Rock and a Hard Place

by Angie Stanton

  “You look stunning,” Miss Orman said.

  Libby flung herself into the woman’s arms. “Thank you.”

  “It’s all you.” Miss Orman hugged her warmly. “And it’s been there all the time. Now, when do I finally get to meet this mystery man?”

  Just then Libby’s phone rang. They looked at each other and laughed.

  # # #

  “I’m here! We just landed.” Peter carried a small duffel bag over his shoulder and a bag with Libby’s corsage in his hand. He’d never ordered flowers before. The corsage contained pink roses and daisies; roses for her beauty and daisies for her sweetness. Libby reminded him of a flower blowing in the wind.

  He wore a baseball cap to hide his famous face, but he doubted he’d be recognized. Traveling alone and without an entourage made getting around much simpler. Tonight should be smooth as silk. Thank God.

  As they exited the plane, Roger walked ahead of him up the gangway.

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is really happening.” Libby’s voice bubbled from his phone.

  “I know, me either. I told you we’d figure this out.” His excitement rivaled hers.

  “So how much longer?”

  “About an hour if we drive the speed limit, forty-five minutes if I have anything to say about it.” He wanted Libby in his arms. This long distance thing was killing him, but she was worth it.

  “Guess I better get going or you’ll beat me there. I can’t wait to see the look on the kids’ faces when you walk in. Good thing you have Roger with you.”

  “Roger loves his job so much right now. He can’t wait to get there and try out his dance moves with the high school set. Wait ‘til you see what he’s wearing.”

  Roger turned and growled at Peter. The only dress jacket they could find to fit his large girth at the last minute was dark purple velvet. He looked like an eighties pimp.

  Libby giggled. “Hurry up, will ya? My hair is already falling.”

  “You did your hair?”

  “Of course! It’s Homecoming.”

  Roger stopped him as they entered the gate area. A serious looking airport official and security guard approached.

  “Hey, I gotta go, something’s up, probably some security thing. I’ll see you in an hour.”

  “Hurry.”

  He flipped the phone shut and stepped forward to speak to the official.

  The loud bass from the cover band pumped into the corridor.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come in and enjoy the dance?” Miss Orman urged again, their earlier excitement long faded.

  “No. I’ll wait here.” Libby refused go into the gym with the other kids. When Peter arrived, she needed to be the first to lay eyes on him. No way would she miss the moment by standing alone in the darkened, Hollywood-themed gym.

  “He must have had car trouble,” her counselor offered. Concern and yes, even pity etched Miss Orman’s face.

  “Yeah, probably. Maybe a flat tire.” Libby nodded, her lips pinched with worry.

  Something had obviously happened. Everything seemed fine when they talked two hours before. If a swarm of fans was the hold up, she swore she’d kill them all. Peter belonged to her tonight and no one else.

  She paced the long hallway again, the click of her ill-fitted heels echoed with each step. She lowered herself onto a bench and checked her phone yet again for messages.

  No power. Crap.

  She’d been distracted all day and forgot to recharge the phone. This coveted device, the keeper of information, and her only connection to Peter, lay useless in her hand. She shook it and rubbed it between her hands, hoping to bring her phone back to life. Unfortunately, her phone charger hid behind books on a shelf in her room. She couldn’t charge her phone without going back to the house, and then Aunt Marge would never let her out again. It was a big enough battle to leave the first time.

  Two girls in slinky sequined dresses walked out of the bathroom and meandered down the hall. They eyed Libby.

  “Why’s she sitting there alone?” one said.

  “Supposedly her date’s meeting her here. She’d never want him to see where she lives,” replied the other.

  “Looks like he stood her up.”

  “Can you blame him?” They giggled cruelly at her misfortune.

