Eighty and Out (10 page)

The big day had finally arrived. I was so excited I jumped from my bed, then dashed to the kitchen. Dad was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee, and Mom and Jeannie were cooking eggs and bacon.

“Happy Birthday,” Jeannie said when she saw me come in.

“Happy Birthday,” my parents echoed, smiling.

Mom handed me a plate of food and glass of orange juice. “We thought it would be nice to make you breakfast on your wedding day,” she said.

“Thanks, you guys.” I sat down.

Dad glanced my way. “Before you know it, we’ll be coming over to eat at
your
house,” he said.

I smiled but felt a little sad. It would be weird not seeing him, Mom, and Jeannie every day. “I’ll have everyone over for dinner as soon as we’re settled in.” I was already missing them.

When we finished eating, Mom turned to me. “Your father and I already showered and Jeannie is going to clean up next. Then everyone is out of your way, and you can take your time getting ready.”

“Thanks,” I said. Between her and Jeannie and Bernice, I didn’t have a care in the world. All I had to do was focus on being a happy bride.

Jeannie hopped from her chair and headed to the bathroom, then Dad rose and headed to the couch while Mom cleared the table. I tried to help her, but she shooed me away, so I went to lie down and relax.

The room seemed so bare now that most of my things had been packed and were at the apartment. All that was left was the bed, the dresser, and the drapes. Mom said they were going to use it as a guest bedroom now.

As I rested, my mind drifted to Jim. I began thinking about what he would do to me tonight, and my heart started beating faster. We would get to sleep next to each other too and be able to every night for the rest of our lives.

The idea made me so happy. As I lay there smiling, I heard a knock on the door.

“Hey, Mom,” I said as she came and sat next to me.

She had a rectangular wooden box in her hand. “I’ve got something for you.” She lifted the lid. Inside was a vintage silver necklace with pale blue stones. “It was Aunt Violet’s. I thought you might want to borrow it so you have something blue.”

I carefully lifted it off the faded black velvet and went to the mirror and held it against my neck. “It’s so beautiful. It’ll be perfect with the dress.”

“Now you’ve got something borrowed and something blue,” she said.

“True,” I said as I turned back to her. “Thanks, Mom.”

She smiled and patted my knee. “I’ll let you rest until Jeannie’s done.” Then she got up and left, closing the door behind her. I closed my eyes, happy that I had jewelry to wear with my dress. And not just any old jewelry, an estate piece from Aunt Violet.

When Jeannie was done, I got in the tub and shaved my legs. I soaked in the bubbles and didn’t rush, which felt nice. Then I moisturized, and styled my hair, pinning it into place the way I’d practiced beforehand so it would look elegant.

I applied light make up and put on Aunt Violet’s necklace, making sure the clasp was secure. Once I’d gotten dressed and slipped on my shoes, I stepped into the family room.

“Whoa,” Jeannie said. “You look pretty.”

“Stunning,” Dad added.

“Thanks,” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Mom stood at his side, beaming. Her face was so filled with emotion all she could do was nod in agreement.

I nodded back, letting her know I understood her predicament. “Guess I’m all set then.”

We drove to the courthouse and met Jim, his dad, and Bernice. I had asked Jim if his mom would be coming in from New York, and he said he hadn’t invited her, so I let it drop. They hadn’t been close since the divorce, and I didn’t want to push the issue. He hadn’t made any close friends since moving to Chicago, none he felt should be included in our celebration, so the event was a lot more intimate.

Jim’s dad led the way to the room where the ceremony was going to be held.

The justice of the peace was a wiry older man who saw us coming and waved. “Welcome. Welcome.”

He reviewed our paperwork and asked us if we were ready to get started. And when we nodded yes, he began.

I recited the lines he asked me to repeat, and as I did, everyone faded away except Jim. In no time, the man was saying, “You may kiss the bride.” And then Jim pressed his lips gently against mine, making me his wife.

The spell was broken by the sound of clapping. Our little group might have been small, but they sure knew how to make a lot of noise. Jim’s dad shook Jim’s hand, and then, before any of us could start crying, he pulled out his new Kodak camera and said, “Let me take a few pictures.”

Jim and I posed together for several shots. Then he took some of the family. The justice of the peace was kind enough to take one of the entire group. We were about to leave when Bernice asked Jim’s dad, “Will you take one of just the two of us?”

“Sure,” he said, lifting the camera.

Bernice and I stood side by side. Instead of standing up straight and matching our pose to our attire and circumstances, we threw our arms around each other’s shoulders and slouched while grinning ear to ear.

Mom and Dad congratulated Jim and me, and then Jim’s dad gave me a hug, something he’d never done before. He'd always seemed quiet and reserved, which Jim promised would change once he got to know me better.

Jeannie put out her hand so I could slap it, so I smiled and slapped hers back.

“Who’s ready to eat?” Dad asked.

A chorus of “I am’s” filled the air.

Jim had decorated his car with a sign that read
Just Married
and had affixed streams of colored ribbon to his bumper instead of cans so he didn’t chance chipping the paint. On the way to the restaurant, strangers honked and waved at us, so we smiled and waved back, enjoying the extra attention on our special day.

