The Hathaway

Waiting and Wondering

I found a file on my desk when I returned from lunch. Heather had managed to make it to the county archives and back and had a couple of photocopies for me. One was an application for tax exempt status for ‘The Family of Believers’. The other was a short write up from a regional paper describing the meeting house they had built. It read:

“A peculiar building, resembling no church I have ever seen, but austere and graceful, the meeting house of the Family of Believers serves as both a home and a worship space. The structure has two levels. The lower is mostly open and somehow devoid of supporting pillars or columns. A duel set of staircases, one on either side of the central door, lead to the upper level which is divided into thirds. Communal sleeping quarters offer accommodations for men on one side and women on the other, while a shared dining area divides them. The congregation holds regular worship services every Sunday morning, but they discourage outsiders from attending, preferring to practice their own peculiar form of worship behind closed doors. It is reported that they were expelled from a questionable congregation in the southern half of our colony, and have even more bizarre practices than them. Neighbors confirm that they can be heard singing at all hours of the day and night, and it is rumored that they have even been observed dancing during worship. Despite these speculations, they have maintained good relations with their few neighbors, and have proven themselves hard working and compassionate.”

This was it! I recognized the layout of the building from the foundations we had observed. The dividing wall I thought I could make out must have been fallen beams from the second floor, but I was essentially right. The first floor was a public space, while the second floor was more private. Not only did the description coincide with the ruins, the description of the community itself was spot on. I was elated. I went looking for Heather but was told that she had again stepped out to follow a lead of some sort.

I pondered what to do next. Should I call the archaeology department at the college? Maybe they could do some sort of dig to confirm what was there. Or maybe I should call the state and find out what kind of archaeological process they might recommend. Did the site need preservation? Was it important? I didn’t know how others would feel, but it seemed important to me.

As I mulled these questions over in my mind I noticed that it was approaching three. I allowed myself a moment of distraction to wonder if Ben had decided to pursue the waiter. I knew how hesitant he was, but also how curious. Wanted him to be happy, and since he had never fucked or been fucked by another guy, I knew he wouldn’t be happy until he had experienced that. Granted, it’s easier when you’re single, but I had known a number of couples with open relationships and they did just fine.

Of course I also knew a few couples that had split over infidelity, but their relationships were always based on a traditional sense of ownership. This always seemed unhealthy to me. It didn’t allow for the natural waxing and waning of dynamics within the relationship, shifts in libido and sexual tastes, or any other thing that was prone to change once the immovable vows had been made. As much as I loved Ben, I did not want to hold him captive. Besides, I had no doubt that he would return to me.

I wondered if he had the same level of security in our relationship. How would he respond if I wanted to go looking for a little bit of fun on the side? At this point I didn’t. I was still pretty much in the honeymoon phase with him. I still thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever met. I still couldn’t believe that he was in love with me and wanted my body whenever he could get it. But relationships change. After two years we still hadn’t had our first real fight yet. Would that change anything significant when it finally happened? Who could say?

I managed to pull my focus back to my work and began sorting through research for an upcoming display on important ships that had been harbored here. I looked at photographs and read through some articles, but my heart wasn’t in it. I slogged along and the afternoon seemed to drag on forever. Finally at about four forty-five, Andi knocked quietly on my door and let herself in. “Sorry to disturb you at work. Did Ben tell you I would be stopping by?”

“He did, he did,” I embraced the distraction with relish. “I’m so glad you’re here, I’ve been bored out of my skull all afternoon.”

“Well,” she chuckled, “It’s good to know these old bones are still good for something.”

“I hear you want to know all the details you can get about the spirits in the ruins.”

“Indeed,” she enthused as she sat down. “You don’t mind if I rest for a few minutes before we trek the rest of the way to the Hathaway? It seems my age is finally catching up with me.”

“So how’s life been at the boarding house?”

“Same as always,” she smiled. “The new residents are settling in just fine, and it’s good to have Heather back. I always miss her when she goes away for the summer. And Helmut is getting ready to move into the carriage house. He seems quite excited actually, although…”

She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure she should share the next bit. “Don’t leave me hanging like that. What?”

