Rum Spring (11 page)

Rebecca longed to take the next step. At least, her body did. When Dylan touched her, she felt like she was on fire. A fire that Dylan had started—and only Dylan could extinguish. Reluctantly, she took her cue. She climbed off Dylan’s lap and slid into the passenger’s seat.

“Let’s find you something to wear.”

Dylan took the wheel. While she drove, she pulled at her clothes as if they were too tight. Rebecca knew the feeling.

Rebecca looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Was that really her?

That afternoon, Mrs. Mahoney had taken her to get her hair and nails done. Then Mrs. Mahoney had shown her how to apply makeup. Rebecca ran her hands over her strapless white gown. When she tried on the dress, the lady in the formal wear store had told her she looked like a princess. Now Rebecca felt like one. The tiara-shaped spray of flowers in her upswept hair added to the impression.

Rebecca pulled on the black shrug that matched the black bow sewn into the waistline of her dress. She still had misgivings about the evening but, screwing up her courage, she pushed her fears aside and opened the guest room door.

Dylan was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs. Rebecca’s breath caught when she saw her. Dressed in a tuxedo with a red rose pinned to the lapel of her jacket, Dylan looked like she could have been a star in the classic movies she loved so much.

Dylan’s mouth fell into a round O of appreciation as Rebecca slowly descended the stairs. Her eyes spoke the words her mouth could not form.

“How do I look?” Rebecca asked in a shy whisper.

“Beautiful.”

The word came out in a croak. Rebecca smiled, glad to see she wasn’t the only one who was nervous. “Is that for me?”

With a start, Dylan seemed to remember the box she was holding. She opened the container, removed a corsage, and slipped it around Rebecca’s wrist. “The limo’s waiting outside. Are you ready to go?” She offered her arm.

“Yes.” Rebecca put her hand in the crook of Dylan’s elbow.

“You two look amazing,” Mrs. Mahoney said.

Rebecca noticed Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney for the first time. They were beaming. Practically glowing with pride. For Dylan and for her. Rebecca’s heart swelled with love.

Mrs. Mahoney held a digital camera in the palm of one hand. “May I take a picture?”

Rebecca felt all eyes turn to her. The decision was hers to make. Possessing or posing for photographs was forbidden. But why should she deprive Dylan of a lifelong memory because of a rule neither of them had pledged to follow?

“One picture couldn’t hurt.”

Mrs. Mahoney quickly took a picture and checked the display on the back of the camera. “Gorgeous. One more for safety and off you go.”

“No curfew tonight, right?” Dylan asked.

“I don’t know how you talked us into it, but no curfew,” Mr. Mahoney said.

“Have fun.” Mrs. Mahoney gave them each a kiss on the cheek. “But by all means, be careful.”

“We will. Thanks, Mom.” Mr. Mahoney pulled some money out of his wallet and pressed it into Dylan’s hands. Dylan’s eyes widened when she saw the folded hundred-dollar bills. “And thank you, Mr. Franklin.”

The chauffeur tipped her cap while she stood next to the open back door of the long black car idling next to the curb. “Ladies, my name is Ashley and I’ll be your driver for the evening. Where may I take you?”

“Lolita. I have the directions.” Dylan reached into the inside pocket of her tuxedo jacket.

“No need. I’m quite familiar with the restaurant. My girlfriend and I have eaten there several times. I highly recommend the glazed pork carnitas.” She waited for them to climb into the car. “There’s bottled water and soft drinks in the refrigerator. Sit back and make yourselves comfortable. I’ll have you in Philadelphia before you know it.” Ashley closed the door and pulled away from the curb.

Rebecca stuck her arm out of the window to wave good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney. “Is Willie going to meet us at the restaurant?”

“No, we’re going to hook up at the prom and hang out afterward, but we decided to do dinner on our own. She’s taking Danielle to the Italian restaurant Mom adores.”

“And what kind of restaurant are we going to?”

“Lolita is a lesbian-owned nouveau Mexican restaurant famous for its home-brewed margarita mixes as well as its food. Diners are even encouraged to bring their own tequila to pair with their favorite mix. We can’t do that, but we can have a couple of virgin blood orange margaritas and pretend they’re the real thing.”

