Traffic Jam in Aisle 5 (Sean)

[Simon Fournier]

Simon had decided to swing by the store on the way home. He knew that Saul was working late, so he figured he would have plenty of time to get them something nice for dinner and cook it before Saul got home. It was something Simon did often since he loved the idea of two of them being able to relax and have a nice evening together. Although Simon had always been a fan of cooking, since the move to Pilot Ridge he had really dove into the hobby. He had even signed up for a cooking class or two to try to improve his dessert baking abilities. Sadly there was little to no improvement. 

Which was why he was currently eyeing up the table of pies. He was debating between apple or pecan when he noticed that his cart was blocking someone in the aisle. 

"Sorry," he said, before he had even looked up at the person. "I didn't mean to get in the way."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean typically ran errands on weekends, simply because his work schedule was consistently long and often exhausting. The time on Saturday mornings when Josh went to Temple was spent making a dent in his errands, and then, when the attorney finished with services, he and the telepath would continue with the necessary outside chores.

However, Josh had run low on a couple of supplies he required for his baking homework. Since Sean had the car, since he left Hammel a bit earlier than Josh left the office, and since Vermont winters remained harsh, he had volunteered to pick up the necessary items on his way home from work.

That led him to the grocery store with a basket, rather than a full shopping cart. He didn’t need that many items, and there was no reason to struggle with the larger contraption and the inevitable squeaky wheels.

The telepath had been looking at different brands of apple spice. Upon making his selection, he turned but found that he was essentially trapped by the strange, diagonal positioning of a shopping cart. Before he could say anything, the other patron apologized.

Sean did a double-take. While the man’s hair was white now, and he was older, and while Josh had been extremely reluctant to mention this man when they had dated, had not wanted to introduce them during the course of the relationship, Sean knew him.

Sean had known him in passing from college, and then Josh’s time in law school, before his partner had dated the other man.

His telepath confirmed the other patron’s identity. “Simon Fournier?” The question was for the sake of politeness, since he already knew who this man was.

[Simon Fournier]

Simon had not expected the person he was blocking to actual say anything to him. He had already turned back to debating pies when Sean spoke. He actually jumped a bit, half because he wasn't expecting it but mostly because the other person knew his name. His full name at that.

True, he and Saul had been living in Pilot Ridge for about two years now. Still, since Simon didn't really go out all that much most people he knew were colleges or students.

When he turned to look he still had no idea who this other person was. At least not at first. It took a moment of recollecting his college years before the face was familiar. After that the name was easy enough to remember. After all, he'd heard Joshua say it often enough.

"Sean Neville?" Simon said, even though he was pretty sure he had it right. "You live around here now?"

Perhaps it was a small world after all.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean inclined his head, confirming his identity as well as acknowledging the greeting. He knew that he was recognizable, for better or for worse; there were not many people as tall as he was, with his build and coloring. Even if age had taken its toll, he knew that he bore enough similarities to the younger man he had once been.

“Now?” He queried, and then he chuckled. “I’ve lived here for twenty-four years now.”

Sean had lived in Pilot Ridge as an adult for almost as long as he had lived in New York City and Long Island combined throughout his life. If one factored in his time as a student, then he had lived in Vermont longer than in New York, even though he still considered himself a New Yorker.

From a brief scan of the younger man’s mind, the telepath saw that Simon had apparently lived just outside of town for the past two years. His address was on the complete opposite side of the area from his and Joshua’s cul-de-sac, and he spent most of his time in Burlington, which explained why they had never run into one another before. The area was small, but not so small as to always know one’s surroundings, which was how members of M.S.A.D. had flown under the radar for so long.

Sean also heard Simon invoke another familiar name in his thoughts, and he followed that thread to its conclusion. Which he had never expected.

In fact, that news might blow Josh’s mind. But one topic at a time.

His relationship with Simon had always been practically non-existent and entirely through Josh. There had once been jealousy and avoidance involved, although not on Sean’s part. He was glad to see that life had worked out for the attorney. “How have you been?”

[Simon Fournier]

Simon had never been must of an extrovert. Even before "the incident" he found it hard to approach people and strike up a conversation. With friends, once they got things going it was easier for him but he always struggled with the initial dialogue.

And Sean Neville wasn't someone he considered a close friend.

Sure the two had bumped into each other several times at college, but it had always been awkward. Sean had always been the looming perfect man that Simon couldn't get Joshua to forget. Not that he held any of this against Sean. Instead he attributed it to his own downfalls. Still standing here now he felt a bit like the class geek trying to converse with the Prom King.

