Someday

Someday

The Day Everything Changed

Friday morning carried a strange quiet over Elsinore. School was out for a teachers’ conference, so instead of sitting in class, Billy finished his chores early and drove his light‑green ’63 Plymouth Valiant up to Gus’s garage. Gus was already knee‑deep in a conversation about hot rods — his older son was well known on the race track — when the phone rang.

“Hold on,” Gus said, grabbing the receiver. A moment later he turned. “Bill, it’s for you. It’s Mary.”

Billy took the phone. “Hello?”

Mary’s voice came warm and familiar. “Billy, I need to run to Van Buren and Pete’s working today. Would you mind driving me and Laura over there?”

Billy didn’t hesitate. “I’ll call my parents and be right there.”

He hung up, told Gus he’d see him later, and headed out. Anytime he was going to see Laura, his heartbeat picked up. She had that effect on him — excitement, joy, and something he didn’t quite have a name for yet. And he genuinely liked her mother. Mary had Gus’s kindness in her, and Billy always felt comfortable around her.

When he pulled up in front of the house, he started to get out and walk to the door — the proper thing to do. Billy never honked unless he was told to. But before he could close the car door, Laura came running out, her mother right behind her.

Laura wore white shorts and a light blue blouse, her hair bouncing as she ran. She reached him first, threw her arms around him, and gave him a quick kiss.

“Thank you, Billy,” she said, breathless.

“Not a problem,” he managed, trying not to grin too wide.

He opened the passenger door. Laura slid into the middle seat, and Mary settled beside her. Billy climbed in, started the engine, and said, “Van Buren, here we come.”

But Mary wasn’t done. “We’re meeting Pete for lunch at that little diner near Big Spring. Is that all right with you? You’re not in a hurry?”

Billy froze for half a second. Pete. Laura’s dad. The deep‑voiced, hard‑working man who always treated Billy kindly — but with a look that made him stand up straighter every time.

“Oh… no, that’s fine with me,” Billy said.

Laura slipped her arm through his and whispered, “Don’t worry. Papa’s not going to kill you or something.”

Billy laughed nervously. He wasn’t uncomfortable with Laura pressed close to him — that part he loved — but hauling an adult made him uneasy. He’d driven the superintendent’s wife to the beauty shop many times, and he’d delivered teacher paychecks to the school board president in Grandin. But those were simple errands. This was different. This was Laura’s mother. And Pete was waiting at the end of the road.

He kept checking the speedometer, making sure he wasn’t going too fast. Highway 60 stretched ahead, long and familiar, but his hands felt just a little tighter on the wheel.

As they reached the city limits of Van Buren, Mary said, “Our first stop is the county courthouse.”

Billy nodded. Laura looked just as puzzled as he felt.

“We’re taking over the old farm off B Highway,” Mary said. “Uncle Frank’s place.”

Laura blinked. “You mean we’re moving?”

Mary smiled. “Yes. And I have another surprise for you.”

Billy pulled into the courthouse parking lot, wondering what in the world was going on.

Billy opened the door and jumped out. Laura slid over beside him, and before Mary could get her purse situated, Billy had her door open.

“You kids come with me,” Mary said.

Laura tried, “I thought maybe we could—”

“No. You come with me.”

Billy and Laura exchanged a look and followed her inside.

Billy had only been in the courthouse twice — once for his driver’s test, where he’d gotten his first ticket during the test because the emergency brake failed on his uncle’s ’64 Chevy pickup. The officer gave him a warning ticket, Gus’s son Robert fixed the brake, and Billy had to return with the receipt to get the warning thrown out. That was the extent of his courthouse experience.

Laura had never been inside at all.

They followed Mary down the hallway. She greeted everyone she passed.

Billy whispered, “Does your mom know everybody in the county?”

Laura whispered back, “She knows everybody in three counties.”

They reached the Recorder of Deeds office. Mary stepped up to the counter, signed the papers for the farm, then turned.

“Kids, come up here.”

Billy and Laura stepped forward.

Mary looked at the clerk. “I think we need an application for a marriage license.”

Billy and Laura froze.

The clerk smiled politely and pulled out a form.

Billy felt his stomach drop. Laura’s eyes were wide. Neither could speak.

Mary filled out Laura’s full name — Laura Marie. Billy had never known her middle name. Then Billy gave his — Billy Lynn. Laura whispered, “I always wondered what your middle name was.”

