Part II: Sobriety and Vigilance
Sunday came around before Abelard knew it. He had to admit, he wasn't entirely sure what he had been expecting, but as he and Cainan walked to church, the younger cat was strangely subdued. Bobby had elected to stay home, and Abelard was glad he did. Apparently Elsa hadn't had the best of nights, but even more surprising to Abelard, Cainan had supposedly stayed up with her. Somehow both Abelard and Bobby had managed to sleep through the thunderstorm.
A part of him felt guilty for not having been there to comfort Elsa himself, but all the same, he was glad Cainan had. When morning came, the rain had mostly subsided. Everything outside was wet and the pleasant, familiar scent of rain still hung in the air when Abelard and Cainan left home. They'd each brought the very same umbrellas they'd taken from the church, partially for their sakes, but also to put them back where they belonged.
The world always seemed so different after a heavy rainfall like that; aside from the smell of wet soil that came with rain, the ground was softer when they set off, there were large puddles on the ground and in the early morning sun, the wet vegetation all around appeared to sparkle. The corn crops especially almost looked like a dark green sea with the way that the sun's light glimmered off the wet leaves as it poked through the clouds overhead.
"Cainan? Are you alright?" The younger cat didn't seem alright, but he hadn't backed out of going, which did surprise Abelard. Especially given his initial apprehension about attending service.
"What? Oh, yeah… I'm fine." Not entirely convinced, Abelard looked down at Cainan, who seemed to actively avoid meeting his eyes. The younger cat went back to silence immediately, walking by Abelard's side in uncharacteristic silence. Abelard supposed it wasn't surprising, though he couldn't pretend to know what exactly was on Cainan's mind. Was he nervous? Was he feeling a general sense of apprehension?
A small part of Abelard couldn't help but feel as though Cainan might feel obligated to attend. Granted, Abelard hadn't helped, given that he'd insisted that he did. The young cat likely did feel like he had to go in a way – perhaps he just wanted to do his best to be a good house guest. When the two of them reached the summit of the small hill that overlooked the forested area around the church, Abelard stopped and turned to the white cat.
"Cainan, are you certain this is something you wish to go through with? I can sense you are apprehensive, and if it's too much… you can head back." Watching the Turkish Angora closely for any kind of reaction, as he so often found himself doing, Abelard gazed into those pale green eyes. But as was so often the case, he couldn't read Cainan whatsoever.
"I'm really not… Certain, that is," the white cat said finally, holding the eye contact for a moment before looking towards the trees up ahead. He sighed and stretched his arms behind his back. "But I already said I was going, so that's what I'm gonna do. Unless it's because you're embarrassed to have me in your congregation…?"
At first, Abelard was about to earnestly dispute the claim made by Cainan seemingly out of nowhere, but when he saw the smirk on the shorter man's face, he gave a snort. "Well, no. You're as welcome as anyone else in town is. I am merely having second thoughts because I can tell you are."
"Eh… I guess I am, but… I never really get what I want, so let's not waste no more time, Father, we have… prayer to do, I presume." Without even waiting – or giving Abelard a chance to chastise him for his casual manner of speaking of such a thing – Cainan set off down the gently sloping road. Abelard followed and caught up to him soon enough.
He was dressed in his Geneva Gown as he ought to be for services. The light morning breeze ruffled the black robe, the folds of soft, smooth fabric rolling in the wind as he walked. The white velvet stole that draped down over Abelard's shoulders certainly billowed quite a bit in even the slightest breeze, same as the white bands worn around his neck.
Making their way to the church, Abelard glanced around curiously, taking just a moment to inspect the church grounds in passing. Everything seemed just fine, perfectly maintained, even despite Cainan's work having been interrupted by the rainstorm. The grass did appear considerably greener after the rainfall, and perhaps it was Abelard's imagination, but the church also looked cleaner.
They were early and no one else had arrived just yet. Abelard unlocked the doors and guided the younger cat into the dark, empty church. Abelard remembered when he'd first taken over as the reverend here. The first few times he'd arrived this early for service all alone had made the church seem so eerie to him. Today, the weather added to it, as clouds seemingly kept the sun from properly shining its light in through the windows.
Once they were inside, Abelard stopped by the closet that held various supplies and handed Cainan a box of matches. "If you'd be so kind, could you light the candles on the right for me?"
Cainan was still silent, but he simply nodded and set about doing it, while Abelard put out a small table with a tray loaded with hymnbook for the service. He placed it by the supply closet door. He watched Cainan quietly for just a moment, before he grabbed another matchbox. Carrying the book he used for services with him, Abelard likewise began lighting candles on the opposite side. Hopefully the sun would come out from behind the clouds properly soon, negating the need for more candlelight. Abelard placed the book on his white podium off to the side of the altar, before he took the liberty of lighting the candles there himself at which point Cainan rejoined him.
Though Abelard could tell that he was still rather subdued, he didn't ask. He simply guided the younger cat up to where the organ was. Seeing as they had no stable organ player, there was no one else waiting for them up there. There was a small railing for safety from which they could overlook the church's interior. Abelard usually waited up here before services, though he never did lean on the railing so casually, the way he Cainan currently did by his side.
