"And this is where you'll be staying." Cainan followed Mr. Bastion into the large bedroom as the older cat carried Cainan's suitcase inside for him. It was most certainly a massive step up from his car. Despite its size, it didn't look like much, as there wasn't a lot of furniture to be found in there – clearly not a room that saw much occupancy. The right side of room held a small bed with a metal frame and a nightstand beside it with a small lamp on it. The bed rested against the wall and the nightstand stood right below one of the windows that faced the front of the funeral home.
To the left of the door was an old, wooden chest resting against the wall. It was so big, it looked like Cainan could have slept in it, if he curled himself into a ball. There was an old rug on the floor in the very center of the room, and the wall above the chest had a few small, framed pictures hanging on it. The only other significant piece of furniture in the room, besides the chest and the bed, was an old dresser opposite the bed, resting against the wall beside the door. "I sure hope it's to your liking, Mr. Wirth."
"Oh, please, just call me Cainan, Mr. Bastion," Cainan told him politely as he looked around. He let Mr. Bastion place the suitcase down onto the bed for him – he of course planned on unpacking that himself. Cainan didn't exactly have a lot of belongings brought in with him, but clothes were important enough to take priority. For now, most of his other things were still left in the car. "And it's a very nice room, I like it."
The room had several windows; two on the wall opposite the door and two on the wall opposite the bed. Moving to the windows facing the door, Cainan cast a glance out at the fields in front of the house. Past the balcony, he saw the road that he and Father Arbogast had traveled to get him here, and he could see the big stone sign out front as well.
The room was rather big for a guestroom, it was in fact big enough to rival some of the apartments Cainan had resided in when he lived in St. Louis. The second floor landing connected to the turret right beside the room Cainan would be staying in. He'd glanced inside the turret as he passed, seeing that it held a small sitting room. On the opposite side of the turret was the master bedroom occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bastion and to the left of Cainan's bedroom was the one occupied by Father Arbogast. The upstairs area had just a single bathroom, though the fact that they had two was impressive, at least to Cainan. His family's home had been a large farm house too, but only held one bathroom. The upstairs bathroom was located beside the master bedroom near the stairs.
"Ah, well in that case, you may call me Bobby as well, Cainan," the gray cat said with a smile. He had a warm and welcoming voice with a rather charming quality, which seemed to be amplified by his accent. Cainan had of course heard an English accent before, but the last one he'd heard was still a bit different from Bobby's.
"Oh, alright, Mr.- I mean Bobby." The older cat was slightly shorter than Cainan and out of the three residents of the house, he was the only one Cainan had immediately liked. He didn't mind Father Arbogast at this point, as he was getting used to his almost perpetual glowering, but the reverend still had a rather imposing aura about him because of it. Cainan wasn't even sure if the reverend actually liked him either. Mrs. Bastion, however, Cainan wasn't at all sure about in any way. She had of course helped patch up his leg, for which he was grateful, but she seemed stoic to a point where Cainan didn't know if she even had emotions. He wasn't about to say that to her or her husband's face, however… "Really, thank you so much for everything – it's honestly more than I deserve at this point."
"Oh, don't mention it, Cainan. Consider me very intrigued, however. I think we're all looking forward to learning more about you," the gray cat noted as he stood and watched Cainan for a moment. As he spoke, Cainan walked around he room, getting used to the space.
"Of course – I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you as well. And if there's anything I can do around the house-"
"Oh, look at you," Bobby chortled. Cainan couldn't help but return the smile the older cat gave him. "We'll see, I think there may be a few things you can help with, despite your injury. Now then, please make yourself at home. Oh, and if you can fit into any of the clothes in the dresser you're welcome to wear those too."
"Elsa and I are staying in the master bedroom to the right of here." He pointed over his shoulder as he spoke. "It's by the bathroom. And you'll be staying right next to Abelard."
"Abelard…" Cainan repeated. While he'd heard Wendell address Father Arbogast as such, it was still strange to not think of him as just Father Arbogast. Of course, Cainan wasn't really on a first name basis with the man just yet, so he wasn't going to call him by his name immediately.
"Yes that is indeed his name. Ordained or not, when he's at home, he's just as ordinary as the rest of us mortals, young man. He only really carries weight in the church," Bobby playfully told Cainan in a loud whisper, as if there was a chance of Father Arbogast somehow overhearing him. Cainan gave a chuckle and thanked Bobby once more as the older cat left.
Cainan cast a glance towards the dresser in question. It would be such a relief; he was still wearing his torn up denim pants, seeing as he had little else. He had a few other pairs of pants, but he hadn't quite thought to change into them yet. Sitting on the bed, however, he did just that, slipping the ruined pants off and tossing them into the corner where they landed in front of the wooden chest.
