Finding Libbie (34 page)

Emily stared at her curiously. “Is it unusual for Libbie to have a visitor?”

The woman wrapped her arm around Emily’s shoulders and began leading her across the patio. “Oh, sweetie, you have no idea. Libbie’s been with us for five years, and not once has anyone come to visit her.” She stopped and pointed toward a woman sitting with her back to them, watching children playing croquet on the lawn.

“There she is. Waiting. Every Sunday she dresses up in a pretty dress and sits out here with the other families and waits. For five long years she’s waited, and she’s never had even a single visitor. And every Sunday after the other visitors leave, she walks back to her room, alone. She always puts on a smile and says someone will come someday, but we’d all given up hope. And here you are. Someone has finally come to visit Libbie.”

Emily stared at the tiny woman in the chair. Her silver hair was pulled up in a twist, and she wore the yellow dress she’d purchased last week at the store with a white cardigan over it. Her hands were in her lap as she watched the children play. Tears formed in Emily’s eyes as she thought about how long Libbie had waited. What little family she had left, her nieces, never came to see her. Her friends from the past didn’t know where she was. No one knew of the lonely woman waiting here so patiently.

And now, Emily was finally going to meet Libbie.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

“She’s going to be so happy to see you,” Angie said, pulling Emily along toward where Libbie sat. “We’re all so happy to see you.”

Angie released her hold on Emily as she neared Libbie and gently laid her hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “Libbie? I have a surprise for you. You have a visitor.”

Emily walked closer to Libbie. The older woman turned and raised her eyes up to Emily’s as a smile crossed her lips.

“A visitor? How lovely,” Libbie said in a soft, sweet voice.

Emily gazed at Libbie, unable to speak. Bright blue eyes shined in a delicate oval face. Her skin was pale and soft, gently touched by time. Her body was petite, but not too thin, and in her small hands, she held a book of poetry open in her lap.

“This is Emily,” Angie continued. “She’s the daughter of an old friend of yours.”

Libbie set the book on the table beside her and stood, reaching for Emily’s hands. “I’m so happy to meet you, Emily. Please, come sit next to me and we can talk.”

Emily looked down at Libbie’s hands in hers. They were warm and smooth, just as she would have imagined they’d be. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Ms. Wilkens.”

“Oh, now, please call me Libbie, dear. Everyone does.”

“Okay, Libbie,” Emily said, sitting down in a chair beside hers.

“Well, I’ll let you two visit,” Angie said.

“Thank you, Angie,” Libbie said, smiling up at the nurse. She turned to Emily. “She’s such a sweet person. All the nurses here are so kind.”

“Yes, they seem to be,” Emily said. She continued staring at Libbie, unable to take her eyes off her. She was still pretty, like in the old photos of her father’s. Age showed in the lines around her eyes and lips, but her smile was genuine, and her eyes were so clear and alert. The problems that had separated her and Jack had to be in the past. Libbie didn’t look like a woman ravaged by drugs and alcohol, she looked like any other woman her age, if not better.

“So, dear. Which old friend of mine is your mother?” Libbie asked, a curious expression on her face.

Emily hesitated. She hated lying to Libbie now that she’d met her. Libbie was no longer just an elusive memory she was chasing; she was real flesh and blood, with feelings and emotions. Lying to her seemed wrong. Yet she’d already started the lie. How on earth could she tell her the truth now?

“Carol.” Emily nearly winced when she said it.

Libbie’s eyes lit up even brighter. “Carol Raymonds? Oh my goodness. She and I were friends since we were just toddlers. Oh, I should say Carol Simmons, shouldn’t I? Did you know I was the matron of honor at her wedding?”

Emily nodded. “Yes, she told me. I actually saw a photo of you then. You were both so beautiful.”

“Ah, you’re sweet, dear. Well, how is Carol? It’s been forever since I’ve seen her.”

Emily told Libbie about Carol’s years of teaching and how she now divides her time between the lake house and Arizona.

“She lives in her parents’ old house? Well, isn’t that nice. I suppose she’s changed it to suit her taste.”

“Yes, it’s very nice now. Of course, I’ve never seen it any other way.”

Libbie nodded and appeared to be studying Emily’s face. Feeling nervous at her scrutiny, Emily continued talking.

“Carol . . . I mean, my mother . . . would love to see you. Would you mind if she visited you?”

