May 1959

"You hot?"

Doug and Jess were on their way home and she'd leaned her head nearly all the way out the car window, trying to catch enough wind to cool down after sweating all day in the stifling school.

"Yes! Aren't you?" she groaned, lifting her short bangs so her sweaty forehead could cool quicker.

"Put the blower on you," Doug said, fiddling with the controls and a blast of air hit her.

"It's hot, Doug!" she snapped, quickly closing the vents.

"I can't help it," he replied testily, turning the air off. "The car was sitting in the sun all day."

The weather had been getting steadily warmer as summer approached, but that day had been the first truly hot one. Even with the windows open in every classroom, it had been sweltering, making the students and teachers miserable and putting everyone in a bad mood.

As soon as they got home, Jess gave Annie a quick hug, and then went upstairs, eager to change out of her button down shirt and wool jumper. As she surveyed the cotton dresses she'd worn the previous summer, she realized she had nothing to wear. Pulling on a pair of jeans, she rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, and then she went down the back stairs with a heavy heart. Uncle Jonathon had always been so disagreeable when he'd been asked to buy her new clothes. She wasn't looking forward to the fight she feared was inevitable.

"What's wrong," Annie asked as soon as she saw the look on Jess's face.

"It's so hot and I don't have anything to wear," Jess whined. To her surprise, Annie smiled.

"I suspected as much. I already planned to talk to your uncle about it tonight," she replied confidently, but Jess slumped.

"What if he says no?"

"Don't worry about it, pumpkin. I'm going to take care of it," Annie said kindly, putting her hands on Jess's shoulders as she looked in her eyes. "We'll be shopping tomorrow. I guarantee it. And we can shop for your uncle's birthday present at the same time," she said happily. "It's coming up soon."

"I don't know what I'd get him," Jess grumbled. "He hated the tie I gave him for Christmas." Annie frowned for a moment.

"I'll think about it, alright? I'm sure I can come up something he'd like."

"Yes, ma'am," Jess said, trying to smile convincingly before taking her basket and heading out the back door.

After a quick glance to make sure the garage doors were closed, she walked down the road to the gate. Even though the snow had melted long ago, Jess had continued to take the route through the woods. She'd decided it was safer than taking the path since she was hidden from view from both the house and the garage. And if anyone happened to spot her, she was sure no one would guess where she was going since she was heading in the opposite direction of the cabin.

When she reached the clearing, she wasn't surprised to see the front door closed. Letting herself inside, she was enveloped by stuffy air. She opened windows as she made her way to the kitchen, then propped open the back door. Fanning herself with a paperback, she stood in the doorway. While she waited, hoping for a breeze that would clear out the stiflingly hot air, her thoughts turned to her conversation with Annie.

Would she really be able to convince Uncle Jonathon to buy her new clothes? As Jess thought about the times he'd agreed, she knew it was only because what she had to wear reflected badly on him. What if he decided against it because he didn't plan on anyone seeing her over the summer? If that happened, she was going to be miserable.

"Hey, Jess." Hearing Marty's voice, she turned around, her spirits immediately lifting.

"Hi, Marty!" she said with a big smile as he walked through the living room.

"It's a hot one, ain't it?" he said, going straight to the water pump.

"Yeah," she said as she watched him.

After making deliveries on his bike in the heat, his face was red and his t-shirt was sweat-stained. He took a long drink from the spigot, then straightened and smiled at her while he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I might not be here tomorrow," she said. "I might go downtown after school to get some clothes."

"Will you be coming to the drug store?"

"I'm not sure. Annie and Mr. Dwyer - they don't seem to like each other for some reason. I think something happened with his son."

"Huh," Marty said, turning to go get his books.

"Are you asking because you hope I'll come?" she asked with a coy smile when he returned.

"Naw, I just wondered," he said casually as they sat at the table.

"Oh," she said, and tried to push away her feeling of disappointment while she set out food for them. She would love to see him at the store, but she knew Annie would be too uncomfortable around Mr. Dwyer. Why did life have to be so complicated, she wondered with a sigh.

~

That night at dinner, Uncle Jonathon seemed in a particularly good mood. Partly it was because Annie had outdone herself with the meal, cooking a standing rib roast, one of her uncle's favorites. But it was also because he spent the entire meal talking with Doug about how he'd be working at the office all summer. Hearing the happiness in her uncle's voice, Jess ate silently as usual and hoped he'd still be in a good mood when Annie brought up the clothes.

