Brother Willy's Traveling Salvation Show (24 page)

Without saying anything, she picked up her bathing suit top from the floor before taking his ha
nd and leading him to her bedroom. She took a tee shirt from the dresser drawer and pulled it over her head as she sat on the edge of her bed. “You are going to have a very hard time believing anything I am going to tell you.”

Scott
sat with her as she began to speak. “When you first saw me on the beach and put your arms around me after I started crying, something very strange happened. I got an overwhelming feeling that you should not be going out with Michelle. The more we were together, the stronger that feeling became.”

“Were you still mad about me breaking up with Carlie or something?”
Scott asked.

Beth
decided to tell him the complete truth, even if she couldn’t explain her motivation. “It had nothing to do with Carlie and it wasn’t because I wanted to be with you. I like Michelle and I was not jealous of her. The feeling I have is completely different and I don’t understand it.”

Scott
was clearly surprised by her confession and equally confused. “Would it be alright if I was with someone like Amie?”

Beth
shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t even think you are supposed to be with me. When we were on the steps kissing each other, I felt guilty and it wasn’t because of Michelle. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be with you. This is really strange.”

Scott
thought he was beginning to understand at least part of what she was saying. “So you are thinking I am not supposed to be with anyone.”

Beth
was clearly frustrated when she spoke. “You are supposed to be with someone, but I don’t know who she is. I don’t know anything about her. I just know it is not Amie, Michelle, or me. I’m sorry because I shouldn’t be doing anything to mess things up with you and Michelle.”

Scott
looked at Beth after taking several minutes to realize a possible explanation for Beth’s unusual experience. “Do you think you could be reading my mind?”

She was completely serious with answer. “Sometimes I think I can read your mind. However, my feeling of the need to break you and
Michelle up doesn’t feel like that. It’s almost as if the idea is coming from somewhere else.”

Scott
could not believe what she was telling him but he could tell from her expression and her body language that she was revealing something that was unpleasant for her to share. “I realize that I sound like a mental case, but I am not crazy. When we were on the steps, I wanted you to kiss me because I am attracted to you. I never intended to take off my top and let you play around, but something was telling me to have sex with you and then go tell Michelle all about it. This is getting scary for me because nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

Scott
was listening and trying to understand what she was telling him while finding her thoughts difficult to believe. “What does it mean when you said you thought the idea was coming from somewhere else? I don’t understand.”

Beth
knew if she told him the truth about her feeling, he would think she was losing her mind. Still, she also felt a strong need to explain her actions. “I don’t know how to describe it. I suppose that if you have ever played baseball and someone in the stands was cheering for you, then it might feel the same way. Even though you don’t know the fan, they are in your head. Only in this case, she really is in my head and she is trying to put thoughts into my mind.”

Scott
had taken a few classes in psychology and learned just enough to be concerned about Beth. As he sat quietly for a few moments, he tried to piece together the things he had observed about Beth. She possessed a fear of men that was almost irrational, yet if she had been in an abusive relationship, then that might explain her reluctance to be with a man.

It only took
Scott a moment to remember Beth’s statement that she had been seeing a counselor for years. Her statement would suggest she had long-standing issues to confront. If she were now having thoughts placed in her head by some unknown source that were directing her to destroy his relationship with Michelle, then perhaps her issues were more significant than he once thought.

There was still another problem for
Scott to consider. He had somehow mentally discovered things about her abusive ex-boyfriend that he had no way of knowing. In addition, Beth and Michelle were apparently able to communicate with each other when neither was speaking, just as they had done only hours before. These facts were clearly suggesting something unusual was going on.

For
Scott, there were three likely reasons for Beth’s confession. Either Beth was having psychological problems or she was experiencing some sort of psychic experience, or she was playing some strange game with him. Scott was determined to find out what she was doing. “You said she is really in your mind, so I guess my question is this. Who is she and how do you know those thoughts are put there by a female?”

Beth
was watching Scott’s reaction while knowing her story and her credibility was on the line. “Why don’t you just go ahead and say you think I’ve lost my mind. I understand that I sound like I have paranoid delusions, that I am hearing voices and have gone crazy. I wish I hadn’t told you anything, but I thought the truth was better than living the lie.”

“
Beth, I am trying to understand what’s going on with you. If you are not crazy, then you of all people will understand why this story is far out in left field. I really don’t think you are having a mental breakdown, but I don’t understand, nor can I explain what’s going on with you. Tell me something I can use to figure this out.” Scott replied.

