“She is a friend of Beth’s and I think he got involved with Amie because of some longstanding guilt issues related to Ashley that stem from her accident when she was in high school. Oddly enough, he had nothing to do with her accident yet he still feels guilty about it.”
Betsy sat calmly before she spoke. “If I am following this story correctly, we should be around noon on Saturday. What happened next?”
“I got jealous of Scott and Amie so Beth, Scott, and I went swimming. Next, we all went out to dinner and after we went to bed, Beth got in bed with us because she was terrified over the storm. Scott, Beth, and I went to sleep once the storm was over.”
Betsy placed her hand over her ears. “Stop right there! Are you telling me Scott was in bed with two women?”
Michelle looked at Betsy. “Beth was afraid and had no where else to go.”
William was standing in the parking lot talking to Hank and Nancy when Scott returned with their car. After a brief conversation, Hank and Nancy left for their weekend trip and Scott followed William into the motor home. As Scott and William were standing next to the table, William casually asked Scott about his beach trip with Michelle.
Before Scott could answer, Betsy smacked at William. “For God’s sake, don’t ask. You really don’t want to know.”
William sat next to Betsy while Scott fixed William a drink. Betsy looked at William. “From what I can tell, Beth was not actually raped by a moose so Scott was able to take Amie to the hospital before Beth and Michelle went shopping.”
William understood Betsy’s message. “Let’s just get to the bottom line. What plans have the two of you made?”
Michelle looked at Scott expecting him to answer a few questions after her long explanation to Betsy. “We have decided that if we were really meant to be together, we would have been together long before now. Michelle is going to Washington and I may be coming back to Asheville.”
William directed his question to Scott. “How did you personally reach this decision?”
“I think Beth started me thinking about our situation. She asked me if I was in love with Michelle or if I just love Michelle. As Beth points out, those are two very different things.”
William addressed the same question to Michelle. Her reply was somewhat similar to Scott’s answer. “Beth asked me one night if we were taking our relationship to the next level just to save the friendship.”
William looked back at Scott. “So you may move to Asheville. Did you ask Michelle to go with you? Michelle, did you ask Scott to go with you to Washington?”
Michelle was ready to defend their decision. “We had a truth conference last night and decided that we need time to find out if we really are right for each other. We think being apart from each other will help us make that decision.”
Betsy became far more serious when she responded. “You went to separate schools for four years. If you didn’t find out what you needed to know then, you won’t find out in the next six months. Let me ask you both a question. What are you expecting the other person to do that would help you make your decision about where you go from here. Your time together is running out.”
Scott thought for a moment before he replied. “If I made a decision that caused Michelle to get hurt, I would not be able to live with it. Going to Washington is what she feels like she needs to do and I won’t argue with her. There is nothing wrong with Michelle. The problem is with me.”
Michelle turned and faced Scott. “Damn it Scott, she made a choice to get in the car with a drunken driver. It wasn’t your fault. I am sorry for her and I know how you feel, but you can’t fix all the broken girls. Sometimes people have to understand that their actions have consequences. I am truly sorry for Ashley, but you didn’t cause that problem and you can’t fix it.”
Betsy chose not to enter that discussion as she turned to Michelle. “What is your reservation about being with Scott?”
She thought for a moment. “I’m afraid I won’t meet his expectations. I’m afraid I will lose him as my friend and end up with nothing. Just like Amie and Beth, I am also a broken girl, but Scott has never understood that.”
Scott looked at her with a sense of surprise. “You are the standard I use to measure by. If you are broken, it doesn’t matter because I love you just the way you are.”
William stood up and motioned for Betsy to come with him. “I am going to make you one last offer. The two of you can take the motor home and drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few days. Stop at a campground and walk to the top of Mount Mitchell. You can see four different states from the observation tower. But of greater importance, maybe you will be able to see each other for who you really are.”
Betsy stood up as she spoke. “I’m going to sweeten his offer. When you come back on Sunday, I will throw a party at which time you can tell the world you are getting married or you can call it a farewell party. I can promise you that with Scott in Asheville and Michelle in Washington it will only be a matter of time until your relationship fades away. Time and distance are very difficult for any couple to overcome no matter how much you love each other.”
Michelle looked at Scott. “We should talk about their offer because it does make sense.”
Scott nodded his head. “I agree, because it is something we should consider.”
With his patience nearly gone, William pounded his fist on the table. “Get in the driver's seat and start the motor. When you get to Interstate 40, go west if you want to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you want to go back to New Bern, drive east. For God’s sake, just do one or the other without spending the next six weeks talking about it. The two of you are pathetic. I’ve always heard a blind squirrel can eventually find an acorn. The two of you can’t even find the forest.”
He started for the door. “I can bring down a United States Congressman and I can’t even get these two on a date. I’m getting too old for this.”
Betsy was following close behind. “I think the two of you would drive to Pope to drink.”
