Rock and a Hard Place (28 page)

It took a couple hours to hike to the top of
what seemed like a mountain, but was probably just a bluff or
foothill by Colorado standards. Surrounded by the scent of pine and
a light breeze, the outside world fell away as if only they
existed. Huge outcroppings of rocks, sprinkled with occasional
brush and trees covered the peak. They sprawled against a warm
boulder and enjoyed a spectacular view of the nearby mountains.
Libby lifted her water bottle, took a long drink, then passed it to
Peter. He offered a bag of GORP in return.

A strong August breeze cooled their warm
skin. Libby leaned back and turned her head to Peter. He wore his
baseball cap backwards, presenting his devilishly handsome face.
She could stare at him forever.

“
What are you looking at?”
His bright eyes seemed to smirk.

“
You. I can’t believe this
is happening. I never dreamt I’d see you again.” She meant it. Life
had been so cruel. Reuniting wasn’t something she ever
expected.

“
All this time apart and
you didn’t even dream about me?” he teased.

“
Stop it. You can’t be that
dumb.” She took his hand and laced her fingers with his.

“
I never stopped thinking
about you.” He kissed the top of her hand.

“
Really?” She couldn’t
believe he cared so much. How could she be this lucky?

“
Really.” He
said.

“
So tell me about your
dreams?” Libby wanted to know everything.

“
Now that I have you,
there’s not much left.”

She snuggled closer. “Really, I want to
know. You’ve accomplished so much, more than most people do in a
lifetime. You can’t be done dreaming at eighteen. That would be
tragic.”

“
Let’s see, where do I
begin?” He shifted to a more comfortable position with Libby’s back
against his chest, his arms wrapped comfortably around her. “Our
last album went platinum in a week and our upcoming tour sold out
in minutes. That’s all great, but I want to write the kind of music
that lives on for decades. I’d like to move people with the power
of my lyrics and music.”

Libby lay against him, the sun beat down on
their bodies as his breath tickled her neck like a feather.

“
Then I’d like to take all
the success I’ve enjoyed and do something really good with it. I’d
like to help kids and sick people.”

She listened to the low timber of his voice,
feeling it vibrate in his chest as she rested against him. He would
do all these things. She knew he would.

“
I’d also like to get my
own place. You know, travel when I want to and not necessarily with
my family. I love them, but it’s time to grow up and live my life.
At least as much as possible.”

She contemplated all he said. Reality began
to seep into their perfect world.

“
And what about you?” He
nipped the edge of her ear. “I’ve been blabbing away. Now that
you’re legally independent, what do you want to do with your life,
besides hang out with me?” He caressed her palm with his
thumb.

She’d been plotting and planning for months
and it seemed everything clicked all at once. “First I want to go
to school and become a graphic artist. I’ve been drawing ever since
my Mom gave me my first box of crayons. It’s the one thing I’ve
always loved. I’d never make much money as a regular artist, but as
a graphic artist I could always take care of myself.”

Peter rested his chin in the nook of her
neck. “I’ll take care of you now.”

She nestled in. “That’s sweet, but I’ve left
my fate to others too many times and it didn’t work out, to say the
least. I won’t ever do that again. Now I need to take charge of my
life.”

“
But I get to be in it,
don’t I?” He teased.

“
Of course you do.” She
turned in his arms and reached up for a kiss. Peter set his lips
upon hers. The touch of his kisses lit her on fire. They relaxed
together renewing their passion.

Content to be together and need nothing
more, they hung out at the top long enough for clouds to move in
and shed a light sprinkle of rain. On their way back down the
mountain Peter told her about the preparations for their upcoming
tour, appearances on the Video Music Awards and Saturday Night
Live. She told him about her preparations to start college in
Boston this fall and the heartbreak of her failed efforts to track
down her dad. Now that she had her independence, she would keep her
name public so he could easily find her. No more hiding.

# # #

When they returned to the hotel, Peter
needed an hour to shower and catch up on some band obligations.
After that they would go to dinner.

DarLynn waited for her in their hotel suite.
“You two have a good day?”

She bubbled with excitement like one of her
boys on his birthday. It was apparent how much she wanted Libby to
find happiness. “We did, thanks. I can’t believe we’re actually
here. I can never thank you enough.”

“
Aw, it’s been my pleasure.
I haven’t had this much fun since, well, since never. I got to see
a Jamieson concert, make friends with Peter’s momma and stay in
this swanky hotel. The boys will never believe all our stories.
Look at all the amazing stuff Karen brought over for the boys, and
it’s all autographed.”

Libby looked through the pile of Jamieson
t-shirts, hats and CD’s. The boys would love the gifts.

“
Oh, and Peter’s dad had
the truck fixed, so we can head back anytime.”

Libby’s head snapped up. She knew they
needed to leave soon, but still, the announcement caught her off
guard. She didn’t want to face reality yet. She needed a little
longer.

“
And none too soon,”
DarLynn continued. “I called home today and all hell is breakin’
loose. The motel over in Greenville had a fire and now the Twilight
is plum over flowing. The baby’s got the flu, so Bea’s been
cleaning up hurl all day. Jimmy’s momma can’t handle stress too
well, sounds like she’s hitting the bottle again. She’s better as a
glittery ornament than as a grown up getting her fingernails dirty.
Oh, and she said Penny’s short another waitress. Apparently Vera
ran off with her boyfriend. Can you imagine so much happening in
just a couple a days?”

Libby pictured poor Penny trying to keep her
business running when she was short two waitresses. The woman must
be exhausted. And Robby sick, the little sweetheart. The realities
of life slapped her cold across the face; time for her fantasy trip
to end and go back.

