Libby’s eyes fluttered. She carefully picked up his hand and was about to slide out when his arm tightened, pulling her quickly back. She laughed and turned to see his face.
“And, where do you think you’re going?” he laughed.
“Nature calls,” she giggled.
“Ah, well...okay then.” he replied.
Joe got up as well, and looked at her belongings tucked behind the small railing in front of the dresser’s mirror. In a cubby stood a mist bottle reading Driftwood Cove Yellow Jasmine Sun Oil. Joe smiled, then smelled the cap. “Jasmine! Nice!”
When Libby finished brushing her teeth, she stepped into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee while Joe answered nature’s call as well.
“Hope you don’t mind, I used some of your mouthwash,” Joe said, stepping from the bathroom. She shook her head and poured two cups of coffee, handing one to Joe.
“That’s gonna taste great now!” she laughed. She went to the cabinet and pulled out another movie as Joe leaned against the wall blowing into his cup. She slid past him to the bedroom and loaded the DVD player built into the flatscreen. Sliding back into the sheets, she fluffed the pillows. Joe watched with intrigue, then followed. As the video intro played, Libby scooted back into Joe’s side and pulled his arm around her.
“Comfy?” he asked, sarcastically. She propped on her elbow and turned to face him. She kissed him softly, looked deeply into his eyes and nodded before snuggling back into to her previous position. Joe settled in, too, but his intention was to watch Libby, not the movie.
“Jasmine,” Joe said defiantly. Libby giggled.
“Now you know my secret!” The mirror on the dresser was in the perfect position for him to see her beautiful, smiling face. Her attention held by the movie, she didn’t notice his intention.
“Only one.” He watched her in the mirror, waiting for the smile on her face to fade. It didn’t for quite a while.
After some time, Joe spoke: “I bet such a beautiful woman has a trail of broken hearts in her wake.”
Libby laughed, “Not so much,” she turned to look at Joe.
“I don’t believe you. I can’t believe you’re out driving this RV all by yourself – and I can’t imagine why there’s not some guy bustin’ the door down to run me off.”
“Well, there was one guy in high school, but that ended badly a long time ago. He does carry a gun though, so maybe you should just watch yourself,” Libby laughed.
Joe raised an eyebrow as he studied her face.
“Ah, no, it’s not like that,” Libby laughed. “He’s a cop. No, since high school, I’ve been pretty much involved with Megan only—so much that I guess I don’t really make time for dates, much less relationships. I have friends; but since Laura moved away, I really don’t hang out much anymore either. It’s mostly me and my Muggs.”
Joe shook his head in disbelief. “Thanks for letting me in,” he said wistfully.
Libby poked his side and turned her attention back to the movie. Still watching her in the mirror, Joe saw her smile as she laid her head back on his shoulder. He nestled his cheek into her hair as he watched her expressions change throughout the movie.
Halfway through the movie, there was a knock at the door. Joe slipped out of the bed and motioned to Libby to stay. Opening the RV door, he saw Rick. “Hey, bro, I thought I could use the Internet to check my email and stuff...you guys mind? I forgot my charger and my phone’s dead.”
“Nah, come on. We were watching a movie.” Joe returned to the bedroom doorway and relayed Rick’s question.
“Keyboard is in the cabinet behind the sofa. Should I help?” Libby called out to Rick.
“Don’t you move!” Joe ordered, pulling the door behind him. Joe walked over to Rick and leaned toward him, “You wanna make this quick, right?” as he picked up the remote and turned on the television.
Rick looked up from the keyboard at Joe’s furrowed eyebrows and glare.
Laughing, Rick replied, “Yeah, man...no problem.”
Joe turned back toward the bedroom and called quietly over his shoulder, “And lock up when you leave.”
Joe returned to the bedroom and shut the door behind him to find Libby had dressed while he was gone and was making the bed. “I wasn’t finished with that,” he said curtly. She flashed a grin as she squeezed past him to the kitchen for a refill.
“Hey, Rick,” she smiled, “Coffee?”
