Page 61 of Drink Up, Darling
In slightly quieter news, a small obituary appeared in the paper for a woman who never really existed. It should have been recorded a long time ago. Long awaited closure for the 1997 case.
Frost coated the lawn the first morning in February; winter birds in the sky. John found Athens at the front of the house, cross legged on the bench, nursing a cup of blood; his gaze distant.
At the sound of the crunching gravel, Athens turned his head to look at John, whatever he was thinking about fleeting away at the recognition of his company.
“Come sit,” he welcomed John with a pat on the wooden seat beside him, stretching out his legs. John turned up his collar—Godwin’s coat—and joined him, the wind twirling his now light brown hair.
“Thought I’d find you here,” John said, fixing his eyes to where Athens had been staring moments ago.
Athens hummed to himself, taking a sip before offering the cup to John, who accepted.Fox blood. Interesting.
“Having second thoughts on staying?” John felt it important to ask, despite the humour in his tone. He would probably be asking Athens this for a while, as well as himself. The answer was yet to change though.
Athens laughed distantly, “I didn’t really have a choice.”
John understood the man a lot more now though, and he read between the lines, grinning. They could do whatever they wanted, and they both knew that. “One day we’ll visit a vineyard, I think Godwin would enjoy that.”
Athens dipped his head, chewing his mouth slightly. “He’d be in his element.”
“Well, one day he’ll get himself a passport, that might be the first step.”
They both laughed an aged laugh, one of lifelong friendship, then silence fell. John cleared his throat and passed the mug back, offering his gloved hand out as well.
Athens looked puzzled for a brief second, then he took it, his face softening. “There’s something you came here to ask, isn’t there?”
John’s lungs seized, eyes widening a tad. “Was it really that obvious?”
As a reply, Athens raised their clasped hands up in the air and John smiled.
Ask him, John. It’s time.
John squeezed their hands then let go, dropping his arm to his side and looking up to the sky.
Go on.
“Do you want me to start?” Athens said, leaning forward to catch John’s face.
Live, John, live.
“Godwin was never looking for romance.” John got his words in first, not letting himself guess what Athens was about to say instead.
“Yes,” Athens responded, matter-of-factly.
“And we agreed we didn’t mind, we wanted him in whatever way he desired.”
“Yes.”
‘I can’t read you.’
‘Try.’
John closed his eyes. “I tried to make myself believe that would be what I wanted too. And Idowant that, I want to stay with him, to help him with the house and take him on trips, but with you, I…”
My beloved, it’s time to let me go.
“I want you romantically too.” It was Athens, taking the words right out of John’s mouth.
“What?” John startled, breathless.
