Finding Libbie (17 page)

“You can see her in the morning,” the nurse repeated. “Believe me, she’ll sleep through the night.” With that, the nurse walked away, back through the emergency room doors.

Jack walked through the halls of the hospital until he found the waiting room and the night receptionist desk. He told her who he was and to let him know if anything changed with Libbie. Then he walked over to a corner of the room where it was darker and sat in one of the hard chairs. He’d wait all night until he could see Libbie.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jack awoke early the next morning when the sunlight streamed in over him through the big plate-glass window. He was scrunched down in the chair, and someone had draped a light blanket over him during the night.

He sat up, feeling the strain in his back muscles from lying in the chair all night. Running his fingers through his hair, he hurried up the stairs to the second floor and found Libbie’s room. She was sitting up in bed with a tray of food in front of her on a table. There was a cast on her arm and small cuts on her face that were already scabbed over. She looked up at him sorrowfully.

Jack ran over to Libbie and carefully wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheeks and gently wiped her tears. “Oh, Libbie. I was so scared. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Where were you?” Libbie said groggily through her tears. “I kept asking for you last night but they wouldn’t bring you to me.”

Jack pulled back and looked into her eyes. He could tell she was still drugged. “I was here all night. I slept in the waiting room.”

“Oh, Jack. I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what happened. I was driving with the girls in the car, and then I woke up with the doctor and nurses around me. No one will tell me what happened. Are Jackie and Candy okay?”

“Yes, they’re fine. An officer drove them home in my truck. I’m sure they’ll be by today to check on you. They were very upset last night. But right now, all I’m worried about is you. How do you feel?”

“I have a terrible headache, and my wrist hurts. They’re giving me medicine for it, but I’m still in pain. They woke me up early this morning and the doctor set my wrist and put the cast on. He said it has to be on for at least six weeks.” Tears welled in Libbie’s eyes. “I feel so terrible, and stupid. We were just having fun last night, and then this happened.”

“Shh, shh,” Jack said soothingly, wrapping her in his arms. “All that matters is you’re alive. You don’t know how scared I was last night when I saw your car. I love you so much, Libbie.”

Jack sat on the bed beside her and held her until her tears finally stopped. A nurse came in and took the food tray away and smiled reassuringly at him. Libbie fell asleep in his arms, and he gently laid her back against her pillows and carefully moved off her bed. He decided this would be a good time to call her parents, so he walked across the room and was almost to the door when it flew open and Randall and Abigail came storming in.

“Where’s my daughter?” Abigail screeched, glaring at Jack. “Why didn’t you call us? I had to learn from a neighbor that my daughter was in the hospital.”

“I was just going to call you,” Jack said, but a soft cry from Libbie made them all turn toward her.

Libbie sat up in bed, staring at her parents, a hazy look in her eyes.

“Libbie. My baby. What happened to you?” Abigail wailed, rushing to her side. “Look at you. My poor, poor girl.”

Randall followed her to Libbie’s bedside while Jack stood across the room, dazed. He watched as Abigail fussed and Libbie began to cry again. Anger welled up inside him. Abigail wasn’t comforting Libbie, she was agitating her.

“How are you, dear?” Randall said, his voice soothing.

“I feel terrible,” Libbie said, tears falling down her cheeks. “My head hurts so bad and my wrist hurts. And I wrecked my beautiful car, Daddy. I’m so sorry.”

“Now, now, sweetie. You don’t have to worry about that. We can replace your car. Let’s just worry about getting you well again.”

“We need to get you in a private room,” Abigail said sharply. “And I want to talk to the doctor immediately. You shouldn’t be in any pain.” She pushed the buzzer for the nurse. Jack stood there, dumbfounded, as he watched Abigail order the nurse around and insist Libbie be moved and that the doctor be called in right away.

“Mom, please don’t make a fuss,” Libbie said in a small voice.

“My daughter deserves the best of everything,” Abigail insisted, turning to stare at Jack. “How could you have let this happen? Where were you last night that you couldn’t drive our little girl to town? Out sitting in a bar somewhere, no doubt.”

