Previous Section, Section III
Chapter 17
Richard parked the car in the clearing and they all got out. "What are we going to say?" asked Libby.
"Just leave it to me," Keith instructed her. "We'll scope it out and figure it out as we go along."
They walked toward the tents and saw a man in a white linen tunic and loose pants coming toward them. He had long salt-and-pepper hair and a full beard.
"Welcome, strangers! What brings you to our community?"
Keith held out his hand. "We heard that you all have a good thing going here, and we thought we'd check it out."
Richard added, "Yeah, we're tired of all the commercialism of the world."
The man shook Keith's hand and then Richard's and Libby's as well. "Yeah, we definitely do live simply here. We know that is how The Creator would have us live. Would you like to see our community?"
They agreed, and he gave them a tour. Most of the shelters were tents, but there was a concrete block cabin that he told them was for their sleeping quarters. "Most of us sleep in there, but there are a couple of married couples who desire privacy, so they set up their own tents." He motioned to some small tents just outside the cabin.
Inside a large tent, people were preparing food. Some of them had hauled water over to tables, and there were a group of women washing dishes. The others were chopping vegetables, and one seemed to be stirring a big pot of soup. A woman with a large nose and heavy eyebrows, with her hair covered by a kerchief, told them that they grew their own food. "We believe in sustaining ourselves, and we don't harm any of Our Creator's creatures by using harmful pesticides or chemicals," she said.
The man, who told them his name was Jonah, showed them other spots around the community where the residents were working hard. Libby looked for Lydia, but didn't see her washing clothes, sewing, picking vegetables, or tending to children. All of the workers were in groups, and there were some girls Lydia's age, but she was not among any of the plain, pinched-faced people she saw. Libby imagined Lydia working hard at any of these tasks and snickered to herself.
"Our leader, Yoneq, talks to new friends about our ways," Jonah told them. "He will be very interested in meeting you three."
"We'd love to meet him," Keith assured him. Jonah walked inside a tent to check on Yoneq's availability.
"So, where do you think they could be?" Richard wondered.
"Maybe they're in there, talking with this Yoneq guy," Keith guessed.
A thought occurred to Libby. "What if we have to stay here a while? How will we get a message to my parents?"
Richard told her, "Don't worry. I'll think of some excuse to drive to that town we passed a few miles back and call them. I should also probably tell Carly where I am." He sighed.
Jonah came back out and told them, "He is with other new friends right now, but he wants you to come in."
While he held up the tent flap for them, they walked into the darker room. A bald man dressed in the same kind of clothes as Jonah sat on a pile of pillows. Two people sat cross-legged on mats in front of him. They turned and saw Libby, Keith, and Richard walk in.
"Libby!" Lydia exclaimed, and Bill said, "Richard!" in unison.
"Ah, do you know our new friends?" asked Yoneq in a soothing, calm voice.
Lydia turned back and took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm herself. "She is my sister, and that man with the moustache is his cousin," she said, pointing at Bill.
Yoneq looked questioningly at them. Richard said, "We heard this place was a welcoming, friendly place where we could come and live simply. Can we join you?"
"Of course! We are always looking for new friends," Yoneq assured them in his slightly singsongy voice. "But you must realize that we are here to find out who Our Creator would have us to be. So you must no longer think of these two as Bill and Lydia. They have chosen to become David and Hannah."
Lydia narrowed her eyes as she looked furiously at Libby. Libby tried to smile back at her, but knew her expression was something more like a grimace.
"Jonah, show David and Hannah to their duties," instructed Yoneq. "I will have a little chat with our new friends."
Bill and Lydia got up and followed Jonah out of the tent. Keith, Richard, and Libby slowly walked toward the mats in front of Yoneq.
"So, you have come here seeking peace," Yoneq observed. "What have you heard of us?"
"No a lot," Keith answered truthfully. "We see how your community lives, and we'd really like to have that. I don't have peace in my life, Yoneq, and I'd like to experience God up close and personal."
"Yes, our simple ways do enable us to find The Creator in everything around us," Yoneq observed. "Our worship gives us peace. I think you will find that much of what we do is so sensible that you wonder why you weren't living that way before."
The three nodded. Richard spoke up. "I fought in Vietnam, Yoneq. I can tell you that I don't have a lot of peace. The whole time I was there, I wanted to return to America. But when I came back, I found that it was almost as agitated as the battlefield. I want to settle down, man."
"I can see that you are sincere in your quest. I hope that you are quite sincere and have not only come here for your friends."
"No, we think they have the right idea," Keith assured him.
"Good. Of course, people are free to leave any time they like. But we prefer that our members are allowed to make their own decisions about matters such as that. We will not stand for any arguments or badgering of the new friends." He smiled. "But of course, only time will tell. Are you ready to begin your new lives, and work for the good of the community?"
Jonah returned, and Yoneq directed him to show the new friends to their sleeping quarters. "Tomorrow, you will begin your new lives with new names. You will begin your work tomorrow. Today, you may worship and rejoice!" He hugged each of them before they left the tent.
They found the barracks-style bunkhouse to be quite inhospitable. They would be sleeping on bare mattresses with thin blankets. Some women who were in the women's side told Libby, "It keeps you from getting too comfortable." They seemed to think that was rather funny, but Libby did not look forward to trying to sleep without sheets.
Libby learned that, while she was in her side of the bunkhouse, Richard had driven to the town to call her parents. She was relieved, but apprehensive about spending a period of time in the cultish commune. Richard had made the excuse that he had to call his job and tell them that he would not be coming in to work, which Jonah had approved.
The supper the community served was good; the flavor of the food was tasty, and while it could not be classified as a feast, there was enough for everyone. All the people sitting around Keith, Richard, and Libby were interested in getting to know them. However, they seemed to be best pleased when the new friends put down the world they came from; they tried to emphasize how evil and mind-numbing they believed television and movies to be, and any talk of the inferiority of public schools was met with great enthusiasm.
