Finding Libbie

by Deanna Lynn Sletten

  “Where’s Bill today? Doesn’t he hang out here all the time?” Jack asked.

  Libbie sighed. Bill was another bone of contention between her and her mother and sister. “He’s working at his father’s bank. And no, he doesn’t come here often.”

  “I thought you two were going steady.”

  Libbie grinned. “Oh, you did, did you? Then why did you accept my offer to come out here if you thought I was already spoken for?”

  Jack smiled back. “Why did you invite me if you were already spoken for?”

  Libbie laughed. “Checkmate.” She turned and saw they were near the shore, but she didn’t want their time together to end. “See that tree over there? The willow tree that’s hanging over the water by the shore?”

  Jack nodded.

  “Slip the canoe under it. It’s beautiful.”

  “Okay.” Jack paddled the canoe toward the shore and then turned it so they could glide under the branches that hung over the water. “Wow, you’re right. It’s neat. It’s like being under a tent or something.”

  Libbie sat up and leaned toward Jack. “You should see it at night under the full moon. It’s magical.”

  Jack moved in even closer. “I’ll bet it is.”

  “Did you have a nice time today?” Libbie asked.

  “Yeah. This was fun. It’s too bad I have to work so much. I’d like to do this every day.”

  “Maybe you can come again.”

  “I’d like that. But what about Bill?”

  Libbie waved her hand through the air as if to brush Bill away. “Bill is my mother and sister’s idea of the perfect boy for me. I don’t even think he’s that interested in me. As soon as he goes off to college this fall, he’ll find himself a pretty little thing—or maybe several pretty little things. And I don’t care a bit.”

  Jack cocked his head and stared at her. “Well, then Bill’s an idiot.”

  “And why is that?” Libbie asked.

  “Because only an idiot would pick another girl over you.”

  Libbie grinned. “Then we both agree. Bill is an idiot.”

  They laughed and then Jack said, “Will you come with me to the lakeside movie on Friday night? I’ll buy you popcorn.”

  “That sounds like fun. I’ve never gone before.”

  “Really? Well, we can’t have that. I’ll bring a blanket to keep us warm, and we can watch the movie under the stars,” Jack said.

  “It’s a date,” Libbie said softly.

  Jack grinned widely as he maneuvered the canoe out from under their hiding place and over to the shore. It was late afternoon, and most of the kids had headed home. Carol and Barbara were still suntanning on the floating dock. Libbie walked with Jack to the front of the house.

  “I’ll pick you up around eight thirty Friday night, okay?” Jack said.

  Libbie hesitated. She knew her mother wouldn’t approve of her going out with Jack. “Why don’t I meet you downtown by the old pub near the lakefront? That way you don’t have to drive so far home after the movie.”

  Jack looked at her curiously a moment, and Libbie hoped she hadn’t insulted him. But then he smiled at her. “Okay. See you then.”

  Libbie waved at him as he drove off. She didn’t care that he drove an old pickup truck or that his parents didn’t own half of Jamison. He was sweet and kind, and she loved how his eyes sparkled when he looked at her. She already felt more for him in the short time they’d spent together than she’d ever felt for Bill.

  As Libbie walked back to the house, she forgot all about her mother and sister and their constant disapproval. Her mind was already spinning over what she was going to wear on her first date with Jack.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  On Friday night, Jack and Libbie sat under the stars watching the old movie Roman Holiday and sharing popcorn. The night was perfect. The sky was clear, the half-moon was bright, and the stars twinkled above as the movie stars glittered on the large outdoor screen. Couples sat on blankets spread out on the park’s grassy hill, and as the night air chilled, they wrapped blankets around themselves to stay warm. Jack had brought two blankets, too, and when Libbie shivered next to him, he unfolded the second one and slipped it around them.

  “Better?” he asked quietly, enjoying the feel of her body close to his.

  “Much better,” she said.

  Afterward, they stopped at the Dairy Queen and shared a hot fudge sundae and a Coke. They sat close together in Jack’s truck while they ate.

  “Where did you tell your mother you were going tonight?” Jack asked casually.