Birthdates. Addresses. Signatures.

Mary was no‑nonsense. Billy knew better than to argue. So did Laura.

Out in the hallway, Billy finally said, “What’s going on?”

Mary smiled. “It’s time for you and Laura to do what we all know you’re going to do anyway. The timing is right. The new house has room for all six of Laura’s siblings. Laura will have a big bedroom with her own bathroom. And the two of you can live there.”

Billy felt dizzy.

Mary continued, “You’ll finish high school this year. Laura has two years left. You’ll get a married‑couple apartment near your college. Laura will finish high school. You’ll come home weekends. When she graduates, you’ll have your associate’s degree. Then you’ll both go to Columbia. You’ll finish your bachelor’s. Laura will get her teaching certificate. Then you’ll come back here. Pete thinks he can get you on with the highway department if you want.”

Billy stared at her. “It sounds like you two — and when I say you two, I mean both sets of parents — have planned our whole life.”

Mary shrugged. “We’re just trying to help.”

They walked into Mitchell’s Clothing Store. Mary headed straight to the counter.

Billy grabbed Laura’s arm. “What’s going on? I haven’t even asked you to marry me yet. And our wedding’s being planned without us.”

Laura whispered, “This is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. Do they think we’ve been doing something wrong?”

Billy started, “Are they worried you might be—”

Laura cut him off. “Absolutely not. They know better.”

Before they could say more, Mary waved them over.

“Laura, Mrs. Mitchell has a dress for you to try on.”

Laura stepped into the dressing room — and almost fainted.

A white wedding dress hung there, pearls across the bodice, shimmering under the lights.

“I… I…” she stammered.

“No time for fussing,” Mrs. Mitchell said. “Let’s get it on.”

Laura stepped into the dress. When she stood in front of the mirror, she didn’t look fifteen anymore. She looked seventeen. Maybe eighteen. She looked like a bride.

Mrs. Mitchell opened the curtain.

Billy’s eyes widened. “Laura… you look like an angel.”

Laura blushed. Mary circled her, inspecting the dress.

“It’s lovely,” Mary said. “But we’ll check Poplar Bluff before making a final decision.”

Chapter 2 the diner

“It’s almost lunchtime,” Mary said. “Leave the car at the courthouse. We’ll get it later.”

As they walked toward the diner, Laura asked, “Mom… how did you know Billy and I were even thinking about getting married? We never told you.”

Mary smiled. “You told Kathy. And Kathy told us. You should’ve known she can’t keep a secret.”

Laura groaned.

“Oh,” Mary added, “after lunch we have an appointment with Dr. Klein. Missouri requires a blood test before marriage. And he wants to start you on treatment so you don’t get in the family way too soon.”

Billy nearly tripped. “What?”

Mary continued, “You’ll finish high school. Laura will finish hers. You’ll get your degrees. Then grandchildren.”

Billy muttered, “You’ve planned our whole life.”

They reached the diner. Took a booth. Ordered cokes and coffee. Pete arrived, sat down, ordered his coffee, and gave Billy that serious father‑in‑law stare.

Hamburgers came. Silence fell.

Then Laura said, “Mom… Dad… there’s something you should know.”

Pete’s eyes narrowed. “You better not be in the family way.”

Laura took a breath.

“Remember two months ago when Billy and I went to Poplar Bluff to pick up parts for Gus?”

Both parents nodded.

“Well… we did a little more than that. We drove to Paragould. And we got married. We’ve been married for two months. And you’ll be grandparents in about nine months.”

Pete looked like he’d been hit with a baseball bat.

Mary’s mouth dropped open.

Billy stared at Laura like she’d grown wings.

Laura added, “There’s one other thing—”

Pete held up a hand. “Wait. We were pulling a prank on you. It was a joke.”

Mary handed Billy the “marriage license.”

It was farm paperwork.

Laura frowned. “That wasn’t a very nice joke.”

Mary’s voice wavered. “It was just a joke…”

A tear slid down her cheek.

Laura took Billy’s hand, placed it on the table, and smiled.

“Gotcha.”

Pete burst out laughing with relief. The waitress arrived with the coffee pot, saw their faces, and asked, “What’s going on?”

Pete said, “I just found out I’m not gonna be a grandpa yet.”

Outside the diner, Laura tugged Billy’s arm.

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

Billy laughed. “It was great.”

He leaned down, kissed her gently, and whispered,

“Someday.”