Whirlwind Love: Libby's Journey (2 page)

Prologue

Swift, heavy clouds moved along the northeastern horizon beyond the Atlantic, as angry waves crashed against the beach. Momentary flashes within the clouds announced the intimidating squall that loomed off the coast. The fleeting sun cast a dark glow on the burnt skin of a man dressed in a dirty, white, cotton, buttoned-downed shirt with dirty, white pants. A curly tuft of his brown shoulder-length hair drifted across his face. Behind mirrored shades, his bloodshot, blue eyes followed a heron casually swooping along the collapsing waves.

Gotta go,
he thought, struggling to focus his bleary eyes on the bird. “Soon,” he sighed as his shoulders dropped a little lower. His graveled voice was far from the smooth southern drawl he normally sported. He sarcastically snickered at the sound that seeped from his throat.
Bet nobody’d pay to hear me sing now
, he thought
.

Screams and laughter of children challenged by the dramatic waves echoed across the beach. A woman in a billowing white frock clung desperately to her floppy hat as she strolled past Joe to corral the gleeful children.

His gaze was fixed on the ocean as he shifted the black acoustic guitar in his sandy lap. With the shift of his foot, his last swig of whiskey toppled in a slow-motion splash over the other empty bottles twitching in the surf. A blast of wind created a whirlwind of sand, twirling it across the beach and up beside him before scattering in his break. Another wave crashed on the beach—ever closer.

Up the beach, two tiki torches wrapped in blackened roses shuttered against the whip of the wind. A final gust sent the withered blossoms scattering in the sand. Beyond the tikis, the marsh welcomed the melting sun, offering a dreamy escape from the impending storm.

Just another day at the beach, fading away—another fond memory for those scurrying to safety…but not for everyone.

* * *

S
outh Ca
rolina, Day 1
- Tuesday

Nothing but road—as far as the horizon: nothing but dashed lines and asphalt in her path. It was a freedom Libby Morgan never knew: no schedule, no agenda, nobody to care for, nobody’s rules--just her every whim for discovery and exploration. A semi shifted gears and sped past the RV, causing Libby to note the sunrise twinkling in the RV’s side mirrors. The Georgia state line appeared in her windshield and Libby smiled. The road to freedom beckoned her.

The road behind was rocky, and this was just the break to gain perspective on what she needed—what
she
wanted. Her beloved niece, Megan, would always be her first priority. But Libby’s decision that, at 29, it was finally time to begin a life of her choosing.

“Megan is such a beautiful, vivacious woman now. She’s beginning her own journey into a new life,” Libby spoke the words to no one but herself. “And it’s high time I do the same!” She again checked her mirror and pressed the gas pedal to pass an old, beat-up Chevy pickup with one burning tail light.

As the rising sun flashed brightly in the mirrors, Libby reached for her shades, hiding her coal-black eyes from the world. She smoothed a defiant wisp of dark-auburn hair, uselessly suggesting compliance with the big bun atop her head. Libby Morgan was often defined as a stunning woman by both friends and acquaintances. Her 5’7” frame was wholesomely defined by years of running and playing on the beautiful beaches around Charleston, South Carolina with her niece. Unlike most redheads, her mother’s Native America ancestors put a solid tan where others’ tended to freckle. Poor Tommy took after Dad, with speckled freckles all over. Thanks to Aunt Libby’s early efforts and influence, Megan sported Driftwood Cove’s all-natural, flavor-of-the-month sun lotion since diaper-hood and maintained beautiful, freckle-free, albeit paler skin than her aunt.

Flipping down the visor, Libby smiled at the photographs of: her beautiful teen-aged niece with huge blue eyes and bright red hair smiling at her camera lens; another of Megan in a baseball cap with her chin resting on a tennis racket, and another photograph of the two posing under a volleyball net in bathing suits with a volleyball tucked under Libby’s arm. She picked up a remote in the passenger’s cup holder and pushed buttons. She glanced into a video camera mounted beside the windshield.

* * *

“It’s Day 1 on my
Freedom Trip
. I go in search of BALLOONS flying over the Grand Canyon! Geez, Megan, I really wish you could be with me on this trip to the Freedom Festival. I’ve only been gone a couple hours, and I miss you
so bad
!” Libby’s voice was unnaturally high-pitched, recording her excitement for her adventure.

