Page 18 of Chasing Lynda

Andy laughs. “You can try. But I’d be careful not to piss him off too much. You’re still fairly new around here and Kirk has a lot of local connections that can be useful to us.”

I smile. “Not for long. I’ve decided to move our main headquarters to Bridgeport. We need a fresh start, away from Harold’s legacy.”

He nods, suddenly cautious. “Right. But don’t forget that Harold singlehandedly started this church. His message still resonates with a lot of our followers.”

I don’t completely disagree. “I know. And we’ll keep the core of his teaching. But we need to clean up our image. We’ve lost a few very prominent celebrity followers since the preliminary trial, when we got arrested. That video Lynda shot of us sharing the ‘mission women’ didn’t do much for our image. How can I preach purity and then—”

I can immediately tell that Greggs disagrees. “I understand that, Aaron. But it’ll be a hard sell to stop the ‘mission nights.’ You know the inner circle men are completely committed to proliferate our community by generating more brothers and sisters born into enlightenment.”

It hits me there and then that Greggs and the other inner circle men believe in Harold’s doctrine. “I know that. But there must be another way. A better way that won’t invite scrutiny in our midst. I think I have just the idea. Pure women will still be appropriately matched to an enlightened spouse. And that will bring the fruits we hope. Impure women will need to be reborn and purified again. Our children will have to come from sanctioned unions. And I’m sure that the inner circle men, will be on board when I announce the changes in our practices. Each enlightened brother can be assigned more than one bride.”

Greggs doesn’t look immediately convinced. “You’re right that they might enjoy the idea that they won’t have to share, but polygamy is illegal.”

I explain. “It doesn’t have to be strictly legal. But it will stand within our walls.”

He has the nerve to argue with me. “It can be a problem still. If we get reported—”

I scoot forward in my seat, frustrated by his lack of enlightenment. “Andy, come on! I know how creative you are with numbers and investment. Look at this as an investment in people. Like you know, often it’s all in how you present something. We won’t call them brides. We’ll call them ‘enlightened companions.’ The only way a woman can reach enlightenment is through companionship with an enlightened man. As long as that union has been approved and sanctioned by the elder’s council. This concept will open endless avenues for our church. Our numbers will grow and—”

He doesn’t get it. “If that’s because you miss having a wife, you know I wouldn’t blame you for partaking in our ‘mission nights.’ All the inner circle men are married. I don’t understand why you hold yourself to a different set of rules, when you don’t force them to share their bed exclusively with their wives.”

It something I thought about long and hard. “That’s why I’ll stop the sharing and will introduce the enlightened companions. My eyes were opened on my wedding night. On how much more meaningful a union is when you possess a woman completely. When you know that she’s only ever been yours and she’ll never be touched by another man. When you’re in charge of her body and her soul. What I felt when I was inside of Lynda ...”

I stop in my tracks when I notice the horrified expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Andy. I shouldn’t have said that. She’s your daughter and no man wants to hear about his daughter in a carnal capacity. But you should be proud. She was so pure, so perfect ...”

He adjusts his frameless glasses on his nose. “We’ll find her, Aaron. But in the meantime no one says that you can’t get laid.”

I twist my lips, displeased with his choice of words. “Oh, I intend to do so. This is what enlightened companions are for and I already have my eyes on one, if she proves pure. But no one, no one can ever replace my Lynda. Of course, we’ll have to take appropriate measures if she’s let someone else in the temple of her body. But not even that will change the fact that she’s bound to me forever.”

Only death will part us and that’s exactly what Lynda will find, if

she won’t take her rightful place by my side.

***

Lynda

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THE SUN IS ABOUT TO set and I hug my legs with my arms, resting my chin on my knees. It’s beautiful out here and staring at the sun as it paints the sea with passionate pinks and vivid orange hues, makes me feel at peace. Even if it’s just for a second, even if it’s all an illusion.

The beach is empty at this time in the evening, aside for a jogger who’s running toward me but is still a distance away.

It’s too late to swim or sunbathe and too early to party. It’s the perfect time to start a bonfire.

For the first time in months, thinking about all the bonfires I’ve been to with Kelley and his friends doesn’t make me too sad. And I know the reason why.

I close my eyes and I can almost see a pair of deep blue ones staring softly onto mine. I can almost feel the warmth of his lips, taste his kiss.

I can almost imagine that he’s my boyfriend and I can meet him here for a bonfire. This is different than the past in Shell Cove. I’m not sneaking out of my parents’ house from my room’s window, like I learned from McKayla. I don’t have to go find a bathroom to change out of those awful “purity clothes” and into the clothes I kept in Kelley’s Jeep’s trunk.

No.

In my fantasy I’m free and I don’t have to hide from a psychotic husband.

In my imagination Carter lowers himself by my side on the cooling sand and greets me with a kiss. In the picture my mind is conjuring, we’re going to spend the night together. I’m going to go all the way with him. It’s my choice. There’s no pain, no blood, no fear.

Thud.

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