“Sounds good,” Rick replied as he typed on the keyboard, then clearly reconsidered as he remembered Joe’s request. Looking to Joe for confirmation or curse, Joe shrugged, shook his head and sat on the living room chair next to the enclosed bookshelf.
“So, how’s school?” Joe asked.
“It’s cool. Things are good. I’ve worked sound board for some friends, and I may have an internship lined up with an indie label. I should find out next week. I’ve gotten good scores over some of my mixes. Some industry folks came in for a sessions day, and I got pretty good feedback.” Rick tossed the TV remote at Joe, who caught it with one hand.
“Think fast,” Rick replied as an afterthought. “Hey, the old man ain’t too rusty. ‘‘‘Cept for that cracklin’ sound Pappy used to make when he stood up!” Rick laughed.
“Glad to hear it’s working out,” Joe nodded, looking up at the screen. He tossed the remote back at Rick. Sorry we had to drag you out here.”
“Nah, I could use the break. Timing was pretty good-not much happening that I needed to be there for that I can’t do online—it’s all good.” The remote flew across the room again.
Libby sat at the table, watching the brothers interact. She wasn’t used to the way men related to each other...she was intrigued. She’d picked up on a few signals, but thought to herself, “I’m gonna have to be on my toes!” She snickered. All eyes turned to her: everyone burst into laughter. Libby blushed, shook her head, and pointed to the screen.
“Pay attention,” she laughed.
Rick brought up a couple of websites. “Oklahoma State Fair gig is up next, how far is that?” Joe asked. He rotated his chair to get a better view of the screen. He glanced into the bookshelf and saw a scrapbook.
The Internet map displayed, “almost ten hours,” Rick replied.
“Have you guys had breakfast?” Joe asked, opening the glass door to retrieve the book. A photo of Libby and Megan brandished the cover. They posed on the beach with matching Driftwood Cove team tee-shirts over their bathing suits. A volleyball was under Libby’s arm while Megan held a large gold trophy. Joe picked up the book and began flipping through the pages.
“No, Chuck’s in the shower, I think. I don’t know about the girl,” Rick answered with a slight hesitation. He seemed uninterested in the conversation, instead focusing on the web page in front of him.
“Girl? Oh, nevermind. Well, let’s light a fire under him...we can decide the game plan over breakfast. You fellas ready to checkout?” Joe asked as he began thumbing through the book.
“Will be,” Rick replied as he placed the keyboard on the sofa and headed for the door.
“Come get us. No, on second thought, I’ll go take a shower in the room and change. I’ll be over in a little while.”
Joe smiled at Libby as Rick closed the door. He flashed the scrapbook at her, “So…this is interesting.”
Libby laughed, “Megan’s work. She didn’t want me to forget her.”
“Driftwood Cove? That sounds familiar.”
“Yeah,” Libby laughed. They make their own line of scented products…lotions, oils, stuff like that. A friend of the family owns and runs it…they have really great stuff.”
“I know…jasmine,” Joe glanced at her as if he shared her secret. Joe flipped the book open to the first page, where Libby and Megan were playing beach volleyball with a couple of blondes.
“Reds verses the blondes, eh? Wh
o won?” Joe grinned.
“Who do you think?” Libby smirked.
“Atta girl,” Joe smiled. “Wish I’d been there,” he smirked. He flipped the page and laughed at a young Libby holding baby Megan on her hip, Libby was all legs and arms with her brilliant dark-red hair framing her face in ringlet-pigtails. “Weren’t you just the cutest little thang!”
Libby blushed. “Hey!” she laughed as she dashed across the floor to confiscate the book. Joe pulled the book away just in time and grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Libby’s made a final, not-so-sneaky attempt to pull the book away, but failed as Joe slid the book behind his chair and stood up, carrying her to the couch and dropping her. He kissed her on the forehead.
“So, you wanna come too? Get your clothes together and come on over to room 14—I won’t be long.” She nodded, and he touched her chin, turned away.
He grabbed the book from behind his chair and with a furtive glance, considered taking it with him. Instead, he put it back in the cabinet. “I’ll get to that later. And it better be there when I do!”
