Finding Libbie

by Deanna Lynn Sletten

  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.

  And now her dream of marrying Jack was coming true.

  Jack hid the empty bottle of champagne behind the bench and put the glasses in the bushes to retrieve later. He turned to Libbie with a grin on his face. “Should we go back into the gym?” he asked.

  Gazing at him, standing there in his tux, so cute and sweet, Libbie made a decision that she’d been putting off long enough. “No. Let’s go somewhere alone.”

  Jack smiled and reached for her hand. She took it, and they walked around the gym to the parking lot and got into his truck. Jack drove to the spot beside the lake that they loved best, where they could see the moon reflected off the water. It was peaceful there, and no one was around.

  “Are you happy, Libbie?” Jack asked, placing his arm around her and drawing her near.

  “Yes,” she said softly. She looked up into his eyes. “I can’t wait until we’re married and we can be together all the time.”

  “Me, too.” He dropped his lips to hers and their tongues met and danced. Jack pulled her closer, exploring her body with his hands. She loved his touch, and she responded by running her hands inside his jacket, feeling his back muscles grow taut under her fingertips. She lay back on the seat and Jack moved over her. He kissed her slowly down her neck until he touched the sweet spot at the base of her throat and shivers ran up Libbie’s spine. She wanted more, so much more.

  The champagne had made her feel warm and tingly all over, but she wasn’t at all drunk. She knew exactly what she was doing, and what she wanted. She pulled away, and Jack instantly thought she meant for him to stop.

  “I’m sorry, Libbie,” he said, breathing heavily. “I should take you home.”

  As he sat up and straightened his jacket, Libbie placed a hand on his arm. Jack looked at her, his eyes questioning.

  “I don’t want to go home yet,” she said softly. She reached up behind his neck and pulled him to her, kissing him. But Jack pulled back.

  “We really should stop, sweetie. I love kissing you, but it’s getting harder and harder to stop at just kissing.”

  “Then don’t stop.”

  Jack hesitated as he searched her eyes. “Are you sure?”

  Libbie nodded. “Yes. I want you to make love to me, Jack.”

  Jack stared at her, his eyes reflecting his love for her. “I want to. Oh God, do I want to. But not in the front seat of a truck. We’ve waited so long. We can wait a little longer. Our first time should be special.”

  Libbie smiled up at Jack. “I know a place where we can go.”

  Libbie gave Jack directions, and he drove the truck along the north end of the lake past all the larger homes until they came to a secluded spot with a small, dark cabin.

  “Where are we?” he asked, as he parked behind the garage near the road so no one would see his truck.

  “This is my uncle’s cabin. He’s my mother’s brother. He lives down in Minneapolis and rarely comes up here to use it.”

  They stepped out of the truck, and Jack came around to hold Libbie’s hand as they walked to the door.

  “How will we get in?” Jack asked.

  “There should be a key up on the door frame.”

  Jack reached up and, after getting a handful of dust, found the key. He opened the door and they walked inside. It was pitch-black inside with the shutters covering the windows. “I can’t see a thing.”

  Libbie felt around and found a flashlight by the door. She snapped it on and it glowed dimly. “There’s an oil lamp on the table. There must be matches around here somewhere.” She went into the tiny kitchen and found a book of matches in a drawer by the stove, then handed them to Jack. He took the glass chimney off the oil lamp and lit it. The lamp gave off a warm, yellow glow.

  “Don’t they have electricity?” he asked, glancing around.

  “No, he never hooked up to it when they ran it around the lake. There’s a generator outside, but if we start that someone might hear it.”

  Jack nodded. He walked over to another oil lamp on an end table in the living room and lit it, too. “These will do,” he said.

  The cabin was small. The living space, dining area, and kitchen were all in one large room, and there were two small bedrooms and a tiny bathroom. There was a woodstove in the corner for heat. It was clean, except for a layer of dust, and it looked cozy. Libbie went over to the sofa and pushed the small coffee table aside.

  “What are you doing?” Jack asked.

  “The sofa opens up into a bed,” Libbie said. “I don’t want to disturb the bedrooms. I doubt this is used much. Come help me.” She took off the two cushions, and Jack pulled the sofa bed out. The springs creaked, but it opened up and sat firmly on the floor. Sheets were already covering the mattress.

