Don’t Ever Wonder Read Free Page B

town and not so much as said good-bye.
    “You need to do that. How is your family?” Before Brendan could answer, Mr. Shoreham went on. “As a matter of fact I saw your mom a few weeks back out at Arundel Mills.”
    “Everyone is fine.” Brendan shot him few questions about his grandson, followed by a couple of comments about the weather, before he came up with a way to ask him about Renée. It was obvious that she hadn’t told her parents about the way that they had fallen out. If he had known Brendan had broken his beloved baby girl’s heart, Mr. Shoreham might have tried to put a chokehold on Brendan right there in the waiting room. “So how does Renée like it down there…” Brendan faked a yawn. “Excuse me.”
    “No problem. She said she loves it in Houston. She complains about the heat but it’s Texas. I mean what did she expect?” Mr. Shoreham laughed. “I think I am going to make it down there this fall. You ought to come with me.”
    Brendan imagined himself showing up at Renée’s door. His face tightened when he thought of the drama that might unfold. “Yeah I might do that,” he said, knowing full well there was no chance of it.
    “Yeah, her fiancé is a really nice guy. He reminds me of you, to be honest. Just a clean-cut, decent guy. Just like you, as a matter of fact.” He patted Brendan on the shoulder. “When I met him on Easter, I joked with her. I said you didn’t have to go all the way to Houston to marry Brendan.” He burst into laughter and Brendan’s face had the kind of look you get when you pass gas out loud in a crowded elevator.
    “Wow, that’s really something.” Is all he said in a low tone, but really wanting to scream out, That’s some bullshit .
    The receptionist called Mr. Shoreham up to the counter and gave him a prescription. He gave Brendan a handshake as he was on the way out. “Don’t be a stranger, son. I mean that.” Brendan nodded and Dr. Carson came out and told him to come to the room in the back. His mind was racing with thoughts from all the news that he’d just gotten. His best friend since middle school had cut him off. He had played with her emotions. Unintentional as his actions had been, a lifelong friendship had been ruined by passions gone awry. Now she had left town, which seemed to be a new trend for everyone he knew. Brendan wondered about her getting engaged so soon after leaving and assumed she was on the rebound. His mind was completely blown by it all.
    As he sat on the examining table he tried not to wrinkle the white paper on the table. He thought about calling Cory from his cell to tell him about what he’d heard but decided to wait until his appointment was over. Dr. Carson walked back into the office. “Hey, Dude. How are you?”
    Brendan considered telling him the truth but instead gave the traditional, “Fine.”
    “Great. Listen, I called you back in for two reasons.” Dr. Carson was looking at his charts. “Like Yvonne told you, your sodium levels were a little abnormal but that is nothing to really worry about. Just start drinking some more water and I will check it for you in two weeks.” He placed the chart down on the table.
    “Okay. But what was the other thing?” he asked, thinking he’d heard the worst.
    Dr. Carson took a deep breath that Brendan realized couldn’t be anything good. “My friend, from looking at your culture, it, seems that you may have contracted a case of chlamydia.”
    “Say what?” Brendan shot back.
    “I can’t say one hundred percent without blood work, but I tested you for everything in your physical.” Dr. Carson picked up the file and started scribbling. “I don’t want to say it’s no big deal, but it is easily treated. I will get you a quick shot and a prescription.” He grabbed a needle and told Brendan to drop his pants. A few seconds later and the needle was pulled from his hip.
    “So what does this mean?” Brendan was trying to make sense of it all. “Has my