Once Cainan had managed to put on a pair of black slacks from his suitcase, he got back up from the bed and went to the dresser beside it. It was made of dark brown wood and had three drawers, each with two bronze-colored metallic knobs for pulling them out. Pulling out the top drawer, Cainan found underwear and socks, all placed neatly into it. The second drawer held similarly neatly folded shirts and pants – shirts on the left and pants on the right. Most of the shirts were button-up shirts in white, but Cainan also found sweaters and cardigans. The pants were all considerably nicer than the denim ones he had been wearing previously, primarily differently colored slacks of black, dark blue and beige.
His curiosity piqued, Cainan left the dresser behind, his sights set on the small, framed pictures on the opposite side of the room. His face immediately broke into a smile when his eyes settled on the picture closest to the left window. Framed by an ornate, oval-shaped, wooden frame with a floral pattern carved into it, Cainan saw an old, faded photograph depicting a young man and a little girl standing side by side. The young man was dressed in all black, his back straight as a board, his hands crossed over his lap. Meanwhile his little sister had her hair in an elaborate braid and she wore a light-colored dress. Despite how old the picture had to be, Cainan instantly recognized both Father Arbogast and Mrs. Bastion. He couldn't help but smile at the novelty of seeing them looking so young.
Even despite how young they looked, they both looked similar to how they did in present day. In the photo, Father Arbogast was probably even younger than Cainan currently was, just based on how youthful his facial features were. Certainly a far cry from the tall, lean reverend Cainan knew today. Mrs. Bastion looked to be about six years old, if Cainan had to guess, perhaps even younger. In any case, he couldn't help but smile. They both had rather stoic looks on their faces, though Father Arbogast at least wasn't scowling like Cainan had seen him do so often.
The other framed photos were also of Father Arbogast, Mrs. Bastion and who Cainan guessed to be their parents. Interestingly, Father Arbogast seemed to take more after his mother than his father, while the opposite appeared to be true for his little sister, at least based on how they looked in the current day. In one picture featuring all four of them, Father Arbogast was still a young man, likely in his teens, while Mrs. Bastion was a toddler in her mother's arms. Interestingly that was the only picture of all four of them together.
Cainan's smile didn't fade as he left the photos by the wall, and instead moved over to the nearby chest in the corner. Unsurprisingly, when he tried to open it, he found it to be locked. Cainan could only begin to wonder what it might hold. The pictures on the wall told him that this just might be Father Arbogast's childhood bedroom, or perhaps Mrs. Bastion's.
Leaving the chest, Cainan moved to the windows nearby, glancing out. He could see the wooden balcony that ran parallel to the porch down below. It had wooden railing out front and from the window he could also see a wall with another window, clearly Father Arbogast's room that bordered his own.
Leaving the guestroom, Cainan made it out onto the landing, which had similar wooden floor to the bedroom. He was still getting used to the awkward way he had to walk, but he managed just fine. He ought to rest, Cainan knew as much, but he felt restless. Being in a new environment like this made him want to see it all for himself.
He wasn't about to go snooping in the other bedrooms, but he did make his way across the landing to where a window near the stairs granted him a view of the backyard. From there, he could see a large Black Oak, its many branches sprouting new leaves, like most of the plant-life all around. Down below, Cainan could see a beautifully maintained lawn and various bushes that helped separate the garden from the nearby fields. It reminded Cainan of the garden the Wirth family home had had as well, though theirs had been lined in by a small grove of trees. Either way, it still carried some familiarity to Cainan. The cornfields beyond were also a sight that took him right back to his own childhood so many years ago.
Leaving the window, Cainan made for the study in the turret located next to the room he'd be staying in. The turret was directly connected to the landing and the space inside was certainly odd, having a diamond-like shape, because of how the turret's construction. Cainan's childhood home certainly hadn't had any diamond-shaped rooms like that. The three outwards-facing walls had large windows that allowed sunlight to shine inside and a door on the right seemed like it would take Cainan out onto the balcony. There were tall, fully stocked bookshelves lining the walls that separated the turret from the guestroom and the master bedroom. In the very center of the turret stood a small, round, wooden table with two wooden rocking chairs on either side, both facing outwards towards the windows.
Moving to the table, Cainan sat down on one of the chairs. He hadn't sat in a rocking chair in years and he couldn't help but smile. It was a relaxing feeling, the young cat practically lounging in the chair. The view from the turret was quite beautiful, overlooking the front of the funeral home, as well as the nearby fields. Being here was equal parts familiar and strange. It was the town he'd been born and raised in, and yet he'd never been in this part of it. Once again, Cainan felt himself gripped by the urge to go exploring, to go looking for his childhood home, but he knew he shouldn't – least of all because he ought to keep from moving around too much.