"Really? That long?" Simon said. "My husband and I just moved here a couple of years ago. It's a nice area." And really it was. Sometimes Simon missed New York, but the change in pace and location had done wonders for him. And he never thought about moving back. Still Vermont, and his new career here, had taken some getting used to.

"I'm good," Simon said, giving his old acquaintance a small smile. "And yourself? You hear from anyone else from the old days?" He couldn't help but ask and hope that Sean wouldn't see right through him.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“It is a nice area,” Sean agreed with a nod. Had he any reservations about the community in Pilot Ridge, or about overarching Vermont politics, he never would have applied for the job at Hammel. He certainly would not have remained for two-and-a-half decades, long after his mentor had passed away while so many of his friends remained back in New York. It could be a culture shock, albeit in a relaxed and occasionally eccentric manner, rather than with the harsh environments of some truly unwelcoming places in this country.

At the mention of a husband, an image popped into Sean’s mind, and he held back remarks. Simon’s husband was Saul Goldblatt, a name and face that the telepath would remember for the rest of his life. Truly, he regretted how that relationship had ended, as he had wanted Josh to find happiness with someone, even if that someone had not been him.

No matter; embarrassing behavior and explosive arguments aside, everything had worked out for the best. As improbable as it was, Simon and Saul were together and apparently happy. Moreover, Sean had won the jackpot, as far as he was concerned, since he and Josh had rekindled their romantic relationship and they were content and healthier this time around. No more getting drunk at parties and embarrassing everyone around them because of ambiguous boundaries and unspoken history.

“I’m very happy; I love it here.” The telepath smiled a genuine smile at that, because it was true. He would always consider himself a New Yorker, but he fit with Pilot Ridge, and it was his home. As for people with whom he had remained in contact... “Josh, of course.” He provided no elaboration, not until he could gauge Simon’s reaction. He tried not to add insult to injury in situations, even situations that were over two decades in the past.

[Simon Fournier]

When Simon and Saul had first moved into the area it had been quite the adjustment. Simon had grown used to living in and around New York City. Pilot Ridge had been a bit of an adjustment. But that had been what Simon needed and wanted. And the change had certainly helped. Of course moving didn’t instantly fix everything, not that Simon had expected it would, but it had helped. As did immersing himself into his new job.

But now he was starting to feel that he needed to make other connections to the area as well. Ones outside of his colleagues and students at college. Of course he hadn’t expected that old school mates would be on that list.

Simon had no reason to suspect that Sean would know Saul anymore than as an acquaintance around school. But now he made a note to ask Saul if he had ever been friends with the man. Since they were neighbors and all, sort of.

“Glad to hear it,” Simon said, smiling. And he was. Although he had found it hard to like Sean at times, he had never wished anything bad for the man.

Simon was shocked when Sean leapt right to Joshua. Even more by the added ‘of course.’ For a brief moment he wondered if Sean somehow knew that his ex would be the first person Simon really wanted to hear about. And then it hit him. Sean and Josh were still together. After all these years. The thought certainly gave him mixed feelings.

First he couldn’t believe that Joshua had stuck with Sean. Then he started to wonder if maybe his ex hadn’t always been with Sean, at least in his mind. And finally, feeling guilty that it had taken this long to arrive at it, Simon was happy that the two were still together. After all what could be more important that a love that lasted.

Still he had to be sure. “Oh…I didn’t realize you two were still…together?” Halfway though it seemed his assumption turned into more of a question. Simon smiled sheepishly waiting for Sean’s reply.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean had met Saul only once, at the fateful New Year’s Eve party that had ended in disaster. He had liked the younger man, and he had wished Saul and Josh only the best. Like all of his partner’s subsequent relationships, it had fallen apart, although far more quickly than others. The telepath had played an unwitting role in that process, for which he was apologetic, but everything had worked out for the best. After all, that had been over seventeen years ago.

“He’s my best friend.” Rekindling their romantic relationship made Sean’s life all the sweeter, but it failed to change that one fundamental fact about himself and his partner. Joshua Bernstein was Sean Neville’s best friend. Joshua Bernstein had been Sean Neville’s best friend since their respective freshman and senior years at NYU, when they had first met. Despite the younger man’s lapse in the months prior to their reconciliation, it remained an immutable truth of the universe, as fundamental as the law of gravity, as far as Sean was concerned.