"You… Are you feeling alright, Cainan?" Abelard asked again, glancing sideways at the shorter cat as he removed that thick, brown jacket of his. Cainan hadn't dressed up much, he wore a white dress shirt and a red tie that had been fastened about his neck in a rather sloppy fashion. As usual, Cainan simply tossed the jacket off to the side till it hit the wall.
"I'm fine… Really, I'm fine," the younger cat insisted, though he still didn't meet Abelard's eyes. Clearly, Cainan was feeling troubled to some degree, but Abelard just nodded yet again. He knew from personal experience that it was often best to let things like this be. Falsely stating that one was fine was a simple, polite way of telling someone else to mind their own business, Abelard was no stranger to that, seeing as he'd lived with Elsa since she returned to Defiance. His instinct to protect her at every turn had resulted in a few arguments when she'd politely told him not to pry, even when she was struggling.
"Very well…" Abelard whispered lowly before he resumed waiting in silence by Cainan's side. Though one could never truly be alone under the Lord's watchful eye, Abelard liked keeping Cainan company in this uncertain time. Hopefully it would help make the experience more pleasant for him and make him feel more comfortable.
Soon enough, the sound of the door opening sounded as the first members of the congregation showed up, each carrying a hymnbook from the tray. From above, Abelard and Cainan could see them as they entered. Out of the corner of his eye, Abelard noticed the white cat shifting uncomfortably, but he chose not to comment or ask about it – he had a feeling it wouldn't be appreciated.
He knew everyone in attendance. The first were Mr. and Mrs. Brighton accompanied by Mr. Oppel. The three could often be found together, Mr. Brighton and Mr. Oppel being childhood friends, nigh inseparable. Like Elsa, they too had been overseas in the war, but as far as Abelard knew, they had adjusted to mundane life with more ease than she had.
Next came the Hoffman family consisting of a father, mother and two sons; Ms. Schneider, a widow of the war, who not only lost her husband, but also her son; Bernese Becker, a woman around Bobby's age who had moved to Defiance about a year ago; the postman Mr. Lang and his wife; and then Mr. Weaver…
Of course, Abelard knew each and every one of them – everyone else who showed up after them too. People slowly filed into the church, filling up the pews from the front, starting on the right side and soon a quiet chatter spread over the congregation. Turning to Cainan, and with a gentleness that surprised even himself, Abelard whispered, "Go ahead and join them. I shall be joining you all momentarily."
He looked over at Abelard, looking uncertain, but without saying a word, the smaller cat nodded. Quietly, Cainan made it down the steps of the spiral staircase and out of sight. From above, Abelard soon saw Cainan coming into view by the last row of pews. A few heads turned to look at him. Perhaps 'look' wasn't the right word, as a few people were outright staring at him, as though they'd seen a ghost. Abelard wasn't sure what to make of this, but as Cainan stood there, he did look quite out of place. He saw the white cat raise a hand and give an awkward wave, the greeting he uttered barely audible from the loft above.
Though Abelard wasn't down there with them, he still got the sense that the mood was tense, not just for Cainan, but amongst the members of the congregation who had noticed him. Abelard knew for a fact that Cainan had his reservations about not only the congregation, but also the townsfolk. He had to admit that he had been ignorant about it to begin with, but he had seen first hand how some people – namely Mr. Weaver – had a certain distaste for Cainan.
Abelard wasn't a trained organ player, but he could at least play the first hymn, even if someone with proper skills would've been able to do considerably better. For the time being, all Abelard could do was play the first hymn of each service. As he played he could hear the voices of the people rising up, joining the music. He wondered if Cainan was one for singing.
Once the first hymn came to an end, Abelard finally made his way down the spiral staircase. He saw a few people had turned to look at Cainan, but when they spotted him walking down the aisle, they turned back to face the front of the church. Walking up between the lines of pews in his black, ornate Geneva Gown never lost its novelty. The tall reverend walked with the sense of purpose and dignity that this job and stature brought him. Everything in the world hardly mattered during service; everything within the church was like an island in a vast, vast sea. Abelard, his congregation, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they inhabited this island, their sanctuary in a tumultuous ocean of dangers.
By the time Abelard was by his white preacher stand, he let his eyes wander over the congregation for a moment, before all of them rose to recite the Lord's Prayer with him. He noticed that Cainan was amongst the last to rise, clearly unprepared, but Abelard didn't let that take away from the service. Service carried on as it normally did, Abelard would make sure of that. Whenever he spoke, his voice bounced off the smooth walls all around, the word of the Lord carried to every man, woman, and child in attendance. As he preached and spoke, he kept looking towards Cainan, seeing him in the crowd, even though he sat in the very back.
The young cat's expression was hard to read, but their eyes occasionally met through the crowd. Abelard carried on as he would every other service, though he had prepared this service, in part for the sake of Cainan. He quoted Romans 14:1 and 2 specifically, as did he other passages that spoke of acceptance and being welcoming. Occasionally he'd see looks of understanding from Cainan when their eyes met. Abelard was attempting to speak to the congregation, attempting his best to prime them into accepting Cainan into their midst, not just for services, but around town as well.
