“But, Arly, I’m afraid you won’t want to date me any more if you really see the kind of person my mother has become and the way she keeps her house.
She didn’t used to be like this. It came on gradually after my father left us.”
He smiled. “I know what kind of a person you are, Lora. I’ve seen your little apartment when you haven’t been expecting me and it was neat as a pin.
So don’t worry a minute about that. It’s important that we go see her sometime.”
Nevertheless, she knew she would continue to worry until the visit was over. She decided to think about something more pleasant—the picnic yesterday. Arly had raved about her cooking. She had made fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans, all prepared from ingredients which happened to be in Billie’s cupboard and freezer. Lora knew she was a good cook. She certainly had had a lot of practice. Her father left when she was ten years old, making it necessary for her mother to go to work. From the time Lora turned twelve, she was expected to fix most of the meals. When Arly told her she was a good cook, she felt grateful for all those years of practice.
She and Arly had so much to learn about each other, they didn’t play at the park; they just sat on the lawn and asked each other questions. She smiled as she thought about it.
Suddenly, Lora realized that Billie didn’t even know about her exciting news. On impulse she decided to run over to Billie’s house and tell her.
It wasn’t till she was driving up Maple Avenue, approaching Billie’s house, that Lora realized how late it was. Pulling over to the curb, she stopped the car and turned on the overhead light to look at her watch. It was ten-fifteen, much too late to knock on someone’s door. Turning off the overhead light, she was about to make a U-turn and go back, when she thought she saw a dark figure run across the lawn to the Bliss driveway.
She turned off the motor and headlights. Arly had said there had been burglaries in this neighborhood. Maybe someone was going to rob Billie’s house! Since her view was blocked by the neighbors’ bushes, she got out and walked up the sidewalk, looking for something she could use to protect herself. Seeing only a small, dry limb at the base of a tree, she picked it up and then walked stealthily up to the Bliss driveway.
The house was dark, but the moon was shining brightly. She couldn’t see anyone near the front of the house so she decided to look in the back. Edging through the portico, she stopped. Sure enough, there he was, doing something to Billie’s car! Her heart raced with fear. Grateful that she had on Billie’s navy blue jacket and pants outfit, she tiptoed toward his back, her hand gripping the stick so hard it hurt.
-
Arly Bates was glad that it was the last night he had to cruise this neighborhood.
Tomorrow he would be on the day shift. He was driving up Maple Avenue when he saw a blue Volkswagon parked against the curb. Surely, he thought, shaking his head, it can’t be Lora’s again. He pulled up behind it. It was!
He glowered. “For Pete’s sake, what is that girl up to now?” Turning off the headlights and ignition, he got out. He walked quickly, looking around.
When he arrived at the Bliss’ driveway, he saw two dark figures through the portico. One was hunkered down by a car door. In the moonlight the other one looked like . . .like Lora! She was sneaking up behind him with something in her hand. His heart hammered against his chest. By the time he reached them, Lora was shoving the thing into the back of the mystery figure.
“Stick ‘em up!” she shrieked.
The man was so startled, he almost fell over into a heap, but managed to stand up and turn around.
“What the hell! You holding me up with a stick, lady?”
“You bet she is!” Arly yelled, holding his gun on him. “And you better raise your hands for her.”
“Arly?” she squeaked, “How did you get here?”
“How in the hell didja both get here?” growled the shaken intruder.
“Shut your mouth,” Arly barked, taking the handcuffs from his belt.
The lights of the back porch went on and Will Bliss came running down the steps. “What’s going on out here?” His mouth dropped open as he assessed the situation.
“Well, sir, I think this man was trying to steal a hub cap off one of your cars.”
“What can I do to help, Officer?”
“You can put the cuffs on this bum for me. I can do it myself, but it’s a little easier if . . .” His voice trailed off. What Arly didn’t want to say was: “I was scared spitless for this girl and my hands are shaking.”
