Page 12 of Bastain

She must have dozed off again because when she opened her eyes, the room was bright with light. There wasn’t anyone sitting in the chair, and for some reason, that made her sad. Just as she felt the tears rolling down her cheeks, she heard someone coming out of the bathroom that was across from her. It was Bastain.

~*~

Bastain didn’t expect her to be awake but was happy for it. He’d been working on her case for the last couple of days and thought that she’d be all right once it came to a court hearing. He asked her how she was feeling.

“Worse.” He told her that she looked worse than she did before, too. “Well, aren’t you just the charming man that everyone loves. You could have been nicer about it.”

“I didn’t think you’d want me to lie to you.” She said that there was that. “I’m going to get the results of your aunt’s tests back tomorrow. It’s supposed to be just a half-hour meeting, but who knows with the court system the way that it is. I’ll come back here and let you know what they’re telling me.”

“I’d like that.” Trin asked him if she was still on the medication drip. “I don’t feel as groggy right now, so I was thinking that they might have reduced it or something.”

“You still have it. I think they’re going to leave it on there until you have more tests done. I guess it’s easier on you if you’re out.” She said that she would imagine so. “Also, you should know that they’ve found some cuts in your head that they had to stitch up. You’ve been beaten up so badly that they’re still finding things wrong. Your kidneys are doing better. The swelling is down, but they still don’t want you to have to get up to go to the bathroom, so you have a catheter in.”

“I did wonder about that.” He sat down, and she watched him. “I bet you don’t spend this much time with any of your other clients.”

“You’d be surprised. They usually come to me instead of me going to see them, but this is all right too. I’m getting work done while here, and I don’t mind. My brothers have been coming in too, and that’s been good.” He said that they’ve been bringing him food. “You can have some clear liquid in a few days. Perhaps when you can sit up on your own.”

“I don’t think that I’m hungry right now.” Bastain said that he could understand that. He wasn’t sure that he’d be all that hungry either, with all that was going on with her. “I just want to feel better. Or at least well enough that I don’t have to lie here in this bed forever. I’m guessing that as soon as I can move around, they’ll find that I’m tougher than I look.”

“I would say that you are. You were beaten badly. I saw the video from your door camera, and I can’t believe that you’ve only got a few broken bones. She was out to get you and didn’t care if she killed you or not.” Trin told him she didn’t want to talk about it. “I’m sorry. I guess you would remember it more than what I’ve seen on the video. But the good news is that you’re mending, and she can’t hurt you right now. I think that’s a win-win for you.”

They talked about her case and what was going on with it. He told her how much work he was doing on it and the results that he was getting. So far, it looked as if it was going to go in her direction, but she didn’t trust very well and didn’t get her hopes up. As she was getting tired again, he said that he had to leave for a while, but he’d be back.

“You don’t have to spend your time here. I like waking up, and I’m not alone, but I’m sure you work better at your offices.” He said that his office was in flux right now as it was being painted. “What about your house? Surely you have more room there than on the little tables here.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to get rid of me.” She laughed, then caught herself. “Be careful. But yes, I do have more room at home, but it’s being packed up. What little there is there. Mom and I have purchased a house. We can move in at any time, but we’re taking our time. That way, we’re not rushed with unpacking. I’ll take you to see it as soon as you’re able to get around.”

“I’d like that.” He nodded, and she could tell that he was distracted. “You should get going. I don’t want to hold you up here.”

“I need to get going, yes.” Yet he still stood there. When he picked up his jacket and threw it over his arm, she wanted to ask him what he was stalling about. But it was none of her business, so she didn’t ask. “I’ll be back later. I might have some information on your trial dates.”

“Thank you.” He finally left her, and she closed her eyes. Seeing the little red dot blinking meant that she was getting medication, and she welcomed it. Every time she woke up, she felt as if she was finding more places to hurt. It wasn’t until Abbott came in to sit with her that she started to feel sorry for herself.

“I believe I would be too if I were you.” She’d told him that she was sort of down today, that if he didn’t want to hang out with her, she understood. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m thinking about selling my funeral home. That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud.”

“Why? Is it not doing well?” He said that it was doing fantastic, he just wanted to date more. “I guess it’s hard to date when you never know what your schedule is going to be like. My great aunt worked in a funeral home when she was younger. She’s gone now, but the stories that she had were scary. She said that she had to quit working when she met the man that she eventually married because he couldn’t stand the fact that she would touch him after touching a body. I wonder how they ever worked that out.”

“There are other factors that don’t work in my favor for what I do.” He asked her if she’d date him, and she said yes. “You’re one of the few. Most of the time, they’re like your great uncle. Creeped out by the fact that I’m around dead bodies all the time. I have staff that works for me, so I seldom do the real work anymore.”

“I’m sorry.” He smiled at her. “I would imagine that it would take a special kind of person to be able to go out with a funeral director. My opinion is that it’s just a job and it pays the bills, but I guess it would take a lot more than that to date you. Have you been dating someone special lately?”

“No, not special. I have dates when I can get them. Usually, it’s to some function around town that I need a date for. If you ever get to the point where you can be upright for a while, I’d take you.” The two of them laughed, and it didn’t hurt her all that much. “Just kidding.”

“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.”