Singing certainly didn't carry the same effect without the organ, but thankfully a few people like Bernese Becker had a decent enough singing voice to carry them through the quiet. Abelard sang along, even if he wasn't much of a singer – far from it. Granted, he had memorized most of the hymns and songs, at least the more common ones. He did try his best not to have too much repetition throughout the month. Still, it really wasn't the same without an organ player, but the congregation did the best that they could.
Years and years ago, preaching had been such a scary endeavor. Abelard remembered the first time he got to stand before an assembly like this all on his own, remembered how shaky his voice had initially been as he spoke. But like in so many other times of his life, Abelard looked inwards, sought comfort in God and the very words he preached.
He never felt nervous these days, though usually the services didn't carry weight like the one today. Abelard hoped – believed – his congregation would take the words that he preached to heart and be welcoming towards Cainan. If Cainan chose to come with Abelard to where the people typically met up after church, it would be his first time getting a chance to properly talk to any of them. Abelard had his personal doubts about whether Cainan would come or not.
When the service eventually did come to an end, the people started filing out, starting from the front rows and all the way to the back. Abelard waited behind, watching as people from the front rows turned and looked when they noticed Cainan there. From a distance, it was hard to read the looks on their faces, but once the church started emptying out, Abelard too made his way down the aisle.
"Is everything alright?" Abelard asked once more as he gazed down upon the younger cat, who was still seated. His face was still blank, but when he looked up at him, Abelard saw him offer a small, perhaps slightly forced smile. He nodded.
"Yeah, everything's fine. It just reminded me of… Well, my parents," he said rather stiffly before he stood and left the pew. "So, now what? We just headin' home?"
"Normally, yes… I was, however, hoping that perhaps we could join them." The words had barely left Abelard's lips before he saw the stunned look on Cainan's face. Abelard supposed he might have been a bit too optimistic in this regard. Just attending service seemed to have been more than plenty for Cainan. He nodded. "Hmmm… or perhaps not quite this time…"
"Hmmm… Well, maybe," the younger cat said in a noncommittal tone. He briefly glanced around. Cainan scratched his white cheek fluff for a moment. "I guess if they're going out to eat, food could be good…"
Cainan certainly caught Abelard by surprise with that statement. Was he being polite? Or was he making an actual effort to get along with the community? It wasn't entirely clear, but Abelard supposed in any case, it wouldn't be a bad thing to go. The local inn was the place most of the congregation ended up after services, and although Abelard didn't often go there himself, he knew they usually had a decently good time. At least that's what he heard.
"If you insist, Cainan. We do not have to, if you do not want to. We could head right on home this instant, if you'd prefer." When faced with this offer, it was clear to Abelard that Cainan was considering it. It was written all over his face, but much to Abelard's surprise, the Turkish Angora shook his head.
"No, let's go. May as well rip the band-aid off early and get it over with," he said, tone as casual as ever, which in itself wasn't very surprising to Abelard, but the fact that Cainan was voluntarily choosing to attend a post-service gathering was indeed very surprising to him. It wasn't what he'd expected, but it wasn't a bad outcome. Abelard simply agreed and waited for Cainan to retrieve his jacket from the loft above, before the two of them left together.
When they were both ready, they left the church, a light drizzle greeting them as they opened their umbrellas. The path leading from the Old Peace Church into Defiance proper was getting muddier, and they passed several large puddles from the previous night's downpour. The puddles' surfaces gently rippled from the light droplets that hit them now. Even in the gentle, almost mist-like downpour, both Abelard and Cainan each had their umbrellas open, even if it seemed slightly excessive. Thankfully the wind was mostly still as the two of them made it to Defiance side by side.
Even with the gloomy, gray backdrop of an overcast sky, the town looked as beautiful as ever. Every building had a slight sheen from the rain, a sheen that Abelard knew would reflect the sunlight once it broke through the clouds.
The majority of the congregation had predictably gathered in the local inn, a quaint place that also doubled as an eatery in town. Through the windows and the panes of glass on the front door, Abelard could see many of them, including Mr. Weaver, Bernese Becker, Mr. and Mrs. Lang. Even Wendell was there, though he hadn't attended service this day. After leaving their umbrellas outside on the porch, Abelard opened the door and guided Cainan inside.
The part of the inn that served as a meetup location wasn't the largest, although usually when the weather was pleasant, they brought tables and chairs outside so more people could join. But for today, the place seemed quite crowded. The floor was covered in dark, wooden planks, as were the walls, but the place was well-lit, thanks to lamps with ornate shades on the walls. Tables were situated along the walls and the main floor and there were stools up by the counter as well. It was but one of the places that used to serve alcohol before the law had changed – although he had never indulged in it much, Abelard remembered.
But like everyone else, the owners of this inn had carried on, they just had to adapt to the changing landscape. A framed picture on the wall showed its original owners, the Wendell family, but today the guests present made it hard to spot. Wendell himself hadn't followed in his parents footsteps, and eventually the inn had seen new owners. Currently, it was in the capable hands of Melinda Schrodinger, more commonly known amongst the locals as Madam Mel. She was a tall, somewhat stout woman, but she had a ways with people, and didn't tolerate any kind of nonsense. Abelard had always respected her for that.