Jack’s mouth dropped open. What was wrong with this woman? How could she be so nasty at a time like this? “I was working late. I was on my way home when I found her.”

“Work? I’ll bet you were. You should have been home with our daughter. What kind of a husband leaves his wife all alone to fend for herself?”

“Mom, it wasn’t Jack’s fault,” Libbie said, but her words sounded weak. Jack could see that all the tension in the room was wearing on her.

“We should leave her alone and let her rest,” Jack said.

“Not until I speak with the doctor,” Abigail shrieked. “You leave. I can take care of my daughter.”

Jack had never talked back to a parent in his life, but he was just about to tell her to leave when the doctor came into the room and Abigail’s wrath was turned on him instead. Jack took a deep breath and walked over to hold Libbie’s hand. By now she was crying uncontrollably, and he couldn’t get her to settle down.

A nurse came in and, on the doctor’s orders, gave Libbie a sedative. Everyone was told to leave the room, but not without first promising that Libbie would be moved to a private room. Once in the hall, Abigail turned on Jack again.

“The next time something happens to my daughter, you’d better call me immediately. Do you understand?” She turned on her heel and walked down the hallway.

Randall placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “She’s just upset, son. Don’t let it get to you. And don’t worry about the hospital bills. We’ll take care of it.” He gave a small smile and then headed in the direction his wife had gone.

Jack dropped into a chair in the hallway, completely drained by all that had just happened.

That evening Jack reluctantly left the hospital when visiting hours were over. He’d called Larry to come and drive him home, and then promised Libbie he’d be there first thing in the morning. She’d been given some strong pain medication by then and was drowsy. When Larry popped in to say hi, Jack wasn’t even sure Libbie knew he was there.

Jack sighed as he climbed into Larry’s car. It had been a long, emotional day. After Libbie had been settled into a private room, her mother finally left with the promise she’d be back again the next day. Jack had been relieved to see her go. She’d done nothing but upset Libbie the entire time she was there. Then Jackie and Candy dropped by and brought Libbie flowers and a stuffed kitty. As they left, they took Jack aside and apologized profusely for the accident.

“I should never have asked Libbie to drive last night,” Jackie told him. “I just wanted to ride in her pretty car, and now look what happened.” Tears filled her eyes. “She shouldn’t have been driving.”

Jack assured her it hadn’t been her fault, but he wondered what she’d meant by “she shouldn’t have been driving.”

Carol dropped in and brought flowers. Gwen came by and wasn’t any nicer than Abigail had been. Jack was happy to see her go. Mrs. Thompson popped in after the library closed and also brought flowers. She assured Libbie her job would be waiting for her as soon as she was feeling better. Even the older couple whose tree Libbie had hit stopped by for a few minutes to check on her. Jack thanked them profusely for their help the night before and apologized for any harm to their property. The older man had waved his apology aside.

“That’s a bad corner,” he said. “I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents.”

When Bev, Jan, and Ray stopped by after school, it was a welcome relief to Jack. Bev’s warm presence was the opposite of Abigail’s harsh one, and she had Libbie smiling in no time. Jan had brought her some sweet-smelling bubble bath for when she went home, and Ray gave her a little plastic pumpkin full of candy.

“I didn’t want you to miss Halloween,” he said with a crooked grin.

Libbie had seemed calmer after their visit.

Now, as Jack sat in Larry’s car, he felt the weight of the past twenty-four hours hit him.

“I went to the junkyard and saw the Mustang,” Larry said. He whistled softly. “Man, Libbie is lucky to be alive. I’m surprised they could get her out of there, it was so smashed up.”

Jack nodded. “I know. It was pretty scary.”

“They gave me her personal items from the car. The guy at the yard knows we’re friends. It’s not much, just her wallet and a few other things.”

“Thanks, Lar. I hadn’t even thought about that.”

