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Burnside ordered me to wait at Elaine's summer home before I could insist I stay and view the wreckage from the explosion of Del Mar's submarine. I would have wished to help, but I could not bring myself to defy the orders of a Captain of the United States Aerial Corps. Adding to that, now that the adrenaline of chasing Del Mar had run its course, the electrocution I had received was making itself painfully known again within my muscles.
Aunt Josephine lounged on the veranda, though instead of peacefully enjoying the warmth of the setting sun, she sat rigidly with a nervous expression across her features. She rose to greet me, lying her hands across my cheeks and smearing the dirt from my face as only an aunt could. Rusty sniffed anxiously at my feet.
She asked worriedly about Elaine, but all I could do to satisfy her emotion was assure her that Lieutenant Woodward and his army were searching for her. Without Craig—my heart longed at the mere idea—there was no force I trusted more to return Elaine than the United States Army.
Despite her own fears, Aunt Josephine insisted I rest and get freshened up for Elaine's eventual rescue, and called for Jennings to assist me. Though I did lay myself down, I hardly found it restful. There was no way that I could rest with the worry that Elaine was helpless out there somewhere, captured by one of Del Mar's men that we had missed. Or worse—I shuddered to think of it. Craig would never rest while Elaine was still in danger. Oh, how I wished that Craig could be here now.
As the sun set behind the trees in the Connecticut wilderness, I decided that I had rested enough. I had to find Elaine, if not for myself, then for Craig's memory.
Though my body ached worse than before I had rested, I still managed to stagger my way down the stairs and out-doors. I saw no sign of Aunt Josephine. During my rest, she must have retired herself.
At the far side of the Dodge road, I spotted two figures approaching. Though they were hard to make out in the evening light, I could just see the bright blonde hair of one, and knew it was Elaine. With my shaking hand, I reached for my revolver and began to rush toward them. In my pained state, I must admit I was far from the picture of stealth. I stumbled and tripped over each piece of cobble on the drive down. If Elaine's chauffeur really had been one of Del Mar's men, I would have given him quite the advantage to take her and make his escape again.
Luckily for me, however, neither made a movement. In fact, they seemed to freeze in place.
"Walter!" I eventually heard Elaine exclaim. She released the arm of the man beside her, and began the walk up to meet me.
I am ashamed to say I very nearly bowled her over in my excitement. I managed to slow myself just in time, and she gripped onto my arms to ease my stop. I held her as well, taking in her expression. Her eyes were wet despite the fact that she beamed up at me. For a moment she wiped her face across my suit.
"Oh—oh, Walter, it's wonderful! Truly wonderful!" she exclaimed.
Elaine smiled up at me one last time, placed a kiss to the bottom of my chin, and stood back to present the figure behind her. I gazed across him. Of all the men that Elaine could bring to her summer home, it was the hermit! The man whom Elaine had so grown to dislike, for his blunt rudeness despite the numerous times he had saved us from Del Mar.
At least, he resembled the hermit, all until I got to his face. I felt my heart begin to rush in my chest before my brain could catch up with it. He looked all too familiar, like I had...
"CRAIG!"
I found myself veritably pouncing onto him. I gripped him so tightly that, in my excitement, I managed to lift him off the ground for a few moments. Of course, that was when the pain returned, so I stumbled us both to solid ground. Kennedy found it within himself to laugh at me. I could not bring myself to be offended by his reaction, and soon, I too found myself laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
"All this time!" I exclaimed as I scratched my nose across his shoulder. The clothing he wore was of rougher texture than his usual attire, and he smelled like all the disgusting sweat and wilderness as only a true hermit could. "All this time, you were helping us along. I felt as if something was watching us, but I thought it was—" Despite seeing him in front of me, I could still not bring myself to accept that grim alternative.
Kennedy nodded, a gentle smile painting his face. Oh, how I had missed that smile of his.