Abelard glanced over the room as he and Cainan walked inside, all eyes on them. He uttered his greetings and he was greeted in turn, though he noticed that the lion share of attention was fixated upon Cainan. When silence spread over the inn, Abelard didn't get a good feeling about it, though he simply hoped whatever good will people had for him would be directed at Cainan as well.
Catching Madam Mel's eye, the red-haired inn owner gave him a nod, while she was serving up a tray of food for a table. Abelard sighed inwardly, but he knew he ought to. He cleared his throat, before loudly saying, "Good day, one and all. This is Cainan Wirth. You may have caught a glimpse of him attending service with us all today. He grew up in Defiance, and he's currently residing with me and my family. I expect you all to give him a warm welcome."
The entire inn remained silent, even after Abelard finished. Another red flag to Abelard, though he was pleased when Bernese Becker approached Cainan to shake his hand. She was almost as tall as he was. She was a white cat, though unlike Cainan her fur was short all over. Bernese had blue eyes, auburn hair, and she was dressed up nicely for service, as was everyone else.
"Oh, so you're just like me then, I just moved into town a year ago. I'm Bernese Becker," she said in a pleasant tone as she held out her hand. Cainan took it and shook it. Despite both being white cats, there was quite a difference between their fur colors; Cainan's off-white fur seemed almost grayish next to Bernese's. "Welcome back, Mr. Wirth, it's a pleasure."
"Pleasure's all mine, Ms. Becker," Cainan said slightly awkwardly as he let go of her hand. He glanced nervously around, and Abelard likewise cast a look around the room. One by one, people slowly – albeit seemingly reluctantly – got up to greet Cainan. Abelard wasn't ignorant to how stiff and forced many of the greetings sounded, and how strained some handshakes seemed. Perhaps he had severely underestimated how difficult this might be. So far Bernese seemed like she was the only one who was receptive to welcoming Cainan in a genuine way. But he supposed it was better than nothing – perhaps she might even set a good example.
"Is that the same Wirth boy who ran away?" Madame Mel asked in a hushed tone once Abelard made it up to the bar. She had intercepted him as she returned with an empty tray.
"It is indeed…" Abelard watched her face closely, trying to figure out what was on her mind, though he didn't get much from her other than a general sense of curiosity.
"What's he come back for?" she further inquired, glancing past Abelard towards Cainan who had taken to hovering around near the door. He almost looked as if he were ready to run away at the first sign of trouble.
"I would rather not disclose Mr. Wirth's personal business, ma'am. But he's a perfectly fine young man," Abelard tried to reassure her. He of course knew young Cainan to be a bit of a handful as far as that was concerned. A strange boy indeed, although Abelard had a feeling that exaggerating a bit would be for the best… at least for the time being. "I'm just trying to help him fit in."
"Looks like a tough sell," Madam Mel noted as she prepared some drinks behind the counter. Abelard didn't say anything, but it was clear the mood within the inn had shifted considerably since he and Cainan showed up. He just hoped that his own presence at least helped encourage people to be nice to the newcomer.
As Madam Mel left to serve drinks, Abelard remained seated up by the bar by himself, leaving Cainan to attempt to mingle. He could tell whenever he looked that Cainan seemed to be making at least some kind of effort, though he also looked out of his element.
"Well, this is a surprise." Abelard turned his head when he heard Wendell grunting nearby, the black cat settling down on his right side by the bar. Though he wasn't working, he still wore similar attire to when he did. In fact, Wendell was rarely seen without it. Abelard met those yellow-green eyes, before he raised his eyebrow. "This your idea, I take it? You should put him out'a his misery, Abelard."
Casting another glance in Cainan's direction, he noticed he was seated by a table in the back close to the door. He was seated with Bernese, who was conversing with Madam Mel. Abelard at least hoped Cainan could get into the latter's good graces – that would surely help. He couldn't hear what they were saying from a distance, but he hoped Cainan's more… colorful personality traits were being kept in check.
"He's fine," Abelard insisted as he turned back to face the tuxedo cat. He considered Wendell for a moment, before he continued, "And besides, when I asked him, he agreed to come here."
Abelard was well-aware that Cainan had seemed hesitant at best and unwilling at worst. But they were here now and even now, things seemed fine. Abelard cast another look towards Cainan again, noticing that more people had joined their table, which he found rather curious. Ms. Schneider, Mr. Hoffman and most surprisingly Mr. Weaver had joined Cainan and Bernese's table. Although this sight alone immediately set off alarm bells in Abelard's mind, he didn't immediately think it was something he ought to get involved in, but perhaps monitoring from a distance might be prudent.
Facing the monochromatic cat yet again, Abelard gave a shrug. "How's retirement treating you, old friend?"
"Not retired yet," he snorted in response, before raising his glass to his lips. He shook his head. "It's… Resting is good. I must admit, I'm lookin' forward to the day the boy no longer needs me. He'd have the makings of a real handyman, if he weren't so… lazy."