As Betsy and William got in their car, Michelle looked at Scott. “I guess we’ve been told.”
Scott drove out to the interstate before he began to slow down. “Do we go east or west?”
Michelle replied. “I’ll trust your decision.”
Scott turned on the entrance ramp heading east toward the New Bern on Interstate 40 having made a choice he was sure Michelle agreed with. “Two days on the Parkway isn’t going to fix us.”
“Maybe a few months in Washington will.” Michelle replied.
William and Betsy had pulled over at a service station near the I40 interchange to watch and see what choice Scott and Michelle would make. As soon as Scott got on the I40 East ramp, William reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He then handed Betsy a five-dollar bill. “You were right.”
Betsy looked at him and smiled. “Keep your wallet out so you can pay me the other five dollars when they announce her trip to Washington on Sunday night.”
William put the car in gear and drove off from the parking lot. “That’s when I will earn my five dollars back. They will have to talk about it some more and then move away from each other. Then they will find some excuse to come back to New Bern and start all over. They will be in their late eighties before they decide to do something, but they will get married.”
Betsy sat quietly for a while before she spoke. “Well if you are so sure, then let’s make it a fifty dollar bet.”
William was not inclined to rush into another bet with Betsy. “What makes you so sure they won’t get married?”
Betsy smiled as she stared ahead at the highway. “They have been having truth conferences for years, but today they finally told each other the truth. Scott is afraid he might do something to hurt Michelle and Michelle is afraid Scott might discover that she wasn’t perfect.”
William put his wallet in the glove compartment. “I should have learned long ago not to bet against you. Now I’m down five dollars and h
ave no way to get it back.”
Betsy smiled. “You’re learning William, you’re learning.”
CHAPTER XXIV
Sunday night came and went with Michelle being the guest of honor at William and Betsy’s farewell party. With the exception of Scott, everyone had expected Michelle to change her mind about going to Washington. She spent all day on Monday and most of Tuesday morning getting ready to leave, but they saved Tuesday afternoon for a quick trip to the lighthouse.
After their afternoon at the beach, they drove back to New Bern for dinner on the waterfront. Knowing their time together was ending, their dinner date was a somewhat somber occasion even as they both tried to make it somewhat festive.
Scott drove Michelle home around eight-thirty in the evening. Stopping in front of her house, he was watching Michelle as he turned off the engine. “When we used to leave each other to go to school, I always knew we would get together when we came home on breaks.”
Michelle looked out of the window to avoid looking at Scott. “I always knew you would be here. If you move to Asheville or anywhere else, you won’t be here the next time I come home.”
Scott realized he had to understand what Michelle’s expectations might be. “I talked to you almost every night while we were in school, but now you say you need to get away from me for a while. Do you want me to call you or do you want the time alone to figure out your life.”
She thought about his question before she gave him an answer. “If I hear the sound of your voice, I’ll find a reason to come running home and that’s not going to solve my problems.”
“This is starting to sound like a real goodbye.” Scott replied.
“Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
Scott rolled down his window before he answered. “You could ask the person you see in the mirror that same question, but I don’t think she would have an answer for you right now.”
She reached for the door handle. “We had a good run together and to be honest, I would love to spend the next two weeks telling you goodbye, but this is just too hard for me.”
They got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk holding each other for several minutes. Michelle hit him in the back lightly as her arms were holding him. “I almost want you to argue with me and tell me I should stay with you.”
Scott continued to hold her. “I can’t argue with you because you said that I have to be on your side even when you’re wrong. If we didn’t have that rule, I would try to talk you into staying.”
“That would imply that you don’t think I am making the right decision.” Michelle replied.
“On Wednesday night, you said we had to make a commitment to each other and I thought we did. What happened to that commitment?” Scott asked.
Michelle thought for a moment. “You made a deal with a girl who can’t get her life straightened out. I know you love me because you can see everyone’s problems and issues except mine.”
Scott shook his head. “I can see your issues as clearly as you can see mine. I just accept you for who you are which is why I have always loved you.”
Michelle took both of his hands as she looked at his face. “Promise me that if I ever come up to bat again, you’ll tell me what the pitcher is going to throw.”
Scott thought about her question for only a moment. “The leaves in Asheville will be changing colors in October. There will be a cool crisp feel of the wind in the morning when the sun reflects off the dew. With a few logs on the fire, it is a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset. There will be a place for you if you decide you need a short vacation.”
Michelle considered his offer. “What if I decide I need a vacation that lasts for several years or maybe for a lifetime?”
Scott was not going to leave his invitation opened ended. “I guess that all depends on how long it takes you and me to get our heads on straight. Until we get there, neither of us knows where this road takes us.”
Michelle turned and started for the house as Scott returned to his car. She knew Scott was telling her that time waits for no one and she knew how hard it was for him to say those words.
For years, they had been dreading the coming of this day and now the hour was at hand. It was typical of their history together that neither should say the word “goodbye” and tonight was no exception. They concluded years ago that “goodbye” sounded much too final.
