Chapter 5 #2
He grunted a response.
“Want to go get coffee? I think Elise will be in with him a while.”
“Did you know about him and the movie star?”
“I knew he was treating her.”
“How come I didn’t know?”
“You never ask about our clients.”
“I get it. I don’t encourage familiarity. But I hope he isn’t involved with her. That’d be a big breach of ethics.”
“Let’s not worry about that now. Coffee?”
“Yeah, let’s go get some.”
* * *
Elise approached room 252 with trepidation. She didn’t want to break down in front of Finn, but she was worried. Through the glass door, she saw him lying in bed, his head turned to the side, with a sheet covering him to his waist.
Once inside, she could see horrible bruises all over his chest. An ice pack rested on his ribs and was held in place by gauze loosely wrapped around his torso.
Forcing back her emotions at seeing him battered like this, she sat down in a chair beside the bed. His hand lay at his side and she covered it with her own. “Finn,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
He stirred. Opened his beautiful gray eyes that now had mauve bruises beneath them. “Hey.”
“Sorry if I woke you.”
“I just doze on and off.” He gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks for coming.”
“I never questioned if I should visit, but one of your colleagues seemed shocked to see me here. I hope I didn’t compromise you. Anything more than I already have.”
“That’s the last thing on my mind. I glad to see you.”
“Oh, Finn. Were you scared?”
“Terrified. Mostly that he’d kill me. I didn’t see a weapon. Oliver thinks he might have been after my car, but why beat me up so badly?”
“It doesn’t make sense. Does everything hurt?”
“Not after the pain meds. My legs weren’t a target. But as you can see my chest is a roadmap of bruises.”
A half grin. “And such a nice chest it is.”
He started to chuckle but it turned into a moan. “Don’t make laugh.”
Elise scanned the room. “Finn, where’s Fiona?”
“I talked to her after we got the CT scans back. She was alone with the kids but Tim’s mom is coming over to stay with them. She’ll be here soon.”
“Poor thing. If she needs any help, I could go over there.”
“That’s sweet of you. She couldn’t get ahold of Tim. Which makes things worse.”
“I can see why it would.”
He yawned.
She stood. “I should leave. You need to rest.”
“Come back later?”
“I will, love.”
But he fell asleep before he heard the endearment. Which was probably for the best.
* * *
Finn looked around the huge den of Fiona’s house. It held a desk and four chairs; the walls were lined with shelves of books. A Murphy bed had been tucked into a recessed hideaway on one long wall. The mattress was pulled down as a bed for him.
His sister walked inside. He could see the lines of stress under her eyes and at the corners of her mouth. He patted the mattress next to him. She sat.
“I hate that you’d be taking care of me now when your own life is in flux.”
“Hush. If you weren’t here, I’d worry more. How do feel?”
“Better but only because of the meds.” They were still heavy duty and he couldn’t stay alone after three days in the hospital.
“The boys will want to see you when they get back.”
“They should so they don’t worry.”
“You haven’t looked in a mirror, I take it.”
“No, is it bad?”
“You’re still a handsome devil, but you have bruises on your face, arms and torso.”
“You’ll have to prepare them.”
She nodded.
“Is Tim here?”
“No. His mother came over to stay with the twins when I went to the hospital. She took them to her house while I brought you home.”
“Is Martha upset by what’s happened with her son?”
“Very. Apparently, she talked to Tim when I wouldn’t discuss why he left, and he confessed all. She loves him of course, but it sounds like she really lit into him.”
“I’m glad.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Nah, a day or so and I probably can go sit outside.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He chuckled at her protectiveness. “The doc’s instructions say I can do anything I’m up to. But to be careful of my ribs.”
Fiona’s eyes filled. “I can’t believe somebody would do this to you.”
He grasped her hand and she held onto him. “Me, either. I’m thinking it wasn’t anyone I know. I’m baffled that I could have done something this bad to deserve a beating like this.”
“Of course you didn’t. It was a random attack.” She sighed. “Why don’t we let that go for now. What would you like to eat tonight?”
“One of your lemon meringue pies.”
“Ha. I’m already making two. I had the ingredients on hand.”
“Be sure the graham cracker crust is thick.”
“Yes, buddy, I will.”
The door nudged opened. Tim stood in the entryway. His face was lined with exhaustion, his hair was sticking out of his baseball cap and his shoulders were slumped. “Hey. Mom called me.”
Fiona stiffened. “Finn isn’t up for visitors.”
Finn stayed out of it.
“I wanted to say I was sorry, Finn, for what you’re been through.”
“Thanks.” The word came stiffly. “I appreciate it,” he added in a kinder tone.
“Fiona, can I talk to you?”
She bolted up. “I’m not ready to talk to you.”
“Do you want me to stay at the cabin?”
“Yes, for a while.”
“I’ll get some of my things.” He transferred his gaze to Finn, said, “Take care, buddy,” and left.
Fiona sat back down in a chair. She struggled to keep tears from falling. “I can’t believe he did this to me.”
Finn said, “Me, either, honey.”
She sniffed and stood. “I’m going to go make your pies.”
“Thanks.”
“Rest now.”