His Baby Boy novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: Rain on the Step

Perrin did not ask.

He folded the photograph in half and put it in his apron pocket.

He worked the lunch rush with a bright, brittle smile, and he did not text Malcolm back.

At four he asked Agnes if he could take the evening shift as well.

"You've been on since six," she said.

"I need the hours."

"You need to sit down, honey."

"I'm fine," Perrin said. "Just a double."

He was not fine.

He stood at the espresso machine and ran the same sentence over and over inside his head.

Ask him about the last one.

The last one what?

Boy.

Malcolm collected soft things that needed minding.

He liked them small.

Perrin had been small in his kitchen, on his floor, with his crayons, and Malcolm had said it was the best news he'd had all week.

At nine the bell rang.

Perrin kept his eyes on the cups.

"Perrin," Malcolm said, from three feet away.

"Decaf?" Perrin said.

"You didn't answer me today," Malcolm said.

"I was busy."

"All right." Malcolm's voice stayed even. "Will you let me drive you home? It's raining."

"I'll walk."

"It's coming down hard."

"Not today," Perrin said.

He had never said it to Malcolm like that, flat and cold, and it landed hard.

Malcolm took a long breath and let it out.

"Understood," he said.

He took his decaf to the corner table and opened his reports.

He did not turn a page for two hours.

At eleven Perrin locked up and walked out into the rain without his coat.

The car was parked at the curb with its engine off.

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