Beth
’s reply was made with more honesty and clarity. “Scott, I feel like someone is trying to use me to come between you and Michelle. However, it is not about Michelle because this girl doesn’t want you with anyone but her. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions. I am trying to respect you and Michelle and at the same time, I am being pulled to help this unknown person get whatever it is she wants. To make matters even worse, she’s getting stronger. I just proved that fact to you on the steps. She also doesn’t like me having this conversation with you. I’m getting scared.”

Realizing that
Beth really was afraid, Scott tried to sort out the details and discover what he could. “You aren’t going to like this question, but I assume you have heard of someone having a multiple personality. Is it possible that you’re expressing two sides of yourself?”

Beth
knew Scott was only trying to apply logical thinking to her illogical situation. “I know about multiple personality disorder and I understand why you would have to ask that question. What I am going through is not the same thing. I don’t get any sense that I am coming on to you for my personal benefit. It’s as if I am doing this for her. She wants me to be very close to you so that she can experience whatever I experience.”

Scott
scratched his head. “You keep talking about her. How do you know she is a girl?” 

“I
can tell by the way she thinks and here is the interesting part of the story. I can’t feel her presence unless you’re around. Here is the bad part of this story. Each time I get around you, she is getting stronger and she seems to be able to know what I am thinking. As I said before, she is not happy we are having this discussion.”

Scott
was at a complete loss. “How do you know she’s not happy?”

Beth
replied in a calm but direct voice, “I don’t know how I know anything about her. I am getting the feeling right now that she would like to become a part of me so that she could have a relationship with you.”

Beth
saw Scott turn his attention away and knew she had to try to regain his confidence. “I know I sound like I am losing my mind but please don’t give up on me. This is real and not some mental problem.”

Beth
paused for a moment before feeling she had to explain in better detail what she was going through. “At first, I didn’t recognize her thoughts as being different from mine. I thought you were someone I would be interested in, which I still do, but she kept coming into my mind with a different set of expectations than I have. It’s almost as if she knows you already.”

Scott
knew he needed to leave to get ready for dinner but chose to ask another question. “What does she want right now at this very minute?”

Beth
stood in front of Scott, as he remained seated on the bed. “You don’t want to know and I don’t want to help her get it. So maybe the best thing you can do is go get ready for dinner.”

Scott
stood up and looked at Beth for a few moments. “Are you willing to tell Michelle what you’ve told me?”

Beth
nodded her head. “I am willing to tell her and I think we better tell her tonight while I still can.”

Beth
put her arms around him and held Scott for several minutes before they kissed each other. As she pulled her lips away from his, Beth spoke in a soft voice. “That was my idea and nor hers.”

Holding her tight,
Scott chose to ask another question. “Whose idea was it for you to take your top off on the steps and let me get to know you better?”
              After another long kiss, Beth smiled at Scott. “It was her idea for me to strip for you and it was my idea to stop you.”

Scott
continued to stare at Beth as she stood across the room. “I have to give the ghost credit for making this an interesting afternoon.”

Beth
smiled even though she was serious. “She is not a ghost by any stretch of the imagination, but she does have an interesting approach to getting her way.”

Scott
started for the bedroom door as Beth started for the bathroom to take her shower. Scott turned to Beth before he passed through the door. “Are you going to be alright by yourself or do you need for me to stay with you?”

Beth
considered his offer for only a moment. “Oddly enough, I may be better off with you gone. She doesn’t seem to have any interest in me if you aren’t around. I would appreciate it if you would make sure the outside doors are locked when you leave.”

Scott
soon left her house, stopping as he reached the sandy beach. He walked to the edge of the water and stood looking at the waves before he waded into the surf before making his way along the beach to William’s house. As he walked along, he realized there was too much going on that did not lend itself to an easy explanation.

CHAPTER XVIII

As Scott walked down the boardwalk to the house, he saw Michelle sitting on the deck with her feet propped up on a table. She was reading and had not realized he was approaching. As he drew closer, his movement startled her. She held her hand to her chest as she spoke. “You scared me. I must have been so absorbed in this article that I didn’t hear you coming.”

Scott
sat in the chair across from her. “I’m sorry. I should have made a little more noise. What are you reading?”

“It’s an article on
psychic ability and why people feel a certain connection to other people.”

Her choice of articles caught
Scott’s attention given the conversation he just finished having with Beth. “Can I assume you’re trying to figure out what’s going on between you and Beth?”

Michelle
replied, “I’ll make you a deal. Go take a shower and get dressed while I finish the article. Then we can talk for a while. I just called Beth and told her we would be by to get her at six-thirty, so this will give us a few minutes to talk and be alone. She was fine with that because she said she was running late.”

Scott
got up and moved closer to Michelle before kissing her on the top of the head. “That sounds like a plan.”

