Chapter 2: “Well, THAT was fun!”

May 25, 1984, West Monroe, Ohio

After our second round, Violet and I went to her bathroom to shower together. We needed to get back to the party, so we didn't take too long. Once we were clean and dry, we dressed, and I helped her change the sheets on her bed. She put them in the washing machine and checked the time so she could return to put them in the dryer. Once she was satisfied there was no remaining evidence, we left the house to walk back to the party.

"Thank you for fucking my brains out," she said impishly as we turned up the walk to Hannah's house.

"I should thank you!" I replied.

She laughed, grabbed my arm, and gave me a quick peck on the lips before we went into the house. We walked through to the backyard, and each got a pop from the cooler. Violet winked and walked over to where Liz and her friends were, and Clarissa came to stand next to me.

"Last fling?" she asked quietly.

"I expect so," I replied.

"She looks VERY happy!" Clarissa said, looking towards where the girls were standing.

"Well, there IS a pool table in their basement," I said smugly.

Clarissa laughed softly and shook her head, "Seriously?"

"Well, I know they have a pool table, but no, we were in her bed. And I'm certainly satisfied!"

"Of course you are! And you left me all alone with a bunch of High Schoolers!"

"Sorry," I chuckled. "No cute girls here you're interested in?"

"Compared to Rebekah? No chance!"

"I'll take your word for it!"

"You should! But I guess it's winding down — Tasha Wednesday, me Thursday, and then, however you end it with Jocelyn. You're going to be chaste over the Summer?"

"I think so, yes. Jos will have a say in the matter, but I'm pretty sure she'll agree with my approach."

"A kind of Lenten purge before Lara returns?"

"That was my thinking. No complications and nothing to interfere."

"Maggie?"

"Not sex, that's for sure. That has a very specific meaning for Maggie — it's a promise to work towards marriage. It's not a commitment to marry the way it would have been for April, but it's also not something she's going to do without at least a very good chance, and I'm not going to mislead her or try to manipulate her."

"You're walking a tightrope trying to not give her false hope, but also not to write her off."

"I know. But we should have already been at that point. Her dad messed it up and that's created the perfect storm of tomorrow morning. And given that, I think we should probably thank Hannah and her parents and head home."

"I thought you might stay later to avoid talking to your mom."

"She'll be up early tomorrow for sure, and I'll have a tough time avoiding her, given I need to have breakfast. But in the end, I have nothing to say to her about Liz, so the more I think about it, avoiding her isn't necessary. Let's go."

We went to find Hannah's parents and thanked them, then found Hannah, congratulated her once again, thanked her for inviting us, then exchanged a quick hug.

"I loved being with you, Mike," she whispered as we hugged. "Make it even better for Maggie!"

I nodded, as I couldn't really say anything. Clarissa and I left through the gate to walk to my car, which was parked in front of Mindy's house. As we got to the car, I realized that I was lucky Mindy hadn't egged or keyed my car, or worse, given how upset she'd seemed.

When we arrived at my parents' house, I backed into the driveway as I usually did, we got out, locked the car, and went into the house. I wasn't surprised to see my mom sitting on the couch with her Reader's Digest magazine. Clarissa squeezed my arm and headed upstairs while I went to the kitchen, got a glass of water, and then went back to the living room and sat down.

"What's going on with Liz?" Mom asked without any preliminaries.

"You'll have to ask her," I replied. "I know she's moving in with Emmy, has a hostess job at a diner in Rutherford, and is enrolled in Rutherford Junior College."

"There's more to this, Mike, and I think you know what it is."

I took a deep breath and let it out, "And I think you have to ask Liz. She's an adult, and that means she gets to make her own decisions."

"What decisions?"

"All of them! Just as I do. She's enrolled in school, which is what you wanted, and I hope you intend to contribute to her tuition the way you have for me."

"We do, but Mike, given everything that's happened, do you really think she's ready for this?"

"Given that I wasn't, I'm not sure what you're asking."

"What do you mean? You were more than ready to go to college!"

