Chapter 7 #2
“They’re both going to be living with me.
” He was slightly embarrassed when he told Dayton that.
He didn’t want him to jump to the wrong conclusion.
“Trinity is going to be living in the master suite on the main floor of the house because it’s the only bedroom that doesn’t have stairs.
I’m sort of glad for it as I’ve fallen in love with her and don’t want her hurt again. ”
“I can see that. Her aunt did a number on her when she was trying to get the money.” They both shivered at what damage had been done to Trinity when her aunt had gotten it in her head to take the Social Security checks from her mom.
“At least with her in prison, she can get better and not have to worry about her getting her again. I heard that she’s still wondering where her money is. ”
“Figures. I heard that she’s fit to stand trial at any time.
I should have heard before now. I would have thought that I’d have it by now but something got delayed.
I’m just happy that we can get this going so that she’s out of our hair.
I never wanted a trial to be finished as much as this one.
” They talked about that for a while on their way to the diner for breakfast. “I’m starving.
I can’t believe how long I’ve been up and had nothing to eat. ”
“Mom would tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I disagree with her. I think that lunch is. If I have a big lunch, which I tend to do, I can not eat dinner and be all right. I might need breakfast the next morning, but not all that much. I love big lunches.” He said that he knew that about him.
“I thought you might. I’m starving too. It’s nearly eleven now. ”
The two of them enjoyed their lunch it turned out to be and had a good time. When Dayton’s phone went off, he put it on speaker phone, and they both talked to Mark. The man was fast becoming a good friend to them all, and Bastian was going to miss him.
“I’m leaving tomorrow. You can get in touch with me, but if you can’t, then call my attorney.
I don’t have a house phone yet down there, but I’ll get one just for you guys.
” They both thanked him. “The movers are coming in tomorrow to pack up the few things that I want. And it’s really only a few things.
So I appreciate you taking what’s left. Like I said, if you don’t want it, sell it.
I’m finished with the house and its contents. ”
After talking about him traveling safely, the three of them hung up. It was just after one when Bastain’s phone rang, and it was his mom. Trinity was ready to come home, and she wanted to know if he had plans for the limo today.
“I want her to have plenty of room when she’s coming home.
If I had to put her into my old beater, then she’d be hurting worse than before.
” They talked about him coming over to help, but she said that she wanted to do it.
She’d have to be able to load her up and out when they went to the doctor’s office anyway. “I need the practice.”
“All right. I’m headed to my office now. If you need anything at all, just call. Dayton’s home is ready for him to move into tomorrow. He’s picked out a few more pieces of the stuff here to take with him.” She told him that she was proud of him. “I’ll tell him. He’s on his way to the house now.”
“I might have to go over and have a look at it. I don’t know that I’ve ever been in that house since Mark purchased it all those years ago.
Did you know that he owned that house before he married Tilly?
” Bastain said that he’d not. “Yes, that’s another thing that Tilly was never happy about.
Nothing was in her name when she wanted it to be. ”
“I guess he’s a better attorney than I thought if he’s been able to keep her name off of all the things that he owns.
” Mom said she was proud of him, too. “Next time I talk to him, I’ll let him know.
The guy is excited to be starting his new life in Tennessee.
I think that if anyone deserves a break, it’s him. ”
“Yes, the poor man. To think that his wife was related to the nicest woman I ever met. Doris was such a wonderful person. I wish you could have gotten to know her. She would have been in your corner, too.” He’d yet to tell his mom that he told Trinity that he loved her.
He didn’t even know if he’d told her that he loved the other woman yet.
He was waiting until it was a better time for Trinity.
She’s been through enough as it was and needed a break.
He was going to see about getting that for her and soon.
~*~
Trin loved her room. It was large, and the furniture that was in it was the set that she would have picked out at her aunt’s shop.
The big four-poster bed was perfect in the room, and the dressers made it easier for her to get around by holding onto them.
She had to be careful, she knew, but for now, the way she was getting around was all right with her.
