Here’s a taste of how the relationship began between Chuck and Bobbi.
Chuck twisted the last screw in the last outlet in the last upstairs bedroom of the biggest house in the subdivision. His knees popped as he stood up. At least this was just a summer job.
“Got those outlets wired, college boy?” Gene Thomas, the head contractor, stepped in between the studs of the unfinished wall. The good-natured ribbing was one reason he came back to work for Gene year after year.
“Just finished.”
“All right. I can get the drywallers in here.” He scribbled a note on his clipboard. “Get packed up and you can get out of here.”
“But it’s not four yet.”
“Son, when your boss tells you to go home, you go.”
“I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a test.” Chuck grinned and walked over to close the bedroom windows.
“You are too smart for this job.” Gene shook his head.
As Chuck slid the front window closed, an old Buick Electra, a little old lady’s car, pulled up out front. He was ready to walk away when he caught sight of tanned legs. That was no little old lady. Then he got a full view of the woman the legs belonged to. She rounded the front of the car, and pushed her sunglasses up on her head. Her hair was pulled back and pinned up. Her shirt flattered her without being tight or revealing and she had an easy grace when she walked. “Hey Gene, who’s that?” Chuck motioned for his boss then pointed out the window.
“The plumber’s daughter… Brenda, maybe… no… something with a ‘B’.”
“I gotta go.” Chuck pushed around Gene and clamored down the stairs, trying to catch the woman before she got in the house. He yanked the door open and she was standing on the porch.
“You startled me,” she said. She was tall enough that, even though he was six foot two, he didn’t tower over her. She had a perfect Mediterranean complexion and the most beautiful deep brown eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just finished up, getting ready to go home.”
“Yeah, I’m here to get my dad. He’s a plumber.”
“He doesn’t drive?”
“His car’s in the shop. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Wait, can I take you for a burger or something?”
“No, I don’t even know your name.”
He held out his hand. “I’m Chuck Molinsky.”
She smiled. “Yours is almost as bad as mine. I’m Bobbi- Bobbi with an ‘i’- Petrocelli.” She shook his hand with a firm, confident grip. “What is that, Polish?”
“Russian, actually. Somewhere along the way the Slavs got mixed up some blue-eyed blondes, though. I’m not sure when that happened. Now, can I take you somewhere?”
“I don’t think so. Daddy doesn’t like for me to date construction types.”
“Oh, I’m not. I mean, I’m going to law school this fall.” He took his Missouri hat off. “See, I’ve already got a lawyer haircut. I just work for Gene in the summer.”
“You’ve… already finished college.”
“Is that bad?”
“I haven’t graduated high school yet. I only have a couple of weeks left, but…”
“You’re kidding me. I thought… Never mind.”
“You thought I was older?”
“Yeah… at least my age.” He looked into those eyes again. “The age thing, it doesn’t matter to me if it doesn’t bother you.”
“I don’t know… Usually when an older guy wants to go out it’s because all the girls his own age know he’s a loser.” At least she smiled when she said it.
“You’re harsh!” He put a hand over his heart. “I swear I’m not a loser.”
“And you expect me to take your word for it?” She smiled again and he thought he’d melt right into the unfinished floor.
“I can get you some references. Please? I’d love to spend some time with you.”
“But if I say yes on such short notice, it looks like I’m pathetic and have nothing else to do.”
“Not at all. If you’re free, I’ll figure that it’s God arranging things.”
“So you’re a Christian?”
“Yeah, about a year now. I’m still learning.”
“Tell you what.” She took the pen from his shirt pocket, then raised his hand and wrote her address in his palm. “Come by about seven. We’ll go for ice cream or something.”
******
Chuck stopped in the kitchen just long enough to kiss his mother on the cheek before charging toward the back door.
“Hold up! Where are you headed?” She dried her hands on a dishtowel, then tossed it onto the counter.
“Got a date, Mom. Bobbi and I are going to the lake.”
“You’ve been out with her every night this week.” She reached up and straightened Chuck’s collar, and he rolled his eyes. Time was wasting.
“July’s almost over, and I’m leaving in three weeks. I want to see her as much as I can.”
“What’s going to happen when you have to leave her behind?”
“I’m not.” He crossed his arms across his chest. He was going to have to tell her, and there wouldn’t be a quick exit after that.
“Chuck?”
“I’m gonna marry her. I’ve already bought a ring…”
“Have you lost your mind? You barely know this girl. I barely know her.”
“This is a God-thing. I’m sure she’s the one.”
“She’s a very sweet, wonderful girl. I’m not disputing that. You said she’s going to Missouri…?”
“She’s got a full ride to the branch here in town. She didn’t want to leave her dad.”
“Even so, what happens if she meets another boy there, and here you are hundreds of miles away? It will break your heart.”