The worship was held in a large circle. Men sat on the inside of the circle, while the women formed a concentric outer circle. Various men stood in the center and told the others what God had revealed to him that week. After almost all of the existing men had spoken, Bill (who called himself David) stood and told them about his experiences that summer. He told the group that he felt The Creator calling him away from materialistic Christianity, in a church of the world, and that he had found the community through The Creator's divine intervention. There were many shouts of affirmation as he explained these things.
When the men had all spoken, it was the women's job to lead the music. They stood, held hands, and began walking to their right. One woman started the song, and soon all the women except Libby and Lydia (Hannah) had joined in. Once all the women were singing, the men stood, joined hands, and walked to their left. Libby had to admit that, strange as it was, it made a pretty sight.
Libby awoke the next morning feeling very stiff. Her mattress was stuffed with Spanish moss, and her pillow was scratchy. She did not see how she would work productively after a night in which she had lain awake more than half the time.
Both Libby and Lydia had to watch the other women and learn what their routine was to be. Libby was horrified when a woman told her that she must try to defecate first thing in the morning, as trips to the bathroom during the day would be discouraged. Also, their toilets were holes in the ground, and they were expected to squat, as this was the method that The Creator had designed to clean out their systems. They were also given "simple" clothing to wear, which included long, loose pants, a short-sleeved tunic, and a head wrap.
"Bill said that coming here was Lydia's idea," Richard announced at breakfast, "but I suspect that isn't true. He doesn't care that he's letting the church down. He believes this Yoneq's teachings more than he believes in Christianity. 'The community is more in tune with The Creator's teachings than the churches are,'" Richard paraphrased. "I can't believe this."
Keith nodded. "How is Lydia?"
Libby sighed. "I really hope we can talk soon. She is ignoring me. It's so strange." At this point, a woman moved toward them to offer them more oatmeal, so they stopped talking.
After breakfast, they moved outside. Yoneq approached them. "I have been thinking all night about your new identities, and I believe The Creator has revealed to me who you are to be. Please, come with me." He showed them into the tent and motioned for them to sit, while he perched himself on pillows. When they were settled, he nodded at Richard. "You have been through the fiery horrors of war. I believe you should be called 'Shadrach.'"
He turned to Keith. "I see a strong leader inside you. The Creator has told me you shall be called Peter."
He closed his eyes, leaned back in his pillows, and tapped his fingertips together. After a minute of this, he said, "Rebecca." Libby assumed this was her new name.
He clapped his hands together, and Jonah walked inside. "Do you take your new names?" he asked them.
They all assented, and Yoneq looked at Jonah. "I am sure we have need of their help. Take them where they may serve our community well."
The men were taken to chop wood for their fuel, and Jonah dropped Libby off at the food preparation tent. She rolled her eyes to herself, but when she approached the woman who appeared to be in charge of food preparation, she put on a demure smile.
The woman with the large nose and heavy eyebrows told Libby, in a smiling manner, that the new friends had the task of chopping onions. Another woman laughed and said that they had all been through onion duty, and that she would move on soon enough. Libby saw that Lydia had already started washing a bushel of the yellowish vegetable.
She walked over and took an onion in her hand. Lydia told her, "You have to wash it and peel it first." She seemed sullen and nervous.
Libby did as she was told. She was not eager to begin chopping the onions, so she washed and peeled several before she realized she had no more room for whole onions and had to start cutting. She sliced one in half to steady it.
"Do we have to cut them small or big?"
Lydia looked over at another woman who was making a mash of peas. The pea-masher told them to cut them as small as possible.
Libby sighed and began splitting the layered vegetable into chunks, which she then tried to dice quickly as she had seen professional chefs do on television. She was not very good at it and had to go back and pay close attention to some parts that were still large. Once chopped, the slices went into a big bowl.
Lydia looked at Libby's pile as she cut quickly. "I suppose you want to take this away from me, too," she said.
Libby looked up and stopped cutting. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know very well what it means. You have to have all the attention for yourself. Nothing I do is ever good enough. I thought I could come here and be myself for once, not my sisters' little bratty sister, but no! You had to come and ruin that, too." Lydia scooped up her pile of cut onions, dropped them in the bowl, and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. She picked up another onion and sliced it in half.
Libby's mouth was open, and she had to force herself to continue slicing. "Lydia. . ."
"It's Hannah," Lydia hissed.
"Hannah, what do you mean? You get plenty of attention at home." She had to pause to blot her eyes with her apron.
Lydia chortled at that statement. "You try being in Mary's shadow for once. Or yours, or Jane's. Both of you have successful careers, and Mary had straight A's. What am I good at? Dad was just saying the other day how, when Mary leaves, he'll have no intelligent conversation. How do you think that makes me feel?" She took a big swipe at an onion half, and tears streamed down her face. "These things are stinging my eyes!"
Libby sniffled. "I don't think Dad meant to hurt you. That's his way of teasing."
Lydia sniffled and whispered back, "I just have no place there. Look at how nice Yoneq is to me. I love the name Hannah."
Libby had to wait to respond because she was wiping her eyes in the crook of her arm. "But Lydia," she said, dicing a group of onion chunks, "they are worried sick about you. They had a whole group of deacons from church looking for you guys. That's why Richard, Keith and I came here. Mom and Dad still think of you as their little girl, but I know they love you. If you sat down and talked to them, you'd see how much they care about you and are willing to get to know you. I know I can treat you differently." By this time she was sobbing freely, and she walked around the table, holding her arms out. Lydia held her arms out as well and accepted her sister's embrace, and they cried on each other's shoulders.
The big-nosed woman came over to them. "Had enough onions, girls?"
They both giggled and wiped their eyes on their aprons. "Yes, I think we need a break. The stinging is really getting to us!" They put their knives down and walked outside, arms around each other's shoulders.
They walked to the area where they knew men were cutting wood for their cooking fires. Keith and Richard were both chopping, but stopped and walked over to the girls when they saw them.