Out on the landing, a spiraling staircase would take Cainan up to the attic of the house, but he figured he didn't have much of a reason to go up there just yet. Instead, he made his way down the bigger staircase. It had dark wooden railing and the lower part of the wall was covered in panels of a similar dark wood. The upper parts of the walls were covered in wallpaper of a medium brown color with a pattern of golden, ornate shapes. The center of the stairs was covered by a stair carpet featuring more earthy colors, complete with a lighter trims on the edges. A similarly colored vine-like pattern went up and down the center all throughout.
Cainan made it down the stairs, his left hand on the railing for support. The house seemed positively empty for the moment, it was so quiet. Back when Cainan owned his own flat in St. Louis, he usually had the radio turned on whenever he was just at home to add some kind of ambient noise to his living space, but apparently that was not something they did in this household. Did houses out here even receive radio, when they were so far from the city? It really was a beautiful house, however – Cainan hadn't really had the chance to properly appreciate it when he first arrived.
Cainan moved out of the hall and into the kitchen. The kitchen was located on the left side of the house, the windows facing not only the front yard and the porch, but also a bit of the backyard outside the kitchen. There was a large table in the center of the kitchen with four chairs around it, no doubt where the three residents normally ate. In the far corner of the kitchen, close to one of the windows overlooking the front yard, there was a white Hoosier cabinet and beside it was a sink.
The cabinet had several cupboards up top, several bottles, tins and other containers resting on top of them. The smooth, black counter was as squeaky clean as could be, and below it were several more drawers and cupboards. Cainan even noticed that they had a refrigerator, which surprised him – not quite a standard appliance to have in homes…
Closer to the door between the two windows overlooking the backyard, there was a white electronic stove complete with a broiler and an oven attached to it. It was another surprising sight to be sure; Cainan was willing to bet an electronic stove like that had to cost a pretty penny. How much money did Father Arbogast, Bobby and Mrs. Bastion make, exactly?
On the wall opposite was a single rack holding various beautiful old-world painted plates, all featuring floral motifs. Cainan had most certainly noticed that flowers were a reoccurring theme throughout the house; above every doorway in the house were ornately carved floral patterns as part of the doorframe, and much of the wallpaper featured plant or flower motifs. Cainan supposed it was for the sake of consistency, although he himself couldn't imagine decorating a house quite so meticulously.
Making his way out to the hall outside, Cainan passed the door that led into the parlor as well as the stairs that led back up to the upper floor. He'd been both above and below the first floor now. The only floor of the house he had yet to visit was the loft to the very top, but he wasn't sure there was much to see up there. Cainan moved towards the right side of the house, finding a small foyer. It was mostly barren, though it held a few cabinets, some hanging on the wall, other larger ones standing against the walls where the tops served as a counter. Cainan even saw a telephone mounted on the wall, another surprise.
Through the windows, Cainan spotted Bobby and his wife seated outside. They weren't saying a thing, simply just sitting together, looking out at the fields around them.
Not wanting to disturb the two of them, Cainan decided to sneak back out into the hall, before making his way to the living room with its big fireplace. He had been there before, of course, though this time he got a chance to properly look around – and perhaps snoop just a little.
On the fireplace mantle, Cainan noticed framed pictures he hadn't gotten a look at before. Small photographs of Father Arbogast, Mrs. Bastion, their parents and even Bobby, as well as who seemed to be his family. Cainan had to wonder if he still had any family left over in England. It was so far away, it had to be incredibly difficult to stay in touch with anyone there. How long would it take a letter to make it from Defiance to England? He hadn't the slightest idea, but it had to be weeks at best.
Cainan sat down in the big, comfortable armchair he had occupied before. Leaning back in the soft seat, Cainan let out a peaceful sigh. It felt like it had been such a long time since he'd been this comfortable.
"Hey, kid, what do you say? You think you could do old Gracie a little favor?" Just hearing the bigger cat speak like that made Cainan feel faint. He nodded up at the gray-furred behemoth of a man, offering him a smile.
"Yes, anything, Gracie. What do you need?" Cainan asked, realizing only too late that he was perhaps a little too eager. The big cat seemed surprised by this, but he gave the slightest of smirks.
"Good boy. Well then, any chance you could take that fancy new car of yours and drive Joey out of town? Our usual suppliers were hitting a snag and we can't really do the usual business in the middle of town… Could you do that for me?" For a guy as big as Gracie, he sure could use his words. That was one of the things Cainan liked about him. He wasn't just some big, stupid meathead. There was so much more to him than most people realized at a glance…
"Oh, okay, I can do that… but is it safe?" Cainan asked as he looked up at Gracie. The bigger cat for a moment looked like he couldn't believe Cainan would ask such a thing. Cainan caught the faintest sign of a grimace, but when Gracie put up a smile instead, all worry that might have made Cainan hesitate further evaporated immediately.
