I stumbled into the kitchen around 10:30 Saturday morning. My eyes showed my exhaustion and what my eyes didn't show, my yawns did. I had just grabbed an apple for my breakfast when Carole plopped herself in my lap. "Why are you so tired, J.J?"
"I was up late celebrating."
"Oh," Mom asked as she walked into the kitchen. "What were you celebrating?"
"Yeah, J.J., what were you celebrating?"
I leaned down to hug and kiss my little sister. "I was celebrating you getting a new sister."
Mom laughed, but Carole asked, "Is Mom having another baby? " Then I laughed as Mom choked, nearly spilling her coffee all over her shirt.
"No, this time you're getting an adult sister."
"I guess you asked her, then."
"Yes, Mom and she said yes... obviously."
Mom came over to hug and kiss me, but Carole was still confused until I picked her up to hug her. "I asked Barbara to marry me last night. When she does she'll be your sister-in-law." I turned to Mom and explained how Barbara had almost fallen apart last night at the thought that we might break up when we graduated. "I couldn't sit there and watch her cry, Mom, especially when I already knew that I was going to ask her in another couple of weeks."
"Well, I'm not going to ask how you celebrated. Just make sure you're careful." I shook my head. There was no fooling my mother... dad either. I picked up the phone to dial the Gleason's number. Mrs. Gleason answered and I spent fifteen minutes listening to her tell me how thrilled she was for both of us. I knew then that I'd sit through at least thirty minutes of the same when I picked Barbara up in half an hour.
I listened politely as the Gleason's extolled about what we should do with our wedding. I thought that was funny because all four of us knew that they didn't have any money to spend on it. This wedding was going to be on me. I felt blessed that I could afford the best for Barbara. She deserved it. I stood after being polite for forty-five minutes on the dot, explaining that we had a reservation for lunch and we had to meet with my family, too. They hugged and kissed us and I led Barbara down the stairs.
"Do we really have a reservation for lunch, Jack?"
"Well... " Barbara grabbed my arm and hugged me as we stepped onto the sidewalk. A few minutes later we pulled into the diner's parking lot. It was where we had our first real social interactionânot quite a date, but almost. We sat in the same booth, but this time around we ordered club sandwiches, mine with extra mayo, and Cokes. Unlike our first and even our subsequent visits, we sat togetherâvery closely togetherâso we could touch and hold each other while we waited for our food.
I knew that Barbara was impatient to make love again. To tell the truth, I was impatient, too, but we still had to spend time with my family. She knew and she understood, but, like me, she wasn't all that happy about it. None the less, we had our smiles in place when I opened the door around 2:00. My parents were extremely pleased. I knew they loved Barbara and approved of our union. Noânot that union; the marriage... the marriage!
There were hugs and kisses all around, but none like those from eight year-old Carole whose hug of Barbara might have killed her had I not intervened. We sat around the living room talking about when the wedding would take place. We already knew the whereâSt. Catharine's. We talked about what Barbara would do in regard to her college and where we might try to find housing. That would be my priority when we went to Cambridge next week.
We stayed until four and left after Mom had invited Mr. and Mrs. Gleason to go out to dinner with our family tomorrow. "I think we'll go to Manero's. What do you think, Jack?"
"I think that's great and seeing that it will be Sunday night we can probably have some of their garlic bread, too."
"I don't think I've ever heard of that restaurant," Barbara told us.
"Not surprising," I answered. "Manero's is up in Greenwich... in Connecticut. We had an aunt and uncleâDad's sister-- who lived there a few years ago so we used to go there occasionally when we visited. It's a steak house and a good one, but as much as it's known for its steak that's how much it's known for its garlic bread. You'll need to try some if only for self defense."
"I don't think you'll want to kiss J.J., Barbara."
"Want to bet, Carole? What did I tell you? I kiss your brother whenever I can." And then she demonstrated as Carole giggled and my parents just laughed. We waved good-bye as I turned around in the driveway.
Barbara was once again snuggled up really close. "I really love your family Jack. The Gleason's are great people, but I've missed out on having brothers and sisters. I'm glad we're going to have a family."
"I'm glad we're going to do all that practicing," I kidded. She gave me a little elbow to the ribs, but whispered that she agreed. I drove into the motel's parking lot and a minute later we were alone in the room. It had been made up and cleaned. The bed was turned down and a small bouquet of flowers had been placed on the dresser with a note that said, "Congratulations." We were both surprised, but pleased.