Defiant Heart (22 page)

Mary took a step closer to him. As she did, he reached out and gently touched her shoulder. She leaned in, and, instinctively, he did likewise. When their lips touched, a warm, thrilling sensation flooded his body.

Mary put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and he encircled her with his. He couldn’t say how long they stayed that way. When they did finally separate, however, it was only for a brief moment. They looked each another, and immediately fell back into a kiss.

Finally, out of breath, they stopped. Mary put her head against his chest, and Jon leaned his face against the top of her head, drinking in the scent of her hair. After a moment, he realized she was crying. Alarmed, he pulled back to look at her. She seemed embarrassed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She shook her head and laughed softly. “Nothing is wrong,” she said. “Absolutely nothing. I’m just so happy.”

Jon let go of her with one hand and reached up, running a finger tenderly across her cheek where tears had run. She grasped his hand with hers, turned it and gently kissed the back of it. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

He nodded solemnly. “Nothing is going to keep us apart.”

#

On Sunday morning, Jon and Mary drove to Ben’s place. Jon and Ben had made plans for Ben to take Mary up in the Jenny. As they pulled up, Ben was out by the hangar waiting for them, and, when Mary got out of the car, he stepped forward and gave her a hug. Ben and Jon rolled the Jenny out of the hangar. Ben gave Mary the leather jacket to wear, and she was quite a sight in it. The garment was almost twice her size, but she pushed the sleeves up and had a good laugh about it at her own expense.

Her eyes bright with anticipation, Mary climbed into the front cockpit and allowed Jon to strap her in. Jon rotated the propeller and fired up the engine. He then watched as Ben taxied out to the field and lifted off.

When they returned, Mary was even more animated than usual. Her cheeks a rosy red from the cold and her impossibly blue eyes positively dancing, she recounted the adventure with breathless excitement.

Before they left, Ben gave Mary another hug. As Ben straightened, Mary took him by surprise, standing on her toes and planting a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for everything,” she said. “Especially being here for Jon.”

Ben’s cheeks reddened slightly and he seemed at a loss for words. Still, he looked pleased.

Jon leaned over and said, “I know exactly how you feel.”

#

“Ok, what’s that look supposed to mean?” asked Mary, chuckling. The expression on Sam’s face was priceless.

“At some point you
are
going to tell me what’s turned you into the happiest person on the planet, right?”

Mary laughed.

They were sitting in the outdoor eating area at school. It was the first week of March, and, though it was still cold, it was a rare sunny day. Mary had convinced Sam to bundle up and eat lunch outside. The only other person in the outdoor area was Jon, who was, as usual, alone, seated two tables away from where Mary and Sam sat.

Jon had become something of an invisible man. Nobody seemed to pay attention to him any more, other than, of course, Mary, who was always keenly aware of his presence. She hadn’t told Sam that Jon was one of the reasons she’d been so insistent on eating outdoors today. When she and Sam sat down, Mary had taken the seat facing in Jon’s direction, and Sam sat with her back to Jon. From their respective positions, Mary and Jon were able to see each other and exchange covert looks.

“Seriously,” Sam continued, “I’m thinking it has to be either a guy or a lobotomy.”

Mary shook her head. Fortunately, Sam had been so busy the past several weeks with the school play she hadn’t noticed anything unusual in Mary’s comings and goings. Mary and Jon had arranged their schedules so that, when Sam was available to do things with Mary, Jon spent time with Ben. It had worked well, and Sam had not yet caught on.

“Have you seen me hanging around with any guys lately?” Mary asked with a smile.

Sam thought about that for a moment. Finally, she said, “So, how much did you pay for that lobotomy, anyway?”

Mary was about to reply, when a shadow fell across the table between them. She and Sam both looked up.

Vernon stood at the end of the table. He was in shirt sleeves. “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked. He paused a beat, and, when there was no immediate response, he slid onto the bench next to Sam.

“Aren’t you a little cold?” Sam asked.

Vernon shrugged. “Not a problem for me.”

Sam turned to Mary, who returned her look with a shrug of her own.

“Sam,” Vernon said, with a forced politeness, “would you mind terribly if I had a word in private with Mary?”