  Libbie stared at him, surprised, and then looked contrite. “I told her I was going to Carol’s and we might go to a movie. How’d you know?”

  “You wouldn’t let me pick you up at your house. I figured you thought your parents wouldn’t approve of us going out together.”

  Libbie dropped her eyes to her lap. “I’m sorry, Jack. It’s just that my mom and sister are so protective of me. I didn’t want them to make it a big deal.”

  Jack reached over and touched her chin with his fingertip, raising her eyes to his. “It’s okay, Libbie. I get it. ‘Rich girls don’t marry poor boys.’ Right?”

  Libbie shook her head. “I don’t care if you’re rich or poor or anywhere in between. Unfortunately, my parents do. But they don’t know you yet, Jack. When they get to know you, they’ll like you. I’m sure of it.”

  Jack smiled. “Let’s hope so. But it doesn’t matter if they like me or not, because I’m crazy about you. I hope you know that, Libbie Wilkens.”

  Libbie giggled. “You’ve been making that pretty clear since the prom.”

  They finished eating the last scoops of the sundae, and then Jack drove Libbie the short distance to where she’d parked her car. Libbie turned to Jack with sparkling eyes. “Want to do something fun?”

  “Sure. But shouldn’t you be getting home?”

  “That’s where we’ll be. Remember the other day when I told you it was so cool under that tree in the moonlight? The sky is clear tonight, and even with only a half-moon, it would be beautiful there.”

  Jack hesitated. “What about your parents? What if they see us out on the water this late?”

  Libbie brushed his concern aside with the wave of her hand. “They’re probably in bed by now. We’ll be quiet. Come on. Let’s do it.”

  “Okay,” Jack agreed, reluctantly. He hoped Libbie was right and her parents were asleep. The last thing he wanted to do was anger them before they had a chance to meet him properly.

  Jack followed Libbie’s Mustang to her house, and he parked his truck out on the road while she drove into the driveway. He caught up with her at the side of the house. “How will we see in the dark?” he whispered.

  “With this,” she said, holding up a flashlight. “My dad insists I keep one in the car.”

  Jack took Libbie’s hand and they ran to the shoreline to where the canoe sat. Jack motioned for Libbie to get in so she wouldn’t get her shoes wet, then he took off his black Converse sneakers and set them in the canoe before shoving it off into the water.

  Libbie pointed out the way with the flashlight while Jack paddled. It wasn’t long before they had slipped under the hanging tree branches.

  The water was calm, so it wasn’t any work to keep the canoe in place. Libbie turned off the flashlight. The light of the moon and stars glittered through the branches and leaves of the tree.

  “You’re right. It’s magical,” Jack said, gazing up.

  Libbie moved forward to the middle bench. “I knew you’d appreciate it.”

  Jack glanced at Libbie, her blond hair shining in the moonlight. She looked so beautiful that his heart swelled. He could barely believe that he was here with her. He’d had a crush on her for so long that it seemed as if that was all it would ever be. But here he was, only inches away from her, in this enchanted spot.

  “You surprise me, Jack,” Libbie said softly. “You really are a romantic. Quoting The Great Gatsby earlier
. You must have been paying attention in English lit this year.”

  “I liked that book,” Jack admitted. “I know the other guys in the class thought it was stupid and sappy, but not me. Do you think that’s weird?”

  “No. I think it’s sweet.”

  The frogs and crickets sang out around them as Jack gazed into Libbie’s eyes. She leaned even closer, and he did also. Unable to resist any longer, Jack reached up one hand and gently touched the side of her face. Their lips met, and they kissed softly. As he pulled away and looked into Libbie’s blue eyes, Jack knew for certain that he was in love.

  That summer Jack felt as if he were floating on air. He spent every free minute he had with Libbie. He went to her house on the rare occasions that Rick didn’t need him in the afternoons and spent time by the lake with her and the other kids. His best friend, Larry, started tagging along, and the group accepted him as they had Jack. Larry was tall and athletic, like Jack, and he had a wicked sense of humor that everyone loved. And to Jack’s surprise, Carol found Larry very interesting, and the two began dating. Sometimes, the four of them would go to the movies, to the local roller rink, or for a burger at the A&W drive-in. Jack was grateful that Libbie liked Larry and they all got along well. It was fun being able to hang out together as a group.