“No problem. I stopped by the accident scene, too, just to make sure nothing was left behind. Did Libbie tell you why they had driven to town that night?” Larry asked.

Jack turned and looked at him curiously. “No. But Jackie said something strange today. She said she shouldn’t have let Libbie drive. Why? Do you know something?”

Larry glanced at Jack. “I found a couple of broken bottles of wine and a few of 7 Up. I’m assuming they’d been drinking and then went to town to get more.”

Jack sat quiet. He’d wondered about that earlier, but hadn’t wanted to believe it. “So you think Libbie was drunk?”

Larry shrugged. “That’s my guess, but you should get the story from her. I’m surprised the cops didn’t pick up on it. In fact, I’m surprised they didn’t search the area and find the bottles first.”

“It’s amazing what the police around here will overlook when you’re a Wilkens,” Jack said, hating to say it but knowing it was true.

They pulled up in front of the cottage and Larry let the car idle. “Winter is almost here. It’s already too cold for me.”

Jack looked over at his friend. “Have you decided what you’re going to do about the draft?”

Larry nodded. “I’m just going to enlist and take my chances. There’s a waiting list for all the good spots, and I can’t get a deferment and stay in college. I guess I’m exactly what Uncle Sam wants and he’s going to make sure he gets me.”

“I’m sorry, Larry. When are you going?”

“I’m not going to wait for my letter. As soon as winter quarter is over, I’m going to enlist. That will give me until after Christmas before I’ll have to leave.”

“That soon?” Jack said, stunned.

“I just want to get it over with.”

Jack felt guilty that he wasn’t being drafted like so many other men his age. But then, he had Libbie to take care of, and he didn’t want to leave her, either.

“Let’s not say anything about it to Libbie yet, okay?” Jack said. “You know how much it upsets her.”

Larry nodded. “Yep, no bad news for Libbie. We all know how fragile she is.”

Jack frowned at Larry. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Larry shook his head. “Nothing, man. Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Libbie’s sensitive. She just upsets easily.”

“She’s had a lot to deal with lately, you know that. Libbie’s a strong, confident girl. She’s always been strong. You remember how she was in high school,” Jack said, irritated.

“Yeah, Jack. I do remember how she was in high school. But she’s changed a lot over the past two years. She’s just not the same as she was back then. But you’re right—she’s had a lot to deal with.”

“I thought you liked Libbie,” Jack said.

“I do. I love Libbie. She’s amazing. Hey, man, don’t even listen to me rattle on. I have a lot on my mind. Of course, I won’t mention Nam or the draft to Libbie. I don’t want to upset her. She needs all her strength to heal after that terrible accident.”

Jack opened the car door and stepped outside into the brisk night air. “I didn’t mean to jump on you, Lar. Come by and see me again soon, okay?”

Larry handed Jack the plastic bag with Libbie’s belongings in it. “Will do,” he said, grinning. Then he drove off into the night.

As Jack started a fire in the woodstove, he thought about his conversation with Larry. He had to admit that Larry was right—Libbie had become fragile. He thought about her drinking and her neediness. She cried easily and continued to worry about the draft, even though he’d assured her there was little chance he’d be called to serve. He’d marked her behavior down to the changes in her life over the past few months, but he could no longer ignore it—Libbie was not the same girl he’d proposed to. The Libbie he’d known in high school had been independent, strong, and confident. She’d lost that strength and confidence somewhere along the line, and Jack didn’t understand why. Wasn’t she happy being married to him? Was she sorry she hadn’t married someone with money who could give her more than he could?

Jack glanced around the cottage. It wasn’t much, and it wasn’t theirs. It had been the perfect place for a newly married couple—cozy and romantic—but with winter coming, it was just small and cold.

“I’ll try to make things easier for Libbie,” he said to the empty room. He’d buy an electric heater for the bedroom so it wasn’t so chilly at night and fill the fridge with groceries so she wouldn’t have to worry about that for a while. He’d try harder to make Libbie happy. She deserved better, and he’d try his best to give her everything she needed.