The reaction on Sam’s face mirrored Mary’s, a mixture of surprise and annoyance. Sam gave Mary an inquiring look. Mary had no desire to talk to Vernon. But she knew Vernon, and she didn’t want a scene. She gave a slight nod, hoping Sam would not go far. Sam collected her lunch items, lifted her legs and pivoted around. She stood and, from behind Vernon, gave Mary a look and pointed to the cafeteria door as if to say that she’d be waiting inside. Mary nodded.

When Sam had left, Vernon folded his hands in front of himself and gave Mary a brilliant smile. She had to admit, he was very good-looking. Most anyone who didn’t know Vernon would be instantly attracted to him. Mary, of course, knew it was a thin veneer. She returned his look without smiling.

“Mary,” he said, effusively.

“Vernon,” she replied, politely.

He continued to give her that winning smile.

“Well,” Mary said, “now that we’ve established our identities…”

“This Saturday evening,” he interrupted, “there will be a party to celebrate our victory in the regional championship.”

“You won the regional championship?” Mary asked, innocently.

Vernon’s brow furrowed momentarily. “No, not yet. But we will on Saturday. And when we do, we’ll be celebrating at the Lodge. Where, by the way, my father’s now a member.”

“Congratulations.”

“Yes, well, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of accompanying me. As my date.”

There was no way, Mary thought, she would accompany Vernon. Anywhere. Ever.

Keeping her tone exceedingly polite, Mary replied, “Vernon, that is such a kind invitation. I appreciate it very much. However, I respectfully decline.”

Vernon looked confused. He glanced away, obviously thinking hard. Then he looked back at her. “Why not?” he asked, the forced civility having been dropped.

Mary gave him a level gaze. “Because I don’t want to.”

Vernon stared at her for several seconds. She could see his mood darken. “What is it with you?” he finally asked, annoyance in his voice. “Any girl at this school would jump at the chance to go to this party with me. It’s the regional championship, for god’s sake. Why wouldn’t you want to be there? With me?”

Unable to resist, Mary asked, “Do you really have that high an opinion of yourself?”

“Don’t you?” he fired back immediately.

“The answer is no, Vernon. Thank you. But, no.”

His expression soured. “You stuck up bitch.”

Jon was halfway out of his seat. Mary gave him a direct look and shook her head. Keeping her voice light, she said, “Sticks and stones, Vernon. Sticks and stones.”

Vernon stared at her, breathing hard. Jon, thank God, sat back, but he looked alert.

“Well, goodness, Vernon,” she said, as if they were at a garden party, “it was nice talking to you. But, really, you should get inside before you catch a cold.”

He continued looking at her for a long moment. Then he put both hands on the table and violently pushed himself back, knocking over the bench on which he’d been seated. Without a word, he turned and stalked to the cafeteria door, where he grabbed the handle and yanked it open. Sam, who had obviously been leaning against the door, came stumbling out past him.

“Well, ok,” Sam said, flustered. “Thank you.”

Vernon passed through and slammed the door behind him. Sam looked at Mary with a questioning look.

Mary shook her head and gave a slight wave of one hand. “Everything’s fine,” she said, as much to Jon as to Sam.

#

Monday had been an odd day at school. On Saturday evening, the basketball team had, to the shock of everyone, lost in the regional championship game, a heart-breaking defeat for the second year in a row. The basketball players were uncharacteristically subdued. Mary had heard that Mr. Spitzman had not even shown up at school.

Gwenda was distraught. Apparently, Billy had taken the loss particularly hard and was refusing to have anything to do with anyone. And that, at least for the moment, included Gwenda. She had come to Mary and Sam in tears after school. They were in Sam’s bedroom in the apartment that she and her mother shared above the beauty shop her mother owned and operated.

“I’ve never seen Billy like this,” Gwenda said.

Sam handed her another tissue. “You know he’ll get over it.”

Gwenda blew softly into the tissue, and then, folding it, she used it to dab her eyes. “I guess,” she said. “It’s just that he hurts so bad, and I hurt for him.”

Mary leaned forward, put a hand on Gwenda’s knee and squeezed lightly. “That just means you’re meant to be with him.”

Gwenda thought about that for a moment. Then she nodded and said, “I guess I am meant to be with him. And he’s meant to be with me. Really, we’re so perfect for each other.” She smiled weakly. “When we’re not together, I just don’t feel as happy as I do when we are.”

