Page 25 of Kiss and Make Love

“Can we talk?” he asked as she approached the doors, joining her step-for-step.

“I don’t know, Llewellyn. Are you going to blackmail me some more?” she sneered. So much for the whole not-trying-to-set-him-off thing.

Be better, Spencer. Be more forgiving with him for the rest of the night.

“I’m sorry about that, Spencer. I need this to go well. I can’t start from scratch! My folks can’t handle me living with them for much longer. I can tell…” He got quiet.

Spencer looked at him. Really looked at him. His eyes were sunken, and their normal brightness was gone. He wasn’t talking a mile a minute and telling some crazy story. The strange spark that made LlewellynLlewellynseemed to be gone.

Mr. Hewitt greeted them and pushed open the door that led to the basement, ushering them down to the embalming room, briefing them along the way. Although, at this point, Spencer was pretty much able to run things herself. She couldn’t say the same for Llewellyn, however.

“You’re going to observe Spencer tonight, Llewellyn. I want you to watch the order she does things in. The time and care she takes with each step. Are you able to do that, son?” Mr. Hewitt boomed.

She always thought it curious that Mr. Hewitt had gone into the funeral business. He was such a loud, larger-than-life character with his handlebar moustache and big, round belly. How he was satisfied taking care of the silent dead, she’d never know. He was always chatting, spinning a yarn, or laughing. All things you couldn’t do with the dead. Well…maybe you could. People in this industry were a little peculiar, even her.

“Yes, sir. I will observe and take note.” Llewellyn saluted.

“Good man, good man,” Mr. Hewitt chimed, clapping him on the back. Llewellyn flew forward a good foot, unprepared for the contact. The senior embalmer left them to do their work, stating he’d be back halfway through the process to check on everything.

“I’m going to weigh and measure the body so I can get the correct amount of fluids mixed. You,” she said, pointing at Llewellyn, “are going to talk.”

“About what?”

“About whether you want to do this job or not. That was our deal, wasn’t it? I’ll help you out if you can tell me this is what you want.”

She moved to the cabinets, pulling out the necessary chemicals and personal protective equipment. Llewellyn started pacing behind her, working up to something.

“I’ve thought about it, like you asked. I even tried talking to my mother and father about things, but they wouldn’t hear it. They said they already paid to put me through the program and there’s no way they’re paying for me to start over. Plus, they went on and on about how Ineed to get my own job so I can get my own place and move out. Ergo, no job means no moving out, which means my parents are going to be furious with me, and they’ll probably kick me out anyway, and I’ll end up living on the streets, and?—”

“Llewellyn!” she barked, stopping him in the middle of his rant. “Can you answer one question for me?”

He nodded, eyes wide, fidgeting with his fingers.

Setting down the methanol, she said, “I want a one-word answer. Do you want to do this job—yes or no?”

His mouth opened, then closed. Then opened and closed again. He looked a bit like a guppy. His wide-set eyes didn’t help the overall picture.

“No.”

“No?”

He shook his head. “No! I don’t want to be an embalmer!” he proclaimed, throwing his hands into the air.

“Now we’re getting somewhere. Then why, for God’s sake, are you in this program?” She wiped her palm down her face.

He shrugged. “My parents thought it was a good idea.”

“I’ve never, in my life, heard of parents pushing their child into becoming an embalmer. Aretheyembalmers? Do they own a funeral home? Are they in a related field?”

“No. My father is an accountant, and my mother is a dental hygienist,” he scratched his chin.

“What’s the deal, then?” She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter.

This should be good.

“My parents…” he started. “Oh, this is embarrassing, Spencer. Please don’t make me tell you.”

“Spit it out, Llewellyn. It can’t be more embarrassing than me finding you in the bathroom eating chicken on the sink.” She raised her eyebrow.

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