Trying to keep her nerves at bay, she distracted herself by thinking of her own summer plans. With Doug and his father out of the house, she'd be able to spend all her time with Marty. She smiled as she imagined them swimming, fishing, and exploring the property together. When Annie came in the dining room carrying a lemon meringue pie, her uncle's favorite dessert, Jess straightened in her chair, her nerves suddenly worsening.

"I would like to take Jess shopping for summer clothes tomorrow," Annie said mildly, placing the pie front of Uncle Jonathon. "She's outgrown everything she wore last year."

He had a sour look on his face as she handed him the pie server, and Jess held her breath. Please say yes, she thought desperately, watching him scowl at the pie.

"I suppose," he muttered, and Jess let out her breath, hardly able to believe he'd given in so easily.

He began cutting into the pie and Annie dared give Jess a conspiratorial wink before leaving through the butler's pantry. Jess tried hard to keep a straight face when she handed him her dessert plate, but then she noticed Doug smiling at her, his eyes letting her know he was happy his father had agreed, and she smiled back. It made her feel good to know he was on her side too.

~

That next Saturday after breakfast, Jess excitedly put on her new swimsuit. It was beautiful, a navy blue nautical themed one piece suit with a short skirt. Wearing it made her feel grown up. The hot weather had held through the week and she was looking forward to being able to swim for the first time since winter. Even better, this was the first holiday of the summer, a long weekend, and she and Marty would get to spend an extra day together since the drug store was closed on Monday.

She slipped on the sundress Annie had chosen to go over it and went to the bathroom to pull her hair up into a ponytail. Then she went down the back stairs with a towel, eager to be off. She ran down the road, not caring how hot and sweaty she'd get, thinking about how wonderful the water in the pond would feel. To her delight, Marty was already at the cabin when she got there.

"Ready to swim?" she asked loudly as soon as she walked inside.

"Hold your horses," he replied, smiling at her bemusedly from the sink where he was washing a mug. "You just got here."

"Hurry up Marty! I don't want to wait!"

"Okay, okay," he laughed.

She had to keep from urging him to go faster while he shook water out of his mug and put it away, but then he was ready to go. Jess took a blanket for them to sit on while they ate, and they were on their way. She was almost giddy with happiness as they walked the familiar route to the pond. When they got close to the glittering water, it looked inviting and she couldn't wait to jump in. Then Marty took off his t-shirt as he approached the pond and Jess stopped short as she stared at him.

The previous summer, he'd been so thin his bones were practically showing, but it was obvious what a difference having a steady income over the winter had made. With a better diet, he'd filled out, no longer looking so skinny, and his shoulders were a little more broad. When he turned around, unfastening his jeans and kicking off his shoes, she saw hair on his chest. With her face flaming, she quickly stepped behind a large bush to hide. While taking off her dress, she tried to collect herself. This was just Marty. There was no reason to be surprised by how he'd changed. She'd changed since last year too. It was natural since they were getting older.

Taking a deep breath, she blew it out, and then came out from behind the bush. Marty was splashing into the water wearing plaid swim trunks. Making a shallow dive, he swam underwater a few feet, then came up gasping as he continued to swim. As soon as Jess's feet touched the water, she knew why he'd been gasping.

"It's cold!" she laughed, and walked in the frigid water, watching goose bumps cover her skin. The further she went in, the more she slowed, letting her body get used to the water bit by bit. When she was in up to her thighs, she stopped, unsure if she wanted to go in any further.

"How can you stand it?" she asked. When Marty didn't answer, she looked up. He was perfectly still in the water staring at her, and she waved her hand. "Hello! Marty!" she said, and he blinked as if he'd just awakened. "How can you stand the cold?"

"You gotta just jump in. Get it over with all at once."

"No, thank you. I'll do it my own way."

"Maybe I should help you," he said, swimming towards her with a mischievous grin.

"Don't you dare!" she shrieked, understanding what he was about to do. She tried to run back to shore, but the weight of the water dragged at her legs, and then a wave of cold water hit her back. She stopped suddenly as her entire body seized up.

"Marty Cappellini!" she screamed, rounding on him. "I'm going to kill you!"

Laughing with delight, Marty reversed course and she followed, diving into the water to increase her speed, determined to catch him so she could throttle him. She chased him across the pond and when she got close enough to the opposite shore she could touch bottom, she leapt forward, landing on his back. He turned while he laughed, struggling to get away from her as she shook him by the shoulders.

"I can't believe you did that!" she yelled.

"You're not cold anymore, are you?" he asked with a smirk.

"That's not the point," she huffed, letting go of him.

