Finding Libbie (8 page)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jack and Libbie’s senior year flew by. The holidays came and went quickly, and at the end of January, Jack turned eighteen. Libbie cried the day he went to the courthouse and signed up for Selective Service. He had no choice—it was the law, and their country was in the middle of a war in Vietnam. But Libbie fell to pieces, believing that she’d lose Jack to the war and he’d never come home. It took him hours to calm her down, and for days afterward, she cried at the mere mention of Vietnam. With every boy in their senior class coming of age for the draft, it was hard not to talk about it. Jack did his best not to mention the war so as not to upset her, and in March, when Larry signed up, they only discussed it when Libbie wasn’t around.

The world was changing around them. Nixon had become president that year, and although he spoke of the de-escalation of troops in Vietnam, neither boy felt safe from being called up. Students were protesting the war all around the country, and some were even being killed in the process. And the United States was planning to send a man to the moon. It all seemed surreal to the teens in the small Minnesota town, where, for most, the biggest problem was choosing a college or who to take to the prom in May. For Jack, the prom was not a problem at all. He’d have the honor of escorting Libbie, and he had a surprise for her, too.

Not another word had been said by Libbie’s mother about the two dating, although Libbie had told him that her mother became upset easily these past few months and often took to her bed for days. Her sister, Gwen, cared for Abigail when this happened, and Libbie also helped, often preparing dinner for the family on the days her mother was incapacitated. Libbie had learned a lot about cooking while visiting the farm and enjoyed it, so it wasn’t difficult for her to simply heat up the dinners that Sandra prepared.

At times, Jack noticed that Libbie’s behavior was a bit erratic. She’d be excessively cheerful one moment and then depressed the next. Sometimes, they’d be at a movie or hanging out at the burger place with Larry and Carol, and she’d go from happy to crying in an instant. It would take Jack a long time to calm her down after these episodes. If Carol was around, she’d help. Afterward, Libbie would apologize profusely to Jack, saying she didn’t know why she was so emotional. Jack attributed her behavior to the tension she was experiencing at home. It didn’t happen often, but it worried him that she was under so much stress that she’d break down that way. But his mother told him not to worry too much.

“She’s a teenage girl with a stressful home environment,” Bev had said. “Hormones are jumping all over the place. She’ll be fine when school is out and she can concentrate on her future.”

Jack thought his mother was right. Libbie was always happy when she came out to the farm and could relax and not worry about her mother or have her sister berating her. He would do his best to help her through this trying time.

Spring came in April, melting the snow. Libbie turned eighteen, and her birthday was celebrated with as much pomp and circumstance as the prom. Her parents had a big party for her at their house, and even Jack’s parents and Jan and Ray were invited to the event, although Jack knew it was at Libbie’s insistence they be included. Though the evening was chilly, paper lanterns had been strung around the outdoor patio, and a huge table of food and goodies was set up in the room just inside the patio doors. All of Libbie’s friends attended, and when the cake was served, everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” Libbie’s parents gave her a beautiful gold heart-shaped necklace with a diamond inset. Jack couldn’t afford anything as extravagant—he’d been saving his money for something more meaningful and had given her a delicate gold bracelet with a sparkling star charm on it. He knew how much she loved the night sky, and he hoped it would remind her of all their evenings together, gazing up at the stars.

By early May, when it was time for the prom, the trees were budding and the ice had melted from the lake. This year, Jack and Libbie’s class would be catered to by the eleventh-grade students, and all they had to do was show up and have a good time.

Jack had been planning this night for weeks. He wanted it to be perfect for Libbie in every way. When he picked her up, her father was friendly and her mother was at least cordial. This year, Jack had rented a tux, with black pants, a white jacket, and black cummerbund and bowtie. When he’d put it on and looked in the mirror, it had struck him how much he’d grown up over the past year. High school was almost over, and then his adult life would begin. He only hoped it would all turn out the way he planned. Tonight would be the deciding factor.

When Libbie came downstairs, his heart flipped. He’d seen her dressed up many times, but tonight she was more beautiful than ever. She wore a floor-length sleeveless pink satin dress with white-lace overlay and a wide pink sash around her waist. The color made her skin glow, bringing out the natural pink of her cheeks. Her blond hair was pulled up high with loose tendrils framing her face. And when she smiled, her eyes lit up. Jack felt at that moment that he was the luckiest man in the world.

He swallowed hard when she came to the bottom of the stairs and felt as nervous as the first time he had taken her out. Carefully, he pinned on her corsage of pink and white roses with a white satin ribbon. When she looked up at him, her eyes sparkled, and he wanted desperately to kiss her. But he refrained and only smiled. There’d be time for stolen kisses later.

“You look absolutely beautiful, kitten,” Mr. Wilkens said, hugging his daughter.

Mrs. Wilkens also hugged her, something Jack rarely saw her do. “You’ll be the loveliest girl at the prom tonight,” she whispered to her.

“Thank you, Mother,” Libbie said, almost breathless with delight.

Libbie’s father took pictures of the couple and then they were on their way. After Jack opened the truck door for her, he kissed her tenderly on the cheek and said, “You are beautiful, Libbie. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Jack,” she said sweetly. “You look so handsome in that tux.”

They drove to the prom and went through the picture line before entering the gym. It had been decorated beautifully with their class colors—blue and white—with streamers above creating a colorful awning and glittery stars hanging from the ceiling. The band was already set up on the stage, and refreshments sat on a long table at the side of the room. The lights were dimmed, and glitter sparkled on tables. It was enchanting, and being with Libbie made it seem even more of a fairy tale come true.