  Libby slouched against the wall. Her once beautiful curls drooped against her shoulders. Their words hit hard, but they were right. He wasn’t coming. She knew it in her gut. Their perfect night ruined. Peter would not show. Tonight she planned to prove she was just like everyone else, even better. Instead, they would all witness her lonely wait for a boy who never arrived. Miss Orman’s pity would be the worst. She’d probably call in a shrink on Monday to find out why Libby invented Peter.

  More kids walked down the hall toward the restrooms. Libby rose. She couldn’t take any more ridicule. She walked to the double doors and stepped into the brisk night. Even though she felt certain Peter wouldn’t show, she continued her vigil and prayed he was okay.

  What could possibly keep him away when he was so close? A traffic jam? Not likely. Weather? He’d already landed and the weather was fine, cold and windy, but nothing to stop traffic. A car accident? She shivered at the thought. Please let him be okay.

  She checked her phone again. It didn’t magically power on. She returned it to her handbag, next to her lip gloss and two tickets for the dance. She pulled out the beautifully printed tickets with the school emblem pressed into the shiny paper.

  “Oh Peter,” she breathed, the wind cold on her skin. Something was wrong. Very very wrong.

  Chapter 13

  “Excuse me, are you Peter Jamieson?”

  “Yeah, I’m Peter Jamieson. What’s up?” A bad feeling struck him.

  “I’m sorry to tell you this, but there’s been a medical emergency back in Los Angeles. Your mother called and asked us to locate you. You need to return to L.A. as quickly as possible.”

  “What happened? Who is it?” Panic hit him full on. He searched Roger’s face for information neither of them had.

  “Is it my mom? Is she okay? Please tell me.” Peter stood oblivious to the dozens of curious passengers in the terminal. The only reason his mom would make him come home was if something terrible happened.

  “I’m sorry to tell you that your father suffered a heart attack. I believe he’s in Emergency at Cedars-Sinai.”

  Peter’s world fell away. His dad. The pillar of their family. The man who pushed him to be his best. He couldn’t be sick. He couldn’t die. Peter looked to Roger for support, terrified for his father’s life.

  “How soon can we get out of here?” Roger took control, allowing Peter to be scared.

  “We’re holding a plane, it’s headed to Denver. Then you’ll transfer to L.A. You can board now.”

  “Let’s go,” Peter responded. “I’m calling Garrett.”

  Stiff jawed, he pressed the buttons on his phone as he followed the officials through the terminal to the waiting plane.

  Garrett answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?”

  “I’m on my way now. We just landed in Madison, but they’re holding a plane. How is he? What happened?” Peter didn’t recognize the flat tone of his own voice. He fought tears as they rushed down the concourse. His invincible dad had always been healthy. This was all wrong.

  “He was walking across the yard and collapsed. Mom gave him an aspirin right away. The paramedics said it probably saved his life.”

  Peter held the phone with one hand and pushed his hair out of his face with the other. He struggled to believe Garrett’s words, yet knew they were true. “Is he okay? Where is he now?” They arrived at a gate where airline agents waited. One agent handed him a boarding pass and cleared him through without delay. Peter nodded his gratitude as he listened to Garrett.

  “They’re doing a lot of tests. He’s hooked up to a bunch of machines. Mom’s with him.”

  “Is he going to be okay? Is he going to pull
through?” Peter couldn’t believe he needed to ask this.

  “I don’t know Pete, I just don’t know.” The worry in his voice scared Peter even more.

  “Where’s Adam? Is he there?” Peter stepped onto the crowded plane. Impatient passengers watched. He and Roger were guided to seats near the front.

  “Yeah, he’s right here. How long ‘til you land? Dammit, Peter. You should be here.”

  “I know. I’m on my way. A couple hours to Denver and a couple more to L.A. Hopefully by midnight.” He checked his watch and dreaded the idea of being stuck on a plane for the rest of the night helpless to do anything. He needed to be there. Now.

  “Just get your ass home. You never should have left. She isn’t worth it.”

