The Other Man

Farleigh cultivates a new friendship.

Farleigh drove Brenda home before dark, and followed her into the house. Their conversation on the way back to her place had been focused on the topic of neon signs, old neighborhoods, food, and family history. Farleigh said that he would reveal more about himself when he knew Brenda well enough to share his secrets.

Brenda hung up his jacket in the utility room, and asked him if he could stay for a light dinner. He hesistated for a few seconds, and said "I could, yes." She removed a casserole from the refridgerator, and placed it into the gas oven. Then she set the timer for 20 minutes, and proceeded to show him around the house. 

He liked the living room fireplace, and touched the upholstery on her antique couch. When they wandered upstairs, Brenda mentioned Daniel's store room, but didn't show it to Farleigh. 

He liked the idea of a "ghost room" and gasped when he saw her bedroom with its wallpaper, ceiling lamp, wardrobe cabinet, carpets, and bed. He peered out from the window when she mentioned the train tracks, and Mr. Blundon's death. He said he wanted to hear about what had happened. 

When they got to the attic, Farleigh seemed a little sad. He said that he would like to attend a seance if his moods were stable enough in the future. He asked about the strange curved rods in several parts of the room, and Brenda replied that they would be fully functional at the next Seance, and she would also be explaining why they were there. "It wouldn't make sense right now."

Farleigh enjoyed his dinner, and praised Brenda's cooking. He ate two pieces of pecan pie, and joined her in the living room for a roaring fire. He loved the house. He would like to move away from the painful memories at the Odell Road Home, but at the same time, he worried that Edwina might come back. "I know I sound crazy" he mumbled, but Brenda reassured him that he was free to say anything he wanted about the departed when in the company of a Spiritualist.

She mentioned her Halloween Party coming up shortly, and he said that he hoped she could join him at his and Edwina's place on that night. Brenda asked him to come to her party, but he declined. They finally settled on a get together at his place on October 30th. There was so much to tell.

After Farleigh left, Daniel called to ask who had just driven away from her place. Apparently, he had been on his front porch waiting for Caitlin to bring baby Henry back from a neighbor's birthday party. His anxieties were high when "wifey" was in one of her "rebellious" moods. She was always complaining about the cramped house.

Brenda said she had to start decorating her house soon for the party, which would be smaller than the one last year. She said that her visitor was a young man from Beltsville who had lost his wife in a train suicide a few years ago. When she mentioned Dr. Sullivan, Daniel told her to "proceed with caution," that he "could be dangerous." Brenda said that Farleigh was more intimidated by her with the talk of Spirits, but that he had a few tales of his own. 

Daniel licked his lips, and thought "here we go again" and asked if she planned to do his astrology chart. When she replied "of course" he said he was on the porch with the phone, and that Caitlin had just left the neighbors house and was on her way back. Brenda said that she missed "Detective Daniel Alexander", but his green eyed monster replied " I have to go. I'll call you later in the week."

C J. Marks