Class of '59 (American Journey Book 4)

by John A. Heldt

  Mary Beth reached to her left and took his hand.

  "I'm saying I want to do this right. I want to withdraw Piper from school, provide people who know us with a story, and give you that book. I want to take a few days to say goodbye to your mother and two young men who have changed my life."

  Mark nodded.

  "Maybe that's best. Mom is leaving Friday morning to see my aunt. She'll be back Saturday afternoon. You and Piper can come over tomorrow night and say goodbye then. Then we can do our own things on Friday and send you through the tunnel before Mom returns on Saturday."

  "I like that idea," Mary Beth said.

  "Piper?" Mark asked.

  Piper stared blankly into space, as if pondering Mark's proposal, the risks of staying, and other possible courses, and then finally rejoined the others. She took Ben's hand, offered a sweet smile, and slowly turned back to Mark.

  "I'm good with that," Piper said. "Let's do it."

  CHAPTER 44: DONNA

  Los Angeles, California – Thursday, April 30, 1959

  Donna Ryan looked at the television and then at the couch and tried to decide which was more depressing. She had expected to see forced smiles and genuine frowns on the tube. She usually found sadness in spades on Playhouse 90, a drama series that aired every Thursday night. She had not expected to find four sorry faces on her sofa.

  Of course, she had not expected Mary Beth and Piper McIntire to tell her they would soon leave Southern California for good. She had not expected that at all.

  The sisters had made their startling announcement at dinner. They had said they needed to rush back to Germany to be with a mother battling meningitis. The two planned to catch a flight to Frankfurt Saturday morning.

  Donna suspected there was nothing she could do to lighten the mood in the living room, but she decided to try anyway. She did not want to spend her final moments with two charming young women staring at a flickering box. She spoke first to Mary Beth.

  "Have you heard from your father today?"

  Mary Beth turned away from the TV.

  "No, Mrs. Ryan, I haven't. He said he would call us again in the morning. He expected to know more about my mother's condition by then."

  "Please let me know if there's a change."

  "I will. I'll give you an update as soon as I can."

  "I appreciate that," Donna said.

  "When do you expect to leave tomorrow?" Mary Beth asked.

  "I'll leave by seven. I want to make the most of the trip since it will be so short. I typically spend the whole weekend with Phyllis."

  "Does your sister have a family?"

  Donna pondered the question before answering. Didn't most women have families? Maybe they didn't in places like Wiesbaden and Huntsville. Maybe the world was changing.

  "She does. Phyllis and her husband have three girls. The oldest is twenty."

  Mary Beth looked at Donna with wistful eyes.

  "Are you close to your sister?"

  "I am now," Donna said. "We weren't that close growing up, because of our four-year age difference, but we've made up for lost ground in the last few years. It's funny how much more you appreciate your siblings as you get older."

  Mary Beth smiled at Piper and then at her hostess.

  "I can imagine."

  Donna let Mary Beth return to Playhouse 90 and then turned to Piper. She had not spoken to her at dinner and still had many questions about how she was handling this difficult transition. She spoke when the station broke for a commercial.

  "Do you plan to go to school tomorrow, Piper?"

  Piper turned her head and nodded.

  "I want to say goodbye to my friends and teachers."

  "I imagine that will be hard," Donna said.

  "It will be harder with some people than with others," Piper said. She glanced at Ben. "Either way, I'll survive. I've done this before, Mrs. Ryan. It's part of being an Army brat."

  Donna nodded. She could relate. She had moved several times as the daughter of a Navy officer before finally finding a home in San Diego.

  "Will you be able to graduate in Germany?" Donna asked.

  "I think so," Piper said. "I may have to take a class or two over the summer, but I'll get there. I'm not too worried about it."

  "That's nice to hear."

  Donna studied Piper for another moment and then moved on to two boys she knew well – or at least thought she knew well. As she gazed at Mark and Ben from her upholstered perch ten feet away, she began to wonder whether she knew them at all.