Having
showered and dressed, he made his way to the deck where Michelle was still reading other articles. He sat across from her drinking a Coke as Beth’s words were beginning to haunt him.

She turned
off her Kindle as she placed it on the table while considering how she would approach their conversation. Michelle looked across the table at Scott to ensure he was listening to what she was about to say. “I’m not very comfortable in my skin right now. I’m confused, I’m nervous, and I don’t understand what is going on with me. I’ve never been like this before. I feel like I am living in an Alfred Hitchcock movie or something.”

Scott
was trying to get a sense of what Michelle was saying without revealing his conversation with Beth. “Do you think we are trying to move too fast given you have just broken of your engagement to Tom?”

Michelle
knew she had to give him an answer, but she wasn’t ready to tell him what was bothering her. “It doesn’t have anything to do with Tom. I’m sure I made the right decision about my relationship with him.”

Scott
decided he would press the matter further. “Are you angry or bothered by the fact that I tried to help Amie last night and again this morning.”

After giving his question more thought,
Michelle replied in a truthful manner. “To be honest, I don’t think you have any real interest in her other than trying to help her, but I could be wrong about that.”

He shook his head. “
She is not my type. So could Beth be the source of your confusion and anxiety?”

Michelle
shook her head emphatically. “My problems started early Friday morning before we even met Beth. I’m not sure what’s going on with Beth and me. We had fun today and I really like her. At the same time, I get confused when the three of us are together. I’m fine with her when it is just Beth and me. But when you are with us, I start getting confused.”

“What are you confused about?”
Scott asked.

Michelle
continued to be reluctant in discussing her feeling knowing that he would have some difficulty understanding her situation. “There are times when I wonder if you and I should be together. There are also times when I think you and I were made for each other. I can’t explain any reason why I would have any doubts about us because it doesn’t make sense and I know I shouldn’t be having those feelings.”

Scott
assumed Michelle was having the same thoughts Beth had expressed. “Can you think of any reason why you might have doubts about us? Is there anything I have done that makes you question our relationship?”

She leaned forward with her arms resting on the table. “I feel like I am pushing you and
Beth together and I can’t think of a single reason I would want that. When you and I should have been together this afternoon, I told her to keep you entertained so I could have some time to myself.”

Feeling perhaps a slight sense of
rejection from Michelle, Scott leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “What exactly did you mean by keeping me entertained? What were you expecting her to do?”

Michelle
became slightly defensive. “I assumed you might just talk or go swimming together in the pool. I assumed she could keep you company.”

He chose to be somewhat more
confrontational in his approach. “Beth didn’t have to babysit me in order for you to have time alone. I could have gone fishing or you could have taken a walk on the beach. I think you’re right when you say you seem to be pushing Beth and me together and I don’t understand why you would do that.”

Michelle
stood up and walked to the deck railing overlooking the beach. “I don’t understand it either. If we are going to have this discussion then I would also need to point out that you seem to enjoy her company.”

Scott
replied without thinking. “Is that what this conversation is all about?”

Michelle
turned around and stared at Scott. She was neither angry nor confrontational in the least. “I don’t know what this conversation or this weekend is all about.”

“I know what the weekend was supposed to be about, but we appear to have gotten sidetracked
from our purpose.” Scott replied.

She looked down at the deck floor as she replied. “I know. Maybe tomorrow we can get back on track.”

Scott joined her at the deck railing. “I think you’re right. Maybe we can get a little time alone in the hot tub and this will all be a distant memory.”

Michelle
was doubtful about his answer. “So you think getting me in the hot tub will solve all our problems?”

Scott
was standing behind Michelle as he placed his arms around her waist. “It might take several trips to the Jacuzzi before all the problems are gone.”

She looked over her shoulder making sure he saw her smile. “Should I invite
Beth to be there with us?”

Scott
too was smiling as he replied to her question. “She should come only if you want her to take pictures of you feeling a total sense of sexual exhilaration.”

Michelle
turned to face him with a sly expression. “How do I know you can meet my expectations?”

“I guess you’ll just have to take your chances.”
Scott replied.

She became more serious as she put her arms around his neck. “Are you sorry you came here with me? I know this weekend hasn’t been what either of us was expecting. I wanted everything to be perfect for us once we decided to come here together and so far, things have not worked out like I had imagined.”

He wanted to make her feel better and at the same time give her an answer she would accept. “Except for our first two nights, it’s not what I expected either. We had a great time Thursday and I enjoyed seeing Betsy and William. This is just the beginning for us.”

