CHAPTER FOUR
Daisy let out a long sigh as she flopped belly first onto Lily’s bed. She buried her head in her hands and groaned. “Am I the only one who doesn’t have a plan for after high school? Lily is probably going to get married, Violet is trying to go off to Europe, and I’ll be left behind.”
Lily and Violet exchanged a smirk at Daisy’s dramatics. “There has to be something you want to do,” Lily said as she tightened the bow in her hair.
“What I want to do has nothing to do with what I can do.”
Violet shook her head in confusion. “What on earth does that mean?”
“I would love to own my own business, but I can’t do that without a husband. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Well, maybe you’ll find a husband at the Christmas party tonight,” Lily suggested. The Keeneston Christmas party always had a huge turnout of eligible men.
“And maybe I can find one with his own car,” Violet winked as she looked quickly to the door and then dabbed some perfume into her ample cleavage.
“Lily, Frank is here,” her mother called from the bottom of the stairs.
“How do I look?” Lily asked her sisters nervously.
“Like a bride.” Violet smiled before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“And I’m going to be the maid of honor,” Daisy told them as she stood up.
Violet shook her head. “Are not. I am.”
“I am.”
“No, I am.”
“I’m older,” Daisy said, playing her trump card.
“Girls! Let me get engaged first.” Lily laughed as she gathered her wrap and purse from the dressing table. She headed downstairs, no longer nervous, feeling full of love and rightness.
Lily didn’t think she could stand it for one more second. The party was fantastic. A big band played music, people were dancing, and she had wished Merry Christmas to the entire town. Daisy was in the middle of men from the University of Kentucky barbershop quartet, enjoying being serenaded. Violet had found someone who had graduated from Keeneston High last year and worked in Lexington to drive her to town for the next week. But now that everyone seemed settled and happy to stand around chatting, Lily couldn’t wait to leave.
She watched as Frank kissed his very uptight parents goodnight and promised to be home in an hour. Violet and Daisy, using their sisterly bond, looked over to Lily at the same time and sent her a wink. Finally Frank slid his arm around her.
“Are you ready to go, doll?”
“I have been ready forever.”
Frank escorted her out of the party and down the crowded street to his car. As they drove through town, she enjoyed seeing the bubble lights on the trees and in the windows and the bright garlands decorating the town. “You missed our street.” Lily laughed as they drove past the street they both lived on.
“I thought we could exchange gifts someplace more private,” Frank said as he reached over and squeezed her hand in his.
“But your gift is at my house,” Lily said, pointing back toward their street.
“That’s okay. I really want to give you my gift first.”
Lily’s heart sped up. He was going to propose, and he couldn’t wait to do it. She watched as they drove out of town and knew it was going to be the most romantic night of her life.
She envisioned the light dusting of snow surrounding the gazebo at the city park and Frank down on one knee. But they drove past the park. “Where are we going?”
Frank just smiled and placed his hand on her thigh. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do,” Lily said instantly.
“We’ll be there in just a minute. It’s going to be the best night.”
Lily smiled at his excitement, then felt her stomach tighten as they pulled onto the dirt road leading to Lovers Pond. But when Frank smiled at her reassuringly, she knew he had a plan. It was a very picturesque location, and it would be appropriate to get engaged here. They were in love, after all.
Frank pulled up and parked the car on the far side of the pond. Only one other car was there, and it was hidden behind a cluster of trees. The windows were steamed over, and Lily felt herself blush at what was going on in the car. She and Frank had necked before but never really played backseat bingo.
Frank turned on the Christmas music and faced her. His smile touched her heart as he looked at her. “I love you, Lily Rae.”
“I love you, too, Frank. With all my heart.” She spoke into the darkness as Frank bent his head to kiss her neck.
“Show me,” Frank whispered against her delicate skin.
Lily laughed nervously. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I love you, and I got you the most special gift. It’s not like we just started going steady,” Frank teased with a sly smile as he reached under her arm and slid the zipper to her red dress down her ribcage.
Lily gulped, but if she was going to be his wife, this couldn’t be wrong. Not when it felt so right. She felt the coolness of the air against her chest as his hands moved to push down her dress. And then his mouth was there, and she changed her mind; this was wrong. Deliciously so.
