Young Love #2

A Time For Young Love

Part Two

By

B.D. Adams ©2016

   That next day, after Lucy was out of school and not at work, Roger drove them in his Corvair to a parking spot by Bend Brook Lake, a large man-made lake. When they wanted more privacy, this was where they’d go.

   Lucy was not happy, almost devastated. She had to tell Roger that her mother was explicit about returning his engagement ring. She took off the ring and sadly handed it to him.

   “Why?” Roger cried out loudly. He took the ring, not knowing what else to do.

   Lucy had begun to weep, as well, as she said, “She thinks … thinks we should wait. We’re too young.”

   “We just want to be engaged. Nothing else right now.”  Roger was very dismayed and angered. “When? When would we’d be old enough?” Roger covered his face with his hands and breathed heavily.

   Lucy saw his resentment and realized that this was the first time he’d shown this emotion. It was the first time they had been placed in that situation. All because of her mother!

   “I don’t know, Roger,” she shook her head. Now, she had the same anger – for her mother. “She believes we’re active – sexually. She doesn’t want me to be pregnant.” Now, she didn’t look at him.

   He removed his hands, but still didn’t look at her and said, “Did you tell her again? Tell her no sex until after we were married?” Now, Roger had a damning tone to his voice toward Lucy.

   “Of course, I did!” Lucy cried. “She doesn’t believe me. I don’t know why!” Lucy was more than hurt by Roger’s accusation. “Don’t you believe me?”

   He was upset and angry. He still didn’t look at Lucy. His face was tinged with anguished red!

   Lucy didn’t know what to do. All she did was sob into her hands and leaned against the passenger door window.

   Sadness … sorrow … nothing but misery.

   “I’m sorry, Roger! I never wanted this to happen!” Lucy did not know what to do, so she pleaded, “Please … please take me home.” Not that she wanted to go to her mother’s home, but where else could she go?

   Then, gently, Roger pulled her to him, He hugged her to him – firmly and tenderly!

   Lucy felt better in his arms and snuggled against his chest.

   “I’m sorry … I’m sorry,” Lucy whimpered.

   “Shhhh … I know, babe. I know. Not your fault,” Roger said sincerely. He always called her “babe” when he wanted to be gentle, like now. Then, he had her look him in his eyes and said, “Let’s do what she wants. Show her we are serious about our love. Once she really sees this, she’ll believe.” He gave her a soft, sweet smile and kissed her lips.

   Now they were together -- still.

====

   The weather had become cooler now for the season. Cooler in Ft. Worth, Texas. It had been a few weeks since Lucy gave back the engagement ring.

   Roger and Lucy had spoken to Lucy’s mother again, but not about marriage. About college. Again, her mother was not cooperative, not agreeable. They didn’t know what to do. However, they continued to date, see each other. Her mother continued to make dates for her. Dates Lucy didn’t want to go on with boys for which she had no desire. This was Lucy’s continued problem with her mother.

   Roger continued his studies and to work at the hamburger place but as an assistant manager. Those plans of his still remained.

   Next year, Roger wanted to go to the University of North Texas, an affordable state university. It was in Denton just north of Ft. Worth. Lucy could go there also, to study her journalism major. This was how they would continue with some of their plans.

   Where Roger had lived since birth was in an old neighborhood – houses in the 1930s or 1940s – tree lined streets. Like where Lucy lived, as well. The driveways were narrow for only one car. Other cars would park on the street.

   This was Wednesday and Roger had the day off from work and there were no classes at the college. He was at his parent’s home with papers strewn all over the dining table. This paperwork was so he could transfer to North Texas.

   The paperwork was somewhat tedious, but he felt he could complete the necessary forms in a timely manner. At the dining table, he sat and worked diligently on the forms.

   Then the doorbell sounded with its traditional ding-dong. It only took a moment for him to remember that he was alone, so he went to answer the door.

   “Mrs. Coleridge … Mr. Edson,” Roger said surprised, as he opened the heavy door. He couldn’t believe that those people were at the door. He rarely said Lucy’s mother’s last name. Mostly he’d say ‘ma’am’ – yes, ma’am, no ma’am, thank you, ma’am. He allowed them inside and politely confessed, “My mother and father aren’t home. They won’t be home until later.”

   Mrs. Coleridge was nicely dressed in a skirt and jacket suit in mauve color, black pumps and a black mid-calf, material coat. It was cool today. Mr. Edson was in a business suit of dark gray wool and brown wingtip shoes. No overcoat, though.

   Mr. Edson spoke first with, “We’re here to see you, Roger.”

   “Me?” Roger inquired calmly, albeit baffled.

   “Yes,” Mr. Edson said.

   “May we come in?” Lucy’s mother asked. Her voice tone was not overly pleasant.