“It would break my heart, but she won’t. She loves me.”
“And you know this because?”
“She told me.”
“That’s not enough.” She smiled and patted his arm. “Romantic love feels wonderful, Chuck, but it takes more than that to make a life together. Feelings change.”
******
It was a perfect summer night, warm, with a light breeze. Occasionally, the scent of freshly mowed grass would drift in through the open sunroof of Chuck’s car. The sky was clear, and full of stars, and Bobbi could tell Chuck was up to something. He knocked over a glass of water at dinner, and she’d never heard him stutter before.
He reached over and took her hand as he turned onto the road out to Dixson Lake. She was relieved when he suggested the drive. Her father would be passed out, so there was nothing for her to go home to. Chuck listened to her, made time for her, enjoyed being with her. She loved the easy way they got along. Tonight, he even wore a tie. Nobody ever wore a tie on a date with her. Every time she thought about him leaving though, she got queasy.
“We should move somewhere where you can wear sundresses like that all the time.” Chuck kissed the back of her hand. “I never knew a woman’s shoulders could be so beautiful.”
“You should have a very fine career as a smooth talker.” She shook her head at him. He said ‘we’. ‘We should move’. “I’ll move anywhere you want to.”
“How ‘bout Evanston?”
“Evanston? I thought you were going to Chicago.”
“Yeah, Northwestern’s in Evanston.”
“What’s the deal with that? Missouri’s got a law school.”
“My dad went to Northwestern. He set up some fund for me to go there right after I was born.”
“And what if you hadn’t chosen law school?’
“Now that’s crazy talk.” He grinned at her and his blue eyes twinkled. “So, are you coming with me?”
“You paying for my college?”
“I’ll figure out something.”
“Your mom and dad don’t like me anyway. That would cinch it.”
“They love you.”
“If you say so. My dad needs somebody, though. I probably should stick close.”
“I know… It was worth a shot.” He whipped his car into Dixson Lake State Park and navigated around to the boat ramp. “Wanna look at the stars?”
“It’d be a shame not to.”
He parked the car and got out, but he stopped and opened the trunk before he came around to her door. He was definitely up to something. A moment later her door clicked open and he offered her his hand. A blanket was draped across his other arm.
“I figured it would be more comfortable sitting on the grass, and I’d hate for you to get your dress dirty.”
“What a gentleman.” And she meant it. He was. They wandered over to a spot of grass beside the asphalt ramp. He spread the blanket out, and steadied her as she eased down, then he dropped in beside her. He nuzzled neck, kissing her just behind her ear. “Okay, that’s too much.” She leaned forward.
“Tickles?”
“Yes!”
“I’ll quit. That’ll spoil the mood.”
“What mood is that?”
“This one.” He brought his leg around so he could sit up and face her. “Bobbi, this has been the most incredible summer of my life. I’ve never known anybody like you, and I am hopelessly, eternally in love with you.”
He took both of her hands and electricity shot through her. Could he be ready to…? No… It was way too soon for that. Even though she’d imagined marrying him since that first day…
“I don’t want you to ever question how much I love you.” He leaned back and pushed a hand into the front pocket of his Dockers, and her heart flipped. When she saw the ring box, she thought she might faint. He smiled and pulled a diamond solitaire out of the box, and held it up. “Bobbi…” He had tears in his eyes, and she couldn’t stop her own eyes from brimming. “Bobbi, would you marry me?”
“Yes… Yes! YES!” She threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Yes!” She held her hand up so he could slip the ring on. It fit perfectly. Of course. Mrs. Chuck Molinsky. She was going to be Mrs. Chuck Molinsky.
******
“So then we went out to the lake.” Bobbi watched her sister’s eyes, but there was no excitement building. “And it was absolutely perfect. The stars were out and there was a breeze… So anyway, he says, ‘I’m hopelessly eternally in love with you and I don’t want you to ever question that.’ And he pulls out this ring box. I thought I’d die right there.”
“What did Daddy say?” That was the tip-off. Rita didn’t approve and now she was looking for ammunition to make her case.
“He said he’s a good boy and if I was happy, that’s what mattered.”
“And he was sober when he said that?”
“I caught him before work this morning.”
Rita chewed her bottom lip. “This… this is really fast. You’ve only known him a couple of months, and you’re just barely eighteen.”
That one she could answer. “First of all, we’re not getting married until we get through school. And second, you were seventeen when you got married! Not just engaged, married.” No sense dragging this out. May as well jump right in. “Why don’t you like him?”
“He’s a spoiled brat. I’ve seen the labels on his pants. We could buy two weeks’ worth of groceries for each pair.”
“His parents quit giving him money once he started this summer job. He pays all his own living expenses.”
“Doesn’t matter. He still has that mindset.”
