What is Going On

What is Going On

****

For a moment Logan just stood there. The events of the past few days, especially these last few hours have been overwhelming for the young man. He had left this very place he called home a confident young man who knew his place in the world, and that of everyone else in it. Having his worldview shaken to the core he returned to that haven called home where the entire foundation of his world stood unshakable. Until this very moment when he realized that his parents did not seem to be oh so perfectly happy couple he thought they were, nor were they living that perfect life.

“What… What’s going on?” Logan finally asked, his voice seemed to quake with the uncertainty of what he was seeing, as if a part of his mind refused to admit the glaring truth staring back at him.

“Logan…” Daniel Ravers started to say, “It’s…” he was about to say ‘It’s not what it looks like,’ but it was exactly what it looked like, “It’s a bit complicated,” his father said nervously. He was conscious that this was about to shatter the image his son had of him and his wife.

“Honey, we…” Audrey Ravers tried to begin explaining but how could she explain what was happened without revealing her own part in what Logan was seeing or revealing the events that led up to this very moment. ‘He’s going to hate me!’ Audrey’s mind screamed at her and she trembled in fear at the mere thought of what Logan would think of her. “We…” she tried to continue, her voice trembling with fear.

“Why don’t you sit and have some hot cocoa?” Chastity offered sweetly, as she reached out and took his hand. Without realizing it Logan let her guide him to the chair next to her. She reached over for a pitcher and started to pour hot chocolate into a cup. “Last Friday you poor father was feeling sad, so sad it was heartbreaking. He looked just like you.” Chastity said as she peered at him closely. Logan could almost sense the emotions welling up in her sweet voice, “Your Mom asked me to come over and help cheer him up.”

Logan looked back and forth between his parents. ‘Was this really what happened?’ His mind tried to wrap itself around it and failed to make sense of it.

“Yes, it’s true,” Audrey nodded and almost sighed with relief, “I asked Chastity to come over.”

“Here, have some hot chocolate,” Chastity said leaning over to place the cup in front of Logan. He could see the swell of her breast peaking out between the folds of the robe. He closed his eyes and looked away. It was so hard to see her in a sexual role. It was like trying to imagine a nun, or his sister in that way, impossible. “Everything feels better with chocolate!” Chastity stated. The simple joy in her voice felt so natural in her yet, it seemed so out of place that glared at him like a flame that demanded his attention.

“Thanks!” Logan said taking a sip of the chocolate, the rich flavor coating his taste buds briefly took his mind away from everything.

“You’re welcome,” Chastity said briefly patting his arm.

Logan looked at his mother, he couldn’t believe this really was her idea. How could she bring another woman to their bedroom? Leah did that, not his mother. He saw her blush nervously, the look of shame on her face as she looked away screamed its own guilty admittance. His mother had brought another woman to their bedroom. What kind of woman was she?

“Don’t get mad with your mother, It’s really my fault,” Daniel said reading Logan’s face like a book. He took hold of Audrey’s hand, peered into her eyes, and added. “She is the most wonderful woman in the world to put with all my failing, and I love her.”

Logan saw his mother’s head tilt and lift her shoulders just enough to look coy and enchanted at Daniel. “I love you too.” Logan heard in those words the same love and devotion as always.

“Isn’t that so sweet,” Chastity whispered as she fed Logan a slice of toast with butter and a sprinkle of sugar.

“But then…” Logan asked taking a bite out of the toast, “Why? How long…?”

“It’s… a long story,” Daniel said, “Someday, I tell you someday.”

“How long has this been going on?” Logan demanded softly. He was starting to wonder what kind of relationship his parents had. Was it like his uncle Robert and Leah? He needed to know. He needed to know how blind he had been to the truth.

Daniel sighed heavily, he realized he was going to have to give Logan some answers. “It started a few years ago, It was… not easy.”

“Your father was very angry,” Audrey said hesitantly. She wanted to tell him that Daniel had been angry with her, but she just didn’t have the will to admit it.

“But it was a very nice birthday,” Chastity said with a smile and both Audrey and Daniel chuckled.

“What!” Logan said in utter disbelief. ‘What the fuck does a birthday have to do with dad being angry?’ Logan wondered it didn’t make any sense, “What happened?” Logan asked them, almost demanding an answer. This was so confusing. Nothing was making sense to him.

“It was my fault,” Audrey started to say.

“No! It wasn’t your fault,” Daniel’s firm voice interrupted her. “It was my fault. I should have done better.”

“What are you talking about?” Logan asked even more confused than before.