   Roger opened the door more to allow them inside. With a hand gesture, he bade them sit on the sofa and then offered, “Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Water? My parents don’t keep alcohol in the house or I’d offer it.”

   “No thank you,” Mr. Edson said. “No problem.”

   Then to Mrs. Coleridge, Roger asked politely, “May I take your coat?”

   “No Roger. We won’t be her long,” she said.

   Now Roger felt a wave of anxiety or fear that rested in his chest.

   “Have a seat,” she insisted to the young man.

   “What’s wrong?” he dismally asked. He could only wonder what was wrong – what was going to happen! He sat on the chair across from them.

   “Roger … you are what’s wrong,” Mrs. Coleridge began. “You are confusing my daughter. Her future is being messed up by you. She doesn’t want to go to North Texas, she wants to go to Texas Christian U. A better university!” The woman’s voice began to become more irritated toward this boy, but she rather digressed. Her voice mellowed, a bit, as she continued, “Her grandparents – my parents – are paying for her to go to TCU.”

   “Mrs. Coleridge!” Roger tried to speak, had become confused and overwhelmed by all of this.

   “Not the University of North Texas. And, she really doesn’t want to marry you. Don’t you want her to be happy?”

   “Of course I do, but ….”

   “But, she is just retaliating against her father for marrying that woman. I will not allow ….”

   “How old are you now?” Mr. Edson jumped in now with a man’s argument.

   Roger hesitated a bit, then said, “Nineteen. Why?” He was dazed. He had never been berated by any adult like this ever!

   “How old is Lucy?” Mr. Edson asked him.

   “Seventeen. You know her birthday is in three months.”

   “Seventeen.” Mr. Edson looked defiantly at Roger and declared, “With your age, she’s a minor. You’re an adult.”

   “We haven’t had sex!” Roger loudly demanded. He knew what was coming next.

   “Maybe not, but she is still a minor. Her mother wants you to stop seeing her daughter – a minor.”

   Roger spouted, “What are you getting at, Mr. Edson?”

   Mr. Edson looked Roger in the eyes and said specifically, “Have you ever heard of ‘statutory rape?’”

   Roger knew the word. He couldn’t understand why that would apply to him. Everything they did was consensual. That term was more familiar to him. They hugged, kissed touched – nothing more!

   “Lucy is too young to give her consent for what you want,” Mrs. Coleridge demanded.

   Roger was stunned, dumbfounded. He knew these people didn’t like him, but he had never been rude or spoken disrespectfully to either of them!

   “All I’ve wanted is to love Lucy, make her happy and have a future with her. We both want the same things.” He looked them in their eyes and saw irritation with Mrs. Coleridge and a smirk from Mr. Edson.

   “If you don’t stop seeing my daughter, I will tell your parents what I think you’re doing. I’ll have you arrested for statutory rape. I have a very good lawyer,” Mrs. Coleridge insisted.

   Now, Roger was decimated. This was the most distressing

thing in his life. He wanted to cry – wanted to strike out – to run and hide under his bed! But he couldn’t do a damn thing. He just sat glued in his chair unable to move.

   “Break-up with Lucy,” Mr. Edson said. “You’re smart, you’ll come up with something.” Mr. Edson was deadpan, no emotion.

   The two monsters that passed themselves off as well-meaning adults stood, went to the door and let themselves out. Of course, they closed the door behind them.

   He remained in the chair. Just sat and stared … stared at nothing. Decided he wanted a drink of water. His mouth was dry, very dry. Stood from the chair – but fell to his knees! His knees were weak. His fall made his hands go in front of him to catch him from falling more. Then he fell to his side, then to his back, then he cried like a baby! Loud howls!

   At this point, he didn’t care who heard. Didn’t care … didn’t care.

   He hadn’t cried like this since he was in grade school. He still cried, but no howls, no sobs. The tears continued, but now he was able to stand on the floor. Went to the kitchen sink to pour a glass of water. The tears had subsided.

   He took a few gulps of water. Looked out of the window over the sink. His mother still hung laundry on the outside clothesline. There was a slight breeze that made the dry clothes flutter on the line.

   At that moment, he hated his mother for invading his conscious thoughts. He hated all mothers now! A mother wanted him to break-up with the love of his life. His Lucy!

   Why did Mrs. Coleridge and Mr. Edson hate him so much? Why?

   Roger’s thoughts:

      “She’s not my mother. He’s not my father. They aren’t my family. Does that woman want to have me arrested? Arrested for statutory rape! How can they do that? So, they have a lawyer – so what? I don’t know anything about the law. I should call Lucy and tell her what her mother has done. What her mother wants to be done.” Other thoughts came to mind. “Could Lucy become like her mother – a witch? Years later, could Lucy be witchy? Witchy Lucy. Maybe this was good to see. See what love meant to that family.”