“You are so beautiful, Lily. So sweet, so innocent. The perfect woman. And you’re going to bloom against my body.”
“Yes,” she gasped as his finger touched a spot between her legs that made her forget she was in a car.
Her dress was pushed to the floor, her panties quickly followed as steam covered the windows. She was lost in the passion. Lost in the love. Her heart had never been so full. And when the door was flung open, she didn’t even realize it. It was the blinding flash of the camera that jerked her eyes open.
“Rex!” she gasped as she tried to cover her nakedness.
The sound of Rex’s laughter stole her breath. “Well, Frank, you did it. I hate to hand over my pink slip, but it was worth it to be able to post this around town. The most perfect Rose is nothing but a fast dolly. Do I get to go next?”
Lily shot her eyes to Frank who just gave her a shrug of his shoulders. “It was for a car. Of course I was going to take the bet. But you’re a great kid. Someday you’ll find someone who will overlook the fact you’ve lost your bloom.”
“No one will believe you,” Lily said with more courage than she felt.
“They won’t have to. Rex has the picture.”
Lily looked to where Rex stood wiggling the camera in front of her. Her heart turned to ice and broke in two. She didn’t care that she was naked. She didn’t care that her reputation would be ruined. She didn’t care that she could be pregnant this very second, and she didn’t care that she would have to leave Keeneston in disgrace. She only cared about the pain—the pain that made her shove Frank away, the pain that gave her the power to jump naked from the car, and the pain that tightened her fist and plowed it into Rex’s smirking face. She ripped the camera from his hands and exposed the film before throwing it into Lovers Pond.
“You bitch! That cost me $6.95!”
“It’ll cost you more than that,” Lily yelled as in all her naked glory she kicked her leg up into his balls with such force that Rex fell to his knees. His falsetto scream could have broken glass, and then he promptly vomited.
Frank leapt from the car and grabbed Rex. He helped his friend into the passenger seat. He blew her a kiss and burned rubber around the pond, leaving her broken-hearted, naked, and freezing.
Tears came without notice. She gripped her chest to ease the pain in her aching heart. The betrayal made her nauseous. Surely no one would believe Rex . . . but they would believe her boyfriend. Her life was over.
“Lily,” a soft, deep voice said from behind her.
Lily whirled around, ready to fight, only to find the concerned faces of John Wolfe and his girlfriend, Rhonda. John shrugged his broad shoulders out of his coat and handed it to her. Lily numbly took it and covered herself.
“Let us take you home,” John said kindly. “My fiancée and I were just heading back to Keeneston.”
“Congratulations,” Lily mumbled as she let Rhonda wrap her in her arms and escort her to the car parked behind the trees. She was too numb. Her tears had stopped, and she didn’t care if her heart stopped as well. “I’m ruined,” she whispered to no one in particular.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Christmas party was in full swing. Daisy laughed as a member of the barbershop quartet cut in to dance with her. She’d never been the center of attention before and loved it. Violet flirted shamelessly with the friend of a friend who was staying in Keeneston for the break. And right about now, Lily would be getting engaged. It was a night of celebration.
Daisy looked at Violet, and the two shared a wink. But then she felt it. A pain shot through her heart. She looked back to Violet and saw her acting very different as well. They looked at each other and knew at once that something was very wrong.
“Excuse me, but I need to talk with my sister.” Daisy smiled at the last member of the quartet. She let him escort her over to Violet who was already walking toward her.
Violet had never felt pain so acute before. The triplets shared a special bond and this was a feeling unlike any other they had ever experienced. They’d known from a young age if one of them was scared or hurt, but this was a feeling of absolute despair.
She smiled at the men as she grasped at Daisy’s hand. “Thank you, gentlemen. We need a moment to powder our noses.” Violet winked before dragging Daisy to the back of the building and out the door.
The sisters drew in deep breaths and then looked at each other. “Lily,” was all they said before they took off running through town to get to Lily. They didn’t feel the cold and didn’t care that they left their coats at the party. They didn’t care their parents would worry where they were. All they knew was Lily was at home and needed them.
