The Letter - Chapter 61

It was one of those late winter days that teased of spring’s not too distant arrival. The days were finally starting to get a little longer.  Jeff had picked me up around 7:30.  He and the TJ basketball team had a rare Friday off, so he called to see if I’d like to get some coffee and hang out with him. 

“I never thought my Dad would let me go out tonight,” I said.  Music was playing on the car radio.

“What?  He doesn’t trust me?” Jeff dialed the music’s volume back a notch.  “We’re only going to Starbucks, and the snow is nearly all melted,” said Jeff.

“After what happened the last time we were together, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hopped in his car and followed us.” I smiled at the thought.  “The fact that we weren’t going far and promised to be back early no doubt helped.”

“You don’t think your mother would pull a stunt like she did at the dance again?”

“No,” I sighed.  “I eavesdropped on her conversation with Richard – her husband.  He was super pissed that she kidnapped me.”

“Who could blame him?  That was downright crazy.”  Jeff pulled into the Starbucks parking lot.  We walked in and ordered drinks.  I got a caramel macchiato.  Jeff ordered a coffee.

“Just plain coffee?” I asked.

“Hey, I like coffee.  Why add a bunch of flavors that make it taste like something else?”

“You sound like my father.”  We sat down at a table.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”  He looked across the table at me.  “So what was it like in that mansion?”

“It was hard getting past the feeling of being a prisoner there.  But the place itself was pretty amazing.  Each bedroom had its own private bath.  There was an actual handball court.”  I thought for a moment.  “You’d like this.  There was a gym with half a basketball court.”

“Really?”

“Yep.  And two libraries. And a billiard room.”  I sipped my drink.  “I’m going to miss that billiard room. My Dad taught me how to shoot pool, and I have to say, I really enjoy it.”

“Me too!  There’s a pool hall not far from where I live.  Maybe we could go there the next time we go out and shoot some eight ball.”

“We’d better make it quick.  My custody hearing is in two weeks, and I don’t know where I’ll be after that.”

“How about tomorrow night?  The basketball team doesn’t play again until Tuesday.”

“Nope.  Tomorrow I’m going to hear my Dad speak at a rally against gun violence downtown in front of Senator Romey’s office.  Want to join me?”  I looked up from my drink.

“Sure.”  Jeff’s gaze met mine.  “I’ll check with my parents, but I think they’ll let me go.  What time?”

“It starts at six o’clock.  My Dad has an early meeting with the rally organizers on the South Side.  I think he has to be there around three.  They’re riding buses over to the rally site.”  I picked up my drink.  “I honestly didn’t want to be there so early.  I thought about taking the trolley.  There’s a Park and Ride about a mile from my house, but Dad will have the car.”

“Perfect.  I’m sure I can borrow one of my parent’s cars and pick you up, especially if we’re just driving to the Park and Ride.  Is 4:30 soon enough?”

“Should be.  Are you sure your parents will be okay with this?”

“I think so.  I’ll text you later to let you know for sure.  They support what your father is trying to do, so I’m pretty sure they’ll let me go.”  Jeff sipped his coffee.  “So what do you plan to do after high school?  Have you gotten accepted at any colleges?”

“I got early acceptance to IUP.  I plan to be a teacher – either elementary or English.  I’d like to put on plays with my students.  My mother thinks I should pursue acting at some private school with a conservatory like NYU.  I guess she and Richard would pay, though she didn’t make any promises.  Still, I think my passion lies in teaching.  Dad says the state universities are the best if I’m planning to be a teacher, but maybe he says that because they’re more affordable.”

“Huh, that’s funny.  I’d like to be a teacher too.  Probably history or social studies.  You say you’d like to put on plays.  I’d like to coach – basketball if I could, but really any high school sport.  I applied to IUP and West Chester in Pennsylvania.  And just for a lark, I applied to Western Washington University.  It’s not too far from my Aunt Ellie.  They’re all Division 2 schools.  I’d like to play basketball, and I’m waiting to see if any of them offer me a scholarship.”

“What about Pitt or Penn State?”

“Forget about that.  I’m a pretty decent player at the high school level, but you’ve got to be really good to get a scholarship from one of the big Division 1 schools.”

“Well I don’t know one division from another, I’m afraid.”

“IUP is my first choice.  Especially now that I know you’re going there.”  Jeff took another sip of his coffee, looking at me to see my reaction.  I felt myself blush.

“That would be nice.”  Is that the best you can come up with Jennifer?

Jeff gulped down the rest of his coffee.  “I think I’ll get another.  Would you like to share a pastry or something?  Are you still good with that macchiato?”

Yes, I’m good on my drink,” I said.  “I would like some water, and I’d be happy to have some dessert – something chocolatey.”

“Okay.  Be back in a flash.”

I watched Jeff walk back to the counter.  Why was I feeling so nervous and tongue-tied?  I thought back to that near-kiss at the Sweetheart Dance.  Let’s try to keep this on a ‘just friends’ level, Jennifer!

Jeff returned with a double chocolate brownie and a cup of water.  “I tried to get a triple chocolate brownie, but this is the best they could do.”  He smiled as he placed it on the table between us and sat down.

We shared the brownie and continued sipping our coffees, neither of us quite knowing what to say.  Before our silence got uncomfortable, Jeff looked at me and smiled.

“So, did you get to do any fun stuff with your mother while she held you prisoner?”

I laughed.  “I guess that depends on what you consider fun.  She took me to a gun club to shoot clay pigeons and fire pistols at targets.”

“Seriously?  With your Dad doing his anti-gun thing?”

“Yeah.  I just watched her shoot.  I think she was disappointed.”

“Well, that’s too bad.  I mean, she must care for you if she wants you to live with her.  I guess the two of you just need to find a way to some better relationship.”

“I hope that’s possible.”  I finished my drink.

“So, are you about ready to go?”

“Yeah, Dad will be starting to worry.  It’s getting late.”  We both stood up and walked to the trash bin with our waste.  Jeff took hold of my hand as we walked to the car.  He opened the door for me and I got in.  He walked to the driver’s side, got in and we started the short drive back to my house.

“Well here we are,” Jeff said as he pulled up to the curb in front of my house.  I turned to look at him, feeling a little breathless.  He looked at me for a moment, then lifted my chin and kissed me tenderly.

“Thank you.  I had a lovely time, Jennifer.”

“Me too,” I continued to look at his blue eyes, unable to move.

Jeff glanced at my house.  “I think I see your father peeking out the window.  Let me walk you to the front door.”  He came around to my door, opened it for me and walked me to the front porch.  We kissed again, and Jeff rang the doorbell. My father opened the door.

“Hey, Mr. Leskovic.  Jenny and I plan to come to see you speak tomorrow.  She’ll give you the details.  Good luck.”

Jeff walked back to his car as my father and I watched through the storm door.

“He seems like a nice boy,” said Dad.

“Uh huh,” I said as I watched his car disappear around a curve in the street.

As I continued to stare after Jeff’s car, Dad waved his hand in front of my eyes.  “Uh, Earth to Jennifer, can I close the door?  It’s cold out there.”

I unbuttoned my coat and let it fall to the floor as I walked slowly up the stairs to my room.