"What's going on?" Keith asked.
Libby smiled and hugged Lydia. "I think we want to go home now."
Lydia smiled and nodded. "I need to wash my hands so bad..."
Richard nodded. "I'll go get the car. Keith, go talk to Bill and tell him we're leaving, with or without him. I don't think he'll go with us, but he might if he sees Lydia leaving."
Keith told the girls to go with Richard and took off running. Richard looked around. "I don't think we need to tell anyone we're going; they might try to stop us," he noted. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we can stop to wash your hands until we get to the gas station. I just hope Bill will come with us."
Lydia sniffled again. "I feel so bad. I convinced him that we should come. He was only thinking about it until I told him we should really do it."
They could see the car across the field they were walking through. "Lydia, he was always kind of strange. I was surprised your church hired him, to be honest. He has weird views about religion and life, in general."
Jonah and Yoneq, out for a walk to supervise the workers, saw them and rushed over. "Where do you think you're going?" Yoneq asked angrily.
"Yoneq, I think we made a mistake. We're going home. We don't belong here." Libby stared straight ahead and tried to ignore the men.
"Rebecca, I forbid you to take Hannah out of our community. She has committed herself to leading a pure life!"
"My name is Lydia, not Hannah," Lydia told him.
Richard stopped and stood tall, his arms crossed over his chest. "What are you going to do about it?"
Yoneq looked as if he had no idea what he could do physically against the tall, well-built ex-soldier. Jonah replied, "The Creator will not bless you. He will curse you for the rest of your days."
Libby raised her eyebrows and remarked, "I'd rather be cursed by God than have you people tell me how to poop."
Darcy came running towards them, panting slightly and glistening with sweat. "Bill's not coming," he told them.
Richard glared at the two men in front of them. "So my cousin stays with you," he said, and spat on the ground. "I'll be back for him later, when he's finally sick of you."
"You can not leave with our clothes," Yoneq said sullenly.
"We'll send them back to you later," Keith said coolly. "Girls, I already got your clothes this morning and put them in the car. Come on."
They ran off to the car and climbed in. As Richard pulled out, dust and pine needles flew out behind them.
Lydia covered her eyes with her hands. "I can't believe I was so stupid!" She pulled her hands away quickly, smelling the onion.
Keith turned around from the passenger seat. "Lydia, teenagers make a lot of stupid mistakes. It's part of growing up. I walked with a limp for a while, so people would think I was a tough guy," he told her.
Libby nodded. "Do you remember when I got that afro-perm?"
Richard said from the driver's seat, "I smoked pot." When they all stared at him, he asked, "What?"
"Lydia, let me tell you about my sister," Keith began, and told Lydia how much worse her situation would have been if she'd stayed in the cult for a longer period of time.
They stopped at the convenience store and called the Bennets. Mrs. Bennet cried when she heard Lydia's voice; Libby heard Lydia tell her that they had a lot of talking to do when she got home. They got their clothes out of the car and changed into them. Even though they were dirty, they felt more comfortable than the clothes from the cult.
When they arrived at home, there was a big reception to welcome Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were the first ones to wrap their arms around her when she got out of the car. Mary kicked her playfully in the backside and said, "You are in so much trouble!" before enveloping her in a giant hug. Carly was there, and hugged Richard tightly, saying she was sorry Bill had not come with them. About twenty people from church, including the Joneses, who had been worried about Lydia stood around, telling her they were glad she was back and they had been praying for her. Jane had invited Chuck over. Libby and Keith hung back, arms around each other's waists, until Mrs. Bennet called, "And here are the heroes of today!" Keith insisted on saying that Lydia had made up her own mind, and Libby pointed out how Richard had played a role, too. They all stumbled inside to enjoy a hearty, non-organic lunch with chocolate cake for dessert.
Libby was relieved to have Lydia back safe and sound. She knew it could have been much worse if they had stayed much longer, and said a silent prayer of thanks for how quickly the circumstance had been resolved.
Chapter 18
"So what's going to happen to Bill?"
Richard leaned back in his chair and twirled his pencil. "He apologized to the church. They fired him, and so he got his last paycheck and he's going back to Oklahoma."
Keith and Chuck nodded. They leaned on the walls of his cubicle while they waited for Libby to finish her work and gather her belongings. Chuck asked, "So why did he leave the tribe?"
"He said he started getting a weird vibe from Jonah. Said he wasn't ready to give up all his worldly possessions." He gave a small smile and continued, "Carly's getting on to me about going to church with her. I think I should, you know, to appease her."
Libby walked up then. "Ready, guys? Wow, you look nice." She surveyed their jackets and ties. "Am I dressed up enough?" She motioned to her business skirt and bowed blouse.
"You look great!" Keith assured her.
They all bid Richard good-night and walked out to Keith's car. "I just talked to Jane, and she'll be ready when we come pick her up. So, how was your day?"
Chuck answered first. "Pretty good. Got a new customer today, so that's something to look forward to."
Libby smiled. "Yes, another customer means more profit. Always good."
Keith slid his arm around her waist. "I'll have to wait for dinner to tell you what I did today."
"Really? Is it a surprise?"
"Mmm-hmm," he replied, unlocking the passenger door and opening it for her.
They drove to Libby and Jane's apartment on Vasser Street. When they pulled into the parking space, Libby noticed the Camaro parked next to them. She knew who it belonged to, and she didn't want him at her apartment.
Jane was standing in the doorway. Geoff Wickham was talking to her earnestly and grasping her arm.
"What are you doing, man?" Chuck asked and ran over to the pair.
"Geoff was just leaving," Jane replied, glaring at him. He let go of her arm and she yanked it back to her side.
Geoff looked at Chuck, turned away, and ran his hand through his greasy hair. "Are y'all really together?" he asked, not looking at them.
Chuck put his arm protectively around Jane. "Yes, we are," he replied softly but firmly.