  Mark wore the face of a defeated man. He stared blankly into space like someone grappling with a thousand challenges or maybe one intractable problem. He had said little at dinner and relatively little in the past week. For the first time in recent memory, he had kept his thoughts to himself and not confided in a mother who was his mentor and confidante.

  Ben wore the face of a miserable man. He stared blankly at the television like someone who could not care less about Playhouse 90 or Leave It to Beaver or Behind Closed Doors or any other show that usually grabbed his attention on a Thursday night. He showed signs of life only when Piper clasped his hand and coaxed a smile. He had frowned nearly nonstop since dinner.

  My boys are in love.

  Donna pondered the sorry situation for a moment and then did the only thing she probably could do to improve matters. She got up from her chair and announced that she was calling it a night. If she did nothing else, she would give the lovebirds a chance to deal with their misery privately and perhaps find a moment of peace in the time that remained to them.

  Donna moved toward the sofa as the four young adults rose to their feet. She turned first to the woman with the pretty eyes and the heart of gold.

  "Thank you again for the plate," Donna said.

  Mary Beth smiled.

  "It's the least I could do. I hope you enjoy it."

  "I will. I know I will."

  Donna stepped forward and gave Mary Beth a warm hug. She was going to miss this girl, she thought. She was going to miss what she had done for her son. She patted Mary Beth on the shoulders, stepped back, and offered the lovely brunette a motherly smile.

  "Please keep in touch," Donna said.

  "I will," Mary Beth said. "I'll send you a postcard the minute we arrive in Wiesbaden. If I can swing it, I'll attach a box of German chocolates."

  Donna laughed.

  "You do that."

  Donna moved on to Piper. She gave her a hug that was a little more formal but no less meaningful. A moment later, she stepped back and gazed at her with admiring eyes.

  "Let me know if you decide to come back," Donna said. "If you return to Los Angeles to attend college or look for a job, just pick up the phone. I will happily provide you with a room or references or anything else you might need."

  Piper smiled.

  "I appreciate that, Mrs. Ryan. If I come back, I'll give you a call."

  Donna nodded and then turned to her sons. Both looked relieved. Neither looked cheerful. Each gazed at her with eyes that reflected affection and gratitude.

  Donna spoke first to Mark.

  "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

  Mark sighed.

  "I'm still working that out. I may or may not go to school. I may or may not do anything. It depends on how I feel in the morning."

  Donna looked at Ben.

  "What about you?"

  "I am going to school," Ben said. "I don't have a choice. I have two tests."

  "Don't you have a match too?" Donna asked.

  Ben shook his head.

  "It was canceled. My day is free after three."

  "Then enjoy it. Enjoy the day," Donna said. She looked at Ben and Mark. "That goes for both of you. Do something special with your lady friends. I mean it. I'll take care of the laundry and the dishes when I get back."

  "Thanks," Mark said.

  Donna nodded but did not respond. She instead kissed her sons good night, smiled at the girls, and then stepped toward an
exit that led to a hallway, the stairs, and her bedroom. She turned around when she reached the open doorway and looked at Mark.

  "There is a bottle of champagne on the top shelf of the pantry. Your father bought it last year when he went to New York. He bought it for our twenty-fifth anniversary."

  Donna took a breath.

  "Feel free to enjoy it if you're in the mood for something nice. It will make me happy knowing it didn't go to waste."

  "I'll think about it," Mark said.

  "You do that," Donna said. "In the meantime, take care of these girls."

  "We will."

  The matriarch looked at Mary Beth and Piper.

  "Thank you again, ladies. Thank you for adding sunshine to our lives and making a difficult time a little more bearable. I will think of you often," Donna said. "Good night."

  CHAPTER 45: MARY BETH

  Santa Monica, California – Friday, May 1, 1959

  The ocean churned with a restlessness that almost seemed ordained. Waves rolled in, water rolled out, and sand shifted as two unlikely lovers walked along a quiet beach.