After giving each other a long series of kisses,
Michelle pointed out another consideration. “With you being my own version of Sherlock Holmes, you have to admit this has been interesting. You have some real life mysteries to solve and you need to get on with that little project.”

They started for the car before
Scott replied. “I was just thinking that James Bond has more fun than Sherlock when it comes to girls. Maybe I should change my identity.”

Michelle
nodded her head as though she understood, but her response was not what he was expecting. “That might work out better for me too. I had much rather be James Bond’s only wife Tracy, than to be Dr. Watson.”         

They drove the short distance to
Beth’s house and within a few moments, she stepped out on the porch. When she turned to lock the door, Michelle spoke in a whisper. “Do you suppose they poured her into that shirt? That has to be the tightest top she owns. Look at that damn little flat stomach of hers.”

“
I see a real potential for another Bond girl.” Scott replied, with a slight grin.

Michelle
hit Scott on the leg. “You are not to look at her from the neck down for the rest of the night. Come to think of it, don’t even look at her at all.”

“Sweetheart, your shirt isn’t exactly baggy either. Do I have to look at you from the neck up too?”

Smiling at Scott after his observation, Michelle replied, “You can look at me all night long, but keep your eyes off the little blue eyed shark”.

Beth
got in the front seat after Michelle slid to the middle. She immediately turned to Beth. “I love your shirt and it looks great on you. Is that the one you got this morning?”

Beth
started smiling. “Yes. This is one we found in that little shop in Morehead City. You don’t think it makes me look too busty do you.”

Michelle
’s answer did not reflect her earlier comments. “It’s hard for people to see your car if you park it in the garage.”

Michelle
was grinning as she looked at the expression on Scott’s face. “Did you have something you wanted to add to the conversation?”

Scott
kept his eyes on the road as he made a comment that neither accepted at face value. “All I was going to say was that the two of you look very nice tonight.”

Beth
directed her statement at Michelle. “I somehow have the feeling the compliment is not even close to what he was actually thinking.”

Scott
chose to respond to Beth. “Every forty-year-old man in the restaurant with his wife and two screaming children are going to be looking at me and thinking about how lucky I am. When I walk through the door with the two of you, all the old men will be asking for my autograph.”

They drove into Morehead city and were able to find a parking space across
from the fish market and restaurant. The winds continued to blow steady with some of the boats bobbing up and down in the water. It took only a few minutes to be seated for dinner given most people had apparently decided to stay home and avoid the approaching storm.

Scott
was seated to Michelle’s right with Beth sitting across from Scott when the waiter came to take their order. While sipping their margaritas, the conversation covering a wide range of topics was mostly between Michelle and Beth. They talked about their plans for the future, their college experience, clothes, and an assortment of other unrelated topics. 

Much to his relief and frustration, their conversation was no different from anything he might hear any two girls discussing with each other. In reality, their conversation prov
ided only one real insight. They appeared truly to enjoy each other’s company. Scott soon turned his attention to the large plate glass window and the view of the distant island across the sound.

By the end of dinner, he had seen only one real difference in
Michelle and Beth. They both appeared to be very calm and relaxed which he attributed to the mixed drinks they both had enjoyed.

Having left the restaurant,
Michelle announced she was going to one of the small shops before going home. She assured Scott she would only take a few minutes, which in Scott’s mind meant at least an hour. Beth elected to remain with Scott as they sat on a bench looking at the fishing boats next to the restaurant.

Being alone for the first time since their afternoon encounter left
each of them unsure of what they would say to each other. Scott chose to break the awkward silence. “The wind feels stronger than when we left the house.”

“I can already see lightning in the distance. I don’t know why I am so afraid of storms. I’ve never been hurt or seen any real damage from a storm, except for hurricanes.”

Scott tried to reassure her. “You’re going to be fine.”

Beth
hesitated for a moment before she spoke. “Do you want to talk about the weather or what happened between us this afternoon?”

Scott
smiled as he looked at Beth. “The weather would be an easier conversation, but I think talking about us is more important.”

She turned her
gaze to the fishing boats. “I am not making excuses for what happened because I am responsible for what I did and you are responsible for what you did. I can tell you by way of explanation that I don’t understand what got into me. What you saw today is not who I am. I was on an emotional roller coaster for a long time now, but this weekend has been really different for me.”

“What made this weekend different?”

She had already given her ideas quite some deliberation. “Finding out what happened on the canoe trip took a load off my shoulders. That was important to me but there’s still far more going on in my life and especially this weekend.”

The fact that
Beth made a difference between the existing issues in her life and the apparent new issues she was feeling this weekend was an idea that caught his attention. “Why do you think things changed for you in the last two days?”