The cold air burned their lungs as they raced down Main Street. They didn’t talk to each other. They didn’t have the breath to spare. Jumping the hedgerow, Violet fell to the frozen earth. Her knee cried out in pain, but she ignored it. The pain in her heart was driving her home.
Racing through their backyard, they saw the headlights coming up the street. They bent at the waist and gulped in air as the car pulled up to the house.
“That’s John,” Violet gasped as she and Daisy rushed toward the car.
“Rhonda! What’s wrong,” Daisy called out as Rhonda hurried from the car and around to John. John pushed back his seat, and out climbed Lily. She didn’t blink. She only clutched at the large coat draped around her.
Violet and Daisy slid to a stop. Lily looked past them as if they weren’t even standing there. “What happened?” Daisy asked unemotionally.
“Let’s get her inside,” Rhonda said quietly and cast a glance toward Frank’s house.
Rhonda helped them walk her upstairs to her room. “It was Frank. John had just proposed, and we were, um . . . celebrating, when we heard the scream. We leapt from the car and saw her naked. It appears Frank had taken her virtue, and Rex had taken a picture to prove it.”
“Rex? But they were no longer friends. I don’t understand,” Daisy said quietly as they watched Lily step into the hot spray of her shower.
“It was all an act. Rex bet his hot rod that Frank couldn’t take Lily’s virginity.”
“It was all about a car?” Violet asked, astonished. When Rhonda nodded, Violet looked to Daisy. “I’m going to kill him.”
“It’s okay,” Lily said, stepping from the shower and into her bedroom. “I’m ruined, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. No one will want me now.”
The girls encircled her. “That’s not true, Lily. True love does exist. Do not let Frank or Rex win.”
“I need to go to sleep. Thank you, Rhonda. And please thank John, too. I’m beyond mortified about tonight.”
“It’s not your fault, Lily. I’ve never seen John more upset. We are your friends; remember that.”
Lily felt a tear slip down her cheek as she climbed into bed. She pulled the sheets up to her chin and closed her eyes. She heard them leave the room and close the door. She didn’t know how long she would lie there, just existing in some kind of purgatory. She couldn’t feel happiness or sadness. She couldn’t feel at all.
The roar of an engine interrupted the still of the night as a car sped down the street. That was all her virginity was worth—the price of a car. Lily sat up and pushed aside the white lace curtain. She saw Frank with his new prize, pulling into his driveway next door. For the rest of her life, she was going to have to see him. She was going to know he was right next door. She felt so dirty, so violated. He had killed her dream of true love.
Lily was about to get back to bed when she saw two figures stalking across her yard. What were her sisters doing? In the first bit of emotion she had felt since the incident, she gasped. Her sisters! Lily ran from her room and down the curved staircase. She had to get to her sisters.
“Nice car, Frank,” Daisy whistled.
Frank looked skeptically at her and Violet as they walked toward him. “Yeah, thanks.”
“So, where’s Lily? We thought she’d be home by now,” Violet asked.
Frank shrugged. “We got in a fight and broke up. She left on her own.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Daisy said as she frowned. “You know, there’s something interesting about being triplets. We feel things.”
“Feel things?” Frank asked and stepped onto his porch.
“Yes,” Violet nodded. “Like when one of us is in pain.”
Frank didn’t say anything but stared at them in surprise.
“You hurt our sister,” Daisy said with such menace in her voice his eyes widened.
“And we don’t take too kindly to that,” Violet said as they approached him.
Lily reached for the door at the same time it opened. “Lily Rae!” her mother exclaimed. “What is going on? I got a feeling something was wrong; I left your father at the party and hurried home.”
Lily gulped and looked at her mother. Love and concern shown on her mother's face, and Lily couldn’t take it. “I’m so sorry, Mama.” She buried herself in her mother’s open arms, sobbing.
“There, there, dear. It can’t be the end of the world. Come into the kitchen, and I’ll make you some tea.”
Lily forgot about her sisters as her mother’s warmth comforted her. “I won’t be able to hide it, Mama. I’m so sorry. I’m a disgrace.”
“You’ll never be a disgrace to me,” she said kindly, then put an apron on over her beautiful dress and filled the teapot with water.