"I was just trying to help you," he said sweetly. Seeing the feigned innocence in his brown eyes, she struggled to keep from laughing and he smiled broadly, knowing he'd won.

"I'm still mad at you!" she insisted, but she failed to keep her face serious.

"I don't believe it. Hey! I'll race you to the other side!" he added quickly as she opened her mouth to argue with him. "I bet I can beat you!" Before she could say anything, he started swimming and she took off after him. She would not let him win again.

When they'd exhausted themselves racing back and forth across the pond, they slowly headed back to shallower water. As soon as they'd stopped moving around so vigorously, Jess felt the frigidity of the water seep into her body and her teeth began chattering.

"I'm getting out," she said, standing up.

"Don't go!" Marty pleaded, and tried to grab at her hand as she walked out. "Swim some more."

"It's too cold, Marty, and I'm tired."

With her teeth still chattering, she picked up her towel and began drying off, rubbing her skin to try to get the feeling back. Then she wrapped it around her shoulders, but the wet towel did little to warm her and she hugged herself shivering. After Marty had dried off, he picked up the blanket.

"Why don't you lay in the sun and warm up," he said.

"Oh, uh, okay," Jess replied, startled he'd thought of it.

He looked around and then headed to an area where the weeds had grown tall. While he spread the blanket over them, she came forward. It looked inviting, like a puffy pillow.

"Thanks!" she said, smiling as she laid on the blanket. Rolling the towel into a ball, she put it under her head to use as pillow, then she noticed him standing over her, looking unsure.

"You should lay down and warm up too," she offered, scooting over to make room.

"Okay," he said with a shrug.

When he laid down beside her, he was close enough his arm was touching hers and she was surprised his skin was already warm. She thought he might adjust to put some space between them, but he didn't and in the sudden silence, she was hyper aware of his body lying next to hers, almost as if an electrical current was passing between them. Then the image of him taking his shirt off came into her mind, and her face flushed all over again. She turned her head away to hide her blush and pretended to be resting.

To stop from thinking about him, she concentrated on how the sun was warming her skin, but it didn't work. A heat was going into her body from where their skin was touching, warming her all over and making her heart speed up. What was wrong with her, she wondered. She'd taken plenty of naps by the pond with Marty before. She'd even fallen asleep resting on his shoulder on Christmas day. He'd been holding her hand when she did it too.

As she remembered how good it felt, she suddenly found herself wishing he'd hold her hand now. He hadn't done it since that day, nor had she tried to hold his. Should she? All she would have to do was move her hand just a little and -.

"I'm hot," Marty declared, sitting up suddenly. "Let's go swimming again."

"I don't want to," Jess said, hiding her disappointment he'd moved as she sat. "I don't think the water is warm enough for swimming yet."

"C'mon, Jess!"

"Let's eat instead. Aren't you hungry?"

"I reckon," he said, jumping up.

She took the blanket under the willow tree and laid it out for them. While they ate, Marty said, "When school's done, old man Dwyer said I can work more hours. He reckons I can work the cash register in the morning while he gets the orders ready."

"That's swell, Marty!" Jess exclaimed, happy for him. But then she realized that meant he wouldn't be around as much as she thought. She was going to be lonely without him. "I wish I could get a job," she said quietly.

"Jessica Blackwell - working? I don't see that happening," Marty said with a laugh.

"It's 1959, Marty," Jess said testily. "Women can have careers if they want. In fact, I've already decided. I'm going to college and get a degree so I can have a career," she declared, lifting her chin.

"Doing what?" he asked, looking at her with incredulity.

"I haven't decided yet," she said, trying to sound just as confident as she had before, but she realized she had no idea what she could do. What careers other than secretary, teacher, and nurse were open to women? After examining her for a moment, he laughed, shaking his head.

"What's so funny?" she demanded angrily.

"If anyone - any girl was going to go out and get herself a career, I reckon it'd be you."

"Oh, well, thanks, Marty," she said, smiling at his compliment.

"I don't know anyone more stubborn than you when you set your mind to something."

"I'm not stubborn!" she insisted, immediately offended.

"If you say so," he said smirking.

~

The next Saturday morning, Jess was awakened by Annie gently shaking her shoulder. "What is it?" she asked, seeing the tension in Annie's face.

"Your uncle's decided to go away for the weekend to celebrate his birthday," she said sounding flustered. "We have to do a birthday breakfast instead of dinner."

"Oh," Jess said sitting up.

"He wants to eat now so he'll have time to get packed. Get dressed and come down with your present."