“Being poor doesn’t make you a better person. There are as many poor jerks as rich ones.”
“Bobbi… here’s the thing. I know him. He’s a playboy. He’ll say anything to get what he wants from a girl, then…”
“Was.”
“Was what?”
“Was a playboy. He’s a believer, now. He hasn’t even had a date since he became a Christian. Well, until me.”
“He told you this?”
“Yeah, he was very open about things.”
“Did he also mention he asked Lisa Mellon to marry him, then dumped her after she slept with him?”
“That’s not what happened. He never…”
“Bobbi, that’s his story. Andrea and I are best friends. I think she’d know what happened with her little sister.”
“It doesn’t matter, now. He’s different.”
******
“This was a great idea, coming to the lake, Mrs. Molinsky. We’ve both been working way too hard.” Chuck dumped the charcoal in the grill, and carefully touched a match to the corner. “I don’t feel like we’ve had a decent conversation in months.”
“Yeah. Graduate school’s nuts. Project after project…” Bobbi was wearing his old, faded Missouri sweatshirt. Just one more thing that looked great on her. “Can you believe how warm it is? It’s almost November.”
“And Missouri’s playing Oklahoma State today. Just so you know what you’re worth to me.”
“You’re taping the game, though, aren’t you?” She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “All right, yes, I’m taping the game, but I’m here.”
“As long as your brain’s here, too.”
He took her hand and they walked down to the lake while the charcoal heated. “I know I’ve been…”
“A jerk.”
“That bad?”
“Yes. Your fuse is about this long.” She held her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Chuck, nobody expects you to make partner the first year after you pass the bar exam.”
“I know. It’s just… I want to make it on my own. I don’t want people to think I just got my spot because of my dad.”
“But you’re a very good attorney, very conscientious, thorough…”
“Thanks.” He knew she was trying to help, but there was no way she could understand what his days were like. He sat down on the ground and steadied her as she nestled in beside him. “So, you picked out any school systems yet?”
“Good grief, no. They won’t know what openings they have until spring anyway.”
“But you’ll have your master’s. You’ll be all set.”
“I’ll have no experience, though. That could hurt me. They’d have to pay me more.”
“Good. You should be paid more.”
She leaned her head over on his shoulder and sighed. “You know, we’ve never had a break.”
“What do you mean?”
“From the stress. School, the wedding, more school for me, law firm for you…”
“Honey, that’s the way life is.”
“I just… I don’t know… I don’t want to lose ‘us’, you know?”
“Never happen.” He squeezed her close, and they sat for a long time, not saying anything. No one ever needed him, needed to connect, the way she did. Maybe that came from losing her mom so early. She craved security, and he was doing his best to provide that. That’s what the long hours, the lunches, the dinners, the golf games were for. All that was building their future.
He leaned over and kissed her neck, inhaling deeply. There was no perfume, just her shampoo, but the vanilla scent fit her. He kissed her again, and again, following her jaw line around to her lips, and she pushed away. “What’s wrong?”
“My stomach’s upset.”
“Since when?”
“I don’t know, all day.”
“You never said anything before now. Maybe you’re just hungry. Did you have breakfast?”
“No.”
“There you go. Let’s go check the grill.”
“Chuck, I don’t…”
He pulled her to her feet, and walked her back to the grill. The coals were white hot. “I’ll have the steaks ready in no time.” He opened the cooler and threw two T-bones on. They sizzled as flames licked around them. “I love that smell, don’t you?”
Bobbi was backing up toward the car.
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t… the smell… it’s making me nauseous.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No…”
Before he knew it, she rounded the bumper and threw up in the weeds. “Bobbi!” He stood by, not sure if he should help, or what exactly he could do. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick? I thought when you wanted to come out here…”
“I did,” she said weakly, then heaved one last time. “I’m fine. Really.” She pulled a tissue from the pocket of her jeans, and wiped her mouth. “It’s… it’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. I need to get you home. As soon as the steaks finish, we’ll get out of here.”
“No, I don’t want to go. It’s over now. It’s got to be over now.”
“What’s over?”
“The morning sickness. Sometimes it lasts all day.”
He spun around in front of her and took her shoulders. “What? What did you say?” A grin spread across his face and tears welled up in his eyes. “Morning sickness? Are you…? Are we…?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “May, I think. Possibly June.”
“That’s… that’s fantastic!.” He hugged her, kissed her, hugged her again. “A baby… I’m gonna be a daddy…” He laughed out loud, but saw she was still crying. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“I wanted it to be… I didn’t want to tell you like this. I wanted it to be special.”
“It is! Bobbi, this is… this is… wow… I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad!” He hugged her again. “I love you. I’ll be a good dad. I promise.” He put a hand on her belly and spoke to the baby. “You hear that? I promise you, I’ll be the best daddy I can be.”