“No matter how old you are…you’ll always be my Muggs. I remember like it was yesterday, such a little tot, trying so hard to say
Megan
. And now…look at you! My Muggs! A college woman! I think that you’re awesome! I’m so proud of you! Ah, you’re just all grown up. I know…I can hear you…I won’t cry.” Libby tried to contain her tears.

“Okay! So, I thought since you couldn’t be here with me, I’d surprise you, by having these cool digital video cameras installed, just so I can talk to you and share some of the things I see. Check ‘em out!”

With a click of the remote, a video display in front of the passenger’s seat changed: first Libby’s face beamed as she waved, [
click
]; the view from the passenger’s side mounted camera showed a gold wildcat mascot against a bright-blue seat cover [
click
], the highway in front of the RV appeared [
click
], and finally the view from all three cameras on a split screen. With one final click, the view returned to the driver’s dash-cam. Several big rigs rocked Libby’s RV, momentarily stealing her focus.

“You can see what’s going on--as I roll on through all these miles—so, it’s
kinda
like I’m bringing you along for the ride. I know…you’d rather be here. I wish you were, too. We’re gonna make plans for a trip when you’re on break, I promise. Anywhere you wanna go.

“Megan, I know you’re going to make the best of your college career, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’m just glad everything’s worked out. Maybe next year, I’ll join you! You can show ME around campus!

“Okay...I’m
so
excited! Can you believe,
ten years
I’ve waited! Ten years since I saw the
Traveler’s Pace
magazine at work – with the hot air balloons floating over the Grand Canyon. Oh, I think I fell in love with it! Or maybe it was just the idea of floating over such a beautiful place...free and open, especially after everything that happened that year. Anyway, I guess I’ve wanted to see it with my own eyes ever since. I always loved the balloons. There’s something so
free
about them. I loved the colors and ah…the flames against the dark sky, that was so cool. The idea of climbing into one and just drifting wherever...man, would I love to do that! Can anything feel so free? Well, maybe on this trip...maybe I can! I don’t know if they give rides...I guess we’ll find out! I’ll be sure and take lots of pictures. Can’t wait to try out my new lens—it should be great for the early shots.

“I have to tell you, last night it was so hard to get to sleep. I was just too excited about being on the road. Then I had the strangest dream...it was like I was in the center of a whirlwind, and my life was spinning around me. I could see everyone’s faces so clearly. The house, the memories...everything was just floating around me so peacefully. It’s got me thinking...you know, remembering.

“Your Mom didn’t want to leave you, ya know. So young, so beautiful...your mom, but cancer is…cruel…taking such a young mother away. It was all fast, too. I know Tara’s with you in spirit, though. I wonder, sometimes, if you even remember her. You were so little...ah, Muggs, I’m sorry,” Libby voice trailed off as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “I was thinking that…well, I hope I made a difference. That’s really all I ever wanted to do…to make sure you had everything you deserved in life. Everybody deserves that—in my book. Unfortunately, too few achieve it.

“I’ve been thinking about Mom, how she was so different back then—I hope you remember
that
Grandma—the person she was when I was growing up. She always had music around her—whether it was her students’ lessons…or playing her guitar or piano. She was always singing or playing
something.
I miss that sound. You really never knew her that way, I guess. I hadn’t thought of that. The last ten years feels like it’s pretty much been you and me. And you know... you’ll always have me, Muggs. God willing, I’m not goin’ anywhere!” A police cruiser with lights and siren careened past the RV, causing Libby to swerve to the right a little.

“Flarflebloo! Kiddo, traffic’s getting gnarly-so I’ll sign off for now.” Libby clicked the remote, turning off the camera.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to focus on the empty highway ahead. Memories drifted into her thoughts as the miles passed. She turned to the radio for a welcomed distraction.

Forcing her mind to clear, Libby focused on Georgia passing by her windows: peaceful farmhouses, cows, horses, businesses sporadically popping up, then nothing but green space for a while. Libby began singing along with the radio. Even with a melody filling the cab, her mind drifted back in time...to dreams gone by and the path that lead her down this road. Turning down the radio, Libby again reached for the video remote.

“I remember dreaming of life at college—I couldn’t wait to get into ‘the big world.’

“Muggs, you just never know what life will throw at you. I guess the best advice I can give you is just make your plans and always be prepared for them to change. You never know what’s around the corner. I have no regrets, though. You can’t live your life with regrets. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

“You have to remember, Megan, if something gets you to the place you want to be, nothing is too difficult,
nothing
is more important, and
nothing
should stop you from going after what you want. Set your sights...and GO FOR IT, GIRL! Just know I’m with you, Darlin.” Libby grinned at the camera, waved, then turned it off.