Geoff nodded and put his hands in his pockets. "I was expecting to come here and get her back. I missed her." He looked at her again. "Sorry I made you feel bad."
Jane rubbed her arm. "Yeah, well, OK. But don't do it again."
He backed away toward his car, his hands up. "I won't. You take good care of her, man," he said, pointing at Chuck.
Chuck, Keith and Libby just glared at him. They watched him climb into his car and drive away.
"Oh my gosh, what happened?" Libby asked.
"He knocked on the door and I opened it, stupidly. I thought it would be you guys. He wanted to come in, but I came out and shut the door before he could get in. Ooh, he makes me so mad!"
"How long was he here for?" asked Chuck.
"Maybe five minutes. It was a long five minutes, though. I'm so glad you guys drove up when you did."
Chuck hugged her, and Libby hugged her from behind. Keith wrapped his arms around all of them. After their group hug, Libby asked, "Ready to go?"
Jane said, "Yeah. Let me grab my purse." She went inside, got it, and returned. They all piled in the car.
When they were all in, Libby asked, "Now will you tell us where we're going?"
Keith shook his head. "No. I want you to be pleasantly surprised."
"We had to dress up, so it's someplace nice," Jane wondered aloud. "Oh well."
Ten minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of the Maison & Jardin restaurant. The girls tried not to look very impressed, but they were. They had heard about this restaurant for several years. The architecture was supposed to be based on a mansion in Southern France that dated back to Roman times. It boasted the best wine cellar in Central Florida.
The car was taken by a valet, and they were shown inside to their table, which was in an elegant room. They had a lovely view of a small waterfall and pond.
After they had ordered their first course, Keith said to the group, "All right, I can tell you now. You know that I went to New York a few weeks ago. I didn't tell you what happened." He paused for effect. "My aunt Catherine died. Her will was read while I was there."
"Did you inherit anything?" asked Chuck.
"Yes I did. She left me a good sum of money, and I've decided to invest it. You are looking at the owner of three houses in College Park and one in Winter Park. I'm going to rent them out."
The three of them looked at him with their mouths open. Jane was the first to be able to speak. "Congratulations! Those are some good areas to buy property."
Chuck nodded. "Does this mean you'll give up AmWay?"
"I can still do it. As a landlord, it shouldn't take up all of my time. But, depending on how I do with my responsibilities, it may become second priority."
Libby was smiling from ear to ear. "That's great. I'm really happy for you!" He took her hand and held it on top of the table.
"Do you need any help fixing them up?" asked Chuck.
"Well, they're in good condition. But if I redecorate them, maybe a little remodeling, they should be worth more. Like the one has all 1950's appliances. I was thinking of updating the look, maybe some avocado and browns. Earth tones."
"That sounds lovely," Libby and Jane said at the same time. Libby said, "Jinx! Buy me a Coke!" and then looked around, hoping no one in the fancy dining room heard her.
"So, did you have some other news to tell us?" Chuck asked once their first course had arrived. "You said you were going to tell us what you did today."
Darcy nodded, his mouth full of puff pastry. "Yes, we're all going to do something special together," he said as soon as he had swallowed. "I ordered some tickets, and, well, I don't want you to think I'm showing off or anything. But I have enough that I can do this and still have some left over to put in the bank."
"What kind of tickets?" Libby asked.
"Plane tickets and concert tickets," he replied. "The travel agent also booked us in a hotel."
The girls' mouths dropped open. "Plane tickets - to where?" asked astonished Libby.
"Los Angeles," Keith said. In response to their questioning looks, he replied, "It's one of the last stops on his tour."
"Whose tour?" Jane asked.
"Your favorite musician," said Keith. Jane's face looked very excited, but Libby asked, "Who?"
"Barry," Jane said breathlessly. "Barry Manilow!" She squealed quietly, then looked around to make sure no one stared at her.
Chuck smiled. "That's my girl, squealing over another man," he said resignedly.
"So, Libby," Keith continued, "Can you ask off of work for next week?" He told her the dates, and Libby said she would ask.
They enjoyed a delicious meal, and when they were finished, they took a walk around the lake. Libby and Keith walked slower than Jane and Chuck.
"So, Keith," Libby began, "what is going on with us?"
Keith smiled at her and took her hand. "I don't know," he replied. "I think we have something special, though. I don't take just anyone to Los Angeles, you know."
"Oh, I know! I don't go to Los Angeles with just anyone, either," she said. She cleared her throat. "From what you were saying tonight, it sounds like you are going to stick around town."
Keith nodded. "Yeah, I really like it here. And I really like you."
She took a deep breath. "If we're going to get serious, I have to ask you something." His eyes told her to continue. "What did you mean with that poem you wrote me?"
Keith looked a little uncomfortable. "What did you think I meant?"
She shook her head. "I wasn't sure. You said something about wanting to raise my station in life, and you compared me to some goddesses."
"Oh." He gave a nervous-sounding laugh. "Well, that was my first attempt at poetry," he told her. "And I had help."
"From who?"
"Guido."
"Guido? Guido writes poetry?"
"Yes. I wasn't sure if you would like it..." he stopped when Libby broke out into laughter. "Was it that bad?"
"Yeah," she giggled. "It made me feel kind of icky. Listen, if you ever write me poetry again, don't ask him to help you, OK?"
Keith agreed and they continued their walk, arms around each other's waists.
After a few minutes, Libby commented, "Wow, College Park and Winter Park. Those must have cost a pretty penny!"
"Yeah, but I think the return on them will be worth it. I talked to Mr. Lucas, and he said those are the hottest areas. He said that by the eighties, some of the lakefront properties will be worth half a million." He squeezed her close and looked down at her. "And I want you to help me, you know," he said. "I want you to feel a part of this. My family urged me to buy up in New York, and part of me thought the property would be worth more in a few years, but my heart told me I should buy here. With you."
