LeAnn still had the journal in her hand when they walked into the kitchen. She laid it on the table and went to the refrigerator freezer and pulled out two rib eye steaks. She placed the steaks on a paper towel and put them in the microwave and pressed the quick defrost button. Then she walked to the pantry to see what to serve with the steaks.
Matt was on the deck starting the gas grill. Just as the flame burst to life, his cell phone rang. He checked caller ID and saw it was his dad. “Hey Dad what’s up?” He listened for a minute. “We were just starting dinner. Why? Oh, yeah? I guess I could. No, dad it’s ok. Yeah, okay. See you soon.” He closed his cell phone, disappointment showing on his face.
“LeAnn?” he called out as he went into her house. “Bad news. Dad just called, and two of the wait people called in sick. He tried to get someone to fill in, but seeing it’s a weekend, no one is home. It looks like I’m working tonight and can’t stay for dinner.”
She looked at him and smiled. “Matt, I’ve hogged your whole day off, and I can’t even fix you dinner to thank you. And worse of all, now you have to work. Some friend I am.” She actually was disappointed but didn’t want him to feel bad, so she didn’t let on that she was.
“I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m going to miss out on those steaks. Do you want me to turn off the grill?
“Yes, please. I’m going to save the steaks for when we can have them together.” She hurried to the microwave and switched it off. She took the steaks out and placed them on the counter.
“I know the answer will probably be no, but do you want to come to the resort with me?” he asked, hoping she would say yes.
“I hate to say no, but I think I’ll just stay home. Besides, you’ll be working.”
He grinned. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He walked back out to the deck to shut off the grill. When he came back in, LeAnn was putting the steaks back in the freezer. Luckily, they hadn’t thawed.
When they reached the front door, Matt turned around. He looked down at her, not wanting to leave. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Of course I will be. Matt, thank you for being here today, and helping me.”
“I really didn’t do much. I’ll find someone to help me get those trunks out of the attic. I’ll let you know when we’ll be out.” He reached out for her and put his arms around her. “You have my number if you need me.” He bent down and gently kissed her.
She put her arms around his waist and kissed him back. “If I need you, I’ll call.”
They stared into each other eyes for a moment. He released her, then, reluctantly turned for the door.
She followed him out onto the porch and walked down the path with him. It was a beautiful evening. The loons were calling to each other as she watched Matt back his boat out onto the water. He waved at her, and she waved back.
“I’ll call you when I get a chance,” he yelled.
She nodded, then suddenly remembered the journal. Turning quickly, she hurried back to the house.
She closed the door behind her and walked to the kitchen. She picked up the journal off the table where she had left it. Grabbing bottled water from the fridge, she decided to go into the living room to continue reading the journal.
She glanced out the window as she settled on the sofa. Boaters were heading towards shore after a warm day on the water.
She looked at the journal for a moment, then opened to the page where she had left off.
May 8, 1940
Oh, Mommy, what a birthday surprise Papa had for me! He had invited all of my friends from school, Aunt Mira, and Uncle Walter. We had a wonderful dinner at Ridgewood’s. They had balloons and a wonderful birthday cake with peonies and roses on it, my favorites! Papa says they were your favorites, too, and that’s why the ball flowers are peonies and roses. My birthday wish was that you could have been there, too, but I know that it’s impossible.
Papa gave me a beautiful locket with your picture in it. I will wear it and cherish it always!
I love you Mommy.
It’s amazing, LeAnn thought, that this girl was five when she lost her mother, yet she wrote like her mother is still with her. Her love for her mother is so amazingly strong.
LeAnn kept reading. The next few pages were filled with preparations for the ball. Amelia’s father allowed her to help with the arrangements for her first ball.
June 24, 1940
Oh Mommy! The ball is only four hours away. My dress is pressed and hanging on the door. Aunt Mira came over and helped me with my hair. I’m shaky and nervous. I do wish you were here. I do know that all I have to do is close my eyes and I can feel you with me.
Papa and I have been practicing our dancing together. I think it’s kind of funny. I don’t know who is more nervous, him or me.
I need to stop writing for now. I’m sorry, but Aunt Mira thinks I should rest before tonight. I surely don’t know how she thinks I’m going to get any rest!
I can’t wait to tell you all about the ball tomorrow Mommy. Love you!
LeAnn smiled to herself remembering her prom and how excited she had been. The dress, fixing her hair, and make up, the nervousness. But, unlike Amelia, she had her mom to help her dress. LeAnn remembered how they both had giggled trying to style LeAnn’s hair, as if best friends, not mother and daughter. LeAnn sighed, missing her mom.
