As of this date, I am almost done with my third novel, A Life Time After Time. I was hoping it would actually be on the published
shelf by now, but with an illness here and there, overtime work for my husband/editor
and other life interruptions, such as selling our home in Idaho, time has gotten
away. Our 40th wedding anniversary is coming up on July 30, so I thought it only
appropriate that I include here the chapter on his proposal. If you are expecting
rose petals scattered throughout the room, wine and soft candlelight, then read
no further. My guy doesn’t have that kind of romance in him, but I wouldn’t have
him any other way. Enjoy your day and remember to keep reading and keep writing!
~~
CHAPTER 19 ~~
It was at least a few weeks before Kate
would talk to Jackie other than a hello
when she would get home from work. Jackie and Andy had taken several rolls of
film and were upstairs in Jackie’s bedroom looking over all of them when they
heard Kate come in through the side door of the house after she had been
running some errands.
“Let’s take a stack of these and show them
to your mom,” Andy suggested. “She can’t go silent for the rest of her life.
Maybe these will soften her up. It can’t hurt to try.”
“She hasn’t said a whole heck of a lot to
you either, but I’m willing to give it a shot,” Jackie agreed. “I think the
bigger issue will be if she starts to talk again with me after you leave. I
honestly never believed she would have taken things this far. Maybe our going
away together did hurt her more than either one of us anticipated, but I don’t
understand why. Even if we break up some day, there still was no harm done.”
“I don’t see us breaking up, Babe. I think
I’m in this for good. I hope you feel the same,” Andy said, making it sound
more like a question.
“Of course I do, but I’m a little surprised
you’re still here after last summer. After Connie and Alex broke up, I
convinced myself the same would happen with you and me. You got so caught up in
that community theater group. I called you incessantly. You either weren’t
home, or if you were, you usually were on your way to some rehearsal or party
with your theater friends.
There was that one night you picked me up
to do whatever, we got into a fight, and I told you to take me home. That’s
exactly what you did, too! When you drove away, I ran down the middle of the
street watching you go. I don’t know why, but it felt to me like when my dad
would drive away after visiting with us. I knew if I only would behave well
enough, he would stay. But he never did. I watched you until you made a turn
onto Hawkins. I went upstairs and packed up your albums and anything else you
had left in my room. I was that sure we were done.”
“I didn’t handle that time well, either. I
should have known you were pretty shook up from Connie and Alex calling it
quits. I was so caught up with that theater group, I didn’t pay attention to
what was going on with you. I assumed we were fine, and I was just busy with
something you had no interest in. I do remember being a little annoyed at all
the phone calls, but it still didn’t register. You know guys, Babe. We don’t
get it. You have to explain in detail, draw pictures, whatever it takes,” he
chuckled.
“Both of us made mistakes. I turned my back
on Connie the same that I thought you were turning your back on me. She would
call to go out, and I would tell her I was tired or some other lame excuse. I
was really sitting at home waiting for you to call. I was so afraid I would
miss a call, and so what if I did? Like you would never call me again because I
wasn’t home? But that was my insecure
thinking. I could have lost you, and I definitely damaged my friendship with Connie.
I’m glad we are still friends, but I don’t
think it will ever be the same again.”
“Come on. Enough of talking about stuff
that’s long over. Let’s take these pictures down to your mom and see if we can
crack her cone of silence.”
Maybe it was just the right timing, but
Kate did enjoy looking at all the pictures, and she didn’t show even a hint of
anger. Andy called his parents to let them know he was on his way home and did
he need to stop and pick up anything for them. Kate admired Andy for being so
thoughtful towards his parents. She couldn’t recall Patrick ever doing anything
like that, and it made her laugh to herself. She was so proud of the
responsible young man Patrick had become after serving his country for four
years, one of them in Vietnam, a solid marriage with two kids, and getting his
college degree.
Jackie was so relieved that things were
finally back to normal again at home. She thought it best not to bring up the
trip unless Kate did, which wasn’t very
often. She knew Kate would never be approving of the fact they went through
with their plans, but she had accepted it.
The year went on with Jackie continuing to
do well at her job, surprising herself that she loved doing medical
transcription. Not having any medical background didn’t seem to be an issue at
all. Researching the medical terms and phrases when she needed to was part of
the fun of the work. The staff had come to rely on her to create any medical
forms they needed, ordering supplies, and taking care of filing and any repairs
that came up with the dictation equipment. After being there for a year, she
was promoted to Transcription Coordinator, with basically the same duties, but
she did get a small raise.
Andy had gotten a job at a finger cot
factory through a buddy of his while he also interviewed from time to time for
a speech pathology or audiology job. He knew he wanted to pursue audiology over
speech, so he decided not to look into any further speech opportunities. It was
frustrating and difficult because of having no experience, and he hadn’t
started on his Master’s Degree because he didn’t have the money for graduate
studies. His parents had helped him with his undergraduate work, but he wanted
to save up for the next step in his education. He was patient and knew
something would come along eventually. In the meantime, he was thankful to have
a job that allowed him to have some fun but also put a few dollars away for the
future.
Their sixth Christmas together was as
wonderful and fun as the previous ones together, although Jackie was a little
disappointed there was no proposal. She knew more than likely Andy wouldn’t be
able to afford a ring, but she didn’t care about that. She would never dream of
pressuring him into marriage if he wasn’t
ready, so she didn’t say a word about how she was feeling. The holidays
came and went with no hint of a proposal. Their relationship was still strong,
they were having fun, and she was confident Andy would know when the time was
right, even if she didn’t necessarily agree with his timing.