Libby's heart started beating fast. "Far out," she commented. "You think I'm worth moving away from your family for good, and losing some money on an investment?"
"No," he replied, "I'm not losing a thing. I'd be losing if I stayed up there. I felt sorta out of place when we first came, but I'm really coming to love it here. I love being around you. I love your family, and I love Jane and Chuck being together..." he broke off and hugged her, which turned into swinging her around him. When he set her down, he gazed into her eyes, but his forearms on her shoulders, and whispered, "I'm not losing a thing."
Jane and Chuck had walked around the lake and caught up with them. "Do we need to get you guys a room?" Chuck said loudly. The couple laughed. "Maybe," Libby said, looking suggestively at Keith.
When the guys drove the Bennet sisters home, they did not leave. Keith and Libby got to spend much longer than half an hour together this time, and it was a most memorable evening.
Chapter 19
Keith loaded Libby and Jane's luggage into his trunk and slammed the door. "And we're off," he announced, trotting to the driver's side door.
"Hurray!" Libby shouted from the passenger seat. She pulled the seat belt across her body and clicked it as Chuck leaned up over the seat, fumbling to put an eight-track cassette into the player. He soon settled back into his seat with his arm resting on top, touching Jane's shoulders.
"I can't wait for you all to meet Jo. And I hope the concert is good."
"Did you learn to surf when your family used to go there?" Chuck asked.
Keith merged the car onto I-4 and nodded his head yes. "I never got very good, but we used to go out. My parents' friends let us use their boards whenever we stayed there."
"Maybe we'll find out about some lessons," Jane suggested.
The foursome chatted about their California adventure the whole way to the airport. When they pulled up, Libby was the first one out. She ran to the trunk and was heaving their luggage onto the sidewalk when a skycap walked calmly over to her.
"Let me get this for you, sweetie," he said smugly, reaching for Keith's hard blue suitcase.
"No thanks, I've got it," she replied. She stacked the girls' carry-ons on top of Chuck's bag.
The man continued, unbidden, to assist her. Keith and Chuck looked at one another and stifled a laugh at her annoyed expression. Finally Keith stepped over and offered the man a five-dollar bill. "Thanks," he said. Shaking his head at Libby, he teasingly called her "Libby the libber."
Libby stuck her chin forward. "I am perfectly capable of carrying my own luggage," she said. She lifted a suitcase by its handle, her entire body straining to keep it above the ground.
Keith put his arms around her shoulders. "Babe, when you weigh one hundred pounds, it's hard to lift eighty," he joked. When she looked up at him with sad eyes, he squeezed her shoulders. "It's OK! You don't have to be independent in every area. Relax! We're here to have a good time. Enjoy the fact that men want to help you carry heavy baggage."
Libby smiled. He was right; they were going to enjoy themselves, and she shouldn't lift things too heavy for her; it wouldn't be fun to spend the holiday in the hospital because she pulled a back muscle or got a hernia.
The plane trip was uneventful. It took over five hours to fly to Los Angeles, and Libby felt cooped up. They spent their time playing cards and working crossword puzzles. She was glad when the captain finally turned the "no smoking" light and the seat belt sign back on and told the stewardesses to return to their landing seats.
At the hotel, once Keith had gotten the room keys, he walked over to the rest of them, who were standing by some couches, their luggage piled onto a cart.
"OK, we have two rooms. Now, I hope you don't mind, but I figured you girls can stay in one room, and we'll have the other."
Jane grinned and hugged Chuck tightly. "It'll be a hardship, but if we shacked up, it would make things so uncomfortable for Jo."
"What time does her flight get in?" asked Libby.
"Nine. So I figured we could get some dinner, you guys can walk around, and I'll go pick her up."
"Ooh, yeah! Where will we go?"
"Maybe we could go to Beverly Hills, walk around Rodeo Drive."
The group got settled into their rooms. Libby and Jane left the second bed free for Jo, and planned to sleep in the same bed. They then went downstairs to meet the guys.
Their afternoon was lovely, as they were doing a quick sweep of sightseeing all around LA. Keith drove, they all commented on the sights they saw, and everyone had a good time.
They went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. As they waited for their food, Libby asked, "So, what should we know about Jo before we meet her?"
"She has evil magical powers," Chuck told them.
Keith laughed sarcastically at him and picked up an egg roll. "She's very open and sweet. I think you guys will really like her."
"What does she do?" Jane asked.
"She's a student studying computer science at Columbia University."
"Computers?"
Chuck snorted. "Yeah, she's a square. I personally think those things are on their way out."
Keith shook his head. "No way, man. They know how to do so much on them. And you should hear Jo talk about the programs she's designing. I think they'll be part of our everyday lives pretty soon."
Libby shrugged. "My word processor is pretty handy, but I can't imagine using a computer for anything other than typing articles."
"We'll see," Jane commented.
As they were within walking distance of the hotel, Keith left them (after making sure Chuck would take care of the bill) and they enjoyed a dish of almond tofu with little almond cookies and fruit cocktail. Jane left hers practically untouched, but Libby and Chuck ate theirs most heartily.
They walked down to Rodeo Drive afterwards, and several surrounding major streets. The girls were surprised to see so many prostitutes. "Isn't this supposed to be a nice town?" asked Jane.
"Yeah, but even nice places have ugly sides," Chuck explained. "Manhattan is nice, but we have our share of druggies and hookers."
"You don't really see this much in Orlando," Libby observed.
"You never go to those parts of town. They're there," Chuck told her.
"How do you know?" asked Jane, pushing him towards the street.
Chuck only smiled mysteriously, and Libby hoped he was just being funny.
The party eventually made their way back to the hotel, and waited in the bar for Keith and Jo. A lounge singer in a lavender tuxedo entertained them by singing Broadway Show tunes while they waited. Jane sang along with "A Place For Us" and "Memory" from Cats. Chuck told Jane that they could go see those when they went to New York, and they told Libby they were planning a trip to visit his family for Thanksgiving.