Libbie raised her hand up and fingered the blue topaz pendant around her neck. “I’m surprised she’d want to see me after all these years. I’m afraid I wasn’t much of a friend those last couple of years. But I would love to see her.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll tell her she can come.” Emily wondered how she’d explain to Carol that she’d suddenly become her daughter.

Libbie cocked her head and gazed at Emily. “You have such beautiful blond hair,” she said wistfully. “My hair used to be that color, but it was too much trouble trying to keep it blond through the years.”

“You have lovely hair,” Emily said. “It’s a beautiful silver color. I know a lot of women who’d love for their hair to look like yours.”

Libbie lifted her hand to her hair, smoothing it down. “I’ve kept it long all these years,” she said. “That’s the way everyone always liked it on me. But I love how your hair is cut to frame your face yet is still long. Do you think I’d look good with my hair that way? Even at my age?”

Emily smiled. Libbie sounded so self-conscious about her looks when she didn’t need to be. “I think it would look wonderful on you. Just like that yellow dress. It’s the perfect color for you.”

“Thank you, dear. I’ve always loved yellow.”

Silence fell between them, and Emily searched for something to say. She was so happy to see that Libbie was fine. She lived in a nice place where the people were kind to her. And now maybe her old friends would come visit her and she wouldn’t have to sit alone on Sundays anymore. When Emily looked up to meet Libbie’s eyes, she thought she saw them twinkle mischievously.

“You’re not really Carol’s daughter, are you, dear?” Libbie said softly.

Emily’s heart sank. She knew she shouldn’t have lied. Slowly, she shook her head. “No, I’m not. I’m sorry I lied. I had to meet you, but I didn’t think I’d be allowed to visit if I wasn’t a friend or a relative. And once I lied, I had to stick to it.”

Libbie sat forward, closer to Emily. “It’s okay, sweetie. I understand.”

“What gave me away?” Emily asked.

“You’re much too young to be Carol’s daughter. She must be at least ten or fifteen years older than you. I also know that Carol’s daughter has the same beautiful auburn hair as her mother.”

“I’m sorry,” Emily repeated remorsefully. “I really am. But why didn’t you tell me you knew right away?”

“I was afraid if I told you I knew, you’d leave. And I so wanted to talk to you.”

“Really? Why?”

Once again, Libbie’s fingers went to the pendant at her neck. “You’re Jack and Kate’s daughter, aren’t you?”

Emily stared at her, stunned. “How did you know that?”

“I still subscribe to the Jamison newspaper. So much has changed, and I know very few people there anymore, but it is home, after all, and I like to see what goes on there. I recognized you from your high school graduation picture years ago.” She gave Emily a small smile. “Besides, you have your mother’s lovely eyes and Jack’s smile. I’d recognize that smile anywhere.”

Goose bumps ran up Emily’s arms. Libbie knew who she was, yet she’d wanted her to stay anyway. It all seemed so unreal.

“I’m so sorry about the loss of your mother, dear,” Libbie continued. “I didn’t know her personally, but I did know her brother, Larry. I’m happy that Jack found a sweet girl like Kate to build a life with. He deserved happiness, especially after all I put him through.”

Sadness creased Libbie’s face as she looked down at her hands.

“Thank you,” Emily said. “My mother was a wonderful person, and I miss her.”

Libbie looked up at Emily, her eyes now filled with compassion. “How is he doing? Jack, I mean.”

“He’s doing okay, keeping busy, working on cars in his shop still. I know he misses my mom terribly, but he’s getting through it, like we all are.”

Libbie nodded. “That’s good. Loss is such a dreadful thing. Did Jack tell you about me?”

“No, he didn’t. To be honest, I never knew he was married before, until I came upon a box of photos in a closet at my grandmother’s house. She was the one who told me about you and Dad.”

“Photos,” Libbie said, staring up into the sky as if searching for something. She turned back to Emily. “Jack has pictures from those days?”

“Yes. Well, yes and no. He brought a box of photos to my grandmother’s house years ago, and they’ve been there ever since.”

Libbie’s face softened. “I’m happy he saved them. I didn’t know any still existed.”

“I could bring them someday, if you’d like. Some are damaged, but many aren’t.”

“Yes. I’d like that very much.” Libbie’s gaze returned to Emily. “Your grandmother. Is that Bev?”

“Yes.”

A smile spread across her face. “Bev. How I adored her. And Norman and Ray. And Jan. Tell me everything about them, please. I’ve missed them all so much.”