Abelard gave a snort of his own. He knew as much, although he hadn't seen Cainan working much. Hopefully Abelard would get a chance to inspect his work personally. "Well, you just come by tomorrow, then we'll see how much you'll be needed. Are you certain he can handle himself if he's just given basic instructions?"
"I'm sure he can…" Wendell paused as he glanced back at the inn at large. He frowned and Abelard turned to look as well. Cainan wasn't anywhere to be seen, nor was Mr. Hoffman. Abelard too frowned, before rising to his feet.
"Excuse me, I'd best go see what is going on…" Without waiting for an answer, Abelard crossed the room without another word. He pushed the door open and stepped outside, where he found that the light drizzle that had accompanied them when they left the church had gotten heavier. Outside, Abelard found Mr. Hoffman standing all by himself on the mostly dry porch. He could see Cainan walking away in the rain, his off-gray fur looking darker than normal, sticking to his form.
"What happened?" he immediately asked Mr. Hoffman, unable to keep the suspicion out of his voice as he spoke. Mr. Hoffman was a man around Elsa's age, a tall, stout farmer who had spent his entire life working on farms in the area.
"Nothin'. Just needed to have a word with the boy in private," he replied simply, crossing his arms. Without another word, Abelard snatched up his and Cainan's umbrellas. Shooting Mr. Hoffman a look of scathing disapproval, he opened his own umbrella and set off after the younger cat.
It didn't take long for Abelard to catch up with him, his strides considerably faster and longer than his. One umbrella shielding himself from the downpour, Abelard extended the other towards Cainan. Walking on the muddy path with his hands in his pockets, Cainan shot Abelard a single look, before he simply continued without taking the umbrella.
"What did he say to you?" Abelard asked almost immediately. He couldn't say he was all too pleased by the idea that someone like Mr. Hoffman would say something contemptuous to Cainan, especially at a time like this, especially with Abelard present. When Cainan said nothing, Abelard repeated his question.
"Nothing. Nothing that matters anyway." The white cat's response was short and his voice rather stiff, emotionless. His bangs were soaking wet, swept aside as to not get in his eyes. Even over the loud tapping of the raindrops upon the umbrella, Abelard still heard Cainan muttering, "I should've known coming here was a mistake…"
Abelard kept staring at him as he walked by his side. He sighed and moved closer till the umbrella mostly covered both of them. Cainan looked incredibly pathetic, trotting along like that, completely soaked from the rain. The look on his face probably told Abelard more than Cainan wanted him to know, but for the duration of their walk back to the house, Abelard said nothing. It wasn't until they arrived by the hill in front of the funeral home that Cainan took a hold of the other umbrella to shield himself as well. With more space between them now, the two of them walked to the house. The rain remained mostly light as they made it there. They'd barely stepped inside before they were greeted by Bobby.
"Ah, hello, boys. How did- Goodness, Cainan, did you fall into a puddle, lad?" Though Cainan didn't seem particularly pleased or eager to talk, Bobby still chuckled as he went to fetch a towel for the white cat. As Abelard glanced at him once more, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd made a mistake by bringing Cainan to service. Had he ultimately been better off working at the church unbeknownst to the inhabitants of Defiance? Abelard wasn't sure at the moment, but he figured Cainan would rather not talk about it.
"Thanks," Cainan replied shortly, once Bobby brought him something to dry himself off. His clothes were still completely soaking wet, however. He looked down at himself, looking rather displeased with his current predicament. "I'd best head upstairs and change…"
Once Cainan left the two in the foyer, and they could hear him ascending the stairs, Bobby looked at Abelard curiously. "Did something happen…?"
Abelard shook his head. "I don't know. I think Mr. Hoffman might have said something to him… Something he perhaps ought to have kept to himself…"
"Mr. Hoffman, really?" Bobby sounded quite skeptical as he rubbed his cheek with one finger, looking as though he tried to place the name. "That big farmer bloke?"
"Yes, indeed," Abelard told him with a slow nod. "Don't worry, I'll talk to Cainan eventually – hopefully. But for now, could I trouble you for some tea? I think Cainan could do with some… Please."
Bobby seemed pleasantly surprised to be given such a request. He gave a gentle nod of his own. "Ah, I think you might be right about that. You go up and get changed, and I'll have tea ready for us all."
Abelard had been quite correct in his assumption that abandoning the topic of what Mr. Hoffman may or may not have said to Cainan was the right choice. The rest of the day, Cainan seemed very subdued and not very talkative. Abelard didn't want to admit it, but just sitting with him, Elsa and Bobby, drinking tea in near complete silence was a nice change, at least in his opinion. Even Bobby didn't seem like he was too keen on talking, which certainly was a drastic change from how tea time usually went.
Elsa had hung Cainan's clothes to dry after he'd changed into clean, dry ones. He sat on the couch beside Abelard, his legs pulled up, feet resting on the couch. Cainan had changed into dry pants and a warm sweater, which seemed appropriate for the weather. As it turned out, Elsa was starting to worry that the rain might eventually drown the flowers in the backyard. It had been a rather substantial, near-constant downpour, so Abelard could understand her concern. She spoke for a bit about how too much water was arguably worse than too little at times. Everyone present just sat by and let her speak.