“It was Frank . . .” Lily found herself confessing everything—Lovers Pond, the proposal that didn’t happen, the picture, John and Rhonda. “Oh no . . . Daisy and Violet. They were walking over there when you got here.”
“Walking where?” her mother asked as gently as she could. Her mother had held her through the whole story not saying a word, only calmly stoking her hair.
“To see Frank. He just pulled in.”
Her mother cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes with a kind smile. “Stay here, dear, and enjoy your cup of tea.”
Her mother stood up, opened a drawer, pulled out a rolling pin, and walked out the back door.
The sound of a spatula connecting with a cheek at full swing was a very satisfying sound for Violet. The way Frank’s eyes bugged out almost brought a smile to her face.
“Did you think we’d let you get away with this?” Violet asked, pulling her arm back to smack him again. Frank grabbed her wrist but was rewarded with a hard
thwack
to the head by the wooden spoon Daisy held.
“No one breaks our sister’s heart with no repercussions. Just because your family is powerful doesn’t mean we will sit back and take it,” Daisy growled and hit him over the head again.
“I didn’t do anything she didn’t let me do,” Frank said as he dropped Violet’s arm and turned to grab Daisy’s.
Violet grinned and smacked him with the spatula again. “Do you think that makes it better, you manipulative pig?”
Frank’s face was growing red in the darkness, and Violet knew they were pushing him. She went to hit him again—the anger and pain of what he did to Lily overwhelming her common sense—when he managed to grab them both by their arms.
The sound of glass breaking startled them all. They froze and looked down the driveway at their mother, holding a rolling pin in her hand. The hot rod’s windshield was shattered.
“Let go of my daughters right now,” she ordered.
Frank gave a little snort of defiance. Their mother smashed the driver’s side window. Frank let go. Daisy and Violet hurried from the porch to stand by their mom. Daisy turned and saw Lily, wearing only her nightgown and carrying a broom, racing across the yard.
“You dare hurt my daughter after I opened our house to you?” their mother asked in a tone they’d never heard before. Lily slid to a stop as Daisy and Violet encircled her waist with their arms in a show of support.
“She’s nothing but a fast hussy,” Frank spat.
Lily pushed away from her sisters, marched up the steps, and broke the broom over his head. The resounding crack filled the night air and seemed to echo down the street. A second later her mother was by her side.
“Do you feel better yet, dear?” her mother asked as she steered her down the stairs, never taking her eyes off Frank. Lily could feel his anger snowballing.
“Getting there.” Lily had enjoyed the look of shock and disbelief on his face when she broke the broom over his big head.
“This will help.” Her mother handed her the rolling pin, and Lily gripped it in two hands. The headlights were smashed first. Frank raced down the stairs, but her mother simply held up her hands to stop him.
“It’s a shame you've been drinking and destroyed your car,” her mother clucked.
The hood was next. Lily beat it until sweat dripped from her forehead.
“I’ll be telling the police about that when they get here. I saw you swerving all over the road. It was a good thing I had seen how much you drank at the party and decided to take Lily home myself.”
“No one will believe you,” Frank spat.
“Everyone will believe me. Girls, let’s go. Oh, and you can keep the broom. It looks like you’ll have a mess to clean up.” Her mother held out her hands as Lily and Daisy each took one with Violet leading the way back to the house.
They were quiet as they walked across the yard. Their mother ushered them inside and pulled the teapot from the stove. “Everyone, go upstairs and get cleaned up. Then come down here for some tea.”
Lily followed her sisters back up the stairs. Her heart may have been broken, but she was feeling again. With each dent and each broken window, she’d felt herself gaining control of her life again.
“Was anyone else completely dumbfounded when Mom broke his windows?” Violet asked when they reached the sitting room on the second floor.
“I couldn’t believe it. I mean, she teaches Sunday school,” Lily said as she shook her head.
“Did you see Frank’s face?” Daisy asked before snorting. “His eyes bugged so far out of his head I was afraid they’d fall out.”
Lily felt the dam break. She cried, she laughed, and she held on tightly to her sisters. They would get through this. She would get through this. Out of all that had happened, she was still filled with love. Her sisters’ and mother’s love gave her determination. She may never be ready to love again, but she would have love in her life.