cal. I’ll be good. Now that y’all are home and settled, things will go back to normal, and I’ll be right as rain.”

Callum wasn’t convinced, but he left it alone. The rest of the drive passed easily, soft music playing as Jory told Robbie about their trip, about the estate sales, about visiting her family. As they talked, Callum closed his eyes, thinking to himself about what Robbie had said, how different he looked, how different he smelled. Like the forest and animals.