Thankfully, the rain remained mostly light, and even better, they got no lightning or thunder. Abelard was glad to see that Elsa seemed to be doing better, though she did still seem on high alert most of the time. Bobby eventually did find his voice too, talking their ears off about this and that, all manner of things, some of which Abelard found himself tuning out subconsciously. Cainan still seemed disinterested in actively partaking in the conversation, but he seemed to listen in on what Bobby was talking about.
The four eventually dispersed. Abelard, who had gotten himself dressed in more casual clothes settled himself in the study upstairs. He wasn't entirely sure what the others did, but he could occasionally hear noise from Cainan's bedroom, which he knew to be from the radio he'd brought inside. Abelard didn't mind, nor was he going to reprimand Cainan if he did. Given that it was mostly drowned out by the tapping of raindrops on the windows and the roof, it didn't bother him at all.
This wasn't the first time Abelard felt the urge to go talk to Cainan, despite knowing that it likely wouldn't lead anywhere, but he still felt as though he should. It felt like his duty as not only Cainan's employer, but more importantly as Cainan's host. He was the man of the house – after all, it was his name on the big sign outside the funeral home.
Cainan didn't leave his room until sometime before dinner when he climbed the steps down to help Elsa in the kitchen. Although he didn't get up immediately, Abelard eventually put the book he was reading away, and followed after the younger cat. He found him with Elsa, as expected. Abelard crossed his arms and settled against the doorframe, watching the two of them quietly. The rain was letting up slowly, but droplets still lightly tapped on the kitchen windows. It wasn't entirely unpleasant to have the constant ambiance of the rain, at least not to Abelard.
As he stood there and watched, Abelard said nothing. Neither of the two seemed to notice him as they prepared food. Cainan still remained mostly silent, but Abelard had a feeling Elsa didn't mind that in the slightest. Even with how much she liked the quiet of the countryside, it did surprise him that she had found herself a husband like Bobby who spent most of his waking hours speaking, usually.
Deciding to leave the two for now, Abelard stepped out onto the porch, the roof overhead keeping him shielded from the rain. He put his hands on the mostly dry railing and glanced out into the dark. The heavy clouds overhead had caused the sky to darken considerably faster than it otherwise would have. Leaning forward, he glanced upwards as well as he could. It was hard to tell just how dark the clouds truly were, but Abelard hoped they wouldn't receive yet another thunderstorm.
His thoughts drifted back to Mr. Hoffman. What could he possibly have told Cainan to make him leave the inn the way he had? He didn't want to assume the worst in situations like these where he had no proof or even a one-sided account. Clearly today hadn't quite gone as he'd hoped. It would seem like his attempts to instill acceptance and openness in the people had fallen on deaf ears. Bernese Becker had seemed open to talking to Cainan at least, so perhaps his efforts weren't completely in vain. Still, one person out of the entire congregation wasn't very reassuring…
Additionally, the turn of events hadn't been very encouraging either. Going back inside, Abelard retrieved a matchbox and a cigarette from his jacket on the coat tree and stepped back out. In the humid air, the gray smoke didn't swirl around in wispy ribbons as it normally did in dry weather, but rather it dissipated almost immediately, like a thin mist.
"A lot on your mind?" Abelard turned his head to see Bobby in the doorway, the heavyset cat soon joining him by the porch's railing. He rested his elbows and lower arms on it and leaned forward. "So… That Mr. Hoffman… Did Cainan say anything?"
"No," Abelard replied shortly, before blowing smoke forward, watching it dissolve into the rainy air. "And I'm not going to ask him. Not right this moment at least. I suppose Mr. Hoffman might have some memory of what Cainan was like as a boy. It seems some people in town do, such as Mr. Weaver."
"Hah, that old git doesn't like anyone," Bobby snorted derisively. And although it was true that the old shopkeeper did put up a rather unfriendly front at times, Abelard wasn't sure Bobby's claim was exactly accurate. "So, what are you going to do about it then?"
"Me?" Abelard raised an eyebrow as he looked at his brother-in-law. He turned back to face the rain once more. "I'm still quite uncertain. If it is required of me, I'll still try to preach acceptance and-"
"Of course… Well, here I was thinking you might do something more… tangible. Foolish me." The shorter cat's words made Abelard turn back around again, eyes flashing, though Bobby hardly seemed to notice. "Preaching won't do the boy any good, if the people aren't receptive to it. Maybe you ought to talk some real, proper sense into them."
Abelard snorted loudly. "I'm not the boy's father, Bobby. But if people continue having issues with Cainan, I just might have to. But mark my words, it shall be as a last resort."
"Hmmm…" Abelard recognized that look on Bobby's face. The shorter cat didn't appear impressed, but he also didn't say anything else. Abelard of course knew that Bobby was right, but he wasn't in the mood to discuss the topic at the moment. And besides, if things didn't work out with the more civil approach, Abelard wasn't afraid to get a bit more intense.
Being in his employ, Cainan was his responsibility for the time being and Abelard wanted to make sure people accepted his presence, one way or the other. Things had started out rocky between the two of them, but at the moment, Abelard thought the young cat had at least earned the decency of not feeling like an outsider. Perhaps they all just needed time to acclimate…
Eventually, Abelard and Bobby both made their way inside once dinner was ready. Abelard expected another quiet affair, but once he stepped into the kitchen, Cainan seemed somewhat more cheerful. He offered both him and Bobby a smile. "Ah, there you are. Dinner's ready."