Presently Keith came in with Jo. She was a tall young lady with light brown hair cut in a Dorothy Hamill hairdo. "Far out!" Chuck exclaimed as he saw her, "You cut your hair!" She ran a self-conscious hair through the shiny locks.
Keith introduced them. "Jo, this is my girlfriend Libby and her sister Jane. Girls, this is my sister, Jo." She stuck out her hand as he said their names and smiled widely at each of them.
"So, did you expect Keith to bring you out here?" asked Libby.
"No! I've always loved California, though, and I'm so happy to be back. Even if we do have to go to a Barry Manilow concert." She smiled at her brother, and her eyes actually twinkled.
"Yeah, I figured we could endure a little Barry for one evening. After all, Jane here is a huge fan." Jane nodded enthusiastically as he said this.
"I won't hold it against you," Jo assured her.
Melissa Manchester wrapped up her set to thunderous applause. "She was terrific," Libby assessed. Then the lights came up for an intermission while the stage crew set up for Barry Manilow's band.
"I can't believe we couldn't get better seats," Chuck complained.
"Well, I booked them pretty late," Keith admitted. "But at least there aren't too many people up here." They were alone in the third-from-the-top row at the arena, so they could spread out and dance as much as they liked.
Pretty soon, the band members came out and started playing, one at a time, until there was a whole song playing anxious, anticipatory chords. Three ladies dressed in glittery costumes took the stage, assumed dramatic positions, and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Barry Manilow!" Then there was pyrotechnics and Barry ran out on stage. He greeted Los Angeles and then started singing.
Jane was beside herself, dancing, and pointing.
When he started singing a medley of some popular songs, Keith moved behind Libby, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and sang along with the music.
Angel of my lifetime,
Answer to all answers I can find.
Baby I want you, come, come
Come into my arms
Let me know the wonder of all of youBaby, I love you, now, now,
Now and hold on fast
Could this be the magic at last?
That song soon merged into one of his biggest hits, Mandy. Chuck was also singing to Jane.
Oh [Janey], well you came and you gave without taking,But I sent you away, oh [Janey],
Well, you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh, [Janey]!
Libby noticed Jo looking over at Chuck and Jane. She squeezed Jo on the shoulder. "Hey, are you enjoying it?"
Jo nodded. "He's pretty good in concert! Lots of energy. Who knew the king of jingles could put on a show?"
Having tired of dancing, the group sat down for a while while Barry played some more songs. He ended up with a song that had grown popular on the radio as of late, so they got on their feet again and clapped along with the song.
You wouldn't believe where I've been
The cities and towns I've been in
From Boston to Denver
And every town in between!The people, they all look the same
Only the names have been changed
And now that I'm home again, I'll tell you what I believeIt's a miracle! A true blue spectacle, a miracle come true!
We're together, baby, I was going crazy
'Til the miracle came through!
Now you're here and my arms are around you,
And baby, they'll be dancing in the streets,
For the miracle! A true, blue spectacle, the miracle is you!Ooh, ooh ooh ooh.
I never knew you looked so good
Oh, I never knew anyone could
I must have been crazy to ever have gone away
I almost forgot what it's like
Oh, holdin' you near me at night
But now that I'm home again, you know that I'm home to stay...
It was really silly, but Libby got a lump in her throat, thinking about how appropriate the lyrics of the song were. Keith had gone away, and had come back to her. He loved her. He wanted to be with her. As they danced, Keith holding her hand up high and shaking it around, she squeezed his hand tight and tried to convey what a miracle she thought their relationship was. Forget other people, she thought. I'm so happy, I could dance in the streets.
On their last day, Libby searched for matching footprints and handprints along the forecourt in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. "Oh, look, Barbara Stanwyck's feet were about my size," she noted.
Jane called to her, "Gloria Swanson's hands are the same size as mine!"
Chuck noted, "She must have been a tiny woman, then." Jane's hands, like the rest of her, were small and thin.
"Oh my ... I can't believe it..." Jo sputtered as she pointed out toward the street. Carrie Fisher, George Lucas, and an entourage were talking to a couple of professional-looking men in business suits.
"What are they doing here?" Chuck wondered. Libby inched closer to eavesdrop.
"Of course, you understand, it will just be the robots and Darth Vader giving their prints," one of the businessmen was saying. "But you all will stand over here, and there will be hundreds of screaming fans and photographers..."
Libby didn't wait to hear any more. She ran back to the group. "I wonder if we can get their autographs?" she wondered. Jane whipped out her trusty autograph book, which she had bought special for the trip. The group waited around until the businessmen had shook hands with all of them, and their entourage had scattered, looking at the prints.
Jo, Jane and Libby gathered their courage and approached them for autographs. The celebrities signed cheerfully and chatted with them briefly. When they left, Chuck took Jane's hand and led her over to Marilyn Monroe's handprints.
Libby and Jo looked at Keith. "What's going on?"
"Shh," he responded.
A Marilyn Monroe look-alike came out with two violinists. With Jane and Chuck standing on the square, the sultry vixen sang to them,
A kiss on the hand may be quite continental,
But Diamonds are a girl's best friend!
A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat,
Or help you feed your pussy cat...
When the woman had finished singing, and the violinists had finished with a flourish, Chuck reached in his pocket and produced a small velvet box. He opened it as he knelt down on Marilyn Monroe's handprint.
"Jane Bennet, I've known you for three months, and they have been the happiest of my life. You understand me better than anyone I've ever known, even people I've known for years. Now that I have you back in my life, there is no one, no one, that I could imagine spending the rest of my life with who is not you. You are sweet, you are brilliant, and I want to see you smiling at me every day for the rest of our lives. Jane, will you marry me?"
Jane nodded as she allowed Chuck to slip the diamond ring onto her fourth finger. "Yes," she whispered, barely loud enough for Keith, Libby, and Jo to hear her. As Chuck rose to his feet to embrace Jane, the three of them jumped up and down, cheering and screaming louder than they had even at the Barry Manilow concert.