"It's a little risky, but Joey's there with you. And I have complete… and utter… faith in you." Cainan felt his entire body tensing up, a pleasant rush shooting through every fiber of his being as Gracie's massive, warm hand patted his shoulder. Each pat felt like a warm embrace on a cold day.
"Okay, I'll be careful. I won't let you down, Gracie," Cainan said breathlessly, which only garnered more of a smile from the bigger man, a smile that Cainan was too caught up in the moment to realize wasn't a genuine, heartwarming one. No, that smile had been a victorious one, like the big cat had accomplished something, realized something…
"Oh. Oh, hello, I thought I drifted off just then," Cainan said with a small smile when he opened his eyes and saw Bobby standing over him. The larger cat chuckled. "… What?"
"You did fall asleep," he laughed. Cainan blinked in surprise and looked around. He didn't feel like he'd been asleep for any amount of time, but he could already tell that the light outside had faded considerably, the living room left darker than when he closed his eyes. It really did just feel like he'd simply blinked…
"Ah, right… uhm… What time is it?" Only now did Cainan start to feel even the slightest bit groggy, rubbing his face with his hand, while gripping the arm rest with his right to help him sit up properly.
"Dinner time," Bobby simply said. He smiled again. "Seems like you needed a right, proper rest. I can't imagine that car of yours was very comfortable."
"No, it really wasn't… Sorry, I didn't mean to sleep all day," Cainan grumbled as he got to his feet, shaking his head slightly. Following Bobby from the living room, Cainan caught the scent of food – chicken. The scent instantly made Cainan's stomach growl – what he smelled instantly beat out the measly meals he had had to settle for on the road. Not that this was saying much, of course.
The table was set for four, two plates on either side, and as Mrs. Bastion carried a large roast chicken from the Hoosier cabinet's counter, where it had been resting, Cainan slipped into the nearest seat, just watching. Just seeing that thing with its glistening, crisply-looking skin, surrounded by vegetables on a big tray, almost made Cainan drool. When was even the last time he'd had a proper home-cooked meal? He couldn't remember… It had to have been weeks, maybe months? Cainan had been on his own for so long, he couldn't even recall. In truth, the last time had likely been when he still lived at home; Cainan didn't fancy himself much of a chef, certainly not as good as Mrs. Bastion, clearly.
"Ah, it smells absolutely wonderful, dear," Bobby told his wife as he pecked her cheek, before he sat down on Cainan's left. When Bobby caught sight of Cainan, he chortled. "You should see the look on your face…"
"What? Sorry, I haven't had anything proper to eat in… in a long time." Cainan had changed his mind mid-sentence upon seeing Father Arbogast stepping into the kitchen. Cainan didn't feel like sharing just how long it had really been. Being at home, Father Arbogast was dressed more casually than Cainan had seen him up until this point, clad in a pair of black pants and a white button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"Is that right? Well, you'll be pleased to try Elsa's cooking – it's a lovely, old family recipe, innit?" Bobby noted as Father Arbogast sat down opposite Cainan.
"It is – it was handed down from our great grandparents," Mrs. Bastion said as she took a seat opposite her husband.
"And you're finally awake, I see. I trust you're feeling sufficiently rested, Mr. Wirth?" the apricot-furred reverend said as he sat down, his tone rather neutral. However, Cainan did notice how those blue eyes of his did watch him closely, as if to inspect him.
"I'm not sure; apparently I only slept for half the day. I'll try my best to make that all day tomorrow," Cainan replied, smirking at the older cat, who seemed anything but amused by the answer he got. Cainan also quickly became very well aware that no one else seemed particularly amused by what he said. He cleared his throat slightly.
"It's called Hendl – Paprika Hendl – it's an old German dish," Mrs. Bastion explained in that calm tone of her. It was served with vegetables that had seemingly also been in the broiler with the chicken. Cainan's stomach was growling nearly nonstop; they could have placed a meal half as good in front of him and Cainan would have been just as eager to eat it.
"It smells great…" he said, a look of longing on his face. When he met Mrs. Bastion's eyes, she gave him a strange look, but she simply gave a single nod, as if understanding. Cainan had to wonder if they always ate such wonderful meals, or if perhaps tonight was a special occasion. Was it because he was there? Cainan didn't think his presence would make for anything special. However, the torture that was waiting for food didn't end just yet.
Father Arbogast cleared his throat.
What now? What could possibly delay dinner any further? Cainan held his tongue, however. He didn't say a word, just watched Father Arbogast.
