Hush by Jess Wygle

tomorrow.”
    “Yes, Dr. Reinbeck.  Good to meet you too.”  Dr. Bayliss took my clammy hand in his.  I shook the rest of their hands before I shuffled away.
    I smiled widely at Callem. “Dr. Reinbeck, my apologies for the delay,” Callem started.  “I hope you had a good day.”  He held the door open for me.
    I was starting to dislike his formalities.  I’d have to address that.  “No need to apologize.  And thank you, yes, I did have a nice day,” I explained.
    “Would you like me to take you back to the hotel?” Callem asked, as he slid into the driver’s seat.
    “Actually, I really need a drink,” I sighed.  “Is it unprofessional to invite you to dinner?”
    I wish I could have seen Callem’s expression before he answered.  He kept his eyes out the front windshield.  “Not at all, but you’re not paying for me this time,” he added coyly.  “Where to?”
    “You know this town.  You’re behind the wheel.  I’m just along for the ride,” I said, leaning back.
    Callem nodded and we were off.  We drove in silence as I sifted through emails on my phone.  I made one quick call to my nurse, Amanda, to check in and before I knew it, Callem was parking the car.  I stuffed my silenced phone into the front of my bag as the door opened for me and Callem’s hand appeared to help me out.
    The sun had dipped behind the buildings, but golden rays still cast an orange light over the city.  “We’ve got to walk a little ways.  There wasn’t a spot closer than this,” Callem explained.  “I hope you like Italian.”
    “Oh, that’s perfect.  Nothing like a belly full of carbs to end the night,” I said as we started down the sidewalk.  “Did you get a lot of work done today?”
    Callem nodded.  “I did.  I haven’t been on site here in Chicago for a couple of months and it was probably a couple of months too long.  Things were a little out of order for my taste so it was a much needed visit.”
    “Ah, one of those kinds of visits, huh?  I’m sure your employees were glad to see you then,” I chuckled quietly.
    “Um, no.  They probably could have done without me or at least had more of a heads-up so they could get things in order I before I just dropped in on them.  Secretly, I love to catch them off guard like that.”
    He and I both chuckled lightly.  “So what’s this place you’re taking me to?”
    “Renaldi’s.  It’s amazing.  I know it well.  I eat here nearly every time I come to town.  It’s phenomenal.”
    I spotted the large tan sign with the cursive green lettering just ahead, perched on the side of a burgundy canopy over the entrance.  As usual, Callem held the door open for me.  Just inside the door was the pizza-making station.  One man was topping a doughy crust while another was behind him tossing the dough over his head in a theatrical display, spinning it off his fists and sending it in the air above him before catching it.
    “Ello, welcome to Renaldi’s,” the host greeted us in an Italian accent.  “Just the two of you this evening?”
    “Yes.”  I nodded before he led us to a booth in the back corner of the restaurant.  The dining area had two large round tables in the middle surrounded by a few smaller tables and two rows of booths on either side of the room.  The large round tables were so large, they had Lazy Susans in the middle of them, fit for a true and large Italian family.
    “My name is Rafe.  Would you like to start off with drinks?”  the host asked, transforming himself into our waiter.
    Callem looked at me.  Ladies first I suppose.  “I’d love a glass of, um, merlot.  Let’s just start with the merlot,” I said.
    “A water will be fine for me,” Callem said, turning his attention to his menu.
    Rafe turned and walked under a large ornate archway leading to another section of the restaurant, disappearing out of sight.  I turned to my menu also.  I felt like a bit of a lush drinking on my own, but not