"But it's not wrapped!" Jess complained loudly.

"That won't matter to him. The box is nice enough."

"Okay," Jess said, feeling disgruntled. She wasn't sure he was going to like it anyway, but not having it wrapped was sure to make him like it less.

She pulled off her sheet and got up as Annie left through the bathroom. Maybe it was better they were celebrating his birthday early. Smiling as she realized he'd be gone the whole weekend, she picked out a summer dress and quickly slipped it over her head. As soon as her hair was combed, she pulled a small black box out of a dresser drawer and headed to her bedroom door.

Entering the hallway, she saw Doug coming from his room, looking sleepy and carrying a large wrapped box. Seeing it, Jess felt even more concerned about the small unwrapped one she was carrying.

"Jess," he said with a nod and then yawned.

"Morning, Doug," she replied, following him down the stairs.

They entered the dining room where her uncle was reading a newspaper, already dressed in a suit. There was a mound of fresh baked biscuits on a plate and large bowl of fruit salad already on the table. Annie must have gotten up early to get started on breakfast.

"Happy birthday, Dad!" Doug said happily

"Douglas!" Uncle Jonathon said heartily, and Doug shook his hand before handing him his present.

"Happy Birthday, Uncle Jonathon," Jess said, stepping forward and holding her gift out to him.

"Jessica," he said in a more subdued voice, taking it from her, then turned his attention to the swinging door where Annie entered with a large tray filled with more platters of food.

As she set scrambled eggs, ham slices, and a pitcher of gravy on the table between the three of them, Jess realized there was no place set for her. She was disappointed Annie wasn't included in the celebration, but she wasn't surprised. Her uncle always made a point of treating her like a servant.

"Where are you headed?" Doug asked, handing over his plate to his father.

"The boys are flying me to Chicago for the long weekend," Uncle Jonathon replied with a chuckle.

"That sounds like fun!"

"Oh, I expect we'll be -." He stopped suddenly, glancing in Jess's direction. "Let's just say we'll be having a good time," he said, giving Doug a knowing smile and Doug beamed back. Jess could only imagine what he meant by a good time, remembering all the drinking the men had done during the Christmas party.

Once they'd eaten, Uncle Jonathon opened Doug's gift, a marble fountain pen holder with a perpetual calendar for his desk. Of course, he loved it. When he lifted the lid of the small black box Jess had given him, he looked at the contents for a moment while Jess waited, hoping he wouldn't hate it.

"It's very nice, Jessica," he said grudgingly, as if it was difficult for him to admit it.

"What is it?" Doug asked.

"Cuff links," he said, handing over the box.

They weren't just any cuff links, they were made from real gold nuggets, the most expensive ones in the department store. Doug let out a whistle and his eyes went big when he saw them.

"Swell!"

At that moment, Annie came in with a tray to clean up and Doug excused himself. Taking his cue, Jess did the same and stood. As she was leaving she heard her uncle say tersely, "I need my suitcase ready in an hour."

"I'll have it ready in time," Annie replied quietly.

Jess went up to her room and changed, putting on her swimsuit under her dress so she could go see Marty. When she came down the back stairs, Annie wasn't in the kitchen, nor was her basket ready. Then she noticed the black car was already pulled out of the garage and James was leaning against it, smoking a cigarette while he waited for her uncle. She sighed as she realized she wouldn't be able to leave the house until they were gone.

She went back to her bedroom and laid on her bed with a book to wait. After a while, she heard noises in the hallway and guessed that Annie was bringing down his suitcase. Reluctantly getting up, she knew she was probably expected to see him off. When she opened her bedroom door and stepped into the hallway, she was surprised at how quiet it was. Had he left already?

She was half way down the stairs when the front door flew open and hit the wall with a bang. She froze, seeing her uncle stalk in, his face a mask of rage. And then she had to grab onto the banister to keep from falling, suddenly unable to breathe as James came staggering after him, dragging Marty into the house.

****

Uh, oh! This doesn't look good for Marty and Jess! What do you think is going to happen next? Is this the end of everything? Was something happening between them at the pond? I'm dying to know what you think! Just a quick note to any readers who may have been confused by what Jess was wearing at the beginning of the chapter. In the US, a jumper is a sleeveless dress, usually with a scoop neck, and worn over a shirt.

If you liked this chapter, please consider giving it a vote! The video is My Happiness sung by Pat Boone and Connie Francis. It's a lovely song and I hope you'll listen to it. The photo is Ricky Nelson aka Doug.