Before Arly could say another word, Will had the man handcuffed. By then, the whole family had come out and gathered around, staring in shock.
“Lora!” Billie exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s what I want to know,” growled Arly.
All eyes turned on Lora who was now visibly shaking. “W-well, I was driving over to see you, Billie when I realized how late it was. I was about to turn around and head for home when I saw a dark figure run across the lawn and go into your driveway. Officer Bates said there had been some burglaries in this neighborhood, and no way was I going to let him rob the Bliss family.”
The man snorted. “This dumb broad was trying to hold me up with a stick.”
Arly grabbed the man by the collar so quickly, he choked on his last words. “One more peep out of your mouth, and I’ll stuff a gag down your throat.”
The small crowd watching this episode was impressed with Officer Bates.
All, that is, except Will Bliss. He was curious as to why the officer had reacted so vehemently. He seemed to have more than a routine interest in the whole situation.
The Bliss family, with the exception of Billie, was stunned over this strange young lady who apparently had tried, in a very foolhardy manner, to protect them. Will turned to his daughter. “Who is this young woman, Billie?”
“Excuse me,” Arly interrupted. “Let’s don’t have any introductions until I get this man down to the station. I need you to come along, Lora.”
“I’m shaking so bad, Arly, I’m afraid I can’t drive.”
“You aren’t driving, you’re riding with me in the front seat. We’ll come back later and get your car.”
The family, still dumbfounded, watched until the threesome were out of sight. Will Bliss turned to his daughter, a grim expression on his face. .
“Billie, we are all going to gather at the kitchen table and you’re going to tell us who that foolish young lady is who risked life and limb in order to protect the Bliss family from a theft.”
When they had seated themselves around the table, Billie told her family that this was the Lora Lemmon. She reminded them of the problems that Lora had created when she had misguidedly trespassed into her life, and the transformation that had come over her.
-
An hour and a half later, Arly dropped Lora off at her car and proceeded to follow her to the apartment. “Well,” he muttered to himself, “some of the guys down at the station have now met the impossible Miss Lora Lemmon, whose latest caper was holding up a thief with a stick!” He was sure that the minute he and Lora left, the hoots of his fellow officers probably raised the roof. Arly was glad he wasn’t there; he would be tempted to deck a few. There was nothing funny about it. Lora had risked her life for a car—and he was furious with her. The fear he felt when he saw Lora in danger catapulted him into an awareness of what he really felt for her and precipitated a decision far ahead of its time.
Lora drove into her driveway and Arly drove in behind her. Turning off his engine, he got out and followed a very subdued Lora up the steps to her apartment.
“May I come in? I have something to talk to you about.”
Lora studied Arly’s glowering face. “You can come in if you won’t bawl me out.”
Arly, not promising anything, stepped in and sat down, feeling totally exhausted. Lora sat next to him on the couch. Looking over at her, he asked, “And why would I bawl you out, Miss Lemm
on?”
“You know.”
“I want to hear it from you.”
“I don’t want to say it, Arly Bates.”
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself then?”
“I won’t do anything like that again.”
“I don’t believe you.”
A knock on the door startled them both. Who could be calling this late?
they wondered. Lora got up and opened the door. It was her landlady.
“Mrs. Griffen! Uh, come in.”
Mrs. Griffen nodded and walked in, looking harried. She was dressed in her robe, her hair in disarray, indicating she had at one point been in bed tonight. Arly stood up as she entered and she looked at him nervously.
“What’s wrong, Officer?”
“Why, nothing, Mrs. Uh . . .”
“Arly, this is my landlady, Mrs. Griffen. Mrs. Griffen, this is Officer Bates.”
Arly nodded at her. “How do you do, Mrs. Griffen. What can we do for you?”
“I’m turning into a nervous wreck. All the shenanigans going on around here, police cars going in and out, tires screeching, yelling, and banging on doors are driving me crazy. It seems you are in perpetual trouble, Miss Lemmon. I’m afraid you’ll have to move.”
