Eighty and Out (12 page)

I woke early the next morning and noticed Jeannie hadn’t come home yet. During breakfast, Jim told me not to worry, that he was sure she’d come over or call soon. I didn’t know how he managed to stay calm when things were so up in the air, and after he left for work, I got really nervous, letting my mind construct all kinds of awful scenarios.

An hour later, I heard a light knock on the door. I ran to answer it, and thankfully, it was Jeannie. “I thought you had gotten into an accident. I was worried.”

“Sorry,” Jeannie replied. “We stayed up all night talking so I decided to stay over. I was going to call, but by the time I thought of it, I assumed you’d already be asleep.”

“You’re right. Plus it would have woke Jim, and he’s got to work. So how did it go? Wait. Before you get started, you want some breakfast?”

“God. That would be great. I’m starved.”

Jeannie and I headed to the kitchen, and she sat down as I grabbed some eggs, bread and orange juice out of the refrigerator.

“So where he’s been all this time?” I asked as I broke two eggs into a bowl.

“He was taken captive in Vietnam. Somehow, he got split up from his platoon and got lost in the jungle. Next thing he knew, he woke up in small room with a mud floor and a splitting headache. He said he must have been butted with the back of a gun.”

“Oh my God! That’s awful!” I said as I poured the eggs into the frying pan.

“I know. He’s lucky to be alive.” She was getting emotional just telling me, so I didn’t press for details. “Eventually he managed to escape, and he’s home now, safe and sound, although traumatized.”

I began buttering her toast. “He didn’t say what happened while he was there, did he?”

Jeannie pursed her lips. “He said he didn’t want to talk about that.”

I nodded, handing her the plate of food. “So what did you decide after you spent the night talking?”

“I choose him.” Jeannie smiled, but it was a tired smile.

“Poor Tad. I mean…I’m happy for you, but…” I sighed. “How did the conversation about the baby go?”

Jeannie looked down. “I didn’t tell him.”

“What do you mean, you didn’t tell him?”

Jeannie took a drink of orange juice. “I found another way.”

“What way? Wait…you’re not thinking of getting rid of the…”

“Chuck wants to marry me,” she interrupted. “He said we’ve lost enough time, and he knows I’m the one.”

“But won’t he be able to put two and two together and do the math?”

“There’s no math,” Jeannie stated. “He asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Then he asked if we could sleep together, and I said we could, but only if we get married right away.”

My jaw hung open. “You mean?”

“Yep.”

“And then he’ll think…” I whispered.

“Yep.”

“How far along are you?”

“Not far. Look, Lou. It’s going to work. It has to.”

“This could come back to haunt you later.”

I sat in silence, my stomach in knots. As if my dishonest plan wasn’t bad enough, now it had expanded and meant lying to another person.

I got up to get a glass of water.

“But I want Chuck. What else could I have done?” Jeannie asked, searching my face for answers.

I turned on the faucet, filled my glass and turned to face her. “You could have told him. If he really loved you, he’d be okay with everything. Maybe he would. Oh, I don’t know, Jeannie. But what’s done is done, I guess…”

“So you think I should have told him?”

I gave her question serious thought before answering. “I think in a perfect world you wouldn’t be put in such a crappy position. Chuck wouldn’t have been captured, and you never would have dated Tad.” Jeannie stared at me, waiting for a straight answer. “I think you followed your heart and did what you felt was right. I’ll keep my part of the bargain. The secret stays with us.”

Jeannie exhaled. It looked like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“So it was better with Chuck?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Jeannie blushed. “A million times better.”

“Well, at least there’s that.” I grinned, and as I did, a thought occurred to me. “How are you going to get married when you haven’t turned eighteen yet?”

“I’d need Mom and Dad’s consent.”

That didn’t sound like it was going to be easy.

“How are you going to convince them to let you marry Chuck when they think you’re dating Tad? I mean, as far as Dad knows, Chuck is his old mechanic, not your boyfriend.”

“Shit,” she said. “I totally forgot about that.”

She had asked me to keep their relationship a secret, and I had. Now it posed a problem.

“There’s another option, but it may cause trouble,” she said.

“What’s the other option?” I asked.

Jeannie looked apprehensive. “Chuck’s dad is a cop. He knows people. Chuck said if Mom and Dad say no, his dad can use his connections to bypass usual procedure.”

Our parents would like that as much as a Soviet missile strike.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I warned. “Think of how upset Mom and Dad would be if you went behind their back.”

Jeannie glanced at her belly. “If they say no, I won’t have a choice.”

I sighed. “Let’s pray they don’t say no then.”

I couldn’t believe all that had happened in less than twenty-four hours. It was madness. After putting the dishes in the sink to soak, I walked over to Jeannie and gave her a hug. “You still have to break it off with Tad.”

Jeannie frowned. “That’s going to be the hard part. He’s so nice. He doesn’t deserve to have his heart broken.”

She seemed to genuinely care for Tad, and for a moment, I wondered if she would have married Tad and eventually found happiness if Chuck hadn’t returned. I quickly dismissed the thought. Wasting time wondering about “what ifs” wasn’t very productive. Still, I didn’t envy her having to end things with Tad and then try to convince our parents to let her marry Chuck.

