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I quickly said goodnight and dragged JT inside, closing the door behind us.
March 24, 1947
Richard doesn’t have to marry me...
It has been two days since I last saw Jacob. I missed him terribly. I was sitting on the porch, daydreaming about the night on the beach, when Richard appeared in his father’s car.
He climbed out and came running over to me. “Rose, will you come for a drive with me?”
I hesitated.
“Please?” he begged.
Oh, what the heck. I wasn’t exactly doing anything. “All right. Let me just grab a jacket and my purse.”
I ran inside to quickly grab what I needed and ran back outside. Richard opened the door for me. I climbed into his father’s luxurious car and admired the cream leather interior with a dark mahogany wooden dashboard while Richard shut the door and ran around to the other side.
“Richard, what’s going on?” I was both nervous and curious.
“My father has agreed I don’t have to marry you. So I thought we could celebrate with pie and chocolate milk,” he replied, grinning at me like a little boy.
I laughed. “Well, let’s celebrate then.”
He drove to town and parked at the crowded diner. We walked inside and I spotted Jayne sitting by herself and just finishing her meal. I walked over and sat down beside her. “What are you doing here?”
“Richard wants to celebrate not being forced to marry me.”
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head, which made me laugh.
“Rose, Sandy is going to bring our favorite pie and milk over. Hello, Jayne. Would you like anything?”
“No, I’ve just finished eating. Thank you, though.”
Richard sat opposite me and engaged Jayne in conversation. As they talked, I longed for a few quiet moments alone with Jayne. I wanted to confess to Jayne about Jacob, but I was afraid she would say something to someone else. She may be my best friend, but she had trouble, big trouble actually, with keeping things to herself.
I had just finished my pie when I noticed JT sitting with Levi, Walt, and some girls at the back of the diner.
Excusing myself, I walked over to their table. When JT saw me, he went bright red and stood up. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from his friends so they were out of hearing range.
“What are you doing here, sis?”
“I’m with Jayne and Richard. What about you? You know you’re not allowed in here.”
“I’m with Walt and Levi.” He glanced in their direction.
“I have eyes, JT. I’ll walk back with you so you don’t get into any trouble with Father. I also don’t want Richard getting any ideas.”
He laughed. “Wouldn’t want that, sis.” He strolled back to his friends and said his goodbyes, then walked back to me.
“Let me just tell Jayne and Richard I’m leaving,” I said, quickly walking over to where they were sitting.
“Sorry, but I’m going to walk back to the house with JT before Father gets home.”
“Rose, please don’t leave. Can’t JT walk back on his own?” Richard asked, frowning at JT, who had stuck his tongue out at him.
I gave him a shove. “Stop that.” I turned back to Jayne and Richard. “I really need to make sure he gets there without causing any more trouble. I’ll see you both later.” I turned quickly and grabbed hold of JT’s arm before I dragged him out of the diner.
March 26, 1947