After they finished, Keith took Libby's hand and they walked down Hollywood Boulevard. Even thought Jo walked beside them, he said, "Libby, I want to move in together."
Libby looked at him, surprised. "Really? Why?"
He smiled. "Well, there are the obvious benefits..."
"No, I mean, why move in together now? Why don't we date for a while longer and then see if we're ready?"
"I figured that, when Jane moves out, you'll want a roommate. And since I bought the houses, it might be a, well, an upgrade."
"Aah. I see. My living arrangements are not good enough for you?"
He chucked her on the chin with his finger. "Not good enough for you. You'll have more square footage, and a nice lawn. Plus there are hardwood floors in all the rooms, and I'm installing shag carpet in the family room."
"I don't know, Keith. What will my parents say?"
He smiled his toothy smile. "What will my parents say? I don't know. But it's the 1970's, Lib. Not the 1920's. I think we just gotta take the chance. We gotta do what makes us happy."
She nodded. "Okay, let's do it."
"Okay?"
"Okay!"
Keith shouted, "Woo-hoo! Chuck, she said yes!"
Both men picked up their girlfriends in bear hugs and spun them around. Keith was able to pick his sister up in one arm and spin them both around.
Epilogue
"Jane, can you zip me up?" Libby held her hair up so Jane could help her with her dress. "Thanks. Wow, you look great! Do I need some lipstick?"
"Yeah, you could use some. Here, I got a nice pink." As Libby applied the lipstick, Mrs. Bennet breezed into the bridal changing room.
"Girls, the bouquets have finally arrived. Sarah did a wonderful job with them! You will really be happy with these arrangements. She wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper and pinned them to the ribbon, so be sure to take that off before you go out."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Does anyone need anything before I leave? I'm going to check on the guys."
"I don't think so, Mom."
"Good. How's the bride-to-be? Any last minute jitters? No emergencies for me to help out in?"
Jane answered, "Just fine, Mom. We've got everything under control. I think we'll be ready early!"
Libby added, "Rita had a tear in the seam of her dress, but I got a safety pin out of the emergency kit and fixed it." Rita held up her arm and showed Mrs. Bennet her daughter's handiwork.
Mrs. Bennet kissed her daughters on their foreheads. "Oh, what a lovely day for a wedding! And to think, we have two more coming soon." She rested her forehead against Libby's and gave her a meaningful look.
As their mother left, the bathroom door opened and Mrs. Lucas came out. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Come out, Carly!" Libby called.
Carly appeared in the doorway next to her mother. The first thing Libby noticed was her radiance. Carly looked happier than Libby had ever seen her look. Then her eyes traveled downwards and looked at her dress. The gown really was beautiful. It had a high lace collar, but underneath, the material graced her curves with a sweetheart neckline and slim waist. She wore an heirloom lace veil that just reached her elbows.
"Carly, you're an angel!" Libby told her.
All Jane could say was, "Oh, Carly!"
Rita and Sofie, Carly's best friends from high school, helped Mrs. Lucas do a last-minute bobby pin check to be sure the veil was straight and secure. Libby gazed lovingly at her friend. Usually, she thought Carly's large teeth and wide mouth made her look gangly and unseemly. But today, her big smile served to make her an even prettier bride.
Cindy, the wedding coordinator, poked her head in the door. "Libby, can I see you for a moment?" she hissed.
Libby squeezed through the doorway. "What's up?"
"Don't tell the bride," Cindy said confidingly, "but there's a problem with the unity candle."
"What problem?"
"I always test them, Libby. I always make sure the candles will light before the ceremony begins. So I put the candles on the stand, and the largest candle has to sit on a spike, you know, so it won't tip over. Well, when I put it on, it split."
"Up the middle?"
"No, diagonally." She moved her hand in a diagonal slashing motion to show Libby.
"Oh! Um, you've never had this problem before?"
Cindy held her hand against her forehead. "No."
Libby thought fast. "Follow me!"
Libby rushed through the courtyard of the church to a side door which led to another part of the building. She had worked in the nursery a few times and knew where the art supplies were kept. She quickly produced a roll of Scotch tape. Hurrying in her high heels, she and Cindy rushed to the sanctuary, where they walked dignifiedly to the stand on which the unity candles were placed. Cindy had left the smaller chunk of candle lying on its side on top of the other piece, which was standing securely on the spike. Deftly, Libby held the candle together while Cindy applied Scotch tape to the candle as if she taped candles together every day of her life.
The quickest way back to the bridal changing room was through the sanctuary. Well, everyone's already seen me, she thought, and walked up the aisle to the narthex. The only people who had arrived yet were older women, anyway.
In the narthex, guests were greeting each other and signing the guest book. Mrs. Jones brought Christy and Debbie over, dressed in their flower girl dresses.
"Libby! Look at my pretty dress!" Christy said. She twirled around to make her skirt poof out.
"Oh, Christy, you look so beautiful!" Libby told her.
"We been practicing," Debbie told her. She held the little white basket of rose petals that Sarah had arranged for each of them. "I grab some and drop them while I walk down the aisle."
"You guys will be the best flower girls ever," she assured them.
"Where should we go?" Mrs. Jones asked.
Libby showed her the bridal changing room. As she was about to enter, someone called out, "Hey, Libby!"
It was Alicia, Libby's high school friend that she had seen the night when she and Jane got drunk at Tom & Jerry's. "Alicia!" The two of them hugged.
"I love this blue dress," Alicia complimented her.
"Thanks. I'm glad we have these little shawls, so I don't have to worry about my bra strap showing." After they both laughed, Libby pointed out the groomsman who was escorting ladies to their seats. "That's Richard's cousin, Dan. He'll show you to a seat. I'll see you at the reception, right?"
"Right," Alicia said, and took Dan's offered elbow.
