Page 50 of Awakened Desires

“Oh.” She throws her hands up and gestures at the clean glasses under and above the bar. “Those are all we’ve got left. It’s good that we’re quiet, or we’d be pouring shots straight into people’s mouths.” She does something on her phone. “I’m going to ring every electrician in a twenty-mile radius if I have to. Someone has to be willing to come out tonight.”

“Are you sure you don’t need a plumber?”

“Can a plumber fix a sparking plug?”

“No.”

“Right then.”

I take a deep breath. “I might know an electrician.”

She narrows her eyes. “You might know one? Either you do, or you don’t, Rory.”

“It’s not that simple. He’s not local, for a start. But he’s visiting,” I add quickly.

“Is he certified?”

“Yes.”

“Then call him and get him down here.” She claps her hands. “Now. Unless you want to spend the rest of your shift washing glasses.”

I might have to. I don’t know if Callan will want the job, considering it’s in a pub. I go into the back to get my phone. Callan has sent me a picture of him holding the baby. From the camera angle, it looks like a selfie. He looks so happy. He has a sappy smile and is looking at the baby with gooey eyes. The baby is cute. He has the same colour hair as his dad. There’s something about fatherhood that makes Callan even more handsome.

I hitch in a breath and then call him.

“Rory. Are you okay?” Callan asks.

I can hear the baby screaming in the background.

“Aye. Is everything okay there?”

“We’re at Niamh’s. She can’t get the baby to feed. I don’t know if there’s another reason he’d be crying. We’re both new at this. Did you need something?”

“No. It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it does.”

“It’s just—” I shake my head. “It can wait.”

“Tell me.”

The crying gets quieter and then sounds muffled as though Callan has moved to another room.

“I’m at work. The dishwasher is broken, and my boss can’t find an electrician who’s willing to come out. I thought—forget it. It was a dumb idea. You probably don’t have any tools with you.” It feels better to say that than to voice my concern about this being a pub.

“Doesn’t she need a plumber?”

I laugh. “I asked that. She says the plug sparked.”

There’s a long pause.

“Forget I mentioned it,” I say. “Go and help Niamh with the baby.”

“I have a few tools. Nothing like my full kit, though.” Callan’s voice is quiet. “I’d have to go back to yours first.”

“Cal—”

“It’s okay, Rory. If I’m going to stay, I’ll need all the chances to work I can get.”