"Thank you, it smells nice," Abelard heard himself saying, which seemed to garner surprised looks from everyone present. He snorted lightly. Was it so unusual for him to be saying something of that nature that it warranted such a reaction? Frowning slightly, Abelard settled into the seat opposite Elsa with Cainan on his right.
Dinner was a relatively quiet affair, which didn't surprise Abelard. After Abelard finished the table prayer, Cainan and Bobby did engage in some friendly conversations, though Abelard hardly paid any attention to it. He had his own worries, as per usual. Deciding what to do about Cainan's predicament was but one of the things he needed to work out. As usual, no one but Elsa seemed to know that something was up. She shot him a few looks as they ate as she so often did, but whenever Abelard met Cainan's eyes, the younger cat looked at him in a similar way.
Was it that obvious? He wasn't normally very talkative during dinner either, was it perhaps written on his face? Abelard didn't think of himself as someone who wore his heart on his sleeve. Bobby was the only person who didn't seem to pay special attention to him or give him looks, but he was also busy, caught up between eating and talking everyone's ears off.
Of course, no one actually minded. Bobby did add a sort of life into the kitchen that wasn't there otherwise. It had been a constant presence since the day he and Elsa moved in, Bobby often ending up having what was essentially monologues by himself. That man sure loved to talk, and although it could get tiring at times, sometimes – like tonight – Abelard didn't mind it.
"Now then…" Abelard said once Bobby finally paused to eat again. He cleared his throat as everyone in the kitchen stared at him. Honestly, Abelard hadn't a clue what to say after that as he simply wanted to listen to something other than Bobby talking for once. "Elsa…"
"… yes?" she asked, staring at him with those blue eyes that resembled his own so much.
"I was wondering if perhaps you'd like to accompany Cainan and me one of these days." Out of the corner of his eye, Abelard saw the young Turkish Angora give a light start when he was mentioned, as if he hadn't expected to be part of this conversation. Abelard tried to ignore the look of apprehension he saw on Bobby's face; he asked Elsa, so he wanted to hear her answer.
"Perhaps… Where to?" she asked, sounding equal parts curious and apprehensive. Abelard knew why she was cautious about the idea of going out. She hadn't wanted to visit town in quite a while. The most was during Christmas when he might sometimes convince her to come and see the Christmas decorations around town. Usually, she just stayed here. Even Defiance with its tiny population proved too much for her at times. Granted, she had been getting better over the years, but Abelard also knew Bobby was right to remain concerned.
"Mother and father," Abelard grunted shortly, almost under his breath, though he didn't meet her eyes when he said it. At this, Bobby's expression of doubt softened considerably, and he reached over to gently stroke Elsa's hand as it rested on the table between the two.
She nodded without speaking just yet. When she finally did speak, her reply did cause a massive wave of relief to wash over Abelard. "I see. Well, I haven't gone to see them in… Too long, honestly, I suppose it might be good for me."
He wasn't sure what had prompted him to ask about that of all things, perhaps after everything with Cainan leaving flowers for them, he also wanted Elsa to be there with them in some way. Of course, he knew Elsa hadn't had the privilege of spending as much time with them as he had, but that hadn't lessened the impact death had on a young girl, like she had been at the time. Turning his head slightly, he noticed Cainan looking at him curiously, though the white cat said nothing. He just sat by in silence for the time being.
Before long, Abelard turned his attention back on Cainan. He considered the white cat for a moment without saying a word. He wanted to address how today had gone, talk to him about it, but he also didn't think Cainan was in the mood for that talk, especially at the dinner table.
"Yes, can I help you, Father Arbogast?" Cainan asked in a snide tone that normally would've been far more obnoxious to Abelard than it was tonight. It seemed like a sign that Cainan's mood was improving. The white cat even showed one of those small smirks.
"Hmmm… no." Abelard wasn't sure what to say to the younger cat as he glanced sideways at him. "I suppose I should say that the food tonight is quite good."
Cainan's ears perked up at this, looking quite surprised. Abelard sure did wipe the smirk off his face in a hurry as he gazed up at him, only for it to be replaced with a more genuine smile. "Oh… Well, thank you, but really Elsa did all the heavy lifting as usual. I'm just the help."
"Oh, don't be so modest now, we've all seen you in the kitchen," Bobby chuckled from across the table. "Don't go selling yourself short, Cainan. I would help out, but I never had much sense for cooking."
Abelard cleared his throat. "I must agree with Bobby… on both accounts. Did you do much cooking before you lived on the road?"
"Oh no, can't say I did." Cainan let out a soft, rolling chuckle making Abelard's ear flick. He couldn't recall Cainan ever making a noise like that before. "I could cook just enough to get by, but nothing like what I'm helping Elsa make here. She's the real chef here – I've been to restaurants in St. Louis that weren't half as good."
