Page 64 of Rock and a Hard Place

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The next day, because Damien had dropped DarLynn’s phone in a bucket of frogs, Libby and DarLynn crowded in front of the computer at the Pebble Creek Public Library. Libby hadn’t bothered with buying a phone, because they were expensive and everyone she knew was within shouting distance.

There were only a few minutes left before they had to surrender the computer to the next user. Jamieson had created an internet survey to help screen fans and find Libby. Displayed on the screen were ten questions.

“What if I don’t know the answers? I’ll never get the free passes to the concert and I’ll never get to see him.” Now that Libby knew Peter wanted to find her, winning these tickets became her sole mission. She missed out on the earlier concerts, because she didn’t know he was searching for her. The deadline for the Chicago concert ended last night. The only concert left was in Red Rocks, Colorado, more than a thousand miles away. She didn’t know how they’d get there, but one step at a time.

“Of course you’ll know the answers. He wrote thesurvey for you.” DarLynn grabbed the mouse and scrolled to the multiple-choice questions listed below. “Okay, Jill, I mean, Libby.” DarLynn tilted her head to the side and aimed an annoyed yet friendly look at Libby. It was clear that DarLynn wasn’t quite ready to let Libby off the hook for lying about her identity these past months.

Libby shrugged. What else could she do? At the time, she needed to be someone else.

“First question. Where did Peter and Libby meet?” DarLynn read.

Libby almost blurted out the answer when DarLynn shushed her. “No, no, let me see if I can get it right. ‘(A) a concert, (B) a restaurant, (C) a special appearance, (D) a nature preserve, (E) on their tour bus, (F) a theme park.’”

DarLynn squinted at the screen as she mulled over the choices. “This is trickier than I thought. I’ll say a theme park. That makes sense. Plus, a concert is too obvious.” She moved to click on the theme park box.

“Errt.”Libby gave her best imitation of a game show buzzer. “Wrong. It’s (D) nature preserve.”

DarLynn shifted the mouse and clicked on nature preserve. “Interesting. I’d have never guessed. Next question. ‘What was Libby doing when they met? (A) talking, (B) eating, (C) drawing, (D) texting, (E) singing, (F) sleeping.’ That one’s easy, (C) drawing.”

“Ding, ding, ding.”Libby grinned. Even when buried in work, Libby always kept a drawing pad, her lifeline, nearby.

DarLynn read through the next couple questions and guessed wrong each time. It gave Libby hope that all the random girls out there who wanted to meet Peter would guess wrong as well. She moved to the next question.

“‘What is Libby’s sister’s name?’” DarLynn looked back at Libby, sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jill. I still can’t believe you lost both your momma and your sister.” She reached out and gave Libby a quick hug.

Libby didn’t correct DarLynn for using the wrong name again. She took the mouse and clicked on the name, Sarah. “Keep going, read the next one.” Libby didn’t want to think about Sarah right now, and what a powerful question Peter left for her. No one could possibly know the answer unless they knew Libby back in Michigan. Everyone else would have to guess.

“Last question,” DarLynn read. “‘Where was Libby when Peter’s dad suffered a heart attack?’” DarLynn turned to her. “Holy moly, girl, you’ve led a busy life.”

Libby aimed a crooked smile at her. DarLynn didn’t know the half of it.

“Let’s see, ‘(A) at school, (B) at home, (C) at a football game, (D) at a dance, (E) at work, or (F) with Peter.’ Hmm.” DarLynn focused on the computer and studied each answer as if it were a college entrance exam. She glanced at Libby, hoping for a hint. “With Peter. You were with Peter when his father had a heart attack.”

“Errt.Wrong again. The answer is (D) at a dance.”

DarLynn shook her head as she clicked the D box. Music suddenly blared from the computer speakers, and the screen changed to a banner that read, congratulations! you’ve answered all questions correctly. to redeem your two free passes for Jamieson’s Red Rocks, Colorado, concert. Enter your email address.

“I don’t have an email address.” Libby panicked that she was so close and yet another hurdle blocked her from Peter.

“Don’t worry, we can open one for you. It only takes a couple minutes.” DarLynn clicked open another screen.

“Excuse me,” the librarian interrupted. “Your time has expired and you need to vacate this computer for the next person.”

“We just need a few more minutes. Please,” Libby pleaded.

“I’m sorry. It will set back the whole schedule and we’re already running over. If I give you extra time, then so will the next person and the next. Your time is up, but you can sign up for another session later.”

If the woman weren’t so nice about it, Libby would have been mad. “DarLynn, what do we do?”

“Don’t get yer undies in a bundle.” She punched in a couple more keys and hit enter. “Got it!”

A message appeared on the screen instructing them to print the pass for the concert from their email account. DarLynn hit print.

“Thank you!” Libby hugged her tightly.

Libby and DarLynn eagerly watched the paper appear from the printer, paid their ten-cent copy fee, and rushed out of the library. “How did you set up an email account so fast?”

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