  The four went to the Fourth of July carnival in town and watched fireworks over the lake from the grassy hill in the park. They rode carnival rides and ate hot dogs and cotton candy. Jack even won a small stuffed bear for Libbie at the shooting gallery, which she hugged tightly all evening. Their time spent together was everything Jack had dreamed of, and when Libbie kissed him, he felt as if his life was complete.

  Jack didn’t worry about what Libbie’s parents thought of him until one afternoon when reality came crashing down on him. He was working at the gas station when Libbie’s mother pulled her Cadillac DeVille sedan up to the pumps. Jack knew who it was immediately and wiped his hands on a rag to try to get the grease off them. He didn’t want to touch her shiny, new, beige-colored car with dirty hands. He walked over and smiled at her as she stared up at him from the driver’s side window.

  “Hello, Mrs. Wilkens. Fill it up today?”

  Abigail slowly slid her sunglasses down her nose and looked at him over the top of the rims. It was not a friendly stare. “Yes, please,” she said.

  Jack went about filling up the car, checking the oil, and cleaning the windows. Mrs. Wilkens had stepped out of the car and was standing beside the driver’s door, watching him intently. She made him feel even more self-conscious. She wore a two-piece, royal-blue suit with matching heels. A diamond brooch was pinned to her lapel, and she wore several gold and diamond rings on her perfectly manicured fingers. Everything about her screamed money, and the longer she watched him, the more nervous Jack became.

  When he’d finished, he walked over to her, being careful not to get too close. His coveralls were so dirty that he thought for sure the grease would jump off onto her nice suit. “Will that be all today, ma’am?” he asked.

  Abigail pulled her sunglasses off and stared him in the eye. “You’re Jack Prentice, aren’t you?”

  Jack’s hands were shaking, but he forced himself to stand as still as possible and kept a smile on his face. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”

  Abigail cocked her head. “I’ve seen you at the house. You and Libbie are friends.”

  Jack nodded. “Yes, we are, ma’am. And I appreciate you letting me come and spend time with the other kids there. We have a good time.”

  “Hmm. Well, that’s nice. I’m happy that Libbie has so many friends.”

  Jack swallowed hard. The emphasis she’d placed on the word friends was palpable.

  “Libbie is a sweet girl who is easily swayed sometimes, I’m afraid,” Abigail continued. “We have high hopes for her future, as any mother and father would for their daughter.” She looked Jack up and down very slowly. “I’d hate to see anything, or anyone, come between her and a successful future.”

  Mrs. Wilkens’s words hit Jack like a brick. He knew exactly what she meant. He wasn’t ever going to be good enough for Libbie. “I understand,” he said stiffly.

  Abigail nodded. “Please put the fuel on our account. Oh, and here,” she handed him a folded one-dollar bill. “For your services.” She slid on her sunglasses, slipped into her car, and drove away.

  Jack watched her leave, the dollar bill practically burning a hole in his hand. Never in his life had anyone made him feel so small and insignificant as she had just now.

  “Well, she’s sure a piece of work,” Rick said, coming out of the garage. He walked over to Jack’s side. “Ignore her, Jack. All the money in the world doesn’t make you a better person. It certainly hasn’t helped her become one.”

  Jack nodded and headed back inside the garage to help Rick. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t erase the memory of the look of pure disgust on Mrs. Wilkens’s face.

  Later that afternoon, Jack walked into the farmhouse kitchen where his mother was busy cutting up fresh potatoes from the garden to boil for supper. He smelled a roast cooking in the oven, and there were green beans sitting in a strainer, waiting to be washed. They ate well on the farm. And his mother always made sure their clothes were clean and mended. No child of hers went to town with holes in their jeans or buttons missing on their shirts. Jack had always thought his family lived a good life—they certainly weren’t poor. But after today, he wondered if he’d been wrong.

  “Why the frown, Jack?” Bev asked. “You have a bad day?”