  Peter ignored the barb. Garrett was scared and angry. So was he. “I’ll be there soon. I’ll call when we land in Denver.” The door closed and the plane taxied the short distance to the runway. “Garrett, don’t let him die. Keep him alive.” He spoke softly, not wanting to hang up. There was no reply for the longest time as the two brothers shared a frightened silence.

  “Just hurry.” The tone of Garrett’s voice told Peter all he needed to know.

  Peter closed the phone, and sniffed back his emotions. His throat tightened and eyes burned from fighting back tears. Helplessness tore at him. Roger squeezed his arm in support. In private, Peter might have hugged the big man and cried like a baby. Instead he put on a brave face as the flight attendants finished the safety talk and did their final check for takeoff.

  “Libby!”

  Dammit, he’d forgotten all about her. He opened the phone again, about to press dial, when the flight attendant stopped him.

  “I’m sorry, you need to turn that off. We’re about to take off and it interferes with in-flight communications.”

  “But it’ll only take a second, it’s important.” He had to get a call to Libby. He couldn’t leave her standing at the dance alone wondering where he was. They’d worked so hard to make this happen. She suffered so much the past year, he wanted to bring her happiness. Instead she’d be devastated.

  “I’m sorry, it’s airline policy. No exceptions.” She said.

  “Put it away, Pete. She’ll understand.” Roger’s voice, a calm in the storm, helped ground him, but Peter didn’t like the advice.

  He turned the phone off and slid it into his pocket. He slammed his head against the cushioned first class seat.

  Chapter 14

  Libby stared blankly out her bedroom window toward Parfrey’s Glen and listened again to her messages. Peter’s voice sounded strained and worried. He was so sorry. It tore at her heart. The emotion in his voice brought back the old memories and pain. During the hours after her family’s car crash she felt the same way as piercing dread overwhelmed her. She experienced a general numbness and the taste of fear.

  She crawled onto her bed, not bothering to take off the homecoming dress. She curled on her side and clasped the phone against her heart. She cried for Peter, his family and all the fear she understood too clearly. She cried for his father’s suffering as he fought for his life. And she cried for herself.

  She let the floodgates open and mourned the loss of her mom and her sister. She cried because she would never get ready for a party with them. Her mom would never meet Peter and never see her graduate high school. She cried because of what her life had once been and would never be again. She released tears of frustration at being dumped at her aunt’s, lonely, loveless house. She missed her dad so much, but felt angry that he abandoned her. She cried for her lack of friends and freedom. She put on a brave front for so long, but now the façade crumbled. Finally, she cried for her and Peter, both robbed of a normal childhood, for very different reasons. Tonight was to be their time, their turn, just a simple evening together.

  Never in her life had she felt so alone.

  # # #

  The days following Peter’s dad’s heart attack flew by. In an attempt to force his dad to rest, his Mom rented a house on Venice Beach. The heart specialists took great care of his father in the hospital and assured the family that his dad was out of danger. Life fell back into a normal pattern of concerts, interviews and regular calls to Libby. Peter still felt awful about standing her up at Homecoming, but she told him to stop apologizing, family should always come first.

  If there was an upside to the heart attack, it was Peter’s sudden freedom from his parents. His mom spent all her time hovering while his dad became more ornery over his new diet and restricted activity.

  Peter pulled on a baseball hat, grabbed his blue tooth and slid on a pair of sunglasses. “Going for a run,” he yelled as he stepped onto the deck. After a few warm up stretches, he stepped through the dry sand and punched in Libby’s number. When he hit the packed sand near the low morning tide, he broke into a jog. The salty scent of ocean air filled his senses. He loved spending time on the coast.

  “You’re right on time.” Libby answered.

  Peter smiled. The sound of her voice always made his day, like when a great song popped into his head. “Yeah, well I’m still sucking up so you won’t dump me.”

  “Stop it. I’ve told you a million times, it’s okay. How’s your dad today?”

  “Better than ever. My mother’s been driving him nuts with all her attention. Every time he starts to work, she threatens to call 911. He sees the doctor for a follow-up tomorrow. I think Mom is loving every minute of control until the doctor gives him the okay to work again.”