Careful and easy was what she was doing.
“You shouldn’t be up yet.” Instead of helping her back to bed, Bastain scooped her up in his arms and put her back in bed.
After another quick kiss, he was sitting in one of the three chairs in the room that surrounded the fireplace.
“The doctor said no cheating now that you were no longer in the hospital. You have to—”
“Will you stop that?” He grinned at her and asked her what she meant.
“Kissing me every chance you get. I can’t get my bearings right with you doing that all the time.
Just keep your mouth to yourself until I say differently.
” He said that it would take her too long to get around to telling him.
He said that, besides, it was just too much fun to see her flustered.
“I’m going to sock you in the face if you fluster me anymore.
I’m dealing with a lot here, and you’re not helping. ”
“I can help you deal if you want.” She growled at him, which only made him laugh all the harder. “What’s going on that you need for me to stop kissing you when the mood strikes me? I’m sure that it’s not that much. I’m being charming so you aren’t mad at me.”
“You’re being insane is what you’re being. And driving me there too.” He laughed, and she so wanted to get up and slug him. “Just give me time. You’re making me crazy the way that you just pick me up, too. I’m not a rag doll that needs to be tossed around.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a beautiful woman that I love.
I do love you too. I’ve discovered that I love you more daily, too.
” She told him that he couldn’t love her.
“Why not? Because we don’t know one another yet?
I’m getting information about you daily.
I know a lot more about you than you know of me, I’m betting. ”
“I don’t doubt it. You’re forever flustering me to the point that I don’t know what questions I wanted to ask.” He asked her if she had any now. “Yes. It’s about my aunt. Have you gotten the paperwork back that says she can stand trial? She scares me that she might get out.”
“I got it this morning and was going to talk to you about it. Yes, she’s fit to stand trial.
She still doesn’t understand why you got your mom’s checks, but she’s working on understanding that.
” She asked if there was any way that she’d get out.
“Not unless she has a good reason for beating you up and trying to take the checks from you. I don’t know how that’s going to happen either, since she’s made it perfectly clear that she’s still going to get them when she gets out of prison.
Where she thinks she shouldn’t be in the first place. ”
“I think that she’s off her rocker. And mom said the same thing.” He said that the courts say differently. “She’s going to get out and get me. I just know it.”
“No, she won’t. I promise you on my heart that she won’t get to you again.
Not so long as I can help it.” Trin told him that she’d just get him, too.
“I’m bigger and meaner. I can take her on and have her arrested for hurting me.
But with you, she fights dirty, and I’ll be there to make sure that she doesn’t get to you. ”
She didn’t know what to think about his declaration about keeping her safe. Instead of arguing with him more, she changed the subject to something that she thought she could handle. It was about the house that she was living in with him.
“My mom, of course, knows that you’re here.
She’s going to be making sure you get your appointments on time, as well as physical therapy.
” She asked why she was doing that. “Because when I told her last night that I’d fallen in love with you, she didn’t seem the least bit surprised.
She also said that she loved your mother and thought that she’d be happy that she was taking care of her little girl. ”
Trin snorted and thought that she’d be trying to stop that habit. It made Bastian laugh too much, and she had noticed that CarolAnn was doing it as well. Just as she was going to tell him that she didn’t know what she felt for him, he stood up and covered her up with the blankets.
“You’re much too tempting to be all uncovered like you are.” The blankets came up to her chin, and he tucked her in on both sides. “I think if you were wearing a potato sack, you’d still look too good for me.”
“I don’t know why you say these things to me. You know how they make me feel.” He smiled, more like a leer. She watched as he crossed the room and went to the door. “Are you coming back here? I have about ten thousand questions to ask you.”
“I have time later tonight. Right now I’m helping my brother with a case.
” She asked if it was the Morehouse case.
“Yes. He’s having some trouble with the information that you gave him.
Not that it’s not true, but he doesn’t know how to work it into a subject without having the judge shut him down. ”