Carol and Larry joined them at one of the tables that lined the dance floor. Carol was wearing a lovely blue off-the-shoulder dress that showed off her slender figure and bright blue eyes. Her auburn hair was pulled up, with curls escaping around her face, and she looked very elegant. Larry hadn’t been able to afford to rent a tux and wore a navy blue suit, but he looked handsome with his dark hair slightly longer and combed back and his brown eyes sparkling mischievously.

“We’re sitting with the two most beautiful girls at the prom,” he said, winking at Jack. “How’d we get so lucky?”

The girls giggled and Jack smiled. He felt lucky being with Libbie every day.

They danced close all evening as the band played and stopped only for a drink of punch. Myrtle Hill stopped by their table with her date—one of the very smart boys in their class—and talked for a few minutes. She was excited about going off to college in the fall, and apparently her crush on Larry had subsided because she hardly paid attention to him. Other classmates stopped to talk, too, and everyone seemed to have plans for the future. Carol was already registered to go to college in town, although she wasn’t sure if she wanted to pursue an elementary education degree or an accounting degree. Larry had applied for a scholarship at the college and been accepted, and planned on going for a business degree. Despite his carefree attitude, Larry was actually very good at managing and organizing, and he thought it might be a good fit.

Around ten thirty, Jack grinned at Libbie as they danced and said, “Come outside with me a moment, okay?”

Libbie nodded, and they went through the open door and out to the same spot where they had drunk wine the year before. Someone had strung Christmas lights in the trees by the bench, and Libbie marveled at them as she sat down.

“What’s going on? Did you do this?” she asked.

Jack smiled at her and reached under the bushes behind the bench, pulling out a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “I wanted to surprise you. Just like last year. Except this year is better, because you’re at the prom with me.”

“Oh, Jack. You’re so sweet. But we can still get in trouble if we’re caught. I don’t want to get banned from graduation.”

“No one will catch us,” Jack said. He sat down beside Libbie and did what he’d wanted to do all night—kiss her. Softly, he touched her lips with his as his hand slid up her back. He loved kissing her and feeling her close against him. Libbie responded, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their kiss deepened until, reluctantly, Jack pulled away. He gazed down into her eyes, wanting to remember this moment for the rest of his life. The half-moon glowed brightly in the sky above them as the stars twinkled. But what shined the brightest to Jack were Libbie’s blue eyes.

“Last year I told you I wanted to steal your heart. I hope I have, Libbie, because you’ve stolen mine. I love you more than anyone on this earth. I couldn’t even think of a future without you in it.”

Libbie reached up and tenderly touched the side of Jack’s face. “I love you, too. You did win my heart. I don’t want to be with anyone else but you.”

Jack bent down and kissed her softly. Then he pulled away and went down on one knee while reaching into the pocket of his jacket. Libbie’s eyes grew wide as he pulled out a small velvet box, opened it, and showed her the ring nestled inside.

“Libbie. My beautiful Libbie. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms each night and wake up each morning beside you. I want to take care of you and love you until the day I die. Please, Libbie, will you marry me?”

Libbie’s eyes filled with tears. She looked from the ring in his hand up into his eyes. “Oh my God, Jack. Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Jack stood and pulled Libbie to him, lifting her in the air and twirling her in a circle, making her squeal with delight. They laughed, and then he set her back on the ground and kissed her deeply. They were both breathless when they pulled away. “I love you, Libbie. Forever.”

“I love you, Jack. Forever.”

Jack slipped the ring on Libbie’s slender finger as he gazed into her eyes. “I know the diamond isn’t big, but I will make up for it with love,” he whispered.

Libbie stared down at the gold band that held a small solitaire diamond. “I love it, Jack. It’s perfect. Just like you.”

They kissed again, this time even more passionately. Jack had kept his promise to Libbie over the past year and had not pressured her to do anything she wasn’t ready for. And tonight he wouldn’t, either. If she wanted to wait until they were married, he’d patiently wait. He loved her enough to wait.

“Did she say yes?” a voice rang out, and both Libbie and Jack turned to see Larry and Carol standing at the curve of the walkway.

Jack nodded, and Larry let out a whoop. “Hallelujah and praise the Lord!” Larry said, making everyone laugh. “If you’d said no, Libbie, Jack would have offed himself for sure.”

Carol hugged her friend and admired the engagement ring, while Larry slapped Jack on the back. “We have to celebrate! Where’s that bottle of champagne?”

Larry popped the top and pulled out two more glasses hidden behind the bench. They poured champagne all around. “To Libbie and Jack,” Larry said, raising his glass. “May you be happy forever.”

The foursome clinked their glasses and drank.

Libbie was happier than she’d ever been in her life. She constantly looked at her left hand to make sure the ring was there and it was true. She was engaged to Jack. She loved him so much that her heart felt like it would burst. And now she was going to be his wife.

Larry and Carol stayed with them until the bottle of champagne was empty and it was growing late. The prom ended at midnight, and then there was a party being held until two at a student’s house on the lake. Everyone was invited, and since parents would be there, the other parents wouldn’t worry.

Libbie knew that Carol and Larry weren’t going to the party afterward. Carol had confided in her months ago that she and Larry were sleeping together, so they’d sneak away often to their secret spot to be alone. Libbie knew that they were headed there tonight before Larry took Carol home. Over the months, Libbie had wondered how Carol could give herself to a boy she wasn’t necessarily committed to. Carol wasn’t loose and was a good person, so the fact that she was having sex with Larry had really surprised her. Libbie had also wondered if she would lose Jack if she continued to say no to sex. Not that he had asked her outright to make love to him, but sometimes when they kissed, it seemed as if they would both lose control, and a few times they had come close. Yet each time, Libbie had stopped it, afraid she’d become pregnant and trap Jack. She loved Jack more than anything, but she hadn’t wanted to trap him into marriage like her sister had with Walter. She had wanted Jack to want to marry her first.