  Mary Beth could not help but notice the differences between now and the first time she had dipped her toes in the Pacific Ocean. Five weeks earlier, at Laguna Beach, she had found the water calm, cold, and uninviting. Tonight, in the shadow of the Santa Monica Pier, she found it active, warm, and appealing. It was as comforting as the man who had held her hand on both occasions and made her forget she was the product of another time.

  "I wonder where the crowds have gone," Mary Beth said. "I haven't seen more than twenty people since we left the hotel."

  Mark smiled.

  "I see you missed the bars on the drive in."

  "It's seven thirty," Mary Beth said.

  Mark laughed.

  "I know. It's seven thirty in Santa Monica."

  Mary Beth shook her head but did not respond. She saw no point in starting a war of wits on a night she wanted to devote to reflection, remembrance, and romance. So she kept to herself, inspected her glorious surroundings, and soaked up the sights. She found the historic hotels and beachside buildings almost as inspiring as the rapidly setting sun.

  "This is so beautiful," Mary Beth said. "Thanks for bringing me."

  "You're welcome," Mark said.

  "Do you come here often?"

  Mark shook his head.

  "I come here only four or five times a year and almost always to go fishing. Ben and I like to fish off the pier. One can catch a lot with a little patience and decent bait."

  "Do you like fishing?" Mary Beth asked.

  "I like spending time with my brother."

  "I thought so. That's nice."

  Mark tightened his hold on Mary Beth's hand as they approached what looked like a gathering of Hells Angels members. More than thirty men in leather jackets or biker vests drank beer and swapped stories around a campfire the size of a tropical hut.

  "Just look friendly," Mark said.

  Mary Beth laughed.

  "OK."

  The two smiled and waved to some bikers and ignored the leering stares of others as they moved through the ranks and quickly proceeded to the other side. The passed without incident and resumed their journey down a darkening beach that was once again quiet and secluded.

  "Does anyone know we came here tonight?" Mary Beth asked.

  "Ben does," Mark said. "So does Dennis Green. I called him this morning and invited him and Margaret to join us for dinner and maybe a walk."

  "What did he say?"

  "He said, "Have fun!' They had other plans."

  "It's just as well," Mary Beth said.

  "Why do you say that?"

  "I say it because I want you all to myself tonight."

  Mark chuckled.

  "That's a good reason."

  Mary Beth smiled and then gazed at the soothing sight to her right. Hotels and homes, sitting atop a long, sheer bluff, lit up the east side of the beach like Christmas lights on the eaves of a roof. She took a mental snapshot and returned to her thoughtful companion.

  "What are Ben and Piper doing tonight? Or should I ask?"

  Mark smiled.

  "You can ask. You just may not like the answer."

  "What do you mean?" Mary Beth asked.

  "They went for a drive," Mark said. "Ben told me he wanted to head up Mulholland Drive after taking Piper to dinner. Mulholland Drive is Make-Out Central."

  Mary Beth raised a brow.

  "So they plan to park in the dark?"

  Mark laughed.

  "That's the long and short of it."

  Mary Beth smiled.

  "I hope they have fun."

  Mark cocked his head.

  "Is this Piper's protective sister talking?"

  Mary Beth looked at Mark thoughtfully.

  "No. It's the one who wants her to enjoy her last night here."

  Mark shook his head.

  "You continue to amaze me."

  "I'll take that as a compliment," Mary Beth said.

  "You should."

  Mary Beth slowed to a stop.

  "Can we find a place to sit? My feet are getting tired."

  Mark nodded.

  "There are some benches on the walk."

  "OK."

  Mark turned toward the bluff and led Mary Beth to a paved path that ran parallel to the shoreline. They found a small backless bench a moment later, sat down, and directed their attention once again to the churning waves, the sparsely populated beach, and the setting sun.

  "Is this better?" Mark asked.

  "It's much better," Mary Beth said.

  The two quickly settled into a comfort zone. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She burrowed into his side. For the next thirty minutes, they did nothing but watch the ocean, keep each other warm, and enjoy each other's company in splendid silence.