Jeannie checked the time. “I have to go to work. I’ll talk to Tad afterward.”

I had an idea on how I could help with our parents. Once I shared it with her, she agreed I should try it and let her know how it went. We hugged, she went her way, and I showered and went mine.

All I needed now was luck.

I knocked on my parent’s door. Mom answered. “Hey, honey. Good to see you.”

“You too,” I said.

She had been watching her favorite daytime soap, so I joined her, not wanting to interrupt.

“This is almost over,” she said.

I found it ironic we were watching a similar drama play out on screen.

When it finished, she turned to me. “Sorry about that. I just get so involved. It’s like the people on the show are my friends.”

I smiled. “I’m like that with books.” I was feeling nervous all of a sudden, so I let out a deep breath as quietly as I could.

Mom’s expression didn’t change. “So what’s new?”

“So much. More like where to start.”

That got her attention. “I just talked to you less than a week ago. What’s going on?”

I leaned forward, like I was telling her a secret. “I talked to Bernice the other day. Remember that boy she had a crush on in New Mexico, her neighbor’s older brother?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, they’re dating now. I guess he finally noticed her now that she grew up.”

“Aww. That’s great news. I’m so happy for her.”

She was smiling and in a good mood. Part one of the plan was a success.

“Yeah, she’s thrilled.” I paused, and sat up straight. “But now Jeannie’s got a dilemma.”

Mom grew concerned. “A dilemma. What about?”

“I don’t know if you know this because it’s kind of been a secret, but Jeannie has always had eyes for Dad’s mechanic, Chuck.”

Mom looked surprised.

“But he was a little older, and then he left for Vietnam. She heard it through the grapevine he had gone missing, and no one knew his whereabouts. And as time passed, she eventually moved on and started dating Tad.”

Mom hung on my every word.

“Turns out Chuck is alive, and he’s come home.”

Mom’s jaw dropped. “I never knew anything about that,” she whispered. She stared into space for a bit, thinking. She looked up. “That explains why Jeannie was so depressed for a while, remember?”

I pretended to make the connection. “Yeah. You’re right. Now it all makes sense.”

Mom sat up straighter and smoothed the front of her skirt. I gave her a few moments of triumph before I continued. “Anyway, Jeannie came over last night and asked me what she should do.”

“And what did you tell her?’

“I told her she can’t keep dating Tad, who according to her is serious and already talking marriage, if her heart is set on this other fellow. I told her she has to find a way to see Chuck, and soon, to figure things out. Who knows? She may not even like him anymore.”

Mom nodded. “I agree. She may not feel the same once she sees him. And what if he doesn’t have feelings for her? It’s not always reciprocal, you know.”

I realized my blunder and tried to correct it. “According to Jeannie it is. She said they talked a few times and got along great. She kind of made it seem like they would eventually start dating, but then he got called to Vietnam.”

Mom looked dumbfounded. “I can’t believe we didn’t know any of this,” she said.

I thought of all she had missed and let out a nervous laugh. “I know. I never would have guessed.” I cleared my throat. “But Jeannie’s over the moon that he’s returned. She’s going to see him tonight.”

My mind drifted to poor Tad. As if reading my thoughts, Mom said, “I kind of like Tad. I’d hate to see them break up.”

“I know. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Mom sighed. “To be young and in love,” she said. “Well, all we can do is hope things turn out for the best.”

We spent another hour snacking on coffee cake and talking about Dad’s job, the apartment building, and then I left to head home and make dinner. Jeannie got off early and stopped by my place before heading over to Tad’s. I told her how it went with Mom, and she thanked me. Prepping Mom and Dad would make what she had to say a little easier.

“Now if only what I have to do next wasn’t so hard,” she said.

I had just gotten out of the tub when I heard the phone ring. I ran for it because Jim had said he’d call before he came home to see if I needed anything from the store.

“Hello,” I answered, out of breath.

“Lou. It’s Mom,” she said, sounding annoyed.

“Hey, Mom,” I replied in an upbeat fashion. “How are you?”

“Not good,” she answered.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“Are you sitting down?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Because I have shocking news: your sister got married.”

“How is that possible?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“Because Chuck’s dad is a police officer. Apparently, he pulled some strings so we didn’t have to give consent. That’s how,” she snapped.

“He can do that?” I asked, feeling guilty about playing along.

“Yep. He’s a cop, Lou.
Apparently laws don’t apply to him.”

I gulped. I had never heard her sound so angry. “I know you’re upset, Mom, but there’s nothing we can do. What’s done is done. Remember last week when you said you hoped things turned out for the best?”

“I said I hoped things turned out for the best, as in she picked the right guy. I didn’t want her to get married!” There was a pause. “And your father! He’s furious. All he’s done since he heard the news is curse Chuck’s name and say someone should take his dad’s badge.”

This was a disaster of epic proportions. “Gosh, I don’t know what to say, Mom. Do you guys want to come over so we can talk about it? I can make dinner—”

“No. But I appreciate it. Let’s do it another time.”