"Why thank you, Cainan. I've always enjoyed cooking, and I'm grateful to have so many recipes from our family," Elsa said with a smile, looking quite pleased by Cainan's compliments. "Our family's roots are in Germany, and we have a small collection old recipes that have been translated."
"Really? Mine too," Cainan said, sounding surprised. "We never really did a lot of traditions from Germany, but I know we also had some old books from there. Not that I knew how to read them…"
"Suppose I'm the lucky one there, eh?" Bobby asked playfully, smiling. "All my old books are in the Queen's English. Makes it a bit easier, even if you all speak so funny over here."
"We speak funny? You're one to talk," Cainan retorted playfully, garnering a chuckle out of Bobby. "Unfortunately, I think you're just a little bit outnumbered here, Bobby."
Once dinner was done, Abelard and Bobby stuck around as Elsa and Cainan cleaned up. They didn't exchange much smalltalk, but Cainan and even Elsa did get a chuckle out of Bobby attempting to read an old, German book he'd fetched from the kitchen. Following the cleanup, they all sat together in the living room, though it took quite a while for Abelard to notice that the rain had relented quite noticeably. The tapping on the windows was barely noticeable by now.
Cainan even shared a few anecdotes of his time in Cottleville, though Abelard had a feeling he just might be covering up a few details. It was a feeling he got quite often whenever Cainan spoke of his past.
When Abelard finally found himself in his bedroom later that night, he felt better about Cainan's situation, even if he still had his worries regarding the inhabitants of Defiance. He most certainly would have to do something about that… Possibly tomorrow. He figured he might have to be more firm and make it clearer to the people that Cainan was to be treated like an equal. He understood there were some sour memories attached to Cainan and his departure so many years ago. Perhaps he should try to preach forgiveness instead…
Moving to close the curtains, Abelard noticed Cainan looking through his own window at him, the raindrops obscuring the white cat's image slightly. Had he been waiting for him? Without much hesitation, Abelard opened his window and Cainan did the same.
"Ah, hey there," the younger cat said with a smile, elbows leaning on the windowsill as his head rested against his knuckles.
"Hello…" Abelard said, feeling uncertain. He didn't know what Cainan might want, but he was willing to hear him out, even if he felt slightly apprehensive. He doubted he wanted to talk about what had happened between him and Mr. Hoffman. Mirroring what he had said at the dinner table, Abelard asked, "How may I help you?"
Cainan smiled, but it did falter ever so slightly. "I just wanted to thank you, Father Arbogast."
"Thank me?" Abelard raised both eyebrows in surprise. The rain had almost completely stopped, save for a few small droplets falling here and there. "What for?"
"Well, for everything, honestly." The white cat's smile widened and Abelard was surprised by the sincerity in not only his voice, but the look on his face. "For giving me a place to stay, a job… And for making me feel welcomed. I know it's temporary, but I really do appreciate it. Bobby and Elsa have been so good to me as well."
"You're quite welcome, Cainan. I'm trying to set a good example as well," he told him, still surprised by Cainan's words. He offered the slightest hint of a smile, though it quickly faded. "Are you feeling alright? I still don't know what happened by the inn, but if Mr. Hoffman…"
"It's fine, really. I kind of expected it anyway," Cainan said in a falsely casual tone. He gave a shrug before continuing. "I don't really blame any of them. When I left I guess a lot of rumors started to go around. I'll just keep doing my work and hope that's that. At least I feel a lot better when I'm here with you, Bobby and Elsa."
"Hmmm…" Abelard wasn't entirely convinced, but he also didn't know what else to suggest. Well, save for one thought that suddenly popped into his mind. "I'm sure once they learn that you've been helping maintain the church, it might help. As a matter of fact, if I may propose an idea to you…"
"Propose to me? But that's so queer… And we barely know each other," Cainan cut in, smirking across the small gap between their windows. Abelard glared at him, a scowl on his face, cheeks burning under his fur. Cainan stopped chuckling, but he still smiled. "You were saying?"
Still disapproving of the younger cat's joke, Abelard cleared his throat and continued, "I was saying… Perhaps if I were to officially make you an altar server…. I figure an official title like that could cement the fact that you're a part of the church now."
Abelard didn't get an immediate response, which he didn't think boded well. He watched Cainan closely, those green eyes seemingly doing their best not to meet his. Cainan cleared his throat finally, making Abelard's pointed ears stand up.
"I don't know. I spent so many years trying to get away from the church, I don't know if I'm ready for an official title like that," he said, though he still didn't meet Abelard's eyes. At the very least, Abelard appreciated that Cainan was declining in a polite manner. When their eyes did meet briefly, Cainan offered an apologetic smile. "I think I'll stick with Wendell as his apprentice for now."
Abelard nodded slowly. "Very well… In any case, I think we'd best turn in for tonight. I wish you a pleasant sleep, Cainan."
"Same to you. May your dreams be full of wonder," the younger cat said, showing that playful little smirk once again, before the two of them each slid their windows shut. Once his nightly routine of getting ready for bed and saying a prayer at the foot of it came to an end, Abelard climbed into bed. He'd included Cainan in his prayer tonight, hopeful for the near future of Cainan staying in Defiance, hopeful that things would improve between him and the locals.