Audrey was about to insist when Daniel held up his hand to stop her. He took a deep breath and said. “The details don’t matter,” Daniel said, “There were problems, and I didn’t solve them. I should have but I didn’t, I couldn’t solve them... ‘the right way.’ Your mother, did something that was wrong. But she did it because it was the only way she saw to help me solve it. Logan, she did it because she loved us, all of us. She would do anything for us. And at that time I was too stupid to see, and understand.”

“That’s when I asked Mrs Ravers if I could help her,” Chastity nodded as if remembering. Logan looked at her in surprise, “Your father was very mad with your mom for helping me. I just wanted to help them.”

“Your mother would do anything for us and that’s why I love her so much,” Daniel said holding her hand. “And Chastity is a wonderful person, the best friend we could have.”

“She has really helped us so much. She’s such a sweet person,” Audrey said. “Please don’t be mad at her. She was just trying to help us. Not break us apart.”

Logan looked at Chastity and saw her smile at him, she looked nervous, hopeful, and worried about what he might think of her. “I can’t be mad at you Chastity,” he said and Chastity seemed relieved.

Clearly, his parent were both very nervous, and in a guilty way. He could see that they had done something they didn’t want to tell Logan. Definitely something they thought was bad. Was it something illegal? It made him wonder what kind of memories was all this bringing back up for them. But what was even more jarring to him was Chastity. Instead of being worried or scared or even embarrassed at being found out that she was “the other woman” she was still her sweet helpful self. As if nothing of this had any real impact on her. Just another Tuesday.

For a few moments there was an awkward silence while Logan tried to process what had happened. His parents looked at him, worried about his reaction and what he would think of them while Chastity spread food around for all of them.

“So, it’s just been the three of you?” Logan asked tentatively.

“Only for special occasions,” Chastity said nonchalantly, “Your father’s great man, not like Mr. Ravers, I mean, your father is Mr. Ravers but he’s not like Mr. Ravers, I mean like Mr. Robert Ravers,” she added. Then Chastity paused as if thinking something before she nodded and continued sipping her coffee.

“We haven’t brought anyone else to our bedroom. And we don’t ever plan to.” Audrey said.

“We’ve fixed things and its all in the past now,” Daniel said, as he took Audrey’s hand and kissed it, “And while it was hard, I think we came out stronger.”

“We did,” Audrey said smiling at Daniel. For a moment another long silence marked only by

Chastity’s joyful humming as he helped with breakfast.

“What happened with Sharon?” Chastity asked innocently, “What did that mean girl do to you?”

“Sharon…” Logan started to say, but a vision of her with Charlie flashed before his eyes. “It’s not… going to work,” he almost struggled to say.

“But what happened!?” Audrey asked. She didn’t know what Sharon could have done to hurt

Logan this way. She knew they had some misunderstandings in the past, and a few back and forths in their relationship, but this seemed like it was “The End” of their relationship.

Logan wanted to answer his mother so she could make the pain go away but he just couldn’t bring himself to tell her.

“You poor thing,” Chastity’s sweet voice soothed him, her soft hand reaching out to cup his cheek, “I'm so sorry.” Logan looked over at her. “Now you know what to look for in a girl to love,” and she genuinely seemed sad for him.

Logan stared at her. "What?"

"The wrong person shows you what you really need," Chastity explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Like when you try on shoes that pinch your toes—you learn exactly what doesn't fit." She poured more of the rich hot chocolate into his mug and placed it in front of him. "And then you never make that mistake again."

There was something disarming about her logic—childlike in its simplicity yet profound in its truth. Logan found himself taking the mug, the warmth seeping into his cold fingers.

"It still hurts," he mumbled.

Chastity nodded, her eyes bright and clear. "Of course it does. Beautiful things always start with something breaking." She glanced briefly at his parents, then back to him. "Sometimes it's hearts. Sometimes it's expectations."

"I thought..." he started, looking at his parents, then Chastity. She leaned in and hugged Logan tight. Logan returned the hug. He couldn’t explain it, but it felt good.

"That it was simpler?" Chastity finished for him. "It never is. But that's what makes it so wonderful." She said it with such genuine delight that Logan couldn't help but wonder if she was naive or the wisest person in the room.

****

Narrator 2. It took me a long time. A very long time to find out why Chastity spent that particular weekend with Logan’s parents. Finding out Audrey’s dirty little secret from years ago was easier. I finally did find out why and I found that in the most unexpected place. However, after going through all the gossip I found, that the tiny hint was hidden there all along.

And I’m glad Chastity was there that weekend.

OH, I just have to tell you all what happened!!!