  “Well, it’s not the Ritz, but I guess it’ll do,” Jack teased. Libbie laughed nervously. He looked at her and their eyes met. Then he walked over and took her hands in his.

  “Are you sure, Libbie? We can wait.”

  “I’m sure. I love you, Jack. I want to make love to you.” She turned slowly. “Will you unzip me?”

  Jack came up behind her and gently unzipped her dress down to the middle of her back. Without turning, Libbie slipped the dress off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. Underneath, she wore a white satin slip. Jack placed his hands on her waist, kissing her bare shoulder. Shivers of excitement danced through Libbie.

  Jack removed his jacket, tie, and cummerbund and laid them carefully over a chair. Libbie turned to face him, and he came to her and pulled her into his arms. Once they kissed, the nervousness subsided, and Libbie no longer felt self-conscious. This was Jack, the man she loved, the man she was going to marry. She trusted him completely.

  He pulled away and lifted Libbie’s slip over her head. Underneath, all she wore was a bra and panties. His sharp intake of breath made her look up into his eyes, which were dark with desire. He drew her to him, slowly exploring her body with his hands.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her own desire growing, Libbie unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it away. He wore a T-shirt underneath, and she pulled it up so he’d take it off, too. They’d seen each other like this before many times, in their bathing suits. But this was different. Tonight, they held each other close, feeling the sensation of their bodies melding together. Libbie had never felt this beautiful before, or this desired. She loved the feel of being in Jack’s arms, against his warm skin.

  Backing away, Libbie lifted her arms and pulled out the pins that held up her hair. Jack sat on the bed watching her, his breathing deepening. Once the pins were out, she brushed her fingers through her hair and shook it loose. Jack reached out and drew her to him, kissing her flat stomach while caressing her with his hands. Pulling her down beside him, they lay on the bed, holding each other close.

  “Libbie,” Jack whispered, as she lay naked in his arms. He rose above her and she reached up and caressed his cheek.

  “I love you, Jack,” she said. And when they finally came together, Libbie knew that she’d love Jack for the rest of her life.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jack lay curled up beside Libbie, still mesmerized by how deep his feelings ran for her. After they’d made love, he’d grabbed the afghan that was folded up over a chair and covered them against the chill in the cabin. The oil lamps flickered and gave the room a warm glow, but it was nothing like the warmth he felt inside.

  He’d known that he loved Libbie for a very long time, and tonight had only made their connection stronger.

  He lifted himself up on one elbow and bent to kiss her gently on the cheek. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried that she didn’t feel the same way he did.

  Libbie rolled over and snuggled up beside him. “
Yeah. I was just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  She grinned. “About why we waited so long to do this. If I had known how amazing it would be, I would have seduced you a long time ago.”

  Jack laughed heartily. “Well, I hear it gets better as time goes on,” he said. “With lots of practice.”

  Libbie giggled. “You’re just saying that so I’ll always say yes.”

  He ran his fingers through her silky hair, pushing it behind her small ear, and then dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I hope you’ll always say yes,” he said softly. “I love you so much, Libbie. I’ve loved you for so long that tonight is a dream come true. I’m afraid I’ll wake up and it will be just that—a dream.”

  Libbie cupped his face in her hand. “My sweet, romantic Jack. It’s real. All of it. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  He kissed her tenderly and then sighed.

  “What’s wrong? Are you tired of me already?” she teased.

  “Never. But it’s really late. I should take you home.”

  Libbie sighed then, too, and nodded. After one last kiss, they got up and dressed. Jack zipped up her dress and she smoothed it out as best she could.

  “What about your hair?” Jack asked, growing nervous. “What if your parents are waiting up and see that it’s down?”

  “Don’t worry, they won’t be up. They go to the early church service on Sunday. Besides, if they are up, I’ll just say I took it down at the party. They’ll never question it.”

  Jack nodded. Once they were ready, they pulled the sheets off the bed and closed it up. “What about these?”

  Libbie thought a moment. “I’ll hide them in here and come back during the day and wash them. If anyone asks why I’m here, I’ll just say I’m cleaning up the cabin for my uncle. No one will think twice about that.”

  “Hmm. You’re pretty good at this sneaking around thing. Should I be worried?” Jack asked, grinning.

  Libbie shook her head. “With my parents, I had to learn to sneak around a little. They’re always so worried about what everyone thinks. But I’ll never lie to you, Jack. I want our marriage to be honest from the start. I hate having secrets.”