My twin brother, Si, and I have always been brought up to do the right thing. That's not necessarily 'the right thing' the preacher shouts about from the pulpit, or what the media tells us is 'the right thing'. We've always had strong internal moral compasses that aren't skewed by what society believes. We're not identical twins, thank god. He's an Adonis, six six, blonde, bronzed with a naturally athletic frame. I'm five five, dark, petite, big breasted, a teeny weeney bit pudgy and fierce. Our parents left home when we hit eighteen last year. They'd some insane desire to bring literature and learning to the jungles of South America. We did point out that, a, South America has a fine literary tradition of its own and, b, those whose first concern wasn't said pre-existing literature of South America, probably weren't going to have their toes curled by William Shakespeare or Mark Twain.
Thankfully, right up through school and beyond, the wonderful Reverend Kirby Boyce and his angelic wife, Sasha had our backs. They were de facto parents, not in any moral imposing way but more hugs and love and shoulders to cry on. They only offered advice when it was sought and couldn't care a fig whether we attended their church or not. As we grew up, I always suspected myself and Sasha hada small frisson but she never crossed any line. They were what's traditional known as good people. And we loved them deeply. Many's the nights Si or I slept on their couch after an evening putting the world to rights. They weren't just like this with SI and I but with everyone they met.
I'm Jinny, by the way. Si and I are working our way through the sale of shares in a certain computer company our parents bought for us when we were born. The fact that everyone thought the company was on its last legs at the time they bought in -- and it subsequently went on to become one of the biggest in the world, might give you a sense of how few fucks we give about money.
Life was pretty good. Neither Si nor I had any massive drive to move away from Bumfuck, USA. It may have been a two-horse town, but it was our two-horse town, and we were sailing plain.
Unfortunately, life seems to hate plain sailing. And never leaves good enough alone. And sure enough, before we knew it, along came a big speed bump.
It all started with a rumor Si heard from his friends.
Reverend Kirby, it was said, had taken to parking late at night down by the old railroad track... It didn't take any local to be a genius to fill in that dot dot dot. It meant only one thing. Reverend K was paying to have young men blow him. Si and I were shocked and very upset. Not only is Kirby the nicest, most unassuming, and moral guy, he's Sasha's rock. This kind of thing would kill her.
But what were we to do?
Sasha was my main concern. Did she know? How did she feel about it?
Si chose to cut to the chase. He followed Kirby to the rail tracks one night and confronted him. Si sat in the car with him for an hour talking through the consequences of his actions. Kirby finally saw the light. Unfortunately, that was the night the Sheriff finally decided her election result wasn't a forgone conclusion and called a raid in on the yard.
Both Kirby and Si were 'detained'. Detained only because neither was in a compromising position -- other than being together in a car in a spot known to be frequented by rent boys.
They were both released with a caution, but word was potentially out. And Si's name was tainted to boot. I picked Si up from the station, giving Kirby a nod that spoke volumes. Sasha was there to collect him, and they left with their heads hung low.
On the ride home, I quizzed Si about the night before. He was genuinely empathetic towards Kirby. During the talk in the car, Kirby had explained how he'd always been attracted to both men and women but had had to bury the bi aspect of his personality due to his calling and the times in which he grew up. Recently, he's been finding it harder to resist. I explained that Sasha had whispered to me that she loved her husband, and she couldn't really understand why she wasn't enough for him.
Oh, Si told me one other thing too. In order to get them both off with a caution, Si had lain it on think with Sherriff Blaumgard. He'd unofficially agreed to go on a date with her. And by date, it was to be her place, and no food would be involved. Si was to be on the menu. And Doris Blaumgard had an animal reputation.
This got me thinking.
After a few hours, I sat down with Si and we had a very serious conversation. It didn't go the way either of us planned. But by the end of it, we weren't a million of miles away from where I had hoped we might be. It had shaken our filial bond to the core, but ended up with it probably stronger than ever because we both recognized that the other was coming from a morally responsible place.
Next, I made a phone call.
Then we both showered, dressed nice, grabbed a bottle of wine, and took off.
Boyce's was a subdued house when we arrived. Kirby met us at the door, welcomed us and accepted our gift of the wine. Sasha was in the kitchen, and I made my way there while the boys chatted and poured her a glass of wine. Uncharacteristically, but not surprisingly, she drained it in one and I poured her another. She sipped this. In three large sips.
Sasha was putting on a brave face. It didn't take Stephen Hawking to see she was deeply hurt. And afraid. Her world had been turned upside down. I ordered her away from the stove she was rattling pans on by way of avoidance and wrapped her in an embrace.
She was stiff as a board at first, but gradually relaxed into it as I counted of first a minute, then two, then three whole minutes of hug.
I told her that I loved her and even after dedicating my life to making her happy could still not repay the kindness she had shown me and Si over the years. She shushed me and blushed. I told her it was true. And that she needed to relax and understand that Si and I were going to make everything ok.
"It's too late for that, I'm afraid, Jinny. She said.
"Pshaw!" Was my answer, as I grabbed her again to hug through the tears that came unbidden.
It was my turn now to do something Sasha had done to me countless times over the years. I wiped the tears from her face and straightened her hair. Then, I leaned in close and kissed her on the mouth.
Sasha went stiff in my arms and turned her mouth away from mine. Now, I'd known Sasha for years, like I said, and I was always aware of her gaze lingering on me a little long. There'd been one time, I remembered, I came out of the shower room one day after a night on the couch. Sash had stopped in the hallway at the sight of me in a skimpy towel. It had struck me at the time that the look in her eye wasn't entirely paternal and I'd not thought much about it. I also remembered many a night on the sofa in her arms watching tv while she stroked my hair or let her hand lie on my thigh. I was counting on there being a bit of repression on her side of the marriage too.