  Mary Beth used the time to think about forty-two wonderful days. She thought about the trip to Las Vegas, the fraternity functions, and Oscar night in Ben's Thunderbird. She thought about the meaningful dinners at the Painted Lady, dancing to the jukebox, and even encountering Professor Geoffrey Bell's parents at a college lecture. She wallowed in pleasant memories.

  Then Mary Beth thought about other things. She thought about time tunnels, men with guns, and pending departures. She thought about losing love for the second time in less than a year.

  "You're kind of quiet," Mark said. "Are you all right?"

  Mary Beth looked at him through watery eyes.

  "I was. Now I'm not so sure."

  Mark leaned forward and turned his head.

  "What's the matter? Or, should I ask, what else is the matter?"

  Mary Beth took a deep breath.

  "I was just thinking about irony and bad luck."

  "What do you mean?" Mark asked.

  Mary Beth wiped away tears.

  "I mean I've found what many women don't find in a lifetime. I've found love twice and lost it twice. How rotten is that?"

  Mark pulled her close.

  "You're where I was last night."

  Mary Beth studied his face.

  "Where are you now?"

  Mark frowned.

  "I'm in a place where men find love once, not twice, and spend the rest of their lives in misery when it slips through their fingers."

  Mary Beth gently caressed his face.

  "You'll find love again."

  Mark shook his head.

  "You don't know that.

  "Oh, yes, I do," Mary Beth said. She laughed through tears. "You look like Warren Beatty."

  Mark smiled sadly.

  "That's what I'm going to miss most about you. You're an optimist. You find rays of sunshine in the darkest places. You see the best in people. You don't give up."

  Mary Beth slipped out of Mark's embrace and turned to face him. She placed both hands on his face, leaned forward, and gave him a soft kiss.

  "You're right. I don't give up – and I'm not ready to give up now."

/>   "What does that mean?" Mark asked.

  Mary Beth wiped away more tears.

  "It means I have another day to think this through, Mark Ryan. I still have one more day to decide what's really important in life."

  Mark gazed at her through glistening eyes.

  "You can't be serious."

  "I am."

  "I love you, Mary Beth."

  Mary Beth clasped his hands.

  "I love you too."

  "We should talk about this," Mark said.

  "No. I don't want to talk about this any more tonight," Mary Beth said. She caressed his face and kissed him again. "All I want to do now is go back to our room. I want to go back to our room, forget the past, and dream of better things."

  CHAPTER 46: PIPER

  Hollywood, California

  Sitting on the warm hood of a 1959 Ford Thunderbird, Piper McIntire nestled into Ben Ryan's side, directed her eyes forward, and gazed at a slice of heaven. From their venue, an overlook on Mulholland Drive, she could see the gleaming lights of Hollywood, the skyline of Los Angeles, and a million stars above. Southern California had never looked so good.

  "This place is amazing," Piper said.

  Ben pulled her close.

  "I thought you would like it."

  Piper smiled.

  "It's private too. I really like that."

  Ben laughed.

  "That makes two of us."

  Piper kissed Ben's cheek and lost herself in the moment. She smiled when Elvis Presley, singing "Love Me Tender," gave way to Buddy Holly and "Maybe Baby" on the radio. Along with the crickets of the Hollywood Hills, Holly's Crickets created a symphony that only lovers could love and time travelers could fully appreciate.

  "Do you take dates here often?" Piper asked.

  "No," Ben said. "I've been here only five times."

  Piper gave him a sly grin.

  "Did you bring Vicki?"

  Ben blushed.

  "Must you know everything?"

  Piper giggled.

  "Yes."

  "OK. If you must know, I'll tell you," Ben said. "I brought Vicki here four times last year. Each time we did nothing more than listen to the radio."

  Piper laughed.

  "You're a liar."

  Ben chuckled.

  "Of course I am."

  "I shouldn't hang out with a liar," Piper said. "He might tell me all sorts of lies to get all sorts of things."