Silence settled in the cab as the memories filled Libby’s mind. It wasn’t long before Libby began to softly sing the Rainbow Song…the one her mother always asked her to sing.

Rainbows and moonbeams lead my dreams
down roads that never end.

Just take me to the place I love
and then I’ll disappear.

There’s a place I long to be far away from here.

Where sunny days don’t go away
and there are no tears.

This whisp’rin’ wind that calls my name
tells me just let go.

A
labama, Day 1 - Tuesday - continued

After crossing into Alabama, Libby pulled the RV into a gas station and filled the tanks. After paying the cashier, she drove over to the side of the parking lot and made her way to the RV’s kitchenette. She dipped coffee from an old coffee can that still held Disney sticker decorations from her childhood. She then added water from the carafe to the old coffeemaker with a gold wildcat sticker on top, in spite of the faded blue background. She couldn’t bear to remove the memory from her freshman days and trips with her folks in the RV. Libby grabbed sandwich makings from the fridge and set about making lunch.

Settling onto the sofa, she blew on the cup of hot coffee, somewhat surprised that the old coffeemaker could still produce such a steaming cup. Libby accessed the Internet on her widescreen to route her trip. “Oh! So much better than that little GPS screen!”

Libby retrieved her phone from the RV console and dialed as she paced around the RV. “LAURA! Where’s my BFF? Hey-I just wanted to leave you a message to let you know I’m
only 1400 miles
from Las Cruces,” she laughed.

Libby paused in front of a calendar with an image of a hot air balloon floating in the beautiful, cloudless, sapphire-blue sky with sunlight streaming across its basket and onto the Grand Canyon below. Days were marked with X’s through today, Tuesday, with a large heart drawn by multiple strokes of a bright-red pen.

Pointing to the following Friday, Libby paused for a moment as she heard confrontational shouts from the parking lot. Frowning, she continued her message to Laura, “I’m gonna see you and Jimmy for breakfast on Friday…okay, maybe brunch. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with Renegades. If something comes up...I’ll let you know. Can’t wait to see you guys! Love ya!”

As the shouting grew louder, Libby worried there might be a robbery at the gas station and hung up quickly. Peeking out the window on her door, she saw an older man and woman shuffling toward a car, as the station attendant yelled from inside the doorway. The man put a protective arm around the woman; and in their slow-motioned hurry, they turned toward a 1960s Chrysler. He opened her door and helped her inside. Libby watched as the man wiped his eyes as he shut her car door, and then looked around to see if anyone was watching. His haggard, worried expression broke Libby’s heart.

Libby stepped out of the RV and locked the door behind her. She walked over to the car just as the man was about to sit behind the wheel, “Hi. How you folks doin?”

The man nodded, “Ma’am. I’m sorry if we disturbed you.”

“I couldn’t help but...” Libby gestured to the store, “is everything okay?”

The man blinked back tears and dropped his head. “Yes ma’am. Everything’s just fine. We’re,” he sighed. The lady in the car glanced back at Libby. She, too, looked worn.

“Ma’am,” Libby smiled as she acknowledged the woman.

The woman returned a weak smile on her furrowed face.

“We’re just a bit down on our luck is all. We’ll be fine,” the man replied hastily as he took his seat behind the wheel.

Libby walked around the car and squatted beside the woman’s door. “Is there something I can do?” she asked through the open window.

The woman studied Libby’s face intently. Her eyes welled with tears.

“Please, I’d like to help. If it’s just a matter of money, that’s not a problem; and I’d be honored if you’d allow me to…”

The woman burst into tears, and the man put his hand on her shoulder, trying desperately to comfort her.

Libby stood, reaching into her pocket and pulled out several bills. She folded and passed them through the open window. “Please, it’s the least I can do. I’m betting you folks have gone out of your way time and again to help others less fortunate. You look like those kinda people. How about letting somebody return the favor?” Libby smiled again, holding the money.

The man and woman looked at each other, and he reluctantly took the cash.

“Thank you,” Libby said with relief. “We all get down and out sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with a little help now and again.”

The man looked soulfully at Libby. “We should be thanking you, Miss, not the other way ‘round.” He looked at the woman. “I’ll pay for some gas and get the milk and bread. You wait right here.” Nodding at Libby, he added meekly, “Thanks again, young lady.”

