“Then I’ll pick you up at six-thirty. Is that all right?”
“Yes. I’ll see you then.” I opened the front door for him.
Just as he was about to walk through it, he stopped and grinned slightly. “Err . . . Rose?”
I looked up at him. “Yes.”
“Your shoes have a tear in them.”
I put my hand to my mouth to stop the giggle from escaping, and closed the door behind him.
“What did you say?”
I turned around to find Mother standing behind me. I couldn’t help the glare I sent her way. “I said no, and not to ask me again,” I replied stubbornly.
“Well, really, Rose. What will your father say?”
“He’s not the one who would be marrying him,” I replied flippantly. I ran back up the stairs to my room, and this time I locked the bedroom door.
March 20, 1947
Only one more day…
It was one more day until I saw Jacob again, and I could hardly wait. I’d missed him so much and he took up so much of my time, even when I didn’t see him. I thought of him all the time and those thoughts had been keeping me going these past couple of days.
Father wouldn’t speak to me after turning Richard’s proposal down and Mother was even colder than usual. As far as I was concerned, Father was acting like a child.
“Ah-choo.” Damn dust!
For two hours, I’d been dusting the shelves and books in the library. I’d lost count of how many times I’d sneezed or how many spiders I’d seen.
The library had been very quiet today, and Mr. Young decided he wasn’t going to let us sit around doing nothing. That’s why I was full of cobwebs and sneezing.
“Boo.”
I jumped a mile and turned around to see Jayne doubled over laughing. “That wasn’t nice.”
“It was funny. You should see the sight of you. You look a mess . . . ”
“Well, thank you for that, and hush up before Mr. Young finds us. What are you doing here?” She very rarely came into the library. My boss scared her.
“Will you double date with me tomorrow night?”
“Oh.” I needed to think quickly. “I’m sorry, Jayne, but I’ve promised Mother I would keep JT occupied.”
“You’re seriously going to pass because of your brother?” she asked me in disbelief.
“I’m trying to keep the peace after rejecting Richard. So on this occasion, I am.” It was close to the truth, I really needed to keep the peace.
“Heck. Okay. I’d better get back to work. See you later.” She frowned before she waved and headed out of the library.
After my very boring day at work, I ate dinner at home before I took JT to the beach. We had fun again and hunted around for crabs this time. JT found two and I found none! He gloated the whole way home, like a little brat. I ought to stop using his nickname, and maybe then, he’d start acting more grown up.
JT was otherwise known as Thomas James. He is twelve years old and regardless of what he may think, I love him dearly.
March 21, 1947
Tonight I meet Jacob…