“Okay.”

I took a moment to absorb everything we’d discussed. “So where’s Jeannie now?”

“Gone. After she told us she had gotten married, she packed her things and left. Said she’s moving to Chuck’s dad’s house until they get a place of their own.”

“I’m sorry you’re angry, Mom. I’m sure Jeannie didn’t do it to upset you or Dad. She’s just young and in love.”

“I know. But at the very least, I would have liked to have been invited to my own daughter’s wedding. Is that too much to ask?” she said, her voice cracking.

Mom was right. Jeannie marrying Chuck behind their back was wrong. She should’ve at least told them first.

“No. It’s not too much to ask. But my guess is Jeannie figured you’d say no and it would cause a fight, and she was trying to avoid that. ”

I heard sniffling on the line.

“If she had asked, we would have said no.” Mom paused. “She barely knows this man, and she’s too young. Your father thinks her actions were impulsive.”

I couldn’t argue with that. And if it were under any other circumstances I would have advised Jeannie to take it slow. “Well, let’s just hope it was the right decision then, however rash.”

When I hung up, I felt drained. The stunt Jeannie pulled in an attempt to avoid drama just ended up creating more. I rubbed my face, frustrated. As much as I loved Jeannie, she could be a pain in the butt sometimes.

I told Jim the story over dinner.

“It’s so crazy that she ran off and got married without telling anyone,” he said.

It was crazy, but I didn’t want to discuss it with him. “When it comes to love people are unpredictable. Jeannie’s no different, I guess.”

Jim smiled at me. “You’re a good sister, Lou. Forgiving and kind.”

“I’m that way with my sister, but if one of our kids pulls that crap on us, I’ll be pissed.”

That got Jim laughing so hard he almost choked on his food. Once he’d calmed down, he said, “You want help with the dishes?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“So you have energy for babymaking,” he clarified in the velvety voice that had won me over the day we met.

The next morning I was having coffee when the doorbell rang. I checked the peephole and saw Jeannie.

“I heard you got hitched,” I said.

“And how’d that conversation go?” she asked, eyeing me anxiously.

“You should have asked them first. Mom was so upset she was crying.”

Jeannie crossed her arms. “I didn’t ask because I knew they’d say no. I figured there was no point.”

“You were right about that. They would have said no. But by not asking them and just going and doing it, Dad is furious, and Mom is going on about how she wasn’t invited to her own daughter’s wedding.”

Jeannie’s glow was replaced with a scowl. “But if they wouldn’t have given their consent, they wouldn’t have come to the ceremony.”

I sat on the sofa. “They’re heartbroken. That’s all. Think of it from their point of view. Their little girl ran off and married a guy they’ve never been formally introduced to. No one asked their permission, and then you showed up, packed your things and left.”

She plopped down on the couch. “There was just no winning,” she murmured.

“Don’t worry. They’ll come around. Just give them a chance to cool off. Think how happy they’ll be when they hear about the baby.”

Jeannie nodded. “I guess you’re right.” She was quiet for a minute, before saying, “Everything just happened so fast. Chuck’s dad got in touch with a buddy of his out in Oak Park who said he could marry us, but it had to be that day because he was booked solid the rest of the week. So I rushed to get ready and just managed to look presentable by the time we had to leave. On the way over, I regretted not calling you. I really wanted you to be there, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Considering how upset Mom and Dad were, maybe it was good I didn’t go. They might have gotten upset with me too.”

“True.” Jeannie appeared lost in a private thought and smiled, her earlier happiness returning. “I’m just glad I was able to marry him. He’s so…” She giggled. “You know.”

I did know. Jim was like that for me.

As I sat with Jeannie, I thought about the baby on its way, and how I planned to have one too. Jim and I just hadn’t had any luck yet. But like he said, there was no rush. We were young and had plenty of time.

A month later, Jeannie still hadn’t been able to mend things with our parents. Chuck’s dad had invited them over for dinner, but they’d declined, still perturbed over his prior actions. And Dad had gotten into the habit of calling Chuck a sneaky bastard.

I followed Jim’s advice and stayed out of it. Plus, I was busy. Jim and his dad needed new appliances for the second apartment building they were buying. While out shopping for the best bargain, I let the issue slip my mind.

I was becoming a respected visitor at some of the stores. They no longer waited on me like a regular customer. I had my own salesman who set appointments and was able to get me bulk discounts approved by the store manager.

Jim snuggled up to me on the couch. “They give you discounts because you’re cute.”

“And here I thought it was because I was a hotshot businesswoman.”

“You are hot,” he teased, biting my earlobe.

I pulled away.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I pouted. “I want to be a business woman.”

Jim burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, feeling offended.

“You are. You’re so focused on wanting to be a businesswoman you don’t even realize you already are one.”

I gazed at him. “You really think so?”

He smiled and gave me a kiss on the lips. “I know so.” He sat back. “And I know just the thing to prove it. I’m going to have business cards made for you. That will make it official.”

“Business cards, for me?” I asked.

“Yes. Business cards for you. The smartest woman I know.”

I swelled with pride. If only Bernice could see me now.