Shortly after the holidays, Andy and Kate
were in the kitchen chatting while Jackie was in her room finishing up getting
ready for a night at the movies. “Kate, how would you feel about me marrying
your daughter?” Andy asked out of the blue. It was something he had been
thinking about for quite a while, and even though he knew Kate was fond of him
(and he felt the same about Kate), he wanted to be sure she would be okay with
Jackie getting married, especially getting married to him.
“Well, that’s an interesting way to change
the subject,” Kate laughed. “But to answer your question, I would be very happy
to see you two get married. You’ve been together a long time now and been
through a lot already. Do you have any kind of timeline for proposing?”
“No, not really,” Andy replied. “I first
wanted your blessing. I was hoping to find an audiology job by now, but at
least we both have full-time jobs. Obviously we’ll need to find a place to
live, probably rent an apartment for now. I guess I should find out if she
wants to marry me, right?” Andy said with a big grin.
“I have a feeling I know what her answer
will be. I am thrilled for you both, Andy, and yes, of course, you have my
blessing. I hope she hasn’t heard us talking,” Kate suddenly whispered as she
heard the bedroom door open.
“Hi, Babe,” Jackie said as she walked into
the kitchen. “I didn’t realize you were here until I looked out the window and
saw your car. I guess I was playing my albums a little too loud.”
Kate was relieved to hear that, since that
meant more than likely Jackie didn’t hear the conversation about the two of
them getting married. She did know there was music playing but didn’t think it
was that loud. The kids were always telling her she couldn’t hear well at all,
but she was convinced her hearing was good enough to get by.
Andy was ready to propose, but he
wasn’t sure when or even how to do
that. He was concerned that he hadn’t
started his career yet, he didn’t have his own place, and he also worried a
little if they would have enough money to even start their life together. He
also felt pretty bad that he couldn’t afford a diamond for his girl.
In early February, Kate was having dinner
at a friend’s house, and Jackie and Andy were in Jackie’s bedroom listening to
music and playing cards. “I’m a little hungry,” Andy said. “Think your mom has
anything in the kitchen we can fix for a snack?”
“Not sure what she has, but I do know there
are some chips and dip that I bought the other day, or we could get a pizza if
you want.”
“The chips will be perfect.”
Jackie got out one of Kate’s mixing bowls
for the chips, and as she was getting the dip out of the refrigerator, Andy
jumped up on the counter. “So, are you going to eat the chips sitting on the
counter? Not much room for me up there,” Jackie quipped.
“Come over here,” Andy ordered. Jackie
walked over to him, and he put his hands on Jackie’s shoulders. She felt like
he was almost holding her down and couldn’t figure out what he was going to do
next.
“Let’s get married this year,” Andy said as
if he was suggesting they go out for a burger.
“Wha….what did you just say?” Jackie heard
him—she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing.
“We’ve been together six years, seven if
you count the first year we knew each other as friends. Don’t you think it’s about
time?”
“I thought it was about time a year ago,
but I thought you wanted to have a better job and be making more money before
we took that step. Do you really think it’s a good time?” Jackie was trying to
be calm and reasonable, but inside she was screaming for joy, she was so
excited.
“I think it’s going to take some time for
me to find a job in my field, and I don’t want to wait for that anymore. Besides, we’re doing okay. Things will be
tight for a while, but aren’t all newlyweds mostly broke in the beginning?”
“You’re probably right about that. Okay,
then. I guess we’re getting married! We’re engaged? For sure we’re engaged?”
Suddenly, Andy looked crestfallen.
“What’s the matter, Babe? Don’t tell me
you’ve changed your mind already,” Jackie said with a little chuckle.
“No, no; it’s not that. I feel bad that I don’t have a ring for you.
I don’t have the money for a diamond, except maybe if I got one that you could
hardly see.”
“I honestly don’t care about that, Andy. We
never seem to do things like everyone else, so why should this be any
different? We’re getting married! That’s
all I care about. Hey, we need to call your parents in Florida and tell them
our good news. We can tell Mom when she gets home.”
“Yippee!” Kate said when they shared their
news.
“Is that all you can say?” Jackie asked,
not expecting that kind of a reaction from her mom. “I thought you would be a
little sad that your baby is leaving the nest.”
“Sad? Are you kidding? I’m finally going to
be completely on my own. Have the house to myself. Be a kid again,” Kate said
excitedly. “Honey, I’m happy for the both of you. I’m happy for me, too. Of
course I love having you here, but it’s time for you to start your life with
Andy.”
“Thanks, Mom. I think,” Jackie said as Kate
gave her a hug.
Before Kate got home, they had called Lily
and James to share their wonderful news. They both seemed happy and excited to
hear their son had popped the question. They were very fond of Jackie and
looked forward to having her as part of their family.
Jackie couldn’t sleep that night, but she
didn’t care. She had a million things running through her head. Planning the
wedding, setting a date, finding a place to live. There was so much to do, and
she was looking forward to every minute of it.
Late the next afternoon she got a call from
Andy. She could tell right away that something terrible was wrong. She was
hoping she was misunderstanding the tone of his voice, that she was too tired
from her lack of sleep the night before and wasn’t hearing him correctly. She realized that
wasn’t the case when he said, “I have
some bad news.”