"I meant to be an adult," I replied. "I believe my first few decisions as an adult raised serious questions in your mind about my ability to act and think like an adult. And I've made mistakes since then. If you wanted me to be ready to be an adult in the sense of not making any big mistakes, I'm not sure when I could ever have left home. I'll point out she's doing the same thing I did, with the exception of living in the dorms."

"Mike, you didn't go through the trauma she went through."

"No, I didn't. But how long are you going to define her solely by the fact that she was raped?"

"WHAT?!" Mom gasped.

"Pick one — the Kramer brothers or Paul, at least in your mind. That's how she's been defined in this house for the last two years. You not so much as Dad, but you, too."

"That's a bold accusation and pretty harsh, don't you think?"

"I'm not sure what you want me to say, Mom. Liz is an adult and needs the same room to grow that I've had. I guarantee you I didn't conform to your ideas of how I should have conducted my life the past three years, but you've mostly treated me as an adult, even when I've messed up in a big way. I don't think you've done that for Liz."

"Assuming for a moment that all of that is true, and I'm not agreeing it is, but assuming it is, there's something you know which you aren't telling me."

"Whether there is or not, and I'm not saying either way, you HAVE to talk to Liz about your concerns, not me. I need her to trust that if, and I mean 'if', she comes to me for advice, she can count on me to give it without, in effect, tattling to you and Dad."

"And what is it you think might be tattling?"

I shook my head, "We're no longer at that point, Mom. I'm still your son, and I always will be, and you're my mom, and you always will be, but we're both adults now. I'm not yours to command, and I'm not using that word in a way that signifies I think you were overbearing. What I'm saying is, you can ask, and I get to decide what to say; you don't get to tell me to answer, which, I'll point out, I did in the past. Before Liz turned eighteen, there was a grey area, and after the initial problems, I shaded towards your version of grey, not mine."

"Are you aware that Paul Reynolds is out of prison?"

I nodded, "I knew that was supposed to happen at some point this year based on his sentence."

"Is this about him?"

"Mom, I can't answer 'yes' or 'no' without giving in to playing Twenty Questions, which I simply won't do. Ask Liz. If she won't tell you, then I CAN'T tell you, assuming I even know what it is that you want to know. What I do know is that I love Liz, and if she asks for my advice or my help, I'm going to give it to the best of my ability. And not to be impudent, but now that Liz is eighteen, I don't have to clear that advice or help with you."

"I have a very bad feeling about all of this."

"Just trust her, please. And give her some space to become the person she wants to be. There's something important you haven't considered, and that's the fact that Liz talks to Clarissa, Tasha, and Jocelyn. And she asks them for advice, and they don't reveal any confidence. And you like and trust all three of them. Let Liz be an adult, please. Just be there for her. That's what I'm doing."

"Which doesn't change my belief that something is very, very wrong."

"Let me say this, and it's all I'm going to say — I'm not aware of Liz doing anything, or planning to do anything, that's illegal or dangerous. Personally, I'm FAR more worried about the idea of Emmy Nelson with handcuffs and a nightstick than anything Liz might, or might not, be doing!"

Mom laughed and shook her head, "And I know EXACTLY which image you have in your head, Subdeacon Pig!"

"I'll likely be married by the time she joins the Sheriff's Department," I grinned. "So those thoughts will just stay safely tucked away in my brain."

"Are we going to get to meet this girl who your friends and sister have met?"

"She's back home near Pittsburgh, and she and her family are going on a cruise starting in a few days. When she comes back to McKinley, IF things go that direction, then yes, you'll get to meet her."

"Mike, are you SURE that Liz isn't in any danger?"

"As sure as I can be," I replied. "I do need to get to bed. I have to be up early."

"Good night, then."

"Good night, Mom."

May 26, 1984, West Monroe and McKinley, Ohio

On Saturday morning, Clarissa, Liz, and I ate breakfast together, then sat on the patio to drink tea until it was time for me to leave to get Maggie. I'd considered saying something to Liz about my talk with my mom, but I decided that, in the end, there wasn't a reason to belabor the point either way. So long as my mom left it alone, I could leave it alone. Clarissa walked me out to my car.

"See you around noon, right?"