Emily told her all about the family and also what Larry was up to. She told her about meeting June and how much her old friend would love to see her. The two women talked about people past and present, and Emily told her about Jordan and how he was pursuing a doctorate degree. Time slipped away and before they knew it, they were the only two people left outside. Angie came out to tell Libbie that dinner was being served.

“Oh, I took up your whole afternoon,” Emily said.

“I’m so happy you did,” Libbie told her. “I haven’t enjoyed myself this much in years.” She looked at Emily with a hopeful expression. “Is there any chance you might come and visit with me again?”

Emily smiled. “I’d love to come see you again. I work on some Sundays, though. Is it okay to come during the week sometimes?”

Libbie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. Please do. Just call ahead to make sure we’re here. Sometimes we take little shopping trips to towns.”

Emily stood and Libbie did also. Angie had gone inside again, to give them some privacy. Emily walked with Libbie to the doors that led into the building. They both stood there a moment, and Libbie gazed up at Emily, her blue eyes glistening.

“Can I give you a hug good-bye?” she asked tentatively, as if afraid the answer would be no.

Emily’s heart swelled. “Of course.” The two women hugged and then said their final good-byes. Libbie went slowly through the doors and disappeared. Emily just stood there a moment, marveling at how quickly Libbie had stolen her heart.

Angie came outside with a wide grin. “You’ve made Libbie very happy, I just have to hug you, too.”

Emily laughed and they hugged. “I think I got as much out of it as she did,” Emily told her.

“We adore Libbie here. I know that she’s had a rough life, but she’s content now.”

As they walked together out to the parking lot, Emily admitted to Angie her true identity.

“I’m sorry I lied. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to see her if I wasn’t family or a friend.”

Angie brushed it off. “After seeing how happy Libbie is, I don’t care if you’re the Easter Bunny.” She laughed, and then turned serious. “I hope you’ll come and see her again. This has been so good for her.”

“Oh, yes. I plan on coming often. And my grandmother wants to visit, too, as well as a couple of old friends of Libbie’s. I hope that’s okay. It won’t upset her, will it?”

Angie shook her head. “It won’t upset her. Libbie’s doing so well on her medication. As long as she’s okay with it, she’ll be fine.” They stopped beside Emily’s car. “I can’t tell you what your visit to Libbie means to all of us here. We’ve all felt so sad for her, not having visitors. Libbie is such a sweet soul. She deserves to be happy.”

Emily nodded. “I could tell that just from the short time we visited. Believe me, I’ll be back to see her.”

Emily kept her promise. Over the next month, she visited Libbie every week. Each time, she grew to know her just a little more, and she understood why her father had fallen in love with her all those years ago. Libbie not only was sweet and kind, but she was also smart and had a fun sense of humor. Emily never asked her about her health issues, and they rarely talked about Jack other than when Libbie asked how he was. Instead, they took walks around the property, talked about everything from current events to the latest clothing styles, and once Emily even took Libbie out to lunch at a café in Spring River.

Emily loved visiting with many of the other residents also. Once they recognized her as the manager from the department store they shopped in occasionally, they would ask her questions about styles and mixing and matching their clothes. So many of the ladies took pride in their appearance, especially when they went out with family or as a group on little trips, that they wanted any advice Emily could give them. She enjoyed talking to them about fashion, and on occasion, she and Libbie would go with one of the women to look through her closet and put together outfits. Libbie especially enjoyed this and puffed up like a proud mother at Emily’s popularity.

In mid-July, when Emily brought Bev along on a Sunday visit, she and Libbie hugged and cried. Emily stepped away for a time to give them privacy, and her heart filled with joy as she watched them from across the patio, their heads close together, sharing confidences.

“Amazing,” Angie said, coming up beside Emily. “So that’s Jack’s mother.”

Emily looked at Angie curiously. “Why is that amazing?”

“Libbie used to talk about Jack often but stopped over the years. I began to think she’d dreamt him up, and the pendant she wore was just jewelry from a relative or something, even though she said that Jack had given it to her. But then you showed up, and now Jack’s mother.” She turned and looked at Emily. “Will Jack show up next?”

Emily bit her lip. “I haven’t told my dad about Libbie yet. I hope to, someday, but I want to get to know Libbie better first. Their ending was so dramatic and heartbreaking. I’m not sure how he’d feel about seeing her again.”

Angie shook her head. “Imagine. All those years lost. It’s so sad.”