“
When do you want to
leave?” Libby asked, willing to do whatever necessary.
She and Peter hadn’t figured out the future yet.
She didn’t want to leave him, but knew she couldn’t stay
either.

“
Oh honey, we can wait ‘til
tomorrow. I don’t want to spoil your reunion with that hottie boy
of yours. Darned, you didn’t tell me he could melt chocolate with
those smoking good looks. You’re the luckiest girl I
know.”

Libby smiled at her remarks. Lucky yes,
despite all the loss and pain in her past. Just then Peter let
himself into the suite. His eyes glittered with excitement.

“
Hi DarLynn.” He
greeted.

“
Hi there yourself.”
DarLynn smiled coyly.

He crossed the room to Libby. “I talked to
my mom and dad and we’ve got it all worked out.”

“
What are you talking
about?” she asked.

“
Us. Our plans.”

“
Oh.” She swallowed, the
time had arrived.

“
There’s good news and bad
news.” He looked like a little kid with a big secret.

“
Okay, tell me.” She fought
back her laugh.

“
First, the good news.” He
paused for effect. “You’re coming on tour with me. It starts in
early September, but you can stay with us. You’ll get to travel the
country. We have a second bus now, so we won’t have to be hassled
by my family all the time. Of course, my parents insisted that one
of them, or Roger, be around, but we’ll be together.”

She’d never seem him so elated.

“
Now the bad news. I have
to leave tonight. I can’t believe this is happening, but the first
release from our new album is due to hit in a few days along with
the music video. There was some sort of mix up at the editing
company and they lost a full minute of tape.” He pushed his hands
through his hair. “Something about a system failure and inadequate
off-site back up systems. Anyway, We have to refilm the missing
scenes. It’s an outdoor shoot at the Fisherman’s Market
in Seattle.”

“
Okay.” She tried to follow
his confusing explanation.

“
The problem is, a storm is
coming in and the only window of time to get the shooting done is
tomorrow, so Adam, Garrett and I have to fly out tonight. I’m
sorry.” He looked so disappointed. “But, I can be back tomorrow
night or the next day for sure. Crud, that’s not true. The day
after, we have rehearsals for the Video Music Awards, but you could
still fly out and join me. It’ll be a lot of industry stuff, but at
least we’ll be together part of the time.”

She glanced at DarLynn who pretended to
occupy herself with the television remote. “Peter, come with me.”
Libby took him by the hand and led him out on the balcony for
privacy. Once she closed the patio doors, they stood at the railing
overlooking the beautiful skyline of downtown Denver. She’d love to
share the his crazy rock star life, but deep down knew she
couldn’t.

“
Are you okay?” Concern
etched his face.

“
I’m fine.” She nodded and
took a deep breath for courage and hoped she handled this right. “I
love you. You do know that don’t you?”

“
Yeah, I know.” He squeezed
her hand.

“
When I met you, you were
the bright light that saved me from the darkest depths. My life was
so miserable in Rockville with Aunt Marge and you were the shining
star that led me to happiness. And after that, when everything fell
apart and I thought you didn’t want to see me again, you still gave
me strength. The happiness you brought me translated into
determination to stop getting pushed around. You gave me the power
to walk out of that group home and start making my own decisions. I
could have never done that without you.”

Peter looked worried. His brows turned down
and his jaw tightened.

“
What are you doing?” he
said.

“
I’m trying to explain this
to you. You need to know how profoundly you have affected my
life.”

“
Libby, please
don’t.”

“
Here’s the thing. Garrett
was right.” She locked eyes with him.

“
What?”

“
When Garrett called me
last fall and broke us up. All the things he said were spot
on.”

“
Stop talking like this.”
Peter tried to turn away.

“
No, think about it. You
have so many obligations, you are needed so many places all the
time. You have music to write, people to meet, videos to tape, and
concerts to perform. But equally important is my life.”

He listened.

“
I have obligations too.
Granted they aren’t as glamorous as yours, but they are equally
important, to me.” She thought of DarLynn’s three little boys and
knew she couldn’t walk away from them or Penny and DarLynn, who’d
been so generous.

Peter’s eyes turned sad.

“
I love that you want me to
join you on tour. It is beyond nirvana. But if there is one thing
I’ve learned these past months, it’s that I need to live my own
life. I need to take the lead and make my life happen. I need to go
to college, get a great education and be able to take care of
myself the rest of my life. As much as I’d love to be with you, I
would only hold you back.”

“
That’s not true,” he
argued.

“
I can’t get a college
education, chasing you all over the country and the world. You have
things you need to do, and you will do them. I have amazing things
I need to do too.

“
We can do them together.”
He searched her eyes.

“
Right now there are a
handful of people back in Pebble Creek who moved heaven and earth
to help me get here to be with you. And now I need to go back and
help them in return. You need to go catch your plane and take care
of the video. Peter, as much as we both want this. I don’t see how
it can work. I can’t back down on my goals. I’ve lost too much and
I can’t gamble my future. You are the most gifted person I’ve ever
known. It would be foolish to think you could walk away from the
opportunities ahead of you. You’re too smart for that.

Peter released her, rested his arms on the
balcony rail and stared into the distance.

“
These past twenty-four
hours have been amazing. A fantasy come true, but it’s time to get
back to our lives. I’ve got only a few weeks to wrap up things in
Georgia, before I leave for school.”

“
I will always love you and
follow you with my heart wherever you are in the world. Now that
we’ve found each other, I want to stay in touch, but to put the
pressure of a relationship on you is too much. It’s too much for
you and too much for me. When I’m in school, I need to concentrate
and work hard. I can’t take off for days at a time to meet up with
you. I’d never succeed. And you wouldn’t succeed trying to
constantly get away to be with me. Am I making sense?”