Libby picked up the keyboard to journal her most recent events. She hadn’t had time for video logs, but at least she’d be able to fill in the blanks with notes.
* * *
Once satisfied that her notes were in place, she picked out clothes and went to Joe’s room for a quick shower. Chuck was standing outside the room with his bag. “Libby, good mornin’!”
“Hey Chuck, where is everybody?”
“Gettin’ it together.”
An attractive, but distant blonde appeared in the doorway of room 14.
“Uh...hi.” Libby looked quizzically at the girl. She was lean, tall and tan. She had a guitar case in her hand and a duffel bag over her shoulder.
“Libby, this is Hollie. Hollie...Libby”
“Hey, hope I didn’t take your room last night.” Hollie smiled. Libby shook her head and glanced at Chuck.
“Nah...we’re all good. Come on Hollie, let me buy you breakfast before you head west,” Chuck lead her out the doorway.
Libby walked into Joe’s room looking back at Chuck and the girl. Joe appeared from the bathroom with a towel around his neck and wearing only jeans. This was the first time Libby had seen him clean-shaven. “Hey...it’s a good shower. You need anything?”
Libby walked in, closing the door. “Who was that?”
“Oh...you met Chuck’s latest pickup. I think she came into the bar last night as we were leaving. I guess Chuck made use of my room. Good thing I didn’t come back last night!” Joe laughed. “That could’a been...somethin’! She’s apparently hitching to L.A.”
Libby nodded slowly...trying to comprehend the scenario. “Happens all the time, right?”
“Hey...life on the road with Chuck, babe. You NEVER know! Someday maybe I’ll write a book…On the Road with Chuckles,” Joe laughed. “I’m gonna take my bag out. You okay in here for now? I’ll make sure everybody’s ready to move on.”
“I’m good...won’t be long.”
Joe made his way over to the bathroom door where Libby stood and kissed her. She stroked his smooth face and smiled. He grinned as he grabbed his shirt from the doorknob behind her, then walked away, whistling.
By 10:00, everyone was packed and checked out of the rooms. Libby was behind the wheel of the RV as the others boarded. She intensely studying the GPS as Joe took the copilot seat.
“So, there’s a truckstop nearby—is that okay?”
“Truckstop?” Joe looked unsure of Libby’s request.
Libby smiled and nodded, “That’s okay, right?”
“If that’s what you wanna do…fine by me.” He looked back at the others, “Who cares what they think. Truckstop it is.”
* * *
As Libby pulled into the truckstop, Chuck exclaimed, “A truckstop? Seriously?”
“Hey, I hear they have great steaks!” Libby chimed in as she passed by their sign reading best steaks for 100 miles. Underneath the truckstop sign, was another sign reading Bus Terminal.
“Well, okay then, bring it on,” Chuck responded.
Seated at the table, everyone ordered from the menu and began discussing their trip home.
“With all of us, we should be able to drive straight through today,” Joe commented.
“Is everybody okay with that?” Joe asked. “We can do four-hour driving shifts, that won’t be bad. Or we could do two hours shifts to break it up more. We’ll be there tonight and have the rest of the week to relax. Being still sounds pretty good right about now. Man, I just can’t wait to get past next weekend.”
Everyone agreed.
Joe turned to Libby, “I’m sorry, I’m assuming you’re alright with this plan...do you have some place you need to be?”
She shook her head, “No place at all.”
He smiled. “Good. That’s settled. So you don’t mind if, we take turns driving your rig.”
“Nah...it’s a piece of cake,” she laughed.
Hollie remained quiet for most of breakfast, only answering questions when directed at her. Her eyes were constantly darting outside. When everyone stood to leave, she reached in her duffle bag for a map. Libby sat back down as she waved the gang on toward the door.
“Do you have some way to get where you’re goin’?”
Hollie smiled, “Sure...this looks like a good place to pick up a ride.”
“Hollie, would you please let me buy you a bus ticket. You shouldn’t be trying to hitch a ride. Really I can afford the ticket. Don’t worry about paying me back, you can do something nice for someone else sometime. We’ll call it even.” Libby pulled cash from her pocket and passed it across the table.