A heavyset Italian man with a booming voice greeted us and showed us to our table, a round one with a white tablecloth and a three-wick candle in the center surrounded by rose petals. Everyone took a seat, and the waiter appeared with champagne and poured us each a glass.

“To Jim and Lou,” Dad toasted. “May they live a long and happy life together.”

Jim smiled at me and gave me a peck on the lips. We clinked glasses with everyone and took a sip of bubbly. The food arrived shortly afterward: a big bowl of salad, grilled chicken, and lasagna. Everything tasted like ambrosia, but I didn’t want to eat too much and get a tummy ache, so I ate until I was comfortably full and saved room for cake.

Everyone chatted as we ate, sharing stories from the past.

“…and then there was the time Jim beat up a mugger who was trying to steal an old lady’s purse in Central Park,” Jim’s dad said.

I glanced at Jim. He shrugged like it was no big deal.

Jeannie started giggling. “How about that time you got in trouble when we went to visit Aunt Violet?” she said, looking my way.

Bernice shot me a look, and I made eye contact with Mom. She smiled, clearly over it.

“You know how it is when you’re a kid,” Mom said. “You say whatever is on your mind, without thinking.” She shared the infamous old folks’ home story, eliciting howls of laughter all around. I laughed too, realizing I’d never live it down no matter how much time passed.

A little while later, Jim reached for my hand and held my gaze. I knew what was on his mind because it was the same thing that had been on mine all day.

When we’d finished our cake, the waiter wrapped a bunch of leftovers for us and put it in a bag. “In case you’re hungry later,” he said, winking.

We said goodbye to everyone and drove to our new place, a two-bedroom unit in the apartment complex Jim helped manage for his dad. He unlocked the door, scooped me up and carried me to the bedroom. I kicked my shoes off as he set me on the bed and kissed me passionately.

He pulled away and said, “I just remembered I bought candles. Let me go get them.”

After he left, I slipped out of my wedding dress and into the nightgown Bernice had given me. Wearing it made me feel glamorous, like a movie star. Jim returned with the candles and his jaw dropped.

“God… you look so beautiful,” he said.

He set the lit candles on the dresser and turned off the light. Instead of rushing to me, he stayed where he was, admiring me from afar. Even though we’d already done it a few times, my heart pounded hard in my chest. I could barely breathe when he placed his hands on the straps of the gown and slid them over my shoulders.

I stood before him, completely naked, and looked into his eyes.

“I love you, Louise. I’m so happy you’re my wife,” he said. He undressed quickly and carried me to the bed.

An hour later, I was spent. I had been beating myself up over sleeping with him before our wedding night, thinking how upset I would be if Jeannie had pulled a stunt like that, but as I lay next to him, I was elated. This was the best it had been yet, and he promised that it would only get better. We would have a lifetime to discover just how good we could be together.

The next few weeks were blissful. I spent my days unpacking boxes and my nights snuggling up to Jim. Once the apartment was set up, we had everyone over for a dinner party, which went off without a hitch, and afterward the place finally felt like home.

Jim and I settled into a comfortable pattern, and soon after I found myself worrying about Jeannie again. I knew she was still hurting; there was still no word on Chuck, and she had hinted she might not return to school in the fall, that she might get a job instead.

“I think you should finish school,” I told her. “I don’t see why you want to give up.”

Jeannie sighed, clearly frustrated I was siding with Mom and Dad on this. “I’m not giving up,” she said. “I’m just not interested in studying anymore. I’d rather get a job and earn money.”

We went back and forth for a good hour, and I thought I’d made some good points. But a week later, Mom called and told me Jeannie had started working at a factory, sewing lace onto garments. She used to value my advice, but this time it had fallen on deaf ears.

“How’s the new job?” I asked next time I was over, deciding not to hassle her about her decision.

“It’s good,” she said.

We chatted for a while about her new position, and I pulled her aside. “I was thinking about Chuck’s dad, thinking maybe he lost Jim’s number and doesn’t know how to reach me. You think we should go over there and check on things?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Let’s go over there. Why didn’t I think of that?”

I knew why, because she was depressed. I thought she wouldn’t want to meet Chuck’s dad since her and Chuck’s relationship had been a secret, but she seemed past caring about that now. She needed news – good or bad – so she could finally find some peace.

We decided to go that weekend.

On the bus ride over, Jeannie’s face was drawn.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m just worried about what he might say.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed it. I was worried too, because if Chuck had returned and hadn’t contacted her, she’d be hurt. If he’d been killed, she’d be hurt more. None of the outcomes seemed good, but knowing was still better than not knowing.

The hot summer air was thick with humidity as we stepped off the bus, adding more discomfort to the long walk to the house. Once we arrived, I climbed the stairs and turned to Jeannie. She nodded.

I rang the bell, and a moment later Chuck’s dad opened the door, looking much older than the last time I’d seen him.

“Nice to see you,” he said, looking at my sister. “You must be Jeannie.”

“How’d you know?” she asked.