Scott started the engine as he watched Michelle close the front door. He spoke in a whisper as he put the car in gear and started down the road. “Goodbye Michelle.”
Thinking it would be too hard for both of them, Scott and Michelle agreed they would not see each other on Wednesday before she left New Bern. Instead, Scott returned to the lighthouse where he spent the day alone with his thoughts.
He went to visit Ashley at the rehabilitation center on Friday afternoon. Once again, she was in the courtyard sitting alone when he arrived. He pushed her wheelchair closer to a wall where he could sit while he talked to her and held her hand. Scott could feel her trying to hold his finger while also noticing the strength of her grip was not as strong as usual.
She always seemed to enjoy having Scott brush her hair, which led him to look inside her small purse and remove a brush. As he pulled the brush through her wind blown hair, he thought she was making an effort to smile. He was finding it difficult to think of subjects or news she might find interesting when Scott decided to tell her about the shark he caught while fishing at the beach.
Scott began to brush her bangs, but stopped for a few moments and stared at her. The right side of her face was slightly drawn up and the muscles in her arms and legs were loose and weak, looking slightly contorted. If she were able to understand him, then he wanted to make her feel some sense of pride and satisfaction. “You look beautiful today.”
In the past when he spoke to her, she would try to make some response, but he saw nothing in her eyes that would lead him to believe she had heard his words.
After spending forty-five minutes with Ashley, one of the attendants came to take her to physical therapy. With his usual hug and kiss, he sat on the wall as they pushed her into the building.
Scott remained seated on the wall and staring down at the ground. Soon after Ashley was taken away, a nurse came and sat down beside him. In pure hopeless frustration, Scott turned to face the nurse. “Does she have a clue who I am? When I’m looking at her, am I only seeing what I want to see? Does she really smile at me or is that just my imagination? Does she have any memory of who I am or why I’m here? Do her eyes sometimes sparkle sometimes because she’s happy or is it just an allergy?”
The nurse looked away as she replied, “We don’t know with any certainty what she does and doesn’t know. Last Friday, she became somewhat agitated and stayed that way until late Sunday afternoon. We don’t know what might have set her off.”
“How is she doing with her therapy?” Scott asked.
The nurse shook her head. “We do physical therapy with her twice a day now, but she is losing muscle mass, which is not a good sign. She seems less attentive and responsive and she has had some respiratory issues.”
Scott was staring at the ground as he spoke. “Is she dying?”
The nurse looked at Scott and then turned her head. “We are not allowed to talk about her condition except with family members.”
Scott’s voice was much stronger when he spoke again. “I’ve been coming to see her for what seems like forever. I need to know if she’s dying.”
The nurse looked directly at Scott. “Yes. She is dying and I am afraid there is nothing we can do to change that fact. We are starting to see some weakness in her liver and kidney function tests. The family has asked that we not take extraordinary steps to save her.”
“How long do you think she has?” Scott asked.
The nurse shook her head. “It’s impossible to say but I would think a few months at best, maybe sooner.”
After several minutes of silence, his words reflected h
is private thoughts. “At least she’ll be free and become a part of something much bigger than us. I guess that’s a good thing.”
The nurse stood as she prepared to leave, as she needed to check on other clients. “For what it is worth, you’ve stood beside her the entire time and I think you being here makes a difference in the quality of her life. I can’t prove it, but I think it’s true.”
Scott also rose to his feet. “Thank you for telling me the truth and thank you for taking care of her. If she has two weeks or two months left, I have to make whatever time she has left be the best I can make it.”
Scott left the center so absorbed in his sense of impending loss, that he did not take the time to answer his cell phone when Beth called. Every memory he had about his time with Ashley was flowing through his mind. His last dance with her at the prom, the crumpled twisted metal of the car that destroyed her life, her endless stare into oblivion at the rehab center, and all the time they spent together in high school were now all meshed together creating a tapestry in his mind.
Contemplations of her death brought about his feelings of premeditated guilt and loss. After all, he could have done more for her. He could have come to see her far more often than he did. Had he made a different choice on prom night, she would never have been the victim of her fate. At least for the moment, if there was anything he could blame himself for, he was going to do it.
As he sat in the parking lot, his cell phone rang once again. This time he looked down to see who was calling only to realize it was Beth. With some hesitation, he finally answered the call after several rings. They took only a few minutes exchanging greetings and engaging in small talk.
It was not long before Beth came to the reason for her call. “Michelle called me this afternoon and said I should check in on you.”
Scott replied without thinking about his answer. “That’s very nice of Michelle to call someone else to ask how I’m doing.”
Beth’s reply was slower in coming. “I don’t think I want to get into that discussion on the phone. Anyway, the people who were going to use the beach house aren’t going to be there this weekend. I thought you might want to stop by if you didn’t have anything else planned.”
Brother Willy's Traveling Salvation Show Page 29