“No, I couldn’t. But thanks, I’m sure there’s a truck heading west out there,” Hollie looked out the window with slight apprehension.
Joe appeared over Libby’s shoulder and motioned for her to slide over. “Hey, Chuck mentioned you’re headin’ to L.A. for a gig. I have a friend there. He’s always willing to offer a bed to friends. I’ll give him a heads-up, but here’s his phone number. He’s a good guy...you can trust him.” Joe scribbled on the paper and slid it over to Hollie. The waitress passed with the coffeepot.
Hollie looked warily at Joe, then Libby. She reached for the note and money, “I wanna pay you back...how can I reach you?”
“Nope...pay it forward,” Libby repeated. “When you get the chance to help out somebody...think of us. That’ll pay us back plenty.” Libby smiled as she and Joe slid out of the booth.
“Come on. Let’s go get that ticket.”
* * *
Shortly after 11:00 and after goodbyes to Hollie, the brothers and Libby were on the road with Rick behind the wheel. Libby and Joe sat on the sofa while Chuck occupied the copilot seat.
“Is that why you picked the truckstop…for a bus?” Joe whispered to Libby.
She smiled, replying in her best southern drawl, “Why sir, I really don’t know what y’all are talkin’ about.”
Joe hugged her tightly in approval. “You’ve got such a big heart. You pick up strays too, don’t ya?”
“What made you say that?” Libby looked back at him with a fake innocence.
“Their steaks…all hype,” Joe laughed.
Libby blushed as she smiled.
Chuck picked up the blank CD lying on the console and inserted it into the CD player. Maggie’s guitar filled the RV with the sound of classical guitar playing “Flyin’ So High.”
Libby smiled as Chuck turned and grinned at her. Libby leaned back into Joe and began humming the melody.
Joe smiled, remembering the contest. “Play it again, Chuck. Okay, Ms. Lily, I wanna hear the words this time.”
Libby looked over at him with a blush. As the music again filled the air, Libby sang her award-winning song for her captive audienc
e.
Joe watched her intently as she sang.
“So, who’s playing the guitar?” Joe asked when she’d finished.
“Mom. She’s pretty awesome, isn’t she? She trained classically. And on keyboards she’s pure brilliance! Wish she’d passed that onto me!”
“So, you play then?” Joe asked.
“Some. I’m nothing like her. That’s how the song became...well, bluesy. See, when I was a little girl, we were watching a movie together. She used to love to tell this story. Days after the movie, she heard me singing that song. I was...maybe three? Anyway, I didn’t get all the words right, so she made a point to learn the song and taught me the right words. My sense of timing was pretty bad, though, so it evolved into a blues tune. Blues is much more...forgiving...to those of us without great timing.”
“Well, you have a beautiful voice, Libby. I’m glad you don’t let your...bad timing,” Joe laughed, “stop you from singing,” Joe took her hand.
Chuck slid out of his seat and pulled his guitar from the case behind the sofa, handing it to Joe. “Play.”
“After hearing her Mom? You’re kidding, right? She’s outta your league, and I’m nowhere near yours…so I’m not the right man for the job.”
“Not like I can,” Chuck waved his bad hand. “Come on, Joe,” Chuck cajoled.
“Rick, we’re havin’ coffee while they argue about this,” Libby left the sofa. Rick nodded in the rearview, but Libby pretty much ignored him. While measuring the grounds, Libby purposefully turned away from them to wipe a tear from her eye. She slipped into the bathroom to compose herself.
Looking in the mirror, “Oh, Mom,” she shook her head and reached for a tissue.
* * *
Behind the wheel, Libby asked, “Anybody mind if I turn on the cameras?”
After enjoying the company and camaraderie of the group, she wanted to capture some of it for Megan. After explaining the recorded messages for Megan to the group, everyone agreed. Libby turned the center camera to face the RV cabin and turned on all cameras on a split screen.
Whirlwind Love: Libby's Journey Page 14