"Assuming all goes well, Yes. Do me a favor?"

"Sure. What?"

"Take Liz somewhere just to avoid ANY possibility of my mom trying to confront either of you."

"Already planned! We're going to go see Viktoriya."

Clarissa and I hugged, I got into my car, and waved to her after I pulled out of the driveway and turned in the direction of Maggie's house. To get there, I drove past Mindy's, Hannah's, and Violet's houses, turned two corners, and pulled up in front of the house. I elected to back in, even though this was a subdivision and not an occasionally busy road such as the one which passed in front of my parents' house. I unlocked the passenger door, got out of the car, and went up to the front door, where I rang the bell.

"Hi, Mike!" Maggie said, opening the door. "Come in."

I stepped into the house and followed her upstairs to her room.

"Get that box, please," she said, pointing to a cardboard box with photo albums, what looked like a diary, and a bunch of other small items. She picked up two large bags, which I was sure held her clothes, and started for the door.

"Margaret?!" I heard a woman's voice call out.

"Ignore her!" Maggie said. "Let's go!"

I followed her down the stairs where a woman, who I was sure was Maggie's mom, was standing, hands on hips.

"Who is that, and where do you think you're going, young lady?"

"This is Mike. And I'm moving out."

"You're doing no such thing!"

"I'm eighteen," Maggie said, dropping one bag and pulling the door open. "Mike, go!"

I walked out the door and made my way to my car. I got the box placed in the back of the Mustang and turned to wait. Loud voices reached me from inside the house, and I saw Maggie push past her mom, who was trying to block the door. She walked quickly to me, I got her bags into the back seat, and we got into the car. I started the engine and pulled out of the driveway, fastening my seat belt as I did so.

"She's pissed," Maggie said.

"Obviously."

"Thanks for coming to get me!"

"You're welcome. Where are we going?"

"Fourth and Oak in McKinley," she said.

That was just over a mile from Doctor Blahnik's house. I headed for Route 50 and turned east, accelerating to the speed limit.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"OK, I guess. It sucked these last few months because I couldn't see you or talk to you, and I've missed you. How are things at school?"

"Straight A's, and mostly calm. There was some idiocy with the administration about not treating us like adults, but we worked that out. Otherwise, Clarissa and I are still best friends. Jocelyn will start Summer school in a week, and Tasha will start her new job in a week as well. She's moving on Wednesday."

"Have you been dating?"

I nodded, "Yes. Kimiko and I were seeing each other, but she intends to go back to Japan. I saw Katy Malenkov, but she's going to stay in California and work on her Master's degree when she finishes her undergrad degree and then work out there. About two months ago, I met a girl named Laura, and we've been seeing each other."

"Seeing each other?" Maggie said warily. "As in steady?"

"No, but it wasn't just casually dating, either."

She slumped back in her seat and sighed, "Tell me."

"I just did," I said gently. "I'm not hiding anything. Yes, I like her. Yes, she likes me. Yes, she's Orthodox. She's also gone for the Summer, and we agreed we'd talk in August about the future."

"That sounds serious," Maggie said quietly.

"To be totally honest, it could be. But it's also true that you and I have time to get to know each other."

"But she might be the one you choose."

"There was always that possibility," I said, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. "But I've kept my word to you — I am not steady with anyone, and I haven't made any commitments to anyone. But, again, being completely honest, it's true that I will take her into consideration in deciding about you and me."

"I guess I never had a clear playing field."

"You knew I was dating; I never kept that from you."

"True."

"There's also a complication that I'm not sure anyone shared with you."

"What's that?" she asked dully.

"Deacon Grigory from Saint Michael the Archangel had a serious heart attack and will likely never be able to serve as a deacon again. The bishop wants to ordain me not long after I graduate."

"But you have to marry before then or never marry, right?"

"Correct."

"Which means you have to decide pretty soon, right?"

"I decided to get married," I grinned.

Maggie actually laughed, which I felt was a good thing.

"I didn't think you would want to be a monk, not after the report I got from Hannah!"

"No, I'm not cut out to be chaste, and yes, it means I'll probably marry just over a year from now. I could tell the bishop 'not now' if I don't have a viable prospect for a wife."

