Free Leaving Serenity by Alle Wells

them. The bell on the door tinkled. Jack stepped through the door wearing a tie-dyed shirt, bell bottom jeans, and leather sandals identical to mine.
    He slipped Andy a hi-five. “Andy, my man, what’s hangin’?”
    Andy answered quietly, “Not much, Man. How about you?”
    Jack wrapped his gorgeous arms around me and said, “Just thought I’d come by to see my lovely princess, here. Ain’t that right, Baby?”
    I blushed and looked at the floor. “Yep.”
    I watched my siblings’ heads turn and then look away. Jack hadn’t noticed them because he was too busy being Jack, and he was a little stoned.
    Jack released me and backed off. “Hey, hey. What’s with the kiss-off? Did somebody die or something?”
    I decided it was time to come clean. I grabbed Jack’s arm and pointed him toward the booth a few feet away. “Jack, there’s some people here I’d like you to meet.”
    A flash of insecurity crossed Jack’s face. He looked lost for just a fraction of a second as I guided him to the booth to meet my family.
    I felt the quiver in my voice as I began. “Jack, I’d like you to meet my sister, Beth, my brother, Jeff, and Beth’s boyfriend, Earl Junior.”
    Jack snapped to attention like he was back in the Army. He stuck his hand in Jeff’s face. “It is my humble pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.”
    Jeff looked confused and a little bit amused. After all, he was just a boy, and Jack was a grown man. When Jack let go of Jeff’s h and, he bowed to Beth.
    “Young Lady, please forgive my casual attire. I would have dressed more presentably had I known that such an enchanting young maiden would gratify my day.”
    Beth looked up at Jack’s perfect face and blushed. “Thank you, nice to meet you, too.”
    Earl Junior continued to smother his fries in ketchup like nothing was going on.
    Jack pulled me closer. “But, please, enough about me. May I present my lovely lady and bride-to-be?”
    Jeff looked at me. “Oh, really? And exactly when did this come about?”
    I opened my mouth, but Jack jumped in. “I assure you, sir, that my love for your darling sister is pure as the driven snow and will last for all eternity.”
    Beth asked, “So when are you two getting married?”
    I looked at Jack to fill in because I was completely wordless. “You will know when you see the last glimmer of our taillights fade into the sunset. Now, if you will excuse me, I have urgent business to attend to.”
    Jack skipped toward the bathroom, and I wondered how long he would stay in there. Jeff’s eyes followed him until the door closed behind him. I tried to walk away, but Jeff jumped out of his seat and yanked my arm.
    “Annette, that’s right where he belongs because that guy is full of crap! Besides that, he’s a hippie, probably on drugs, or something like that.”
    Jeff’s attack on Jack made my blood boil. I snatched my arm away from him.
    “Why? Because he loves me? Because he’s not some redneck hillbilly or a rapist? Of course, you wouldn’t know any better because that describes ninety-nine percent of the guys in this town.”
    Jeff rolled his eyes at me. “I’m just telling you not to believe anything that comes out of that guy’s mouth.”
    I grabbed the plates from the table. “I’ll make a believer out of you when you see those taillights fade into the sunset.”
    ***
    News flew like electricity through the Serenity grapevine. Mama and Daddy knew about Jeff and Beth’s visit to the café before I got home that night. I slipped in the front door. I was hoping to make it to my bedroom before anyone noticed, but Mama’s voice stopped me cold.
    “Margaret Annette!”
    I froze in mid-step. “Yes, Ma’am?”
    “Come in. We would like to talk to you.”
    I sat lightly on the edge of the sofa opposite Mama. Daddy was leaned back in his recliner, distracted by the Sports Illustrated magazine in front of him.
    Mama put her needle down and dropped the school skirt in her lap. She inhaled deeply as