Lora gazed at her in shock, but before she could say anything, Arly broke in. “She will be moving, Mrs. Griffen.”
Lora whirled around to him, not certain she had heard correctly. “What?”
Arly ignored her. “Mrs. Griffen, I assure you there is nothing wrong. I promise that things are going to quiet down from now on. You see, I’m going to marry Miss Lemmon and make sure that she stays out of trouble.”
Lora gaped at him, not believing her ears. Mrs. Griffen studied the young man, realizing that he was serious. Her face softened into a smile.
“Why, how nice. So that’s why a police car has been here so often.
Congratulations to both of you. Well, Miss Lemmon, I certainly won’t worry about what’s going on back here anymore; you’re in good hands. Goodnight.”
Lora closed the door and turned to Arly, a look of incredulity on her face.
“You didn’t have to say that to get me out of trouble with my landlady. I could have explained it all to her.”
“You think I would lie like that to get you out of trouble?”
“Well, I lied to Roy Fawkes to get myself out of trouble.”
“I didn’t tell Mrs. Griffen a lie, Lora. I have to marry you to keep you out of trouble.”
Her brows contorted. “You can’t be serious!”
“I am. Very serious,” he said grimly.
Lora’s eyes widened, then filled with angry tears. “Arly Bates, how dare you want to marry me for that reason.”
“You give me no choice.”
“Oh! You . . . you are an egotistical, presumptuous . . . uh . . . brute! You can’t make me marry you, so leave right now, Arly Bates.”
Arly stared at her. He had never seen her angry; in fact he wondered if she ever got that way. A smiled twitched at his lips, as he thought how cute she was.
Lora opened the door and stamped her foot for emphasis. “Leave, Arly!
Right now!”
“I’m sorry, Lora. I have been a presumptuous brute.” The twinkle in his eyes said otherwise. “Can I stay and explain?”
Her lips pressed together tightly, she held her ground, standing fixed by the open door.
“Please, Lora,” he implored, his eyes pleading.
Her determination crumbled. Slowly she closed the door. “All right, you can stay for a few minutes, but—”
“Lora,” he said, taking her hands in his, “when I saw you in danger tonight, I thought my world was going to fall apart.”
“You did?” she asked, amazed.
“I already knew that I cared for you, but when I thought I might lose you, I realized that I loved you. I love you, Lora.”
“You do?” she asked, her green eyes large with awe.
“I do. And when I thought I might lose you, I panicked. I have no way of controlling you and your actions unless I marry you.”
Lora pulled her hands away, her eyes flashing with anger. “You are not only presumptuous, Arly Bates, but you are, uh, a dictator!”
He smiled. “I am? I mean, I sound that way, don’t I? I’m sorry again, Lora. What I meant is that I would have more right to keep track of you if you were my wife. But that isn’t the only reason I want to marry you. I love you and I want to take care of you and protect you from . . . yourself, and—”
“The answer is no!”
“What?”
“The answer is no, Arly.”
Arly was now getting scared. She meant it. “Lora, please sit down.”
“Why?”
“Please,” he pleaded.
“All right, but only for a minute. I’m not going to change my mind.”
As soon as Lora sat down, Arly knelt down in front of her. “Will you marry me, beautiful Lora? I need you.”
Lora’s eyes softened. No man had ever called her beautiful or said he needed her. Still, she remained silent.
“I know I’ve acted like a bumbling idiot tonight, Lora, but I feel desperate. I don’t want to lose you. I’ve been looking for a girl like you, and I had begun to think there wasn’t one left in the world. Please, will you marry me?”
His words turned her gaze into a starry-eyed expression. Finally, she smiled. “Maybe.”
Arly sat beside her on the couch and reached for her hands. “Oh, thank you, Lora. At least that gives me some hope.”
“I want to finish school, Arly.”
“I want you to finish. You can finish even after we’re married.”