"Now then, would you like to do the honors tonight, Elsa?" Cainan looked between her and Father Arbogast. He hadn't the faintest clue what the older cat was talking about, but seemingly his sister did, seeing as she nodded.
Being seated beside one other, Cainan for the first time got a real chance to see the family resemblance between Father Arbogast and Mrs. Bastion up close. Both had the same fur and eye color. Of course there were obvious differences; Father Arbogast's fluffier cheeks and sharper, more defined face, Mrs. Bastion's softer features and general lack of a seemingly perpetual scowl came to mind; but seeing the two of them side by side, Cainan wasn't for a moment doubting that they were siblings.
To Cainan's surprise he saw everyone else around the table put their hands together and close their eyes. Table prayer… Cainan's face tightened, just as Father Arbogast opened his left eye, looking straight at him across the table. And what a look it was – enough to briefly startle Cainan. Reluctantly, he did as they did and put his hands together, closing his eyes.
Cainan hadn't partaken in table prayers since the days when he was still living at home with his parents. He supposed if getting to eat that wonderful chicken that was waiting for him was the reward for it, he'd gladly break his streak.
"Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blessed." Cainan heard Mrs. Bastion's voice, but he barely paid attention. All his brain could focus on was the scent of the chicken and vegetables that waited for him…
"You may open your eyes," Cainan heard Father Arbogast grunt from across the table. He did just that, putting his hands down finally. Watching Bobby carving the chicken only felt like more torture to Cainan, but he patiently sat by and waited for him to finish. The way his stomach constantly growled was getting harder to ignore, even for the others at the table. Father Arbogast especially shot him a few looks.
"There you go, Cainan. I think if anyone needs a full plate it's you," Bobby said with a light chuckle once he'd loaded both chicken and vegetables onto Cainan's plate. Cainan could almost cry with joy when the first bite of chicken made contact with his taste-buds. The chicken skin was crispy and seasoned to perfection, and the meat itself was succulent and juicy.
Cainan had to forcibly hold himself back as to not eat like a voracious animal. He didn't want their first meal together to end with him looking like a savage. He slowed himself down as everyone around him also started to eat.
"So… How are things going out by the church?" he cautiously asked Father Arbogast. He wasn't sure what else to say, but Cainan felt as though he ought to make more of a conscious effort to be friendly, seeing as these people were letting him stay under their roof and dine with them.
The older cat seemed surprised by the question, but once he'd finished chewing, he did answer. "Everything is currently going quite well. Wendell was not pleased to have to do it by his lonesome again, but I trust that things will go smoothly once you're ready to resume where we left off, Mr. Wirth."
"Oh, I see. Well, that's good." Cainan took a moment before he cleared his throat, glancing around at all of them as he continued. "And by all means, please call me Cainan – just Cainan. I'd definitely prefer that."
"Well, Mr. Wirth…" Father Arbogast started, seemingly hellbent on defiantly using Cainan's more formal way of address, even despite him insisting that he didn't. "I, on the contrary, would request that you still refer to me as Father Arbogast or as Reverend when we're here. Don't roll your eyes at me!"
Cainan gave a start, momentarily confused, until he realized that Father Arbogast was looking at and addressing Bobby. The gray cat didn't seem at all bothered by being called out in such a manner. He simply finished chewing and wiped his mouth. "Oh, there's absolutely no need to be so formal with the boy. When you're in church, it'll be different. But here? We want our guest to feel welcomed, don't we? Elsa dear?"
Cainan cautiously looked towards Mrs. Bastion, but she just nodded. She turned her blue eyes on him, though her expression didn't change much. As if to set an example for her brother, Mrs. Bastion said, "You may call me Elsa as well."
When Elsa turned her gaze on her brother again, the reverend gave a snort. "Peer pressure, is that it now? Low-brow tactics used by the wicked to lead the innocent into temptation."
"Oh, please…" Bobby sighed.
"If it's such a big deal, I can just stick to calling you Father or whatever. As long as you call me by my name, I'll call you whatever you prefer," Cainan simply said, before helping himself to a sip of water.
"You continue to surprise, Mr. Wirth," Father Arbogast said, his tone one of begrudging approval. Cainan was disappointed to hear him continuously using his surname, but he didn't correct the older cat. "Now then… There are a few things I have wanted to know about all day-"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Abelard, let the boy eat," Bobby groaned in an exasperated tone. "Can't you tell he's half-starved? He's almost as skinny as you."
Father Arbogast shot Bobby a glare and snorted, before he silently resumed eating himself. Cainan and Elsa too ate in silence for the time being. The house was so quiet, Cainan couldn't help but miss the pleasant ambiance a radio would have added to the kitchen.
"It's fine," Cainan said once he'd wiped his mouth. "I know some of what you want to ask, so I'll tell you, Father Arbogast. I didn't forget."