I was vaguely aware of Elaine coming up to our sides and taking hold of Kennedy's arm. Despite that, I felt the rush of a flame burn up my throat and I found I could not help myself. I gently grasped Craig's chin and pointed his face upwards so I might reach it. With little hesitation, I leaned down to kiss him.
I felt Kennedy stiffen up beside me. He thumped his hand across my chest and staggered away roughly.
"Jameson!" he scolded beneath a face that was blazing red, "What the devil has gotten into you?"
For a moment I stared at him in shock before I remembered that we were not alone under the vast night sky—Elaine was here, as well. She too seemed a little taken aback, though more by the suddenness of Kennedy's movement than anything else. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and strode up to my flustered Kennedy, taking his hands in her own.
"It is all right," she reassured him, "In our summer together, Mr. Jameson has explained... many intricacies of his and your relationship."
That only seemed to startle Craig more. "Why—!" he muttered, but Elaine continued first.
"I find it interesting," she assured him, "That two men might love eachother the way a man and woman do. Though I will admit I am hurt you wouldn't tell me sooner... you know my feelings on that subject."
I did, and from the way Craig's sharp features softened, I could tell he did as well. When the two of us had first met Elaine, and we were on the case of her father's murder and the fortune of the Clutching Hand, that nefarious criminal had hired a woman to force herself upon Kennedy and make it appear as if he had a family previous. Though I had known Craig well enough to know it was untrue, Elaine did not. It had truly been a rough spot in their relationship, nearly destroying it completely. Though, fortunately for Craig, when the Clutching Hand was finally done for and his plot was discovered, Elaine had forgiven him.
Craig took in a breath. "I wasn't certain I ever would," he admitted, "You know how the city is, regarding. If the University found out, or First Deputy O'Connor, I can merely imagine where Walt and I may end up."
I shuddered slightly at his nickname for me. He never dared use it in public, around other people—not even in his laboratory, only the safety behind the closed door of our apartment.
Elaine nodded and kissed his cheek. "I understand. Your secret is safe with me." She turned back to face me, then, with a twinkle in her eye. "I must admit, after the months I have spent with Walt," a small laugh shook her voice as she copied Craig's nickname for me, "I do not mind, so much, loving the both of you."
"You don't?" I found myself asking, though admittedly, I couldn't dispute her, as I had begun to feel a similar way. Of course, I had always been far more inclined to women than Kennedy was.
Elaine then turned back to Kennedy as she nodded. "I cannot in good conscience ask you to give up the person you loved first. Especially when that person is a man," she laughed again, "I am not as threatened by him as I am of another woman."
I felt myself laugh at the same moment I heard Craig give a little snort. The reasons as to why were obvious. While we were alone, Elaine had shared with me few of her personal feelings on the history I had shared regarding myself and Craig Kennedy. Though we had discussed it at length, I understood now she must have been considering her opinion on the matter. I was rather pleased with her response, though I could not decode what Craig's opinion on the matter was by the expression on his face. He squeezed Elaine's hands, then extended one out to me. I graciously took it, grasping it as I would for a mere handshake.
I was prepared, at that moment, for Craig to give me up in favour of Elaine.
"If you will let me love the both of you," he said, "Then I will."
"Of course," Elaine nodded into his neck.
I did not answer verbally, only pulled myself closer and lifted his face to kiss once more. This time, Craig let me linger for a while. It was a gentle kiss, the kind that one might greet a lover with after a long day at work. Really, what had the whole ordeal with Del Mar been but that?
When Craig finally stepped back, he turned to Elaine. "What of Aunt Josephine?" He asked, "Your house staff?"
Elaine playfully batted at his chest. "My attendants will do as I tell them," she laughed merrily, "As for my Auntie... hm, I'm sure she can be convinced."
"Can't we work out the details later?" I pleaded, "You're a dead man returned to life, and I think you've spent enough time away from us as is. Come back to the summer house."
Craig smiled at me as he clutched Elaine a little tighter. "Of course."