Chapter 5 #3
“I’d go out with you. You’re a nice man, and you have a good job.
That alone ticks off some of the requirements I have for dating someone.
” Sitting up a little more so that she could talk to him, she smiled when he helped her with her pillows.
“Thank you. They’re never right when I’m lying down.
I usually have a nurse help me. Thank you so much for getting it right. ”
“You’re so very welcome. I know what it’s like to have your pillows all messed up.
I sleep in an oversized king bed, and it’s a little lonely in it.
” His face turned red, and he changed the subject.
“My mom knew the previous funeral director. He told me that if I went to school and learned the trade, he’d take me on as a partner in the business.
That was ten years ago, and he’s since passed on.
But I took him at his word and began working for him as soon as I was able.
He taught me all the trades of the business and introduced me to people around town that I might have to deal with.
It was a good thing for the two of us, and in his will he left the business to me. ”
“Do you regret taking the business on?” He said that today he did.
Maybe tomorrow he’d say something different.
“I have a job like that. While I love it most of the time, there are days when I wish that I did anything else. It pays well, and I get to learn a great deal, but it’s boring most days, and I can’t stand it. ”
“My job isn’t boring when I’m working.” He said that he didn’t get to get out much because he never knew when he was going to be needed. “But the job does afford me to be able to see my brothers and mother, when I want to, and to get dinner with them a couple of times a week.”
“You guys are so tight-knit. I’ve never been around a family like that.
” He said it was all on their mom. She’s the one who made it so they depended on each other.
” He laughed. “Not so much just depend on each other, but she taught us the meaning of having a family. And being able to depend on each other. We have done that. I love my brothers and would do anything for them. Do you have family?”
“As you know, my mom died recently.” He nodded and said that he was sorry to hear that. “I miss her something terrible. I have my uncle Mark and my aunt Tilly, and we all know how that is working out for me.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard the others talking about her.
She seems strange.” That had her bursting out laughing.
He’d said it so calmly that she didn’t know what to say back to him.
As the two of them laughed at his description of her aunt, she thought of all the other strange things her aunt had been doing when she visited her.
“I heard that you’re lucky that you survived the beating at all.
And to look at you, I’m sure he’s right.
You look as if someone had gone at you with a bat, darling. ”
“I feel it too most of the time.” Sitting up a little more, she felt good.
She wasn’t going to push her limits, but she knew that if she didn’t get moving, she might stiffen up in bed and not be able to move at all.
Moving her right leg, she wiggled her toes and was happy that it didn’t hurt.
All kinds of bruises on her legs hurt, but if she moved slowly, things didn’t hurt so badly.
“What are you going to be doing about a house? I’m to understand that most of you guys live in condos and have tired of it.
Bastain said that he is moving in with his mom so that they have a better house to live in. ”
“I live above the funeral home. For now, anyway. I don’t mind it, but it does mean that I have to be quiet when there are things going on.
Even my foot steps can be heard when I’m up there alone.
” She told him that she wouldn’t like that.
“I don’t either. Even when I’m cooking dinner, I have to be careful that I don’t smell the place up with odors. ”
“I wouldn’t have thought of that.” She smiled at him and had to be careful of the stitches on her cheeks. “What I wouldn’t give for a nice big Italian sub right now. Or even a plate of pasta. They just let me start eating clear things while I’m in here, and that doesn’t really hit the spot.”
“I couldn’t do that. I’d have to have a steak with my clear broth.” He made her laugh again, and she loved him for that. “And a big fluffy baked potato. I think that I could eat that for every meal. I’m a meat-and-potatoes man myself. What’s your favorite food?”
“Italian. Anything pasta with red gravy. I’d even eat white gravy over pasta if that’s what I’m offered.
” Her belly rumbled. “Now you’ve done it.
I’m starving and have to be on clear liquids for another week.
They don’t want my internal wounds acting up because I’m eating too soon. I’m sure you understand that.”
“I do understand it, but I couldn’t do it.
I’d have one of my brothers sneak me in the sub you were talking about.
Or a plate of pasta with some garlic toast. If I had to, I’d have myself a salad so that I’d have to eat pasta to make it go down.
” The two of them talked about food for the next hour or so.
She was getting medications, but it didn’t affect her like it had before.
Either they were halving the dose, or she was getting used to it.
She didn’t care; she wasn’t as drugged up as she’d been before and loved that.
Being able to have a conversation with someone other than the staff here was a great bonus.
When Abbott said that he had to go, she didn’t want him to.
She’d been having fun, and she did enjoy his company.
Once he was gone, she was able to sit up more on the bed, but didn’t push herself.
All she needed to do was hurt herself more so that she’d not be on the mend anymore.
Just as her supper came to her, Oneal came to sit with her.
“I’m sure you have something you’d rather be doing.” He told her that it was the highlight of his day to sit with her. “Oh, go on with you. I’m sure there are many women who you could be watching instead of someone who is beaten up as I am.”
“But you don’t care what I do for a living. Nor do you care that I have money. You don’t, do you?” She asked him if he had money. “I do. We all do. I like the fact that you don’t care if we spend hundreds of dollars on you while you’re in here.”
“I think I could help you spend hundreds of dollars on a woman who is in much better shape than I am.” He kissed the back of her hand. “What was that for? Not that I mind, just you didn’t have to do that.”
“You’re the sweetest person that I know.
And you make me feel good about myself. The other day, when I was in here, we just talked about nothing, and I went home feeling good about everything.
If you were in better shape, you’d probably kill me.
” She told him that she was falling in love with him and the way he treated her.
“Thank you. I feel like you’re the sister that I never had. I love being around you.”
“Thank you.” They talked about the next project that he and his brother were doing. It was an older house that really needed a lot of work, but they were having fun. “That’s all that matters, isn’t it? That and you make a little bit of money.”
“That’s what it’s going to be on this house, a little bit.
But it’s going to sell for a great deal more than we have invested in it.
Mom thinks it’s one of the best ones we’ve ever done.
” She said that she couldn’t wait to see it.
“I’ll bring pictures next time. We always have pictures from start to finish, and I’ll bring them into you. ”
They talked until she yawned a few times. After telling her that he’d see her tomorrow, he left her. Trin was glad for the company today and was happy that she was making friends. It certainly made for an easier time of just laying in bed with no one to talk to.