Silence fell over the table yet again, all eyes on Cainan. He cleared his throat, while he tried to decide on how to start. "So, my car… I've had it for a few years by now. I bought it when it was still a new model. And I know you've been dying to know how I afforded it."
"That is indeed correct. How exactly would a young man such as yourself afford a thing like that when you have nothing else-" He trailed off as Elsa gently patted his arm. Grateful for her shutting her brother up, Cainan continued.
"Well, for a while I made a living off betting on horse races and other forms of gambling. But betting was my main thing," Cainan admitted calmly. His ears laid back against his head slightly. "It kept me well-fed and I had a nice place in town. In St. Louis that is. I mean… I'm not proud of it, but..."
"And now you're here, after living out of your car. What happened?" Elsa asked, looking at Cainan in a way that wasn't unlike the way her brother so often looked at him. Skepticism, maybe even suspicion. But Cainan didn't let it bother him as he continued.
"So… I'll be the first to admit that while I was very happy to own a car, it wasn't the best choice… Uhm… Well, let's just say one bad financial decision led to another, and… And now here we are." Cainan had tried to lighten the mood slightly with the way he spoke, but clearly it wasn't quite appreciated. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "And so… I ended up having to sell most of my belongings. I spent a few years traveling from town to town. I stayed in St. Louis the longest, over in Cottleville, too. I jumped from job to job for a while as well."
When he was momentarily left with nothing but silence, Cainan looked down at his plate. He was fairly certain he could sense the silent disapproval. Not that it was unwarranted, Cainan realized as much. In fact, if he had been there to chastise his younger self for the decisions he'd made during that time of his life, Cainan would have never let himself hear the end of it. Probably.
"Well, at the very least that much of your story was legitimate. I do recall you mentioning working several jobs…" Father Arbogast's face was neutral, but his tone carried what Cainan thought might actually be approval. He looked across at the older cat and smiled, though the smile wasn't returned.
"Yeah… I became a drifter after that. But luckily I ended up meeting Father Arbogast yesterday. I never actually thought I would've had a reason to come back to Defiance."
"Oh, you're from around here?" It was the first time Elsa had spoken in a while and her question caught Cainan off-guard. He glanced curiously over at her brother next to her. "Abelard told us about you, but he didn't tell us that…"
"Aw, how sweet, he talks about me," Cainan said playfully, which earned him a scowl from the apricot-furred cat from across the table. Never before had Cainan seen someone look so displeased while eating something as delicious as Elsa's Hendl. "But yes, I was born and raised here in Defiance. The big house over by the river. But I left home when I was around thirteen or something. Things weren't good at home. And I just couldn't take it anymore."
Another silence fell over the dinner table as no one spoke for a while. Father Arbogast eyed Cainan with interest. Seemingly he wanted to know more, but Cainan wasn't sure he himself wanted to talk about it any more than that. At least for the time being. His memories of the Wirth family still weren't the most positive, nor did he think he could keep a civil tone, if he had to talk about his parents and how they had raised him.
"But they do not reside in town anymore. They have since moved elsewhere," Father Arbogast calmly told Bobby and Elsa.
"The Wirths? Yeah, they moved down south, if I recall," Bobby said, before taking a sip of his water. "They always seemed so nice, though…"
Cainan could of course tell it was a statement that was asking for a followup, an explanation, but he didn't reply, instead eating some more for now. When Cainan didn't say anything, everyone else too resumed eating, the quartet eating together in silence for a while.
It wasn't that Cainan didn't want to be honest about his upbringing, but it also wasn't a subject he was at all keen on. And he also knew that given how everyone seemed to fondly remember his parents as paragons of goodness, him speaking ill of them would immediately be taken with a grain of salt. And additionally, he knew convincing anyone that they were anything but perfect would be a losing fight, given their preconceived idea of what Harold and Gabriela Wirth were like.
"So, you two have lived here all your lives, right? Childhood home and all…" Cainan asked Father Arbogast and Elsa, wanting to initiate some more polite smalltalk, given that he had effectively left the room in silence.
"Well, I have," Father Arbogast said calmly. "It's been mine for a long time, but our parents built this house many years ago. I inherited the house when they passed and I've looked after it ever since. Elsa on the other hand… She ventured out into the world, before she and Bobby eventually came to settle down here."
"Oh, so you were traveling? Where to?" Cainan asked Elsa politely. He wondered if perhaps Elsa had been doing something similar to him, leaving home to experience some freedom. He didn't imagine their parents had been so different from his own – at least he assumed so with everything he'd seen and heard so far.