The remark served a second purpose, since he and Josh had not been romantically linked either when Josh had dated Simon or when he had dated Saul. Comparatively, their current relationship status was new.

Then, he added, “He’ll be surprised to hear that you’re up in Vermont.” In fact, the telepath would have to break it to his partner gently.

[Simon Fournier]

True, Simon was painfully unaware of all the connections he and his husband had with Sean and his partner. Still, he was aware, or at least under the impression, that because he could not live up to Joshua's man on a pedestal (aka Sean Neville), the two had never had much hope for a lasting relationship. Still it was because of that break up that he had eventually met Saul. And though Simon still cared for Joshua, he knew that their one sided relationship couldn't hold a candle to what he and his husband had. It was only because of Saul that Simon had survived these past few years. And only because of Saul that he could look forward to the future with hope and happiness.

"Ah," Simon said, still a bit confused. Did that 'best friend' mean that the two were only friends? Still Simon was uncertain if he should voice the question. After all he didn't want to look like the total idiot he was already beginning to feel that he was. "That's...nice...I mean it's great that you two are still...in touch." He started to rub the back of his neck a bit, knowing just how awkward he was being but unable to be anything else.

"Really?" Simon asked, a bit too excitedly. True, he was with Saul now. And that would never change. Still it didn't hurt to know that your ex-boyfriend still cared for you, even if the end of their relationship hadn't been on the happiest of terms. "We should all have dinner sometime." The offer came so suddenly that he was a bit shocked that he had actually said it. Though he was sure Saul wouldn't mind having over guests, or going out on the town. His husband had always found it easier to make friends and be social. Simon felt sometimes that he was having to re-learn how to do that.

"I mean...if you'd like to. And if Joshua would..." He assumed Sean would be able to contact him, whether the two were friends or...more.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean knew that his and Josh’s relationship could be complicated for outside observers. It was complicated enough for the two of them, as those directly involved. It had taken its toll on their respective attempts at outside relationships, but everything had worked out in the end.

The telepath nodded, and a soft smile appeared on his lips. “It is.” Aside from the incident three years ago, he and Josh had managed to maintain a friendship for thirty-six years, and that was an accomplishment. That he and his partner had rekindled their romantic relationship and had maintained that for almost three years thus far, too, served as an accomplishment.

The invitation to meet for supper came as a surprise. Sean knew how his partner had ended his relationship with Simon: that it had occurred not with a bang but with a whimper, due to miscommunication that served to illustrate how emotionally uninvolved that Josh had been. He knew, in part, because the younger man had called him immediately after to convey his confusion over what he viewed as the other attorney’s overreaction.

This was more surprising due to the note on which Saul and Josh had ended their relationship. The psychiatrist knew how that relationship had ended as well, because he had been present for its demise. That had ended with a bang: the explosive argument, the accusations, the sudden break up, Josh’s binge drinking, and then the aftermath.

The telepath could not imagine that Saul would want to see Josh again after that, even though it had been seventeen years ago.

Sean said none of that.

Instead, he handled the invitation tactfully. “I’ll talk to Josh about it and then we can get back to you.”

That way, he made no commitment without consulting his partner first, and Josh retained the ability to decline or otherwise not to make contact. Given the guilt spiral and the potential discomfort, Sean considered this the best course of action.

[Simon Fournier]

Why had he invited them to dinner? Not for the first time in his life, Simon was wishing he was a little better at this whole "small talk" thing. Really what was one supposed to say to old friends? Why wasn't there a play-by-play manual somewhere? Discussions in the court room were so much easier...well had been so much easier.

Still it was out there and Sean had accepted...sort of. And Simon didn't want to seem mean by retracting his offer. Saul would probably be happy that he was making an attempt at socializing. Maybe he'd get a reward.

"Sure," Simon said. "Just uh...give me a call sometime." Of course then he realized the other man would have know way to do so. He quickly dug into his wallet, found an old receipt from the college cafeteria, and jotted his number down on it before offering it to Sean.

"So what are you up to these days?" Simon said, happy to have thought of a safer subject for them to discuss than possible dinner.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Inwardly, Sean had the same question: why had Simon invited them to supper? Such an occasion was doomed to failure from the onset. Any situation in which the telepath could guarantee, sight unseen, that he would be the most well-adjusted and most comfortable person in a given situation was doomed to failure from the onset.

