A Gift in Disguise Ch. 13

"Sure, that's fine," I answered even though I'm not much of a coffee drinker.

"Just coffee, black, for both of us, Murph," Bethany yelled out very informally. "I'll grab it for us."

She walked behind the counter, picked up two cups, filled them with coffee from the pot, and carried them as we walked to a booth.

There were a couple of guys in a booth. They barely looked up at Bethany and me — just kept talking.

We sat across from each other in another booth, two or three removed from the other customers.

"Interesting place," I commented. The walls were covered with flight memorabilia. Most of it looked authentic, not manufactured as replicas by some restaurant equipment manufacturer. "Obviously, you've been here a few times.

Why did Murph ask if you were teaching again? Teaching what?"

I hadn't noticed, but Murph had walked over to our table from behind me.

"Betts here was the best freakin' flight instructor this dirtstrip airport has ever seen," he piped up.

"Really?!" I said, amazed.

Bethany smiled and said, "Long time ago when I had more time. Now I don't even have much time to rent a plane and fly for fun any more, what with the restaurants and all."

"Our loss," Murph said more to me than to Bethany. "Betts had guys and gals lined up on the taxiway to have her teach them how ya can't violate the laws of gravity."

"Murph's exaggerating a little," Bethany said good-naturedly.

"No, I ain't," Murph said, suddenly getting serious. "We had another instructor who stroked out at 3000 with a new student pilot. Student was about to fly it into a smoking hole, and it was Betts here who flew alongside the newbie and calmed him down over the radio. The newbie kept his cool and did everything just like she told him to with that soft calm voice of hers. She talked him down without any damage to him or the plane.

You kids enjoy your coffee, and Betts don't even think about paying. Just come back more often and help brighten the joint up again."

"Thanks, Murph. I'll do it."

He looked at me and said, "Ya ever wanna learn to fly, get Betts to teach ya. You'll be safer with her at 2500 than in yer mother's arms on the ground."

After hearing Murph, I had a thousand questions I wanted to ask Bethany, but before I could, she changed the subject.

"After what Karen found out, what do you think you'll do with the photo book?"

"I've got to think about it a bit, but I'd like to hang onto it long enough to show it to Sharon Madison. It was her gift to me after all. After that, I don't know.

When Karen was giving me the grand tour of the Special Collections place, she said one thing I could do is loan it to the Library for preservation and safe storage. I could still get it back any time I wanted to show it to someone, but it would sure be safer in her vault than in my apartment.

I'm inclined to talk with Karen about that as an option, but I also want to talk to Risa and Misako before I make a final decision. They may know if the couple who actually did the leather binding would have a preference, and I'd also like to know Mikki's and Risa's feelings about it.

One thing I do know: I'm not going to sell it. If it is so meaningful as a cultural or historical artifact to the Japanese people, they or at least their government should have an opportunity to get it back.

Ultimately I'll be talking with Karen again to figure out what to do, I think.

What do you think I ought to do with it, Bethany?"

Without hesitating for a second, she said, "Exactly what you just said."

After a few seconds, she said, "Could we talk about the show at The Club last night?"

"Sure. Risa and I both thought it was great. I really thought your costume was fantastic."

"Thank you," she responded a little too seriously.

"Why? Did someone complain about something?" Not that it was any of my business, me not even being a member of The Club.

"No. As a matter of fact, an unexpectedly high number of members turned in survey cards and almost unanimously gave the show rave reviews. One member complained that the show had lasted only half an hour, though. I don't think he understood the physical and mental exertion required to be a shooter Joshi. It's exhausting.

One of the owners and his daughter were at your table. He was absolutely thrilled with the comments from members. In fact, he's going to talk with the other owners to see if they can somehow negotiate getting Joshi-O presentations into their clubs in states with laws that allow that kind of performance."

"That sounds great, Bethany. But you don't seem too enthusiastic. I'd think you'd be very happy that the program was so well received."

"I am. Frankly Tom, I was more concerned that you might have thought my own costume was a little too outrageous. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me. I really do want to go out with you again on a real date."

It was absolutely clear from her words and voice that Bethany was genuinely concerned that I might have been shocked and maybe even disappointed by her own performance and the costuming that went with it.

"Bethany, I couldn't possibly get the wrong idea about you. I met the real Bethany Battaglia last week on my first date with you.

The one I saw last night at The Club just showed me another dimension. The one I saw last night was determined to do her best to deliver the utmost hospitality and pleasure to members and guests who were expecting nothing better than her best. You weren't acting last night any more than you were acting on our first date. You completely met our expectations last night. There's nothing dishonorable or shameful about you doing the very best you can to please your members and guests.

I definitely want to go out with you again, too."

I thought she was about to start crying.

I wanted to lighten the conversation with some witty remark, but nothing came to mind, so I just reached across the table and put my hand on top of hers.

"What I would like to know is how you became so knowledgeable about Joshi-O. I doubt there's a YouTube about it."

She looked at me, finally smiling that radiant smile again.

"I assume that you and Risa were suitably occupied during and after last night's show so you didn't watch the private video I sent into her suite?" She paused, then continued.

"Before you answer, Risa hinted what you and she did after watching the wrestling match.

I'm really glad you did, Tom.

In fact, what probably happened between you and Risa was exactly what I had hoped would happen. She was way too stressed out over whether or not we're going to reach an agreement with Misako and her to do an exhibit. We talked about it today on the way to the airport. Your spending some time with her last night helped her to relax. And like I told her this morning, it's going to happen. We're going to do the exhibit. It's now just a matter of where it fits best into their calendar and The Club's.

As for the video, it would have answered your question about my familiarity with Joshi-O.

I had a feeling you might not watch the video last night, so I have a copy on a thumb drive for you."

Bethany reached into her purse, pulled the thumb drive out, and handed it to me.

"This will explain everything, Tom. But in case it doesn't, I'll be happy to fill in the blanks in private after our next date. Risa got the first-hand version on the way to the airport this morning. And by the way, just in case you see someone in there you recognize, in addition to me that is, you'll see that she wants you to enjoy the images as much as I do — even though some of them were done long before we ever knew you."

She slid the thumb drive across the table to me.

"Now," she said, "I really do have to head off to work."

"Would Murph be offended if I left a couple bucks on the table as a tip?" I asked. I found I really liked Murph, probably largely because he obviously thought the world of Bethany.

"No, as long as you leave it under your cup and not mine. That's nice of you, Tom. Thank you."

I slid two one-dollar bills under my cup and we walked toward the door.

"See ya, Murph, Thanks for the coffee," she shouted to him back in the kitchen.

"Later, Betts. An' don't be no stranger here. Hey! You and your boyfriend come in for breakfast together soon, okay?" he shouted back with a hearty laugh.

We both smiled at him, waved at him, and walked out together. Bethany had slipped her hand into mine before we left, a perfect ending to a great weekend.