“DAMIEN!” she shouted.
“Sorry, yeah, so anyway, it told me you left this morning, chimed when you got to the train station and we followed you there and we asked a girl and she said you bought a ticket to Bucksville and so we got on the next train and now we’re here. Like I said, we just want to help. I realize the news you got from your mom was a shock and I want to be there for you, Jos. We’ve never had secrets before, I just want to help.” The distress was obvious on Damien’s face, not only from the overall situation but also from upsetting Josie.
Josie felt sorry for him. He was a genuine and nice person; he was honest in his effort to help her. She might not have been able to pinpoint Michael’s motives, but she recognized that there was nothing sinister about Damien’s. Softening, she said, “I realize you’re trying to help and I’m sorry there are secrets between us, but I can’t explain it, not right now. I wish I could. I know it’s hard for you, but I can’t. You have to trust me, trust that I know what I’m doing and that soon everything will be back to normal.”
Damien nodded at her, still upset but willing to not push things further right now. “I’m sorry I upset you, Jos.”
“You didn’t upset me, D.” She moved to him and gave him a hug. “But you need to leave while I sort this out.”
“Why? What is the big secret?” Michael chimed in.
“You know, I’m not mad at him, but I am mad at you. You don’t get to ask questions,” Josie said, pointing at him.
Josie was about to continue but Charlotte returned to the foyer. “Mrs. Paxton has your rooms ready. I’m sure you two are tired after your long day. Have you eaten? I can have something sent up for you if you’d like?”
“Oh, no, thank you, we had dinner at the café,” Michael answered.
“Oh, I hope you enjoyed it. Our little town does have good food. Wells, let me show you up to your rooms. Oh, unless I interrupted your conversation?” She turned to Josie for an answer.
“We’re finished, thanks, Char. I’m going to bed, too, see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Celine,” she said as Josie headed up the steps. “Follow me,” she said, turning to the two men. As they walked up the steps and down the hall she continued, “I had Mrs. Paxton put you in the same wing as Celine and Gray, not too near so you’ll all still have your privacy. I put the two of your rooms together. Henry should be back within the hour with your luggage; I hope he won’t be disturbing you by bringing it up. If you plan to retire for the evening, I can leave a note for him to put it in the foyer for you.”
“No, he won’t be disturbing us, thanks!” Michael said.
“Oh, wonderful. Mrs. Paxton sets breakfast out on the sideboard by seven; please help yourselves. Well, here we are, I hope you are both comfortable. If you need anything, please let Celine or me or Mrs. Paxton know. Celine and Gray are just down the hall through those double doors.”
“Thanks,” they both said in unison.
“You are very welcome and sleep well.” They entered their respective rooms. Damien looked around the room. It was large with refined furnishings including a large four-poster bed, a few dressers, and a sitting area near a large window that overlooked the cliffs and ocean. A door on the nearside of the bed led to a bathroom which he assumed he shared with Michael given its placement and the door on the opposite end leading to another space.
Damien wandered to the window and peered out, opening it. He could hear the waves crashing on the shores below. Exhaustion was setting in. The day’s events combined with the concern over his cousin, Josie, and the lack of information in general were snowballing. The worry was wearing on him.
A knock on the door distracted his thoughts. He made his way across the room and opened it. Michael walked in as soon as he opened the door. “Okay, I thought we bought a ticket for Bucksville not Weirdsville,” he joked as he made his way into the room.
“Yeah, really,” Damien retorted.
“Oh, sorry,” he said, after sinking into a chair by the window, “were you going to bed? I assumed you’d be staying up.”
“I’m tired but I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Too many things going through my mind.”
“Yeah, exactly, like why is Josie here? Who are these people? Why are they calling her by another name? And why is she acting like it’s totally normal?”
“Yep, all that and why is she not telling me? And why are they acting like she’s married to motel guy and why is she going along with it? Are they drugging her? Mind control perhaps? Did that doctor lady plant something in her head?”
“No idea, this whole thing gets weirder by the second. I mean, you two have always been together from the time you were kids, right?”
“Yep, we grew up like siblings. Went to school together, college together. Even got our master’s degrees at the same place.”
“And she’s never been on her own even for a short duration where she could have gotten married and you didn’t know?”
“No. I lived with her from the time I was five. I went on every family vacation, every trip she’s ever been on. She’s never been away from me long enough to meet someone and marry. It gets weirder by the second and her behavior is weird, too. I mean I get maybe not telling you but she’s never acted like this with me before.”
“Okay, we need a plan. Because my thinking is we ALL