"Nursing school first and foremost. I spent years working in a hospital. And eventually, abroad – in the war that is," Elsa explained. Though her face seemed to tighten ever so slightly, she still spoke in that calm, soft tone she always did. Cainan's tufted ears perked up almost immediately. Despite being born after the war, he wasn't ignorant to how big its impact had been, even on those not directly involved in the actual fighting.
"You were in the war?" Cainan asked curiously. He'd never actually spoken to anyone who was in the war before and he couldn't help himself.
"As a nurse, yes…" Elsa's response was short and Cainan immediately knew it wasn't a topic she was fond of. He nodded silently, figuring that the topic wasn't one he ought to pursue. "I met Bobby overseas… And the rest is history."
"Oh, don't be so modest, dear," her husband chuckled from beside Cainan. Turning to look at Bobby, Cainan saw him smiling in a nostalgic way. Cainan couldn't imagine being nostalgic for something like wartime, but war was so far removed from his life that Cainan also couldn't even begin to imagine what Bobby and Elsa had experienced overseas. Bobby seemed to have read Cainan's mind, based on the look on his face, as he chuckled. "Oh, we met after the war, not quite during all the fighting."
"Ah, I see… Hmmm, well, you're quite a long ways away from there, huh?" Cainan asked with a smile. "You're from England, right? So, you met closer to home for you."
"I am indeed – was born and raised in Bristol," Bobby said proudly, although Cainan hadn't the faintest clue where Bristol even was. He just nodded politely. "Haven't been overseas in years. I've got some family over there, but it's such a long trip, like you wouldn't believe."
As Bobby began speaking of his family in England, Cainan listened along as they all finished their meal. Even by the time they'd all eaten their fill, Bobby continued on about his cousins and other relatives. Describing England had Cainan intrigued. He'd never even traveled outside the state lines of Missouri, so he couldn't even imagine what it was like to grow up in another country and then end up living in a foreign land,, so far away across the sea. Sure, they spoke the same language, but Bobby's unmistakable accent certainly reminded Cainan that there was at least some small amount of cultural divide between them.
Once Elsa got up and started clearing the table, she looked towards Cainan. "You don't mind helping me out a bit, do you?"
"Oh, of course not." Sure, Cainan didn't exactly feel like doing this, but he supposed it wasn't the worst thing. Given the fact that he was living with the Arbogasts rent-free, helping clean up after dinner wasn't such a high price to pay. And besides, Cainan knew he ought to make a good impression.
Getting up to help carry plates, utensils and the tray over to the kitchen sink, Cainan noticed that conversation around the table instantly died down. Apparently Father Arbogast and Bobby didn't have a lot of stuff to talk about, Cainan figured. He also helped Elsa with the cleanup in silence.
In truth, while things in the Wirth household had been similar with his mother generally taking care of any and all housekeeping, Cainan didn't mind helping Elsa out. It wasn't such a tedious task to do the dishes for her. Elsa would dry them off and put everything where it needed to go.
"Not a bad little arrangement, eh?" Bobby asked once Cainan turned away from the sink, wiping his hands on a cloth. The gray cat smiled at him. "I hope you don't mind, but we all figured you could help out around the house – you know, since you're staying and all."
"Oh, 'course not, sir. I'll help out in any way I can, if I know how. But dishes I can definitely do," Cainan told him with a firm nod and a small smile. In truth, he hoped there wouldn't be too many things for him to do – especially once he got back to the groundskeeper business; even now he could already feel some soreness just from a few short hours of mowing the grass.
Even despite having rested most of the day, Cainan found himself to be rather sleepy when he made his way upstairs. He'd enjoyed some after dinner tea with the others, another very quiet affair. Cainan had come to realize that out of all of them, Bobby seemed the most talkative. He didn't mind, it was nice holding a conversation with him as he was a perfectly pleasant fellow.
Once he was alone in his bedroom, Cainan sighed and sat down on the bed. The bedside lamp helped illuminate the small bedroom, though as Cainan got up to pull the curtains over the windows, he got a chance to look outside. Though the reflection of the light from the lamp obscured his vision slightly, he could see the cornfields in the faint glow of the moon. It wasn't quite full, but it was getting there. It was certainly more pleasant to look out at Defiance at night as opposed to sleeping out there in his car.
Admittedly, he had missed that sight, the cornfields at night. He'd been able to catch similar views from his childhood bedroom. Rather than closing the curtains, Cainan instead decided to completely pull the curtains of the left window aside and opened it. Cool night air poured into the bedroom, gracing Cainan's face in a wonderfully satisfying way. He let out a self-indulgent, perhaps rather loud sigh, until a familiar, slightly unpleasant smell hit his nostrils. He frowned, then turned his head and gave a start.