“How long have you been planning this?”

“From the second you said yes.” Dylan reached for Rebecca’s hand. “And I’m so glad you did. Are you?”

So far, Rebecca thought.

The small restaurant was filled with couples, both gay and straight. When the greeter showed her and Dylan to their table, Rebecca felt like they were the center of attention. Rebecca suddenly longed to be somewhere—anywhere—less public. Dylan apparently sensed her apprehension.

“Look at me.”

Rebecca looked into Dylan’s eyes and found immediate reassurance.

“This is going to be one of the best nights of our lives. You’ll see.”

When the bill came, Rebecca finally began to believe Dylan might be right. Paid in full was written at the bottom where the amount should be.

Dylan called the waitress back to the table. “There must be some mistake.”

“No mistake. Your meal is compliments of the women at table three.” The waitress pointed to a pair of silver-haired ladies, who raised their colorful drinks in acknowledgment. “They said to tell you they’re glad to see the future is in good hands.”

Dylan gave the waitress a twenty. “I’d like to return the favor. Tell them thank you and their next round’s on us. Better yet, we’ll tell them ourselves.”

“We can’t just walk up to their table,” Rebecca said. “We don’t even know them.”

“No time like the present.”

The women introduced themselves as Paula and Evelyn, “just a couple of married ladies from South Philly.”

“Thank you for dinner,” Dylan said.

“You look so cute together we couldn’t resist,” Paula said.

Dylan’s hand in hers helped loosen Rebecca’s tied tongue. “How long have you been together?”

“Almost fifty years,” Evelyn said.

She and Paula invited Dylan and Rebecca to join them for dessert. They took turns sharing their life stories over plates of Mexican tiramisu.

Paula and Evelyn were like walking pieces of history. They had witnessed everything from the McCarthy trials to the moon landing to the dawn of the twenty-first century. The love they shared was so tangible Rebecca could practically hold it in her hands. She could have listened to them all night, but they called it a day after the dessert dishes were cleared.

“We’ve kept you long enough,” Paula said. “You’ve got a prom to scamper off to.”

Evelyn shook her head in wonder. “What I wouldn’t give for the opportunities you two have.”

“Thank you for paving the way,” Dylan said. “We’ll dedicate our first dance to you.”

“As long as you save the last one for each other.”

“It’s a deal.”

Willie greeted Rebecca with a kiss on the cheek. “I was beginning to think you had stood us up. You look hot, teach.”

“Really?” Rebecca placed her hand on her forehead. “I don’t feel hot.”

“She means you look sexy,” Dylan said.

“Oh, right. Remember, I speak English, but I don’t always understand English.”

Dylan couldn’t remember Rebecca ever having a laugh at their cultural differences. Perhaps the trip to Lolita had helped her relax a bit. Their encounter with Paula and Evelyn definitely seemed to have opened her eyes. She had gushed about the couple the whole way back from Philadelphia. Had she finally realized it was possible for two women to make a life together with no regrets and no repercussions? Dylan hoped they would have the same luxury.

Dylan introduced Rebecca to Willie’s date Danielle and her friends Brendan and James. The couples, like the ones at the surrounding tables, sat twiddling their thumbs until someone finally broke the ice.

Dylan pushed her chair away from the table and extended her hand. “May I have this dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Dylan led Rebecca to the empty dance floor. Willie and Danielle and Brendan and James followed them. The three couples had the floor to themselves for only a few seconds before the large rectangular space quickly filled with people.

“Leave it to the gays to lead the way,” Dylan said.

Two songs later, the student body president walked onstage and announced it was time to reveal the names of the couple who had been voted Prom King and Queen.

Dylan used the respite to hit the punch bowl. She poured two cups and handed Rebecca one. “The most popular couples have been campaigning for weeks.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“The usual suspects. The jock and the head cheerleader. I would love to be surprised, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. If anyone else won, there would probably be a mutiny.”

“And the winners are…Dylan Mahoney and Rebecca Lapp!”

Dylan blinked when someone from the AV Committee turned a klieg light on her and Rebecca.

“Is this a joke?” Rebecca asked.

Dylan looked on in horror as the confidence Rebecca had gained that night quickly faded away. “I don’t think so.” Despite her reassuring words, she couldn’t prevent her eyes from drifting skyward.