Chuck’s dad smiled. “You two look alike.” He let out a deep breath. “I wish I had news for you ladies. I really do. But they still don’t know where he is.” He shook his head. “Makes no damn sense.”

We were back to square one. “Well, we just thought we’d stop by in case you might have heard anything,” I said.

“I understand. You’ll be the first to know when I get news. I’ve still got your number,” he said, as if reading my mind. He turned to Jeannie. “I can see why he likes you. You’re a beautiful girl.”

Jeannie’s cheeks turned pink as she flushed with embarrassment. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

We said our goodbyes and headed to the bus stop. On the way there, Jeannie turned to me. “Do you mind if we just walk?”

The apartment was several miles away, and even though I wasn’t keen on making the trip in the muggy heat, I said okay. Maybe the jaunt would dispel some of her frustration.

We strolled in silence, the occasional car passing by the only sound keeping us company. After we’d gone several blocks, Jeannie burst into tears.

“I can’t take this anymore,” she sobbed.

I rubbed her back. “I know.” I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was matters of the heart couldn’t be rushed.

By the time we got back to my place, Jeannie was exhausted. I offered her some dinner but she refused, asking if Jim could give her a ride home instead. He did, and when he returned, he frowned and said, “Such a sad situation. I wish she could get over him, but I could see how it would be hard to do not knowing his whereabouts.” He dug into his meal, and as we cuddled on the sofa afterward, I thanked God for the life I had and prayed Jeannie’s would get better soon.

Later that night, I woke up drenched in sweat, my neck muscles tense.

“You okay?” Jim asked in a soft voice.

I sat up. “Yeah. Just a bad dream.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

I glanced at him. “Only if you’ve got time for a long story.”

Jim propped his elbow on his pillow and leaned his head on his hand. “I’ve always got time for you,” he said.

I told him the story of the Williams family, and how I used to have the recurring dream about trying to save them.

“I haven’t had that one in a long time,” I said.

Jim caressed the side of my face. “Maybe it was stress that brought it on.”

“You’re probably right.”

He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me, and within minutes I drifted into a peaceful slumber.

*****

When senior year started I thought it would feel weird to be married and in high school at the same time. But oddly enough, it turned out to be a boon to my popularity. Other girls wanted to sit with me and chat, which made time fly and classes much more enjoyable.

“They hope some of your good luck will rub off on them,” Bernice said. When they weren’t around she called them
Lou’s entourage
.

“How come I don’t have an entourage?” she asked as we did our math homework.

“Because you’re antisocial,” I reminded her.

“Oh yeah.” She looked unconcerned and pulled a pencil from behind her ear to erase a mistake she had made. She sat up straight and glanced at me. “So Jeannie’s not coming back to school, huh?”

“No.” I sighed. “She likes her new job and making money seems to have lifted her spirits, so I don’t think she’ll be back. Plus, she met a guy at work.”

Bernice raised an eyebrow. “A guy? Well, that part sounds positive. Maybe he can take her mind off Chuck.”

“I think that’s why she started seeing him.” I set my book aside. “He’s really nice and good-looking, but Jeannie said being around him isn’t like being around Chuck.”

“Poor Jeannie. Maybe in time she’ll like him more or she’ll find someone better.”

I shrugged. “I hope so.”

The remainder of the school year flew by. Things were great with Jim, but he was really busy working with his dad, trying to expand the business, so I used my free time hanging out with Bernice, Jeannie, and her new boyfriend, Tad.

Tad had turned out to be a great guy. Jim liked him, I liked him, my parents liked him, and thankfully, Jeannie was starting to like him for who he was rather than comparing him to someone else.

Life was good, but on graduation day, I was a bundle of emotions. I was happy I had finished school, worried I hadn’t gotten pregnant yet even though Jim and I were trying every night, and sad that Bernice was going to New Mexico.

I sighed, trying not to let myself feel down on such an important day, then remembered someone had said Frankie signed up to go fight in Vietnam.

“I heard you’re leaving,” I said after I found him.

“Yeah,” he said. “Want to make a difference and serve my country.”

There were a lot of conflicting opinions about the war, but Frankie seemed confident in his decision.

“I’m sure you will make us proud,” I told him, looking him in the eyes.

“Thanks, Lou. I really appreciate you saying that.”

I extended a hand. He reached out and shook it. “Take care, Frank.”

“You, too.”

Saying goodbye to Frank was easy. Bernice leaving for college was hard.

Her parents pulled up in front of the apartment building. The car was all packed, and Bernice got out.

“Time to go,” she said. She wore a brave face but looked on the verge of tears.

“You’re coming back to visit, right?” I asked.

“Yep. Spending summers at home.”

“Good,” I replied, my voice cracking.

Bernice gave me a hug. She squeezed me so tight it felt like my ribs were being crushed. When she finally let go, I smiled at her.

“I expect straight A’s,” I said.

“I’ll do my best,” she said, smiling back.

I watched as she climbed into the backseat of her parents’ car, and they drove away. When they were gone, my eyes were filled with tears. I wanted to be happy for Bernice. I really did.

It was just hard to say goodbye to my best friend.