   He was so depressed! He had plans for his life. His plans were supposed to include Lucy. However, getting arrested would be the worst.

   Roger developed tears again.

====

   Lucy was off her job for this Friday. She really liked her job but wanted to meet Roger for their date. They hadn’t spoken for several days, he had been working more hours at the hamburger place, so he told her, and doing the paperwork to transfer to North Texas. He needed to meet with people at the community college to get signatures and other items. She knew he was excited about the transfer and so was she.

   Unfortunately, Lucy wasn’t able to get him on the phone. His mother or father would answer, say he wasn’t home, how busy he was and take a message. She was a little sad that she couldn’t talk to him or see him, but she understood.

   Actually, her mother had been different over the last few days. When Lucy brought up about how busy Roger was with work, she seemed pleased for him. Wasn’t snide toward him. Lucy felt that her mother had a new attitude toward Roger. Maybe she had come to her senses.

   Finally, he called her and set the date. No matter, Lucy was ecstatic about this date!

   She was driven home from her work by a girlfriend. She just wanted to change from her school/work attire to a dress that she liked for this movie date. She always liked to look special for Roger. Even for movies. Also, she wanted to spritz on the perfume Roger really liked.

   Her mother was picked up by Mr. Edson because they had a date, an early date. Her mother’s car was in the driveway waiting for Lucy.

   When he called to make the date, Roger explained that he couldn’t drive to get her because his car was in the shop. Nothing major, just regular maintenance. So she drove to his house.

   When she rounded the corner to Roger’s house, she noticed his cousin’s car was parked out front on the street. Dale, his cousin, was a year older than Roger. He was a nice guy who worked in a hardware store.

   Many times, Lucy and Roger would double-date with Dale and his girlfriend, Kathy. Dale and Kathy were engaged, planned to marry in six months. Nothing had been mentioned about a double-date tonight, but that was all right. This would be fun.

   There were no other cars at the house – Roger’s parents must not be home, Lucy decided. So she went to the door and rang the bell.

   Roger opened the door and had a wide grin, but didn’t say anything – didn’t kiss her either. Roger and Dale stood in the living room.

   “Is Kathy here?” Lucy asked Dale. She smiled nicely. Then she noticed Roger’s expression. “What’s up?” she asked. 

   Then Roger began to laugh raucously! Dale laughed but not as loudly.

   Lucy giggled and inquired, “What’s so funny?”

   “I can’t tell you,” Roger said. He laughed louder. And Dale merely snickered.

   Lucy became as giddy as the guys and repeated, “What’s so funny?”

   Then Roger calmed a bit and said, “I had the best afternoon I’ve ever had. Best for a man!” He went whew a few times like he was still out of breath.

   “The best,” Dale played along, but not as silly.

   “What does that mean?” Lucy queried. “Best of what?”

   “Lucy, what do men want?” Roger looked at her like she was dense.

   “I’m gonna get it every day in six months.” Dale picked up on his cousin’s meaning.

   Now Lucy was speechless, dumbfounded. She wasn’t dense, but if Roger really meant what she thought … she would be hurt beyond any words she had.

   “You had sex? Did you really have sex?”

   “The best … the best,” Roger smiled wide again.

   “Why couldn’t you wait? Couldn’t you wait?” Lucy was wide-eyed and numb.

   “Lucy, did you really want me to wait as long as your mother would want?” Roger laughed again and informed, “Babe, I doubt if you’d ever give me sex the way that woman did.” He rolled his eyes and grinned again.

   “A woman. A prostitute?”

   “Oh, babe …” Roger sat on the sofa with his legs apart and rubbed his hand rhythmically over his crotch.

   Lucy could not take it any longer! She ran out of that house! 

   After she left, Roger continued to sit on the sofa, but with his legs closed now. No laughing, no teasing, no rubbing. His head was back against the sofa – he looked to the ceiling.

   “It took you long enough to dump that goody-two-shoes,” Dale congratulated.

   “Is that what you think? That I wanted to do that?” Roger lifted his head to look at his cousin. “Do you think I had sex with a prostitute? You have no idea what this was about.”

   Now Roger sat with his elbows on his thighs and his face in his hands and cried the tears of despair.

====

   Lucy drove the car back home. She had tears that made it hard to see, but she drove.

   Lucy’s thoughts:

      “What did I do? Why did he do this? Did he really mean to hurt me like this? He’s barely a man. Did he go with a hooker to break-up with me? How revolting! He knew how this would affect me! Well, he did the right thing!”

   She was in the driveway at her mother’s house and just sat there. Numbed, dazed.

   Lucy’s life was changed in a heartbeat.

=== To Be Continued ===