"Would it be wrong to say that I'd accept a proposal today?"

"Yes, but mostly because we don't know each other well enough. Remember what I committed to — us getting to know each other better and seeing what happens."

"Which would have already happened if my dad hadn't interfered! He totally violated my privacy, snooping in my room!"

"All we can do at this point is move forward," I said. "Are you still planning to come back with me to Valerie's party?"

"That is the plan. I'll stay with Valerie tonight."

"That's what Liz suggested would be the case. Clarissa and I need to leave early from my grandparents' house to go to Tasha's for a small reception. Oh, did anyone tell you that Sasha had her baby?"

"Yes. Emmy told me, but I had guessed when she didn't show up for school a couple of days in a row."

"Tomorrow, Liz will bring you to my house, and Clarissa and I will get you from there."

We were perhaps twenty minutes from Maggie's house and almost out of Harding County when I saw the red and blue strobe lights of a Sheriff's Department cruiser coming up fast behind me in my rearview mirror. The road was clear, so I moved slightly to the right to let the cruiser pass, but instead, it slowed in pace with me.

"PULL OVER, PLEASE!" came over the loudspeaker.

"I think your mom called the Sheriff," I said as I slowed and looked for a safe spot where two cars could park. I rounded a bend and saw a farm road, so I turned into it and stopped. The Sheriff's cruiser pulled in behind me.

"Hands on the dash," I said to Maggie.

I unbuckled my seat belt and rolled down the window, then put my hands on top of the steering wheel. I watched in the sideview mirror as the Deputy, who I didn't recognize, got out of his car, unsnapped the strap on his holster, and carefully made his way to stand just behind the driver's window.

"Driver, I need you to step out of the car slowly," he said. "Keep your hands where I can see them. Miss, please don't move."

I very carefully opened the door and pushed it open. I got out of the car, holding my hands up.

"Hands on the front fender, please, feet back and spread apart."

I did as he said and asked, "What's the problem, Deputy?"

"We had a report that the young lady was kidnapped."

"I'm eighteen!" Maggie protested. "I'm here because I want to be!"

"Just a moment, Miss. Sir, do you have ID?"

"Yes. My wallet is in my back pocket."

"Take it out slowly and set it on the hood."

I did as he instructed, opening it so my school ID and driver's license were visible.

"I need to frisk you, and then I'm going to put you in my cruiser. If you coöperate, I won't handcuff you. You are NOT under arrest at the moment."

"I'll coöperate," I said.

"Anything in your pockets? Any weapons on your person or in the car?"

I was suddenly glad that I wasn't in the habit of carrying a pocketknife as most guys in Harding County did.

"No. No weapons and nothing in my pockets."

He frisked me, then stepped back.

"Hands on your head, then stand up and move past the back door of the cruiser."

I did as he said, and he followed close behind, and although I couldn't see it, I was sure he had his hand on the butt of his service revolver. When I was past the door, he opened it, I got in, and he shut the door. I put my hands in my lap and waited, looking through the heavy wire screen that separated the back seat from the front, and watched as the Deputy picked up my wallet and looked at the ID. He spoke into his radio and, after a moment, went around to the passenger side of my Mustang.

I couldn't hear what was said, but Maggie got out, and took her billfold from her small shoulder bag and showed her ID. She was eighteen, so I knew there was nothing that could be done if she said she was safe, but that didn't mean we would avoid going back to the Sheriff's Department offices near Rutherford. It took about ten minutes before the Deputy came back and opened the door.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr. Loucks," he said. "You're free to go."

"Thanks, Deputy," I said.

I got out, walked to my car, retrieved my wallet from the hood, then got into the car next to a visibly shaking Maggie.

"Just take some deep breaths and relax," I counseled. "Don't talk yet."

I closed my door, buckled my seat belt, and started the car. Once the cruiser was out of the way, I maneuvered my car so I could pull out onto Route 50, and when there was a long break in the traffic, I did so, shifting through the gears and accelerating to the speed limit quickly. When we were about a mile east of where we'd been stopped, I spoke.