She continued reading.
June 25, 1940
Oh Mommy!
You wouldn’t believe what a glorious night it was! I danced and danced and danced! Papa said I was the most beautiful girl in the room. I cannot even put into words how I feel. The room was incredible! The lanterns outside the boathouse lighted the path, including ones on the pier. All of the candles, flowers, food! The women in their beautiful white dresses, and the men in their white dinner jackets and black trousers. Well, you know what I mean; you are the creator of the ball.
Best of all Mommy, I met him, the beautiful man I wrote to you about. His name is Jonathan Armstrong.
The journal fell from LeAnn’s hands. “Jonathan Armstrong!” she said out loud, shocked. “The man who was shot and killed?” She couldn’t believe it.
The ringing of her cell phone scared her so much she almost jumped off the couch. Grabbing her phone, “Hello?”
“Hi LeAnn. It’s me Matt.”
“Oh, Matt! I’m so glad you called!”
Sounding concerned, he said, “What’s wrong? Everything okay?”
“I’m fine, but you wouldn’t believe what I just read in Amelia’s journal. At Amelia’s presentation ball, she met, get ready, Jonathan Armstrong!”
“The guy in the old newspapers? The one who was shot and killed at the ball?”
“Yeah! Do you believe it?”
“I find it weird. Why is she writing in her journal about him? I mean, she probably met a lot of guys at her presentation ball. Why write about this one?”
“It seems that she snuck in to one of the balls when she was younger and saw him. And, I guess she fell for him. She goes as far as to say she hoped he would be at her presentation ball so she could meet him, and he was!”
“Yeah, he goes, meets her and then four years later he’s dead. I hope that journal can shed some light on what happened. I have another hour to go. Do you want me to come back out when I’m done?” he asked hopeful.
“I don’t think so, but thank you. We’ll just talk tomorrow, okay?” She hoped she hadn’t sounded too rude, but she actually wanted to keep reading.
“Okay. But keep the phone near you in case you need anything. Please call me. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Matt. And again, thank you for today.”
Matt hung up, very disappointed. He had hoped she would want him to come back out. Someone called out his name and interrupted his thoughts. Frowning, he headed back to work.
LeAnn picked up the journal again.
I couldn’t believe it mommy! After I danced with Papa a few times and with Uncle Walter, Mr. Armstrong came over to where I stood with Papa and asked Papa to introduce us. Papa did, and then Mr. Armstrong asked Papa if he could dance with me. My heart was pounding so hard I thought I wouldn’t be able to breathe! Papa said yes, and the band played the most beautiful song, “Your Heart Belongs To My Heart.”
Mommy, I was on cloud nine. I got the chills as I felt his strong hand on my back. Mr. Armstrong glided me all around the dance floor. I didn’t even know there were other people in the room. We looked into each others eyes the whole dance. Then he said, ‘You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.’ He was smiling at me. I didn’t know what to say, I just smiled back, and I think I whispered thank you. I was so disappointed when the song ended.
He asked me if I would like some champagne. I kind of giggled and said yes. I wasn’t sure if Papa was watching and certainly wasn’t sure if Papa would have approved of my having champagne! Mr. Armstrong walked me to the table where the champagne was and handed me a glass. I took a sip, and it tickled my nose. He laughed, and asked, ‘Is this your first glass of champagne?’
‘I guess it shows,’ I said back. After awhile, Papa came over and said he wanted to introduce me to someone. I told Mr. Armstrong thank you for the dance and Papa escorted me to where a friend of his was standing with his son.
I know Mr. Armstrong watched me walk away, Mommy. I could feel his eyes on me. Mommy, is this how you felt about Papa when you two first met? I’ll bet it is. I hate to say this out loud so as not to jinx it, but I do think I’m in love.
Anyway, after an hour or so he came up to me as I was talking to some of my friends. He asked if I would like to dance again and of course I said yes! We did dance a little, and then he asked if I would like to go outside and talk. I told him yes that I loved the view of the lake from the walkway. He stopped and picked up a couple of glasses of champagne, and then we went out onto the walkway. He told me a little about himself, that he was a banker and worked in Minneapolis and that he was opening another bank in Hayward, only on a smaller scale. Can you imagine, Mommy, a Banker!
LeAnn stopped to think for awhile and was a little jealous of the naivete of the girls in the 1940’s. “We girls know too much today and men are not the gentlemen they were then.” Well, this was her opinion anyway.
LeAnn looked at the clock on the wall in the hall. It was eleven forty-five. She had an idea.