"Good God…! You scared me!" Cainan exclaimed when he looked upon Father Arbogast, the older cat just a few feet away, having similarly opened his bedroom window. Unlike Cainan's room where the wall had two windows, the wall of Father Arbogast's bedroom that faced the balcony had just one.
"Excuse you, Mr. Wirth, I'd much prefer if you didn't utter the Lord's name in vain with such a casual tone under my roof," the reverend growled, before he took a drag of his cigarette, glowering at Cainan from his window. Cainan had just happened to pick the window closest to Father Arbogast's.
"No, excuse you, actually; you startled me…!" Cainan grunted in annoyance. He breathed a sigh of relief once he'd sufficiently calmed down from the initial shock. "So… your sister Elsa and Bobby, they seem really nice… What?"
Once more, Father Arbogast had given him a look, one Cainan wasn't so sure what to make of. The older reverend once more took a drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke away from the balcony and away from the two of them. "Never mind. Well… Fine, I suppose I'll be honest with you. I cannot pretend to be fond of you referring to my sister and her husband in such an informal manner."
"… Seriously? That's it?" Cainan asked, a mildly annoyed look on his face. "Well… they both insisted that I call them by their first names… And how come you don't want to call me by mine? I respect if you don't want me to call you by yours, but…"
And once again, the reverend scowled at Cainan. He just watched Father Arbogast as he took another drag and exhaled smoke out towards the cornfields, before he replied. "I just don't think it's proper, Mr. Wirth – we hardly know each other. And in addition to that, I am essentially your employer now. You find a first name basis with your employer to be proper etiquette, Mr. Wirth?"
"Well, we're not at work right now… I just think since we live together, a first name basis should be perfectly fine." Cainan could tell the older cat wasn't convinced that this was a good idea. He didn't speak for a while, Cainan likewise falling silent as he just watched him. Cainan eventually gave a small chuckle. When the reverend shot him an inquisitive look, he just shrugged. "Oh, nothing – just never met a reverend who smokes is all."
"And how many reverends have you met exactly?" Father Arbogast asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow at Cainan.
"Hmmm… Well, that's beside the point-"
"My point exactly, Mr. Wirth. Do not attempt to change the subject," the older cat scoffed. He dabbed the tip of his cigarette against the edge of a small ashtray that rested on the windowsill beside his elbow. "The fact of the matter is that I would prefer for things to remain appropriate between the two of us, even while we're at home. It's nothing personal, Mr. Wirth…"
Cainan could feel himself growing annoyed, however. He let out an exasperated groan. "Alright, fine – I'll just be honest with you as well then, Father Arbogast… I don't like being called by my surname. I don't like using it either. Life with my parents was a part of my life I'd rather forget, and I don't want to be associated with them. So please… just call me Cainan… Not Mr. Wirth; Cainan."
The older cat stared at Cainan with that piercing blue stare of his and for a moment Cainan worried that he might have gone too far by almost shouting at Father Arbogast. The scowl on the taller cat's face persisted as he took another hit of smoke. However, after Father Arbogast blew smoke upwards into the night air where it swirled around momentarily before dissipating, his expression softened slightly when he turned back to face Cainan. He looked at the younger cat for a moment, seemingly considering his words. He sighed and put his cigarette out on the ashtray's edge.
"Very well then…" the golden-brown cat almost sighed, although he looked like he had more things he wanted to say. Father Arbogast's expression was still considerably softer than Cainan usually saw it, but he could sense silent disapproval and judgment. The older cat turned away from Cainan and glanced up at the starry sky, still looking like he had a lot on his mind. Cainan wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but the bright, little lights shining down seemed to sparkle and reflect off Father Arbogast's eyes. When their eyes met again, the reverend sighed before he picked up the ashtray. "Well… I think I'd best turn in for the night. You have yourself a good night. I'll talk to you tomorrow… Cainan…"
For the first time, the older cat's voice spoke his name like he would any other, a fact that made Cainan smile. He nodded to the older cat, bidding him goodnight. He watched as Father Arbogast stepped back and pulled the window shut and closed the curtains. Cainan could still see the golden glow from the lights within Father Arbogast's room through the curtains, along with the outline of him moving around, his tall, skinny form casting shadows against the thin fabric.
Cainan smiled, turning his head to look up at the half-moon above with its pale, bluish white glow. Hearing Father Arbogast speaking his name in a more casual manner like that did feel nice. Cainan hated having his family's name, though actually legally changing it had never really occurred to him – not when he had the funds to do so at least. Just knowing that everyone in this house would refer to him by his first name now made Cainan feel more welcomed than ever.
As the lights within Father Arbogast's room turned off, Cainan smiled again, before he reached up to pull his own window shut. Before he did, Cainan cast a last glance at the window on his left. "Sleep well… Abelard."