“I can?”
Sensing a softening in her demeanor, Arly quickly added, “Of course you can, my lovely Lora.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet, put his arms around her, bent down, and kissed her with great tenderness.
Lora melted. She was sure no girl had ever been kissed like that. She looked into his earnest face and wonderful, blue eyes. “I . . . I think I love you too, Arly.”
A grin spread clear across his face. “You do?” He danced her around and around, till they were both so dizzy they laughed and fell into each other’s arms for support.
He gazed down at her radiant, flushed face and smiled. “You don’t have to give me a final answer yet, Lora, but I’ll be waiting on pins and needles until you do.” He held her close for a few moments, his breathing uneven, then bent down and kissed her forehead and then once more her lips, but this time with the mixed emotions of the evening: fear, anger, protectiveness and—love.
He pulled away abruptly and walked to the door. “Goodnight, Lora.”
“Goodnight, Arly,” she answered in a soft breathless voice.
Stepping out onto the porch, she watched him until he opened his car door, then she yelled, “Thank you for rescuing me tonight, Arly. You’re my hero!”
Thirty-Three
Tuesday morning, Sheldon awoke earlier than usual, feeling an excitement that three months ago he would have thought impossible. If it weren’t for the loose ends he had to tie up today and the class he had to teach, he was certain that the day would drag by unbearably.
By 5:00 p.m. he was home trying to make a snack for himself, unable to eat a full meal because of excitement and nervousness. His life had already changed, but after tonight, he hoped and prayed that it would change even more. Since Bliss had declared her love, he was almost one hundred percent sure—but there was that small doubt that kept niggling at him now and then.
Could a beautiful young woman like Bliss—would she—?
-
There was also excitement in the Bliss household. Margaret made homemade strawberry ice cream, and Henry and Bill took turns cranking the non-electric ice cream freezer. Matilda made crisp sugar cookies to go with the ice cream.
Everyone tried—not always successfully—to act nonchalant around Billie since no one, except Wi
ll really knew if or when Sheldon would propose.
After all, Sheldon Ackerman had been a bachelor for so long—would he be amenable to a different kind of life? Nevertheless, the ice cream and cookies were a celebration.
Up in her bedroom at 6:50, Billie’s excitement had unnerved her to the point that her hand was shaking, making it an ordeal to apply lipstick.
She stood back scrutinizing herself, hoping that she looked as nice as she wanted to. She had bought a special dress for tonight, a filmy, summer cotton that she found at one of the Fall sales. It was pale cream with tiny, covered buttons starting at the v-neck and ending at the v-shaped line three inches below the waist. The skirt flared out in a circular fashion. She wore gold and pearl earrings and a small bracelet of the same. Her hair hung loose upon her shoulders. She shook it nervously. Taking a deep breath, she ran downstairs, wanting to be the one to answer the door.
Just as she reached the last step, the doorbell rang. Her heart leaped up into her throat as she walked to the door. She opened it and there stood Dodds, looking so handsome it nearly took her breath away. He wore a gray, summer sport coat over a light, casual shirt and dark gray pants. In his hands he held a crystal vase with one white rose. They gazed at each other in wonder.
Recovering finally Billie invited him in.
Sheldon could scarcely take in the sight before him. Bliss’ lustrous auburn hair, hanging loose upon her shoulders stood out gloriously against the pale cream of her dress. Her soft brown eyes, sparkling with happiness, held his. Then his eyes moved to the dress, noticing the lovely, slim curves of her body that were so distinctly revealed by the form-fitting dress. He tried to say something, but his voice caught, and the only thing that came out was a husky whisper.
“Bliss, you’re so beautiful. Are you just a dream or are you real?”
“I’m very real. Do you need to pinch me to make sure?”
He smiled and shook his head. Shifting his weight from one foot to the other he finally said, “May we go into the library?”
“Yes. I warned everyone to stay out of sight because I didn’t know where you wanted us to visit.”
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