He could not imagine that Saul had any true desire to see either him of Josh again, not after what had happened, not even though it had been seventeen years ago. Even if the attorney had put it behind him, there was no reason why he would want to spend a leisurely meal with them. Logically, there was no reason for Simon to want to spend time either of them, since Josh had broken up with him over sorting his mail (as a proxy for Josh’s utter disinterest in their relationship). Josh, surely, would have an anxiety attack as soon as the psychiatrist informed him of the invitation, which was why Sean wanted to break the news to him gently and did not want to make any promises until a full discussion with his partner.

Fortunately, Simon changed the subject to recent history, and that proved an excellent segue. “I work at a school,” he explained. It was not the private practice he had maintained in Manhattan, but that had also been two and a half decades ago. “They treat me well, and I like working with the students.”

Both of those were true. Even with the stresses unique to Hammel, he enjoyed his work overall.

[Simon Fournier]

It might have been pathetic to admit, but even if Simon was freaking out a bit that he'd just invited Sean and Joshua over for dinner, part of him still hoped that his old ex would accept. Simon was the type of person who desperately needed wanted everyone around him to like him. He just couldn't stand the thought that there were people out there who didn't like him. Sometimes he would obsess over it, wondering what he could have done or could do now to make people like him better. That included exes.

So while he was happy with Saul. More than happy. And couldn't think of anyone or thing that would ever change that. He still wanted Joshua to like him. And even though he wasn't exactly sure how he felt about Sean, Simon still wanted his approval as well.

"Me too," Simon said, awkwardly and suddenly, a bit too happy to have some common ground other than Joshua to discuss. "Well a university actually...not that that's better or anything. Just...different. But yeah, it's a good job. I'm glad you like it." Granted Simon had only been working there for a few years. And some part of him still considered himself more of a lawyer than a professor. But his new job was better suited for the new him.

"Do you teach...or...?" Simon asked, leaving his question hanging. He didn't want to make any assumptions for fear he might insult Sean in some way.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Simon and Josh held some similarities in their personalities, and one of those similarities was that both attorneys yearned to be liked by everyone around them. This was an area that Sean had found endearing about his partner when they had been in college, and which he had seen led to a series of bad decisions over the course of the younger man’s adult life. As such, he hoped that trait served Simon better than it had Josh.

Except it obviously had not, as it had led the blond man to extend that supper invitation.

“Universities are important,” the telepath agreed with a nod. He knew that Simon had not been arguing about the supremacy of post-secondary education over primary or secondary schools, and there was no reason to linger on the matter. “How do you like being a professor?”

Sean knew from his experiences at medical school how academia differed from practice. He had also heard Josh remark on that before regarding the law. As such, he was curious to hear Simon’s opinions on the matter.

He then quickly shook his head at the question. While the telepath had only the highest admiration for most of his colleagues, and he respected teaching as a profession, he had never desired to become a teacher. As with being a powers trainer, it fell outside of the realm of his skills and interest, the sexual education seminar notwithstanding. “No, I’m the school psychiatrist.”

[Simon Fournier]

Simon's need to be liked did get him into trouble now and then. Mostly it just stressed him out. Also, it was one of the reasons, the main reason really, that Simon had taken so long to ask Josh out in the first place. He was afraid that he would do it wrong, or too soon, and end up putting Josh off. He had liked being friends with Josh, though he'd always felt and wanted more than that. Still the horror of Josh not liking him even as a friend had been enough to worry him.

That said, his need also led him to awkward dinner invites. Though that had been less of a problem after the "incident". Simon was just now starting to come out of his shell again.

"All school is important. And it's important to start out with a good foundation. Though admittedly sometimes I worry about my students. It's amazing that they've reached the college level and still struggle with a five page paper," Simon added. "I mean, I'm sure you're students would do well. " Simon offered a weak smile. Though Sean didn't seem to be concerned about the differences in where they worked, Simon was kicking himself for returning to comparing them. He hoped Sean didn't think he was calling his students stupid.

"I really enjoy it. It's different than what I used to do but after-" Simon stopped short. He really didn't want to talk about that right now. "Different is good sometimes."

"Psychiatrist? Really?" Simon asked, his eyebrows raising a bit. He didn't realize he was doing it, but he subconsciously took a step back. It wasn't that he was afraid of psychiatrist, he had actually seen a few after "the incident". Still they tended to make him uncomfortable. It was hard enough getting people to like you without also worrying that they were analyzing you. "That must be...interesting."

Oh yes, this dinner was going to be awkward if and when it ever happened. At least then he would have Saul by his side.