“There you go,” Mary said. “You just need to give Billy a little time to get over the disappointment. He will. Soon enough, everything will be back to normal.”

“You think?” Gwenda asked, hopefully.

“Absolutely.”

Gwenda dabbed her eyes again. Taking a deep breath, she looked around the bedroom. “You know, it’s been such a long time since we’ve been together like this. It’s nice.” She looked at Mary and Sam. “I’ve been so wrapped up with Billy, I don’t even know what’s been going on with you two.”

Mary and Sam looked at each other and shrugged.

Sam said, “You haven’t missed much. I’ve been busy with the school play.” She looked at Mary. “And, of course, Mary’s turned into the happiest person on the planet.”

Gwenda turned to Mary. “Really? What’s happened?”

Mary shook her head. “Nothing.”

Gwenda looked at Sam.

“Yep,” Sam said, “that’s pretty much all I’ve gotten out of her myself. I’ve concluded she must have had a lobotomy.”

Returning her attention to Mary, Gwenda peered into her eyes. After a long moment, she said, slowly, “No, that’s not it. It’s a boy.”

“See, that’s what I thought, too,” Sam said. “But it would have to be the most top secret thing in the history of romance, because I’ve never seen her with any boys.”

Gwenda had not taken her eyes off Mary. “It is, isn’t it?”

Mary felt her cheeks flush.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” She was boring in now.

Mary looked away.

“Ah, hah,” Gwenda declared triumphantly. “I am right.”

“She is?” Sam asked.

Mary didn’t reply.

“You little devil,” Sam exclaimed. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

Now both Gwenda and Sam were looking at her. Mary thought about what she might say to cover things up. Then she realized they’d see through anything that wasn’t true. After a long pause, she gave a slight nod of her head.

“Oh my goodness,” Sam said, excitedly. “Out with it. Now.”

Mary looked down at her hands, then back at her two friends. “You have to swear to keep this a secret,” she said.

Both girls nodded.

Mary took a deep breath. “I’ve been seeing Jon Meyer for the past two months.”

“The Jewish boy?” blurted Gwenda.

Sam was quiet for a moment. Then she nodded. “That makes sense.”

“But he’s Jewish,” Gwenda insisted.

Sam turned to Gwenda. “What difference does that make?”

Gwenda looked confused. “I… I don’t know. I guess,” she hesitated, looking back and forth at Mary and Sam. “Well, maybe…” Brow knitted, she looked away, chewing on her lip. Finally, she turned back. “I guess it really doesn’t matter?”

“That’s right,” Sam said, turning back to Mary, reaching out and taking Mary’s hands in hers. “What’s important is that Mary is happy.” She looked intently at Mary. “And you are happy aren’t you?”

Mary nodded. “Very much.”

“Then I’m happy for you,” Sam said.

Tentatively, Gwenda reached out. Mary removed one hand from Sam’s, grasped one of Gwenda’s, and pulled it toward her so that they were all holding hands. Gwenda put her other hand on top, and they all three laughed.

#

When the boys gathered for gym class on Tuesday, there was uncertainty as to whether Mr. Spitzman would show. He’d not been at school on Monday, and nobody seemed to know where he was.

They milled about in the gym just outside the locker room. After a few minutes, a door slammed, and the boys all stopped and turned at the same time. Mr. Spitzman had emerged from his office and was walking toward them, an equipment bag in his hands.

He reached them, dropped the bag on the floor and planted his feet.

To Jon, the man looked horrible. His eyes were bloodshot. His face was haggard, and it looked as if it had a green tinge to it.

“Listen up,” Mr. Spitzman announced, his voice sounding hoarse and gravely. “Today, you boys are going to learn about boxing.”

Jon perked up.

“I’m going to need a volunteer,” he continued. He pointed at Jon. “Meyer, you just volunteered.”

Surprised, Jon stepped forward. It was the first time in months the teacher had even acknowledged him.

The man reached into the bag, rummaged around a bit, then pulled out a pair of old boxing gloves. He threw them at Jon. “Put these on.” He pointed to Doug Larson. “Larson, you help him tie the laces.”

Jon slipped the gloves on. They felt the same as the gloves he’d been using at Ben’s. Doug stepped over, and Jon turned his hands palms up. Doug pulled the laces tight and started to tie a knot. “No,” Jon said, quietly, “like you were tying your shoes.”