A.N. This really should have gone with the previous chapter, but I wanted to get something posted. I'm feeling more than a bit rusty writing too, so I'm hoping to get the rhythm of this story back. Just an FYI, the book by Cleves is real and like Olivia I've not read it yet, just heard an interview on a podcast, but it's definitely on my to read list now. And if you suspect that you recognize another SVU character popping up here, you are correct.
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Thankful that Alex had turned to the sink to start on the dishes, Olivia mopped up the coffee she had gracelessly dribbled down her chin. At least she hadn't choked on it, she thought. Regaining her composure, she joined Alex at the sink, picking up a towel to dry the dishes. Leaning her right hip against the counter top so that she could take some weight off her injured knee, she had the opportunity to admire the blonde. She had pulled her long hair up into a messy bun, exposing her long, delicate neck. With her eyes, Olivia traced the tendon running up from Alex's collar bone, past her jaw, to where it disappeared behind her delicate, pink earlobe. Following the course of her jawline back down, she watched as Alex bit her lower lip in consternation as she scrubbed at a difficult spot on the skillet. Even washing dishes, Olivia was quite certain Alex was the most beautiful woman she had ever met.
As Alex moved to rinse the skillet, Olivia roused herself from imagining what it would be like to follow the line of Alex's neck, jaw, ear with her fingers and tongue. Clearing her throat, she said, "coming back to Henry…I'm surprised that the disappearance of someone from such a prominent family as the Cabots was dropped so quickly, even with the war starting."
"Henry wasn't a Cabot, though. He was a Drake. It wasn't until my grandmother, Elizabeth, great Grandmother Catherine's daughter, married Charles Cabot after World War II, that the Cabots came into the picture. The Drakes were from Bridgewater, south of Boston. The family owned an iron foundry going back into the 18th century, which put them financially into the upper class, but they over extended themselves trying to diversify into other industries. The need for things like cannon during the Civil War helped revive the family's fortune to a great extent, so that when Grandfather Charles fell in love with Grandmother Elizabeth it was seen as an acceptable match. Especially since it was the Cabot name that would persist. Had it been the other way around, a Cabot woman marrying a Drake husband, I kind of doubt the marriage would have ever happened," Alex finished with a tone that sounded a bit rueful to Olivia.
"It's funny, but for some reason the Drake name and Bridgewater rings a bell, but I can't imagine why," Olivia said as she moved toward a worn leather chair in front of the fireplace. Her knee was surprisingly better, but still not up to any prolonged standing. Alex followed, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the couch. Olivia had noticed that this seemed to be a favorite spot for Alex, who stretched her long, denim-clad legs out in front of the fire.
"I don't know how much history you read, but you might be familiar with the story of one of my great Grandmother Catherine and Henry's ancestors, Sylvia Drake. A popular history of her same-sex marriage to Charity Bryant in the early 19th century was published just a couple years ago."
"Oh, yeah! I haven't read it, but I heard an interview on the radio with the author."
"Rachel Cleves. I'd offer to loan you my copy, but it's back in Boston."
"I'm sure I can get Lena, down at the Book Nook, to order it for me, if she doesn't already have copy in stock. Which brings me back to our original topic, Henry's disappearance. I know you said you have letters and notebooks from Catherine and Henry, but have you tried looking at any of the local archives? Lots of towns around here have historical societies that collect documents. They don't always have the funding to establish a museum, so the material mostly sits in archive boxes. Lena's the official keeper of the local archive here. She keeps everything in an oversized closet at the Nook. Most of it's been catalogued though."
"I haven't looked into any local archives," Alex answered. "I have what we could find at home and then a friend helped me get copies of the material in the Boston City Guard archive."
"Before you give up on your project, you might have a look at some of the local archives. I'd be happy to introduce you to Lena," Olivia offered, "and she can definitely put you in touch with some other people in the area."
"Oh, that would be great, thank you!"