Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 4
 
 

'' Reese?'', Simone says, looking at the figure in the doorway.

'' Oh good, you already know one another. So, Simone, I can depend on you to talk with Reese and organize a tutoring schedule ASAP?''

'' Yes, Mrs. Timmons.''

'' Well, I have to check on something, you two can use my office to arrange your first session.'' Mrs. Timmons leaves the office.

'' Did you know anything about this?'', Simone asks with an almost accusatory tone.

'' No. I just knew she wanted me to tutor ‘a’ student. But, even if I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have turned it down.''

Simone didn’t know how to react to that. '' Ok. Well, where do you want to meet for my first session.''

'' You could come over to my house.''

'' No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.''

'' How about your house?''

'' No. I try and spend as little time at home as possible.''

Reese smiled. '' I know the perfect place.'' He took a piece of paper from Mrs. Timmons’ desk and wrote a note. '' Meet me here at 4 o’clock.

He didn’t even wait for Simone’s answer, and walked away.

Sam Bennett took a look up at the sky. He was out where he needed to be: the sea. He had taken an early leave of his shift, and came to his boat.

He was sitting there, just soaking in the rays, when he hears a voice:

'' Mind if I share your sun?''

Sam’s eyes shot open to see Ivy standing there, in a bikini. A small bikini.

'' Ivy! What the hell are you doing here?''

'' I thought it was a perfect day for a boating trip. I see you thought the same.''

'' How did you find out about my trip?''

'' I have my ways.''

'' Well, that’s it. We’re going to back to shore.'' Sam moves to get up, but, before he can, Ivy has pushed him back down, and is straddling him.

'' Ivy…''

'' Sam. You can’t deny what we have together. ''

'' Yes, I can.''

'' No, you can’t.'', Ivy says, lowering her mouth to Sam’s, and though he tries to avoid it, he doesn’t try hard enough. The kiss is long, deep, and passionate. They barely get air to catch their breath, when Ivy is back at it again, but, this time, her hands are under Sam’s t-shirt, running her nails across Sam’s chest, driving him wild with desire. Ivy pulls his shirt off, and he unfastens her bikini top, and before he knows it, she is pulling down his shorts, and the two of them are making love passionately.
 

Father Lonigan opens the confessional door.

'' Forgive me, Father for I have sinned. It has been several weeks since my last confession. I am ashamed, Father.''

'' What is it, my child?''

'' I have broken my marriage vows. I have committed adultery.''

'' GRACE?!''

'' Yes, Father.'', Grace says in a small voice.

'' It IS you?''

'' Yes. Father Lonigan, I would like to talk to you, face to face.''

'' I understand. Let’s go to my office.''

Grace and Father Lonigan walk in silence to his office. Once inside, Grace takes a seat.

'' Would you like some water, Grace?''

'' No thank you, Father.''

'' So, YOU committed adultery?''

'' Yes, Father. It began when I, and I know it sounds strange, but, I ‘felt’ Sam giving into his feelings and making love to Ivy. Whatever these powers are, I’ve always had a connection to Sam, and it manifested itself in this form. ''

'' I’m sorry Grace.''

'' Thank you. Well, when I felt Sam betraying me with Ivy, the pain in my heart just got greater and greater, to the point where I was just devastated. I was in so much pain. So, I….it ultimately led to me committing adultery. I don’t feel right in telling you the other person’s name. He’s married too.''

'' That’s fine.''

'' The odd thing is, Father, I didn’t intend for it to happen. Neither did he. It really DID ‘ just happen’. It’s ironic. I used to watch shows where people would talk about cheating on their spouses, and they’d use the phrase ‘ just happen’, and I sat in judgement of them. I was very condescending towards them. I just KNEW that they were awful people. That they had no morals or anything. And, here I am….just as bad as they are.''

'' Grace…''

'' No, Father Lonigan. I broke my marriage vows. I betrayed not only my husband, but a promise I made before God, and the family that I’m supposed to be helping head. What upsets me the most is the feeling that I have when I think about the adultery. I don’t have any shame, Father. ''

'' No?''

'' No shame at all. And, it’s not because I think it’s ‘revenge’ against Sam. The odd thing is that Sam doesn’t even come into it. I have no shame about it, because, in a way, it felt so ‘right’. How this could be, I don’t know. Since it happened, I’ve been having dreams, Father. Of this man a long time ago. Makes no sense.''

'' Grace, have you told Sam?''

'' Told Sam? Father, Sam and I can’t even be in the same room with one another. Sam came to see me and confessed to me about sleeping with Ivy. He told me that it was a mistake, and that he realizes how much he loves me and wants to be with me. He’s willing to do anything to put our marriage together.''

'' Well, that sounds promising. I’ll be willing to do counseling, and I have the name of several good counselors in the area.''

'' But Father, how can I ask Sam to go to counseling, when I, too, have committed adultery?''

'' You could tell Sam?''

'' Sam would want to know who it was. And, even if I have the right to play games with my own marriage, I don’t have the right to torpedo someone else’s. This man, he doesn’t believe his wife will understand, and I don’t think she will either. I can’t risk ruining another family, Father.''

'' So, what are you going to do?''

'' I don’t know. If I thought that Sam and I really had a chance, I’d do the therapy. But, my own mistake has ruined things. I get the feeling that I’ve just begun to pay for my mistake, and that I’m going to wind up destroying so many lives with this one action.''

'' Confession and getting things out into the open, so that everyone can deal with the truth is the best way, Grace.''

'' I used to believe that Father. But, now….my words can destroy lives. That is a pressure that I just can’t handle right now. I have to concentrate on my children. I have to concentrate on keeping Sam in their lives. And, I don’t think that Sam is really ready to reconcile with me. I could feel earlier that he was making love again to Ivy. I wish my connection to him would just go away, because it makes me sick to my stomach. Sleeping with her once, he could try to explain away. But, now? No, he’s avoiding his feelings for Ivy, for whatever reason. Sam is as confused as I am, and I would be a fool to let him back into my life. God, I wish I had never met Ivy Crane. I’ve never hated anyone in my life, but, I hate her.''

'' Grace…''

'' I know it’s wrong, Father. But, I don’t care. That bitch made a fool of me for over a year, as she pursued MY husband right under my nose. All the times that I had sympathy for that lying cypher. I could smack myself for it. I know it’s not the Christian way of thinking, but, Ivy Crane doesn’t inspire Christianity, Father.''

'' Grace, I think you and Sam need to get to a counselor as soon as possible. I think if you confess to him your involvement with adultery, Sam will be able to open his heart. The two of you need to open your hearts to one another, and really practice forgiveness. You took vows before God, Grace. It wasn’t only ‘for better’. They say ‘for better or for worse’ for a reason. Worse doesn’t look so good, but, couples are supposed to get through those times, and lean on the better times as a guide to what will happen if you weather the bad times.''

'' I’ll have to think about it, Father. I’ll get back to you. I’m sure I’ll need many more of these conferences before it’s all said and done.''

'' God bless you, Grace. You let him guide you, and I’m sure you will make the right choices.''

'' Thank you, Father.''