  Jack studied his mother. She wore a simple flowered housedress with an apron over it and an old pair of black flats. Her brown hair was pulled up into a bun, and her face was free of makeup. The only jewelry his mother wore was her plain gold wedding band. No expensive suit, no heels, and certainly no diamonds. But his mother had a heart of gold, and that was so much better than anything Mrs. Wilkens owned.

  Jack went over to the counter where the green beans sat and began snapping the tips off and breaking them in half. “Ma? Do you think some people are better than other people?”

  Bev stopped cutting potatoes and glanced at Jack. “Does this have anything to do with that cute little Libbie Wilkens?”

  Jack looked up, surprised. “You know about Libbie?”

  Bev chuckled and started cutting potatoes again. “Sweetie, you can’t go to the movies or be seen at the Dairy Queen without someone noticing and telling someone else. It’s a small town. Of course I’ve heard about you two.”

  Jack dropped his eyes. “Then I’ll bet that’s how Libbie’s mother found out. Through other people.”

  Bev walked over next to Jack. “Why? Did she say something to you?”

  Jack looked at his mother. “She made it very clear today that it was okay for me to be Libbie’s friend but nothing more. Maybe she’s right, Ma. I’m never going to be successful enough for a girl like Libbie.”

  “That’s not true, Jack, and you know it. Anyone can be successful in life; it just depends on what your definition of success is. For some, it’s having a lot of money. But for others, it’s being happy with the one you care most about. And if you work hard, you can have both.”

  Jack sighed. “Mrs. Wilkens made me feel like I was nothing.”

  “And what about Libbie? Does she think you’re nothing?” Bev asked.

  Jack looked up. “No. She doesn’t care if I’m rich or not. She likes me for who I am.”

  Bev smiled. “Then that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

  Jack grinned. “Yeah, I guess that is all that matters.” He started snapping beans again.

  “Good. Besides, Abigail Wilkens has no reason to look down her nose at you or anyone else. She grew up on a farm just like the rest of us. The only difference is she married Randall Wilkens, who inherited his businesses and money. So don’t let her intimidate you.”

  Jack smiled to himself as he finished up the beans and washed them in the sink. His mother was right. As l
ong as Libbie liked him, nothing else mattered.

  “You should invite Libbie out to the farm some evening for supper. You two can go horseback riding or something. I’d love to get to know her better,” Bev said.

  Jack nodded. Maybe it would be fun for her to meet his family. Especially his mother. Everyone who came to the farm liked her. “I’ll ask her,” he said.

  Libbie sat quietly at the dinner table. Gwen, her husband, Walter, and their one-year-old baby girl, Lynn, were eating with the family tonight. Libbie didn’t like Walter all that much. He was always bragging, and he had no reason to. He’d only gone to college for one year, and yet he acted like he had a PhD. He and Gwen had married in a rush a year out of high school, and then Lynn came along. Walter ended up working in the office of his father’s construction company, writing up bids for projects. Libbie didn’t always like how her sister acted, but she thought Gwen could have married better if she’d been more careful.

  They were eating roasted chicken with new potatoes and glazed carrots. Libbie ate but hardly tasted the food. Her mother always took credit for cooking dinner, but truth be told, their housekeeper, Sandra, did most of the work. Sandra prepared the meal, and all her mother had to do was put it in the oven or boil something on the stove. But of course her father always complimented her mother on the delicious meal.

  Walter was rambling on about the recent construction bid he was writing up for a new office building going in northwest of town. Randall listened with interest.

  “Why would anyone build in that direction instead of closer to downtown?” Randall asked. “There’s nothing out there but an old restaurant and hotel. The rest is all open land.”

  Walter shrugged as his meaty hands reached for another helping of potatoes. Libbie thought he didn’t need to eat any more. He wasn’t much taller than her sister’s five foot eight, and he was stocky, bordering on fat. At twenty years old, he looked more like forty to Libbie, but then, Libbie thought the same of her sister. Gwen was taller than she was and built wider and sturdier. Her face was more like their mother’s, with that straight nose and pinched look. But she still might have been pretty if it hadn’t been for her overbearing personality. Gwen was a bossy know-it-all, and Libbie was usually the one she bossed around.