Rita and Sofie stood outside the bridal changing room, holding out Libby's bouquet. "That Dan certainly is good-looking," Rita commented. Sofie said she thought he was very nice, but she didn't usually go for blonds. She was more the tall, dark, and handsome type.
Libby propelled them back into the room to wait. Poor Carly was getting nervous, waiting so long. But Mortie the photographer came in shortly and took some pictures.
Presently Cindy came in and told them that they were ushering in the final guests, and the bridesmaids had better come take their places.
Being the maid of honor, Libby was last. She watched Jane, Rita, and Sofie walk down the aisle to the beat of Pachabel's Canon in D. She made sure that Cindy had the flower girls in line, and that Carly's dad was helping her out of the changing room, before she started her descent.
She saw many familiar faces. Towards the back, she saw Keith, Chuck, Caroline, and Caroline's new boyfriend, Adam. Keith winked at her. Chuck had a new perm for the occasion. Caroline, she noticed, had dressed nicely and looked happy to have been invited. Looking at the front of the room, she saw Richard watching her expectantly, with his groomsmen, Fred, Blaine, his brother Dan, and his army buddy Dan, all looking handsome in their powder blue tuxedos with the wide, navy blue trimmed lapels, and ruffled shirts.
She took her place in line, and turned in time to see little Christy and Debbie finishing their walk. Mrs. Jones had thought Debbie might be too young to stand still at the front, so the girls turned in the pew where she sat instead of joining the rest of the party at the front.
Then the music changed, and everyone in the congregation stood to watch Carly Lucas, escorted by her father, walk down the aisle. She smiled through her veil at everyone she saw, even giving little waves to familiar friends she hadn't seen in a long time. She even nodded at Bill, who looked astonished that he'd been invited at all. Looking at Carly's face and then at Richard's, Libby thought she had never seen a pair of people who looked so genuinely happy to be getting married.
The ceremony went according to plan. There were no misplaced rings, no stumbles, and only a small ice-breaker when the minister stumbled over his words and called Richard "Richly", which he joked was his words joining Richard and Carly together in holy matrimony.
Richard did surprise Carly, however, when he walked away from her after they exchanged rings. He picked up a microphone that was lying on the communion table, and as the organist played, he sang "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You". Libby, who could see Carly's face, thought the bride's face would crack, she was smiling so widely.
At last it was over, and the party gallivanted back up the aisle. Once in the narthex, Richard hugged Carly and swung her around. "We're married!" he exclaimed.
After Mortie finished taking lots of pictures, the wedding party joined the guests in the reception hall. While Mr. Lucas announced their presence to everyone, Keith and Chuck stood talking to Mr. Bennet.
"So, looking forward to your wedding to Jane?" Mr. Bennet asked.
"Yeah. She is really anticipating it," Chuck replied. "I can't wait until the school year is over, and she has time to plan calmly."
When the party was settled at the head table, Mr. Lucas came over to the men.
"Congratulations!" Mr. Bennet wished him.
"Thank you, thank you," Mr. Lucas responded. "I'm very glad to welcome Richard into the family. He'll make a fine son-in-law. Gentlemen," he said, turning to Keith and Chuck, "have you tried the meatballs?"
"Thanks, we've already had some food," Chuck told him.
"Are they going to dance?" Keith asked.
"No, Baptists don't dance. If we were having the reception at a restaurant or country club, they probably would, but here at church, the elder folk would frown upon it."
Chuck smirked. "What if we just started dancing, Keith?"
Mr. Bennet shook his head. "I wouldn't suggest it, Chuck. Last week at the prayer breakfast, the Warrens showed a slide show of their mission trip to Uganda. When they showed a picture of the natives dancing, some of the older deacons were visibly offended."
"So dancing is either reserved for secular gatherings, or savages," Darcy remarked. "Gotcha."
The choir director's wife, Alyson, had decorated the cake. She designed a three-tiered round cake with white basket weave and blue flowers. The bridesmaids and groomsmen gathered around behind them for the cake cutting. When the couple fed each other cake, they each took a bite. Then, as if on cue, they turned and smeared frosting on the closest attendants' faces!
The party continued for another two hours. The happy couple left in a car decorated with tin cans tied to the bumper and rather inappropriate words and phrases written in shaving cream on the windows. As they ran through the shower of birdseed, Keith pulled Libby to the back of the crowd.
"Libby, let's do this. Marry me."
"What?"
"I'm so crazy about you, Lib. These past eight months have been, well, bliss. When Chuck and Jane get married in July, I want to be there too, pledging to love you forever."
Libby smiled and gazed at him through eyes rimmed with tears. "I love you, Keith."
"Will you marry me, Lib?"
"Yes. Yes, I'll marry you!"
They embraced, and then turned to tell their friends and family the happy news.
The Fitzwilliams, the Bingleys, and the Darcys still live in Orlando. Richard and Carly attend First Baptist Orlando, but all three couples are still friends.
Keith continued investing in property, and is now one of the foremost landlords in the city. He prides himself on the fact that he has not destroyed any of Central Florida's natural beauty, but has bought condemned and abandoned buildings, renovated the property, and made a fortune.
Chuck got out of AmWay very soon after his marriage. When he saw how well Keith did in real estate, he bought properties on the southwest side of town. The Bingleys rented these properties out for several years, and when Universal came to Orlando in the late eighties, they paid top dollar for the property to build their theme park.
Jane taught in the classroom for thirteen years, then was a principal for five. She worked her way up to a seat on the school board, and she was so popular that she was easily elected to Mayor of Winter Park. She is currently preparing to run for governor of Florida (as Jeb Bush rides, tarred and feathered, dejectedly back to Texas) and improve education, starting by reforming FCAT testing.
Libby continued working at the Orlando Sentinel for a few years. She gradually worked her way up, and in 1982 started a women's magazine. In addition to the web site, teen magazine, and weekly TV spot, Libby has used the proceeds to run a shelter that specializes in helping battered women and children.