“Stop looking for the pig blood, you goober,” Willie said. “This isn’t a scene out of Carrie.”

“Then how—”

Willie grinned. “Can you say write-in candidates?” She gently pushed Dylan and Rebecca toward the stage.

The crowd, which had lapsed into silence, roared its approval when the student body president placed felt-covered crowns on Dylan and Rebecca’s heads. The band played something slow and romantic. A spotlight followed the couple as they moved across the empty dance floor.

The theme the prom committee had chosen was “Make it Last Forever.” When Dylan twirled Rebecca in a languid circle and pulled her into her arms, she wished she could do exactly that.

Chapter Seven

Rebecca had seen it time and time again, but the fact that the men in her community were able to build a barn in one day never ceased to amaze her.

The work began early. As soon as the sun rose—if not before—dozens of men would descend on the owners’ property. An Amish man with an extensive carpentry background would be in charge of the project. He would divide the men into teams, assign them tasks, and oversee their progress. If everything went according to plan, the framing would be complete by noon when everyone would break for lunch. The midday meal would be like a giant potluck as the wives of all the men working on the construction project brought out their best dishes. The men would sit at one table, the women at another. Both sides would laugh and talk until it was time for the work to resume.

Children were not excluded from the events. They made themselves available to run errands if need be, but they spent most of their time playing with and getting to know their neighbors.

Rebecca loved a good barn raising. It felt like a picnic everyone was invited to. Like Christmas come early, Sarah and Joshua’s barn raising gave her a chance to spend time with friends and family, some she hadn’t seen in months. It gave her a chance to put work and chores aside and just enjoy herself. It gave her a chance to see Dylan.

When she saw Dylan and Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney spill out of Mr. Mahoney’s truck, Rebecca couldn’t hold back her smile. Mr. Mahoney volunteered his services at each barn raising even if he didn’t know the family he was helping. Though he wasn’t one of their people, Rebecca couldn’t think of a time when Mr. Mahoney showed up to help and he was not made to feel welcome.

Rebecca waved at the Mahoneys. When they waved back, she began to head in their direction. Tobias Hershberger blocked her path.

“You’re looking lovely today, Rebecca.” He removed his hat and ran a hand over his hair in a futile attempt to tame his unruly cowlick. His body was a solid mass of muscle, thanks to years spent working on his parents’ farm. His face, however, still bore the angelic countenance of a child. He was truly a boy in a man’s body.

“Thank you, Tobias. And thank you for helping with the barn raising today. Joshua and Sarah will be most appreciative.”

“I would do anything for your family. Or any of my neighbors.”

Service and humility were two of the primary tenets of Rebecca’s faith. Rebecca thought Tobias exemplified both.

“I haven’t seen very much of you lately,” Tobias said. “How have you been keeping yourself?”

“Well, thank you. And you?”

“Like my father says, ‘I could complain, but who would listen?’ Are you being treated well at the bakery?”

“Mrs. Dunham is a wonderful boss. She makes work seem more like play. The workday passes very quickly.”

“Esther tells me you have moved to town.”

“Yes. Marian Schlabach and I have rented an apartment. We moved in a couple of weeks ago.”

“Will I continue to see you at services?”

Rebecca suspected Tobias was really asking if she would still allow him to court her after the Sunday sings.

“You will see me at services, though perhaps not at the sings. The walk into town is too long and treacherous to make at night.”

“I’m not fond of town, but I could drive you home if you like.”

Tobias shuffled his feet. Rebecca could feel nervousness emanating from him. His anxiety put her on edge as well. What was he working up the courage to say?

“I know you’re curious about the world, Rebecca. I want you to know that I will wait for you until you satisfy your curiosity.”

Was that what she was doing with Dylan, satisfying her curiosity? Surely not. The journey she was on was too complex to be summed up by so simple a phrase.

“Are there no other girls that interest you, Tobias?”

“There are no other girls like you.”

Rebecca looked over at Dylan. “Yes, there are.”

Dylan watched Sarah’s son break up Rebecca and Tobias’s tête-à-tête. “Way to go, kid.” She tossed the truck keys to her father, who tossed them right back.