“Well,” she looked around guiltily and whispered, “I don’t like to tell tales, but I think the old spark is beginning to rekindle between Helmut and Phil.”

“No!” I offered as a conspiratorial foil to her busybody act. “What makes you say that?”

“Mostly just the way they look at each other. I mean, there’s something between them, something private, and knowing Helmut, it probably has to do with sex.”

“Have you heard anything?” I asked. “Your room is right next to Phil’s.”

“It’s not Phil,” she confided, “It’s Miss McFiercesen. He doesn’t flirt with Phil, but when she’s in drag…” she finished her thought with a significant rise of one eyebrow. “But no, nothing from the bedroom, although she has been spending more time than usual in the basement. I’m not sure what that’s all about.”

It took everything I had not to laugh. I knew exactly what that was all about, but it wasn’t my place to share their secret. “You’ll have to keep me informed,” I said, and changed the subject. “What did Ben tell you about the spirits?”

“Only that he found the shadow’s hiding place, and that Sabina thinks the spirits are stronger than him. Do you think there’s a connection between them?”

I had to think about that. “I can only see two instances when they interacted. The first was when the congregation undid the fire that the shadow had used Evelyn to set. And the second was when the preacher became manifest on Sunday night and the shadow called him a heretic and tried to attack him before Ben drove him out of Evelyn.”

Ben didn’t tell me about Sunday night,” she said. I need to hear about that too.”

“He was under the influence of a spirit, he really doesn’t remember much of it,” I interjected. “But the interaction at the church led me to think that the two spirits knew each other.”

“Good.” She rose to her feet and indicated she was ready to leave. “You can tell me all about it on the walk home.” I gathered my things and did my best to fill in the gaps as we made our way out of the museum and headed toward the Hathaway.

When we arrived, Ben and Sabina were waiting in the kitchen. Andi said she wanted to have a chat with Sabina before we left, so Ben and I went into the back yard to wait. “So?’ I asked, “Did you umm…?”

“Did I…? Oh, um, kinda.” he replied.

“Kinda?” I repeated, “How do you kinda hook up?”

“I’m not sure I’m ready yet,” he explained. “It was a bit sudden.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t try to push you. I just know how hesitant you can be.”

“I can,” he admitted, “But I can also go for what I want. I went back to the pub after I dropped you off at work and gave him my number. He promised to call me in the next day or two. Besides, today was the first day of school, I wanted to be here when the kids got home.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I realized. “Good choice. You took care of your own needs but you still made the connection.”

“And I was thinking,” he added, “I think part of why I felt alright with the other night, even though I’d never done anything like that before was because you were with me. I think I would rather we play together if we’re going to bring someone else in. for now at least, I would feel funny hooking up alone, like I was betraying you or something. But if we were to play together…” He gave me a crooked grin. “...Especially if you were giving the other guy instructions on what to do to me or let me do to him...That would be hot.” He leaned in and gave me a kiss as he reached down to squeeze my dick. “What do you think?”

I grinned back at him and replied, “I think you’ve been hanging out with Helmut too much, but I have to admit, it sounds like fun.” Now it was my turn to feel him up, and I wasn’t disappointed, he was as hard as could be.

“Good,” he responded, “Because I have his phone number too, I could give him a call tonight, if you’re up for it.”

“I’m always up for you,” I smirked, rubbing his hand against my rapidly rising cock. “Especially when it comes to making you umm...happy. But let’s wait to see how things go with Evelyn before we make that decision.”

“Agreed,” he smiled, squeezing my dick even harder as it grew.

Just then Andi came out of the kitchen and stopped abruptly, cocking her head to one side. “Really?” We instantly let go of each other’s dicks, but our boners were still pretty obvious through our pants. “In front of the children?” she chided. “Go adjust yourselves and meet us at the ruins. Sabina has had an idea and I think it’s a good one. She’s gathering the others right now. We’ll be waiting for you.” As she turned to re-enter the kitchen she shook her head and muttered, “Honestly! Men!”