  “That’s great he’s doing so well.”

  “Yeah, but he’s always blasting the TV. To annoy my mom, he’s been watching Charlie’s Angels movies over and over. It’s driving her nuts.” Peter loved his dad’s tactics.

  “My mom loved Charlie’s Angels. She used to watch it when she was a little girl. In fact she wanted to name me Jill after one of the characters, but my Dad wouldn’t let her.”

  He pictured Libby as a tiny baby cradled in her mother’s arms, her parents negotiating the name that would stay with her for life. “You, a Jill? I don’t think so. Libby is much spunkier. Fits you better.”

  “Plus I don’t have the Farrah Fawcett sex appeal.”

  “Now there I’ll disagree.” Libby was more beautiful than any movie star. She just didn’t know it, which he loved about her.

  “You’re sucking up again.”

  “Never!” He laughed.

  “You’re breathing heavy. Where are you running today?”

  “The beach.” He dodged a woman walking a fluffy little dog. “Where are you?”

  “Just arriving at Parfrey’s Glen.”

  Peter loved Parfrey’s Glen. It held special memories of their times together. “I wish I was there.”

  “Well, I wish I was in Southern California on a warm beach, not freezing blustery Wisconsin. All the leaves are off the trees and everything looks dead and cold. It could snow any minute.”

  He imagined her bundled up against the cold, holding the collar of her coat closed so the sharp wind wouldn’t bite so hard. He pictured her rosy cheeks and windblown hair. “I know, but hang tough. It won’t be long now and you won’t have to live there anymore. Did you fill out the passport forms yet?” He’d been hatching a plan to get her out. If things went his way, she’d join him on tour and finish high school via home schooling like he did.

  “They’re filled out, but I don’t know how we’ll get them signed without a parent.”

  “Don’t worry I’m working on it. Once my mom isn’t so freaked out about my Dad, I’ll tell her everything. There is no way she won’t step forward and help. When she sees an injustice, she’ll move heaven and earth to fix it. She’ll deal with your aunt and take over guardianship.”

  “Are you sure? She’s never even met me. Why would she do that?”

  “Because she cares about me and she always supports everything I do. You’re part of my life and living with your aunt can’t continue.” His mom had the biggest heart and he knew she’d be mov
ed by Libby’s sad situation. He hadn’t mentioned it before because he wanted to respect Libby’s privacy. But the more he learned about her home life, the more he worried.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to get me out of here. It’s like a fairytale and your going to rescue me from the evil queen.”

  “Yeah, I’ll have to get my white horse out of the stable to make it complete.” He dodged a rogue wave that washed ashore and threatened to soak him.

  “Shut up. You are so full of yourself.”

  He grinned at the sarcasm in her voice. “So what are you up to today?” The beach became more crowded by the minute. He didn’t expect to be recognized, but sunglasses and a hat never hurt.

  “When I get back, there’s a research paper waiting. That should fill the rest of the day,” Libby said.

  “What a drag. How about Cruella Deville? Has she been hassling you?”

  “Nah, she’s been out in the barn all weekend. I don’t know what she’s doing out there.”

  “Good. Anything that keeps her away from you makes me happy.” Thoughts of Libby living with the horrible woman gnawed at him.

  “What are you doing today, besides hanging out at the beach in the warm sun and making me jealous?”

  Peter dodged a group of little kids running for the water. “Garrett’s got phone interviews set for most of the day. With Dad on the mend, Garrett’s decided he needs to be king of the mountain and run my life. I’m just about ready to take him out. He’s been riding me every minute. Suddenly he thinks that if we miss even one opportunity for an interview or appearance, our careers will end up in the toilet.”

  “Sounds like he’s just looking out for the band,” Libby said.

  “No, Garrett only looks out for himself. I think it’s all about having control. He’s power hungry and loves to try to run my life.”