When the man left the car, Libby reached into her pocket and pulled out more money. She slipped it to the woman, “You just hang on to this, now.”

The woman opened her mouth to protest.

“No ma’am. It’s the right thing to do. You just put that in your purse and hang on to it. If you don’t need it, you can pass it on to someone who does. If you need it, you’ll have it. You’ll be okay?”

“Yes, dear. Thank you. You gotta good Mama, don’t ya?” she smiled through her tears.

Libby smiled back at her with the mention of Maggie. “Yes ma’am. Cracker-jack Dad, too.”

“I got sick a few weeks ago, and with the extra medical bills this month our money just didn’t go far enough. We’re almost out of gas and food, and I have to go back to the doctor tomorrow. We’ve done business here for many years, and a friend of ours sold out to this fella. We thought he might…” her face dropped, and she wiped her face with a small white hankie. Then, her face lifted, and she smiled, “You’ve given us plenty to make it through. Our only son died serving our country, and we don’t have anybody else,” the woman cried.

Libby took the woman’s hand. “Is there more I can do?”

“No! You’ve been wonderful, dear, thank you so much,” she replied with a smile, wiping her face with a tissue.

“I’ll say a prayer that you’ll get better and that things’ll work out, soon.” Libby handed her a business card. “If you need anything, you just give me a collect call...anytime. If there’s anything I can do...you folks aren’t alone anymore.”

“Miss Morgan, you’re not from around here,” the woman replied, reading the business card.

“No ma’am, just passing through. And…I’m Libby. I’m headin’ to the Grand Canyon—after I make a stop in New Mexico to visit my best friend, that is. May I ask your names?”

“Oh, my goodness,” the woman laughed. “How rude of me! I’m so sorry! I’m Gladys Reid and that’s my husband, Luke.”

“Well, Mrs. Reid, it’s been so nice chatting with you. Now I mean it, if you need
anything
, you just call me, collect. Okay?”

Mrs. Reid put both her hands around Libby’s, “Thank you so much, Miss. Morgan. You have a very sweet soul, and I hope you have safe travels.”

Libby smiled at the woman, then walked back to her RV, just as Luke Reid arrived back at the vehicle with a bag of groceries. He waved, smiling at her.

“Thank ya, Miss!”

“God bless you, Mr. Reid!” Libby called from her doorway.

Returning to the sofa, Libby calculated she’d been driving for about six hours. “Well, there’s plenty of daylight to get to Jackson, Mississippi before I stop. That’s just four more hours.”

She sent an email to the Forest Bluff RV Park to check for availability and set her GPS with their coordinates. After refilling her coffee cup, she climbed into the driver’s seat and received the positive response on her cellphone. Libby pulled out onto the highway. Destination: Mississippi.

As she settled into the drive, her thoughts drifted from the Reids to her parents. She turned on the camera.

“Megan, I now see how much I took my parents for granted growing up. Their devotion to each other and to their family is so obvious. I want so much for you to feel that way, too. I hope you do!

“I remember when we would spend Sunday afternoons and evenings sitting on the front porch enjoying the cool evening breeze from spring to fall. Mom would have her guitar and everybody would sing—great memories of family time. Everybody had favorites, and Mom usually requested the same songs on our “porch-side concerts.” Tommy always had to sing
Danny Boy
, wow did your Dad have the pipes when he was young! I always had to sing the Rainbow Song. Dad would play his harmonica...mostly hymns.
Amazing Grace
usually ended our little show. Everybody was always so happy after our “concerts.” These were memories I wished you could have enjoyed, Muggs.

“Mom and Dad had the best relationship. You know, the older I get the more I see it. Sometimes, I think about finding someone who can make you feel, not just wonderful about him, but also wonderful about yourself. Somebody you want to be around until the end of time.” Libby glanced around the cab of the RV, remembering when her parents occupied the seats on one of their many camping trips around the southeast. “I don’t know…relationships can be so tricky, too. When I think about getting involved, I just don’t want to…that is I just can’t imagine myself…what I mean…oh, I don’t know. I mean…eww! Flarflebloo! Boy cooties! Right? ” Libby laughed.

As a horn blew outside her window, traffic snatched Libby’s attention. She turned off the camera and focused on the road. The long drive was beginning to wear